*Sigh* I need a laptop

[BouncingSoul]

Going back to school and I HAVE to have a laptop. I don't want one but they require it. I've tried to find a loophole in the rule, but no such luck. So here's the deal, if I have to get one I might as well get a good one. That means no Toshiba's. Other than that I have no clue. It doesn't need to be beefy, but I would like to be able to sit on my couch and play WoW when I'm not at school or maybe even when I am at school, I don't know. Aside from WoW my only real requirement is I'd like it to be under $1500. Is that possible? If so, and recommendations?

Thanks all.

 

[Vanquished]

Going back to school and I HAVE to have a laptop. I don't want one but they require it. I've tried to find a loophole in the rule, but no such luck. So here's the deal, if I have to get one I might as well get a good one. That means no Toshiba's. Other than that I have no clue. It doesn't need to be beefy, but I would like to be able to sit on my couch and play WoW when I'm not at school or maybe even when I am at school, I don't know. Aside from WoW my only real requirement is I'd like it to be under $1500. Is that possible? If so, and recommendations?

Thanks all.

Compaq Presario V6000z series with the AMD Athlon 64 x2 TL-60 and go6150 graphics (not that great graphics)

or

The HP dv9000z with AMD Athlon 64 x2 TL-60 and go 7600 graphics.

You can get the second one if you get a modest screen (still 17 inches), and only a 100gb HDD, and all the normal stuff with no BT, etc. But it would probably make it up in the Processor and Graphics area to be worth the loss of the pleasantries.

 

[VenomXt]

What do you need it for at school?

 

[zeke_mo]

Going back to school and I HAVE to have a laptop. I don't want one but they require it. I've tried to find a loophole in the rule, but no such luck. So here's the deal, if I have to get one I might as well get a good one. That means no Toshiba's. Other than that I have no clue. It doesn't need to be beefy, but I would like to be able to sit on my couch and play WoW when I'm not at school or maybe even when I am at school, I don't know. Aside from WoW my only real requirement is I'd like it to be under $1500. Is that possible? If so, and recommendations?

Thanks all.

https://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=26

I have been doing research on new laptops myself and found Sager to be the best around. This isnt my only source of information but it sums it up pretty well.
http://www.powernotebooks.com/articles/index.php?action=fullnews&id=17

you may also want to consider going here http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16 and filling out the FAQ and posting, they will know what is perfect for you.

Its strange that people even by from large companies, I understand companies doing it for support(even that site has amazing support). I have never had such a friendly sales rep than from that store; we ended up talking for about 30mins about games and he helped me find out if all my peripherals were compatible with vista


I just purchased this laptop here https://www.powernotebooks.com/product.php?itemId=1515 not sure if the link will work

It had these specs:

1 Sager NP6630 FORCE - $1,524.00
15.4" WXGA (1280x800) TFT Active Matrix w/Intel® GMA950 w/up to 224MB DDR Memory
Intel® Core™2 Duo T7400 2.16GHz Processor w/4M L2 Cache - 667MHz FSB
2,048MB (2 SODIMMS) DDR2/667 Dual Channel Memory
80GB SATA/150 Hard Drive at 7,200 RPM
Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
4-in-1 Memory Card Reader (MS/MSPRO/SD/MMC)
Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g
6-cell Smart Li-ion Battery
Windows Vista Premium - (64-Bit installed - 64 and 32-bit CD included)
Full Range Auto Switching AC Adapter
Standard Carrying Case
NO Floppy Disk Drive
1-Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime 24/7 Toll Free Customer Service

1 Built-in Bluetooth Wireless - $45.00

It was 1,599 Shipped, no tax and 30 bucks shipping. AND there is no bloatware installed on it that all the major companies force feed you. Hope all this helps


*phew*

 

[BouncingSoul]

https://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=26

I have been doing research on new laptops myself and found Sager to be the best around. This isnt my only source of information but it sums it up pretty well.
http://www.powernotebooks.com/articles/index.php?action=fullnews&id=17

I'll check em out. Thanks!

What do you need it for at school?

I wish I knew. I'm guessing it's some BS reason like having your work with you and such. But that's why I have a 4 gig flash drive. I'm going to press them a little harder and see if there is a way out but like I said ... it doesn't look like there is.

 

[LeeJend]

At least they didn't say you have to have a Mac laptop. Some schools require MAC's which is total BS since 95% of companies use Wintel after you graduate. My nephew got screwed on the MAC deal.

Maybe the Dean of the school runs a black market in stolen laptops?

Question for the school. If the school requires a laptop why aren't they providing them at deep student discounts like they do with software?

Since they are holding a gun to your head, and an affordable laptop won't make a very good game machine, why not just go for the cheapest thing you can find with an extended 3 year warantee? Like Dell or HP.

I keep toying with getting a Laptop so I can surf or work in the living room, bedroom or patio but man, $700 buys a lot of Blue Bell dutch chocolate ice cream and considering the posts I've seen here forget a used one.

 

[BouncingSoul]

At least they didn't say you have to have a Mac laptop. Some schools require MAC's which is total BS since 95% of companies use Wintel after you graduate. My nephew got screwed on the MAC deal.

Maybe the Dean of the school runs a black market in stolen laptops?

Question for the school. If the school requires a laptop why aren't they providing them at deep student discounts like they do with software?

I wouldn't go to the school if they required me to get a Mac. Me and Mac's just aren't friends. I know they don't run a black market in stolen laptops, they make more money raping you on a new laptop. Mainly that's why I posted this... Cause the one's the sell start at $2000 and that's just dumb. The specs are nice but not 2 grand nice.

 

[Grandmaster]

Get a dell. And make sure you get the warranty for it.

 

[Aprox]

Get a dell. And make sure you get the warranty for it.

Sorry. Don't get a dell, and don't waste your money on the warranty either. Dell's are overpriced and loaded with bloat. Not that its a huge deal to format, its still a hassle none the less. I have to agree on Zeke_mo's comment about Sager since I pointed him to them in the first place. You can save a ton of money and get superior quality. Don't buy into the name brand bs. The specs Zeke listed are good, but for around the same price you can get a laptop with a discreet video card as well, and for about $200 more you can go up to the 17" mobile market with discreet graphics with 2gb ram and all that jazz.

Bit of history on Sager, they are a boutique company that rebrands a OEM laptop made by the company of Clevo. You may of heard of them, they make Alienware. Dell then buys from Clevo and marks up the price.

Don't mean to be rude by being so blunt Grandmaster.

 

[Kush]

whatever you do dont get an acer!

 

[Geffy]

Don't get a Fujitsu Seimens one either, or at least if you do then check over the warrantee card carefully to make sure that it actually applies in your country.

 

[Sazar]

Sorry. Don't get a dell, and don't waste your money on the warranty either. Dell's are overpriced and loaded with bloat. Not that its a huge deal to format, its still a hassle none the less. I have to agree on Zeke_mo's comment about Sager since I pointed him to them in the first place. You can save a ton of money and get superior quality. Don't buy into the name brand bs. The specs Zeke listed are good, but for around the same price you can get a laptop with a discreet video card as well, and for about $200 more you can go up to the 17" mobile market with discreet graphics with 2gb ram and all that jazz.

Bit of history on Sager, they are a boutique company that rebrands a OEM laptop made by the company of Clevo. You may of heard of them, they make Alienware. Dell then buys from Clevo and marks up the price.

Don't mean to be rude by being so blunt Grandmaster.

Look on any site listing and you'll notice they are far from over-priced.

The top of the line XPS systems are marked up more than anything else if you REALLY want to go that route for discussion.

Clevo is Taiwan based, Dell manufactures most of its notebooks in Malaysia, these are not on the GSA contract. Also, what kind of warranty and support does Clevo provide? If it's decent, they might be an option.

 

[Aprox]

I was referring to Alienware (which is owned by dell) purchasing their OEM parts from the company Clevo. Sager also buys the exact same parts from Clevo and changes the name just as Alienware does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevo

Clevo is a large Taiwanese computer company specialising in laptops. While the Clevo brand name is perhaps not widely known, their products are rebranded and sold by Original Equipment Manufacturers, including Alienware, Hypersonic, Sager-Midern, Widow PC, Prostar, M-tech, and xVx.

As far as warranty goes, you get free lifetime toll free tech support & a standard 1 year parts & labor. You can increase that to a 3 year parts and labor for a about $250.

To compare them fairly I have customized both an Alienware and Sager laptop with as close to the same configuration as possible.

Area-51® m5790

Windows® Vista Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7400 2.16GHz
256MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1800
17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 1024MB
100GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW w/ Nero Software
Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

$2,256.00

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Sager NP5750 - V

[/FONT] Windows® Vista Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7400 2.16GHz
128MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1600 w/ 512 Hypermemory
17" WSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 1024MB
100GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache

8X DVD±R/RW / 4X+Dual Layer / 5X DVD-RAM / CD-RW Super Multi Drive
Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

$2,029.00 ($1,977.58 cash discount) No Tax

 

[Tuffgong4]

what are the warranty differences and batteries. There are some things missing. I would like to see what the difference would be...very interesting.

I was referring to Alienware (which is owned by dell) purchasing their OEM parts from the company Clevo. Sager also buys the exact same parts from Clevo and changes the name just as Alienware does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevo

As far as warranty goes, you get free lifetime toll free tech support & a standard 1 year parts & labor. You can increase that to a 3 year parts and labor for a about $250.

To compare them fairly I have customized both an Alienware and Sager laptop with as close to the same configuration as possible.

Area-51® m5790

Windows® Vista Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7400 2.16GHz
256MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1800
17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 1024MB
100GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW w/ Nero Software
Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

$2,256.00

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Sager NP5750 - V

[/FONT] Windows® Vista Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7400 2.16GHz
128MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1600 w/ 512 Hypermemory
17" WSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 1024MB
100GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache

8X DVD±R/RW / 4X+Dual Layer / 5X DVD-RAM / CD-RW Super Multi Drive
Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio

$2,029.00 ($1,977.58 cash discount) No Tax

Also I just got the laptop in my sig for about 1119 dollars or at least under 12 hundred with 2 year on site warranty and 2 batteries. I have not had one problem with it and it runs like a horse.

 

[Aprox]

what are the warranty differences and batteries. There are some things missing. I would like to see what the difference would be...very interesting.



Also I just got the laptop in my sig for about 1119 dollars or at least under 12 hundred with 2 year on site warranty and 2 batteries. I have not had one problem with it and it runs like a horse.

Both Alienware & Sager offer 1 year parts and labor standard. Alienware charges $300 for their 3 year parts & labor plan while Sager charges $269.

Since they are both on the same chassis, I would imagine they have the same batteries and life expectancies.

 

[zeke_mo]

Look on any site listing and you'll notice they are far from over-priced.

The top of the line XPS systems are marked up more than anything else if you REALLY want to go that route for discussion.

Its not so much the price that bothers me, its the horrible tech support and software that comes preisntalled.

 

[LeeJend]

Since they are both on the same chassis, I would imagine they have the same batteries and life expectancies.

Risky assumption. Chassis just means form factor. What's in the battery pack can be vastly different and significantly drives battery price, like proprietary chemistry in the cells, internal construction, etc.

Got some links? The wife and I keep talking about a laptop because the computer room is way too b o r i n g.

 

[Sazar]

Its not so much the price that bothers me, its the horrible tech support and software that comes preisntalled.

The tech support, in any un-biased poll sampling or blind test will rate amongst the top.

There have been many changes in the past 2 years.

The software that comes pre-installed is a whole other issue. The majority of users like the software, else it would not be there. It can easily be removed as well. Personally, I agree that there is a lot of stuff present that need not be.

 

[Grandmaster]

Sorry. Don't get a dell, and don't waste your money on the warranty either. Dell's are overpriced and loaded with bloat. Not that its a huge deal to format, its still a hassle none the less. I have to agree on Zeke_mo's comment about Sager since I pointed him to them in the first place. You can save a ton of money and get superior quality. Don't buy into the name brand bs. The specs Zeke listed are good, but for around the same price you can get a laptop with a discreet video card as well, and for about $200 more you can go up to the 17" mobile market with discreet graphics with 2gb ram and all that jazz.

Bit of history on Sager, they are a boutique company that rebrands a OEM laptop made by the company of Clevo. You may of heard of them, they make Alienware. Dell then buys from Clevo and marks up the price.

Don't mean to be rude by being so blunt Grandmaster.

Interesting. Like Sazar, I think your "overpriced" argument could apply to the XPS laptops, but the Inspirons are a very good deal, imo.

And second, my experiences with Dell tech support have been great.

Did you have a really bad experience with Dell?

 

[toric19]

Its not so much the price that bothers me, its the horrible tech support and software that comes preisntalled.

Just to back up zeke here, I have had MANY horrible experiences with Dell tech support. I run a small repair company and have had to deal with Dell on many, many instances with client systems. Every so often I get someone who actually knows what they are doing, and will listen when I explain to them the steps I have already taken, or the information that I need, but it is rare.

'course I also have problems with both them and HP when they don't include actual Windows CD's to repair/recover/reinstall from. I have issues with systems that have the only factory backup as a partition on the hard drive... just stupid.