Time for new Laptop - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

daacon · 2004-07-08, 09:34 AM

Hi All,

I have a Dell C800 Latitude PIII 850 - 512 Ram, 20gig, 32mb Dedicated on board video. It is going on 4 years with a few upgrades (ram, CD-RW). It was expensive in it's day (=~5K) but aside from a fried hard Drive (replaced under warrently) it has been a great machine. But is it time to replace.

I was looking at the HP ZD series (17 in wide screen). I want a desktop replacement - not concerned about wieght - travel with it couple three times a year. Not big into latest and greatest games but want a decent video with it's own dedicated memory. Other criteria are 60 gig hard min (prefereably 5200 ? or 7200 ? rpm) , DVR-+RW, built in wireless (802.11g) , USB 2, firewire. Nice to have would be memory card slots , expansion bay for extra battery.

What have you guys got ? Anyone with the HP ZD 's. Any other suggestions ?

Jake · 2004-07-08, 09:50 AM

eMachines make a nice desktop replacement. The M6805. It is a 64 bit board and Athlon chip. WXGA1280x800, 512 PC2700 RAM, 60GB, DVD/CD combo, 64 MB ATI Radeon, V92 modem, wirelessG and 100BT, firewire USB2. They also have a model up from this but I don't recall the number. Tiger had it about 2 weeks ago for about $1200.

John

PS: It was a refurb.

hugh · 2004-07-08, 10:14 AM

I just went through a similar process and was looking at the HP ZD series with those 17" wide screens. If you're willing to part with that much cash, Toshiba has 17" units at comparable prices that just came out.

Note that the ZD hard drives are 4200 RPM. I doubt you'll find many laptops that have 5400 or 7200 RPM.

I settled on the Compaq 3140CA. It is 15" widescreen but has DVD burning, g wireless, 60gb hdd and I got it for $1,699. Anything comparable was $2,200.

The M6805 is comparable, FS is selling it new for $2,199.

Jake · 2004-07-08, 10:31 AM

Take a stroll into Costco too. I see they have some highend laptops there. I can't recall if they were Toshiba's or HP's but they had a very fancy enclosure and shiney metallic trim.

John

daacon · 2004-07-08, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

I settled on the Compaq 3140CA. It is 15" widescreen but has DVD burning, g wireless, 60gb hdd and I got it for $1,699. Anything comparable was $2,200.

Ummm 15.4 Widescreen ? How much Ram ? Video ? was it a stock purchase ? I want to try and keep the price around 2k ...... Is it noisy ? (My current Dell sounds like a jet engine at times .....)

Jake - Gateway bought out eMachines did they not ? I was looking at those as well (I have a Gateway desktop - decent machine ) .... bottom line criteria is at least 512 Ram and 60 gb , with dvd and .........man you can get alot these days :lol: time for a trip to Costco. I find Costco hit and miss - just gotta be there at the right time.

FS refurbihsed someitmes are good deals and the Sony Viao's are nice too ....ahhh it will be months before I make up my mind ....

thx.............dy

hugh · 2004-07-08, 12:02 PM

details on HP site. It's quiet.

os · 2004-07-08, 12:20 PM

I have a zd and overall Im happy with it (so far). Got it from FS for $2400 a month ago (before taxes).
Pluses: powerful HT processor, large wide screen, good G wireless, good full-size keyboard, some software, card reader, good audio, good-looking, relatively quiet
Minuses: 4.3 kg, 2 hr battery life, bad scroll for touch-pad, after heavy video use gets warm, no TV.

normancw · 2004-07-09, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

eMachines make a nice desktop replacement. The M6805. It is a 64 bit board and Athlon chip. WXGA1280x800, 512 PC2700 RAM, 60GB, DVD/CD combo, 64 MB ATI Radeon, V92 modem, wirelessG and 100BT, firewire USB2. They also have a model up from this but I don't recall the number. Tiger had it about 2 weeks ago for about $1200.

John

PS: It was a refurb.

I was also looking at the M6807 (same as the M6805, but with a 2x DVD-r/RW burner) - lot's of good reviews. At FS for $2299 (was $2199 last week).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

I settled on the Compaq 3140CA. It is 15" widescreen but has DVD burning, g wireless, 60gb hdd and I got it for $1,699. Anything comparable was $2,200.

Hugh, how do you like the 3140CA (keyboard, widescreen, battery life, heat on lap, ...)? I need a Firewire port for video editing - does it have one? The specs don't show one.

hugh · 2004-07-09, 07:56 AM

Normancw, I really haven't used it much and when I have it's been plugged into the wall and sitting on a desk. I'm not a road warrior so I don't have tremendous experience with notebooks but its quiet, no excessive heat, screen in my estimation is excellent.

There is no firewire which was something I would have liked but can't have everything unless you're willing to pay!

Thus far I am pleased.

2004-07-08, 09:34 AM	#1
daacon Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta Posts: 92	Time for new Laptop Hi All, I have a Dell C800 Latitude PIII 850 - 512 Ram, 20gig, 32mb Dedicated on board video. It is going on 4 years with a few upgrades (ram, CD-RW). It was expensive in it's day (=~5K) but aside from a fried hard Drive (replaced under warrently) it has been a great machine. But is it time to replace. I was looking at the HP ZD series (17 in wide screen). I want a desktop replacement - not concerned about wieght - travel with it couple three times a year. Not big into latest and greatest games but want a decent video with it's own dedicated memory. Other criteria are 60 gig hard min (prefereably 5200 ? or 7200 ? rpm) , DVR-+RW, built in wireless (802.11g) , USB 2, firewire. Nice to have would be memory card slots , expansion bay for extra battery. What have you guys got ? Anyone with the HP ZD 's. Any other suggestions ?

2004-07-08, 09:50 AM	#2
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,176	eMachines make a nice desktop replacement. The M6805. It is a 64 bit board and Athlon chip. WXGA1280x800, 512 PC2700 RAM, 60GB, DVD/CD combo, 64 MB ATI Radeon, V92 modem, wirelessG and 100BT, firewire USB2. They also have a model up from this but I don't recall the number. Tiger had it about 2 weeks ago for about $1200. John PS: It was a refurb. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2004-07-08, 10:31 AM	#4
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,176	Take a stroll into Costco too. I see they have some highend laptops there. I can't recall if they were Toshiba's or HP's but they had a very fancy enclosure and shiney metallic trim. John __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

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2004-07-08, 10:14 AM	#3
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	I just went through a similar process and was looking at the HP ZD series with those 17" wide screens. If you're willing to part with that much cash, Toshiba has 17" units at comparable prices that just came out. Note that the ZD hard drives are 4200 RPM. I doubt you'll find many laptops that have 5400 or 7200 RPM. I settled on the Compaq 3140CA. It is 15" widescreen but has DVD burning, g wireless, 60gb hdd and I got it for $1,699. Anything comparable was $2,200. The M6805 is comparable, FS is selling it new for $2,199.

2004-07-08, 12:02 PM	#6
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	details on HP site. It's quiet.

2004-07-08, 12:20 PM	#7
os Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,056	I have a zd and overall Im happy with it (so far). Got it from FS for $2400 a month ago (before taxes). Pluses: powerful HT processor, large wide screen, good G wireless, good full-size keyboard, some software, card reader, good audio, good-looking, relatively quiet Minuses: 4.3 kg, 2 hr battery life, bad scroll for touch-pad, after heavy video use gets warm, no TV.

2004-07-09, 07:56 AM	#9
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Normancw, I really haven't used it much and when I have it's been plugged into the wall and sitting on a desk. I'm not a road warrior so I don't have tremendous experience with notebooks but its quiet, no excessive heat, screen in my estimation is excellent. There is no firewire which was something I would have liked but can't have everything unless you're willing to pay! Thus far I am pleased.