Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 18

laptop computer suggestion

Got rid of some clutter in the house and I will soon have $1600 to play with and Im thinking Laptop.

here's the question.. which ones do you think have the best bang for the buck? I don't have to blow the whole wad on the system, I have 1600 total to play with. Any ideas??

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Whaddya gonna do with it?

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 18

OH, Sorry. It's gonna be a general desktop replacement. Im tred of wrestling the wife over who gets to use the desktop hen we're both here.

I will have my full office suite on it as well as a full set of webdesign stuff.

general office work
web design work (dreamweaver, flash, etc)
web surfing etc...

Ill use it on the road to show off design work. watch dvd's.

nothing super duper as you can see. im not a big gamer. but i do like nice systems...

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

If you like mac or are os indifferant, I'd suggest an ibook. Even if you would like windows, i'd suggest a good, hard look at the ibook. If you have your heart set on a windows computer, look at something as close to an ibook as possible - possibly a gateway solo, then buy the ibook anyway.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

For Web work, nothing beats a Mac. All of your Macromedia software runs great in OSX, and, as it's also linux, you can run all your server development apps on there as well (Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc...).

$1600 will get you the iBook...a nice machine, but I'd reach for a few extra $$ and snag a TiBook...can't beat the screen on those (+ you can always hook up a second monitor to it).

Otherwise, if you are a windows fan, get a Dell. (Isn't that the default reply when someone asks 'what computer should I buy?') ;o)

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We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

I have been using Toshiba Tecra's the last 5 years and must say I like them a lot....

I never used a non Toshiba laptop so I can't realy compare..

The iBook is a good choise too, if I would have some extra cash I would buy a new iMac or an iBook because I never owned an Mac and they look cool and the new Mac OS X get great reviews...

Just go to the store and test drive a couple, see what you like best..

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<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

also check out this thread:
http://treodiscussion.visorcentral....;threadid=22868
B)

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<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 18

yea, i was part of that other thread. looks really cool, gonna have to look into that

If I get an Ibook or apple anything, the wife will immediately confiscate it. they use macs where she works and she really likes them.

the other hitch is all my development stuff and mostof our other stuff is PC. maybe i could disguise the tibook..?

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

Buy the Windoze machine and installl Linux on it.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

That is something to consider - how much of an investment into pc software you have. Of course, you can install Virtual PC.

homer, dell has been slipping lately, IMO. I'd suggest a gateway (who has managed to scrape some quality together again) over a dell.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

Not that it is exactly what you are looking for, but I got a great deal on a good Dell at www.overstock.com, and a friend got one at egghead's auction site (is that still going?)

My Dell may not be cutting edge, but it is dang good and I paid under $900 for it.

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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 501

Dell

FYI, I just went through a very annoying, 1.5 month long process of getting Dell Customer Service to refund a monitor I returned. It's amazing how consistently and poorly they performed during the entire process. Once or twice might be an aberration; but 5 surly representatives and 4 screw-ups in the shipping and crediting process points to some major problems in that part of Dell.

Not that this is any reflection on the quality of their PCs, per se; but if you do get something from them, I hope you don't run into any situation that requires dealing with their Customer Support group.

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Jeff Meyer

"And he died like he lived: with his mouth wide open."

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 7

I got a Toshiba Satellite 3000-S304 around Christmas - I've been very happy with it.

It didn't come with much software, but the price/performance ratio was right for me.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by ehaseltine
I got a Toshiba Satellite 3000-S304 around Christmas - I've been very happy with it.

It didn't come with much software, but the price/performance ratio was right for me.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 289

Dell or Apple ...

Like most everyone else, if you want to go with a windows box, I think the Dell Inspirion series is a good choice (I like the 8100 and 4100 series.. just setup my sister with an 8100 w/14" 1400x1050 display --- very very nice unit...)

I like the Apple iBooks and powerbooks -- though unfortunately in your price range, your going to max out at a 12.1" display -- might be a bit too small if your using apps with lots of toolbars/etc...

BTW -- You can setup a website development environment on both OS X and Windows (Apache/PHP/MySQL running in the background w/dreamweaver/flash/browser in the foreground) -- Homer made it sound like thats a OS X exclusive -- and a second note, OS X IS NOT LINUX!!! <grr homer..> though it is a UNIX based product, so it is similar.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

quote:

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OS X IS NOT LINUX!

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We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by homer
[...] For the record, I had a terrible exprience with getting a Toshiba fixed...probably more Best Buy's fault than Toshiba's, of course.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 18

sager notebooks?

Been doing some looking around and stumbled accross these folks. www.sagernotebooks.com anyone have experience with these folks? The machines look nice and the specs seem good..

Matt