[SongBird]

Hey, I was wondering what is the rep on Compaq/HP notebooks? I've always been a fan of IBM, not so much Lenovo, notebooks. But for IBM core duo, it's pretty expensive. I was thinking about this one: http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.a...amp;catid=20354

[Godotology]

Hey, I was wondering what is the rep on Compaq/HP notebooks? I've always been a fan of IBM, not so much Lenovo, notebooks. But for IBM core duo, it's pretty expensive. I was thinking about this one: http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.a...amp;catid=20354

the regular HP and Compaq lines are your typical budget notebooks.. very average, very affordable.. nothing fancy.. although I like how this year they at least made their notebooks much better looking than the previous. Hp and Compaq are the same company now and the Compaq line is essentially the same as the HP with very very minor differences (different stylizing of the shell for example).

However.. HP's business line, such as the NP,NX, and NC series, are built better, using alloys instead of plastic.. and are intended to rival IBM's Thinkpad line.. they are often compared with each other. However, because it is a better built line..they do tend to cost more.

oh, that Best Buy site has the WRONG laptop in the photo.. that is a Compaq V2000 series from last year. That laptop, spec wise, is quite nice for the price.. provided you're just looking for something basic.

[Volts]

Hey Range, have you ever had experience with tablet pc ? someone suggested me to give it a try(especially the X60t), mainly for taking notes at school.

[Godotology]

Hey Range, have you ever had experience with tablet pc ? someone suggested me to give it a try(especially the X60t), mainly for taking notes at school.

Yeah, its okay... after a day with it, the novelty kinda wore off. If you don't really need its function, then I don't really suggest getting it. I'm a bit paranoid about hinges as I've seen SO MANY hinges wear out or crack on regular laptops.. makes me worried how a single hinged tablet that's stressed more, would hold up over time. Although.. IBM makes the best hinges, so perhaps the X60t will be an exception. I'm also a bit concerned about glossy screen tablets.. as glossy screens tend to have scratches appear more obvious than on a matte equivelent. Fortunately the X60t is still using matte. I don't know what you're going to use it for, but maybe you'll find a much better use for it than I did.

[babymarzy07]

hi, i posted this question int he wrong thread before i just found out this was pinned. anyway, can someone give me advice on a good laptop to buy? maybe a pre-made kind, im not too good in making my own don't really know how. something not too pricey but above ur average. can be used for graphics, surfing, communication, watching videos kind of thing and the occasional game or two. im looking for a fast processor (im not sure what u call it) and good memory too. should i wait before buying one? any ideas? thanks muchos!

[Godotology]

hi, i posted this question int he wrong thread before i just found out this was pinned. anyway, can someone give me advice on a good laptop to buy? maybe a pre-made kind, im not too good in making my own don't really know how. something not too pricey but above ur average. can be used for graphics, surfing, communication, watching videos kind of thing and the occasional game or two. im looking for a fast processor (im not sure what u call it) and good memory too. should i wait before buying one? any ideas? thanks muchos!

lol well, most people can't make their own laptops. they're not like desktops where its plug and play. Laptops are more complicated to build.

what kind of games are you looking to play as it'll depend on what kind of video card you need. surfing, communication, video, etc can be done on any modern laptop.

[brown eyes]

Right now I have a 15.4'' Dell Inspiron 6000. So far it been serving me well. However, its too bulky and heavy. I have to lug this thing to work and school and it's really killer. I'm a instructor for a private college and I use a laptop mostly for Powerpoint presentations.

You think this Lenovo would serve me well? http://www.buy.com/prod/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X4...48.html#moreimg

I was thinking about maybe a Sony C series too. 13.3'' isn't that bulky compared to my Dell. But the 12.1'' Lenovo tablet would be pretty sweet too.

[Godotology]

Right now I have a 15.4'' Dell Inspiron 6000. So far it been serving me well. However, its too bulky and heavy. I have to lug this thing to work and school and it's really killer. I'm a instructor for a private college and I use a laptop mostly for Powerpoint presentations.

You think this Lenovo would serve me well? http://www.buy.com/prod/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X4...48.html#moreimg

I was thinking about maybe a Sony C series too. 13.3'' isn't that bulky compared to my Dell. But the 12.1'' Lenovo tablet would be pretty sweet too.

the X41 is very light.. its a bit older but it should be good enough to do power point.. and it has one of the best keyboards for a laptop.. very easy to type on, no flex.

The Sony C series is a nice model too, a vaio that's actually affordable. However yes.. for a 13.3" it is very bulky and thick, having the weight of a 14" laptop. and even some 15.4" ones. its keyboard is also questionable.. like the Sony SZ.. you're going to find it okay or hate it (but very few love it).

[babymarzy07]

lol well, most people can't make their own laptops. they're not like desktops where its plug and play. Laptops are more complicated to build.

what kind of games are you looking to play as it'll depend on what kind of video card you need. surfing, communication, video, etc can be done on any modern laptop.

im thinking along the lines of tiberian sun types just one game or two, but not serious gaming. just like sometimes and those online games you can dl. any suggestions? i heard dell was good, vaio is ok but some models are quite pricey. i think mac is ok but aside from the expensive price people say that lot of softwares (i think clubbox?) /hardwares don't work on it and also stuff for mac are pricey. acer or asus seems ok too.

[Godotology]

im thinking along the lines of tiberian sun types just one game or two, but not serious gaming. just like sometimes and those online games you can dl. any suggestions? i heard dell was good, vaio is ok but some models are quite pricey. i think mac is ok but aside from the expensive price people say that lot of softwares (i think clubbox?) /hardwares don't work on it and also stuff for mac are pricey. acer or asus seems ok too.

hmm, well what kind of budget you have, where are you located (country), and what screen size do you want (which will reflect the weight). In general 14-15.4" are the cheapest.. go bigger or smaller, it gets more expensive..

[SongBird]

Hey Range,

I don't have a lot of money to spend but I want quality. Like I've said before, I am a big fan of Thinkpad. I've been considering that Compaq one, but the thought of giving up the better build quality and sturdiness of an IBM doesn't seem to settle in well for me.

This is my other choice to the Compaq one that I posted up earlier:
IBM ThinkPad Z61T

IBM ThinkPad T40 Feature IBM Durable wide screen Design, NEW OPEN BOX

Processor/Speed (MHz)
Intel Mobile CENTRINO DUO T2300E 1660 MHZ, 2mb L2 cache 667mhz bus
Display 14-inch Wide TFT Active Matrix WXGA Display, intel Video 950 up to 128mb DDR

Hard disk size
60GB UltraDMA EIDE =60000mb fast 5400 RPM

Memory (std/max) (MB)
512 MB of 667mhz memory, expandable up to 2000 MB

CD-ROM speed
24x/24x/24x/8x CDRW/DVD
Wireless ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi Wireless with Ultra Connect antenna
Fax/Modem Modem 56K V.92 designed modem
Network Integrated Gigabit Ethernet 10/1000
Multimedia Intel High Definition Audio Full-duplex audio on the system board
Other SD Card Slot, 3x USB 2.0 Ports
Other Finger print reader, fire wire IEEE 1394 and Infrared port
pointing device dual pointing device ThinkPad UltraNav touchpad and stick point
Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Power Worldwide A/C compatible
Warranty type More info New OPEN BOX, 6 MONTHS omni systems warranty More info
Weight 4.6 lbs
Height, depth, width 1.0 in, 9.0 in, 13.1 in


Of course the price is more steep than the Compaq. I am looking at $1199 CDN on sale.

This is really hard. Compaq, in terms of build quality, I am not looking at anything breaking down on me in less than two years right? I have heard too many horror stories about Dell that it scares me. It's nice to have enough money to replace laptops every two years, but I don't have that luxury.

What's your opinion?

First off, I want something portable, nothing over 15 inch. Wifi, bluetooth, duo core, nothing less than 512 DDR, nothing less than 40 gig, little to no flex in keyboard and display (IBM rocks), at least 3hrs battery life using only a word processor, DVD writer even though I'll settle for a CD writer....

[Godotology]

^how about the IBM/Lenovo R series? that's the budget model (its thicker than the Z or T series) but it's still quite sturdy and a bit cheaper. Nothing in Compaq's line up matches the build quality of any Thinkpad.. however HPs N series are close.
Asus is another good brand, particularly their Ensemble line.

[babymarzy07]

hmm, well what kind of budget you have, where are you located (country), and what screen size do you want (which will reflect the weight). In general 14-15.4" are the cheapest.. go bigger or smaller, it gets more expensive..

my budget is less than $2000 maybe the price range of a mac book which i heard around 1300-1500?.. im actually from asia. im loving a dell xps M line but its a tad too pricey. the screen size im liking a 17 inch.. but i guess im good with a 15.9 too. what do u think of the HP Compaq nx9420? Dell Latitude D820? Im not so familiar with the Lenovo line is it good? Dell Inspiron 9400 looks good too.

[Volts]

can a tablet really replace the traditional way of writing notes on paper ? i need to find someone who has one so that i can test it out

[Godotology]

my budget is less than $2000 maybe the price range of a mac book which i heard around 1300-1500?.. im actually from asia. im loving a dell xps M line but its a tad too pricey. the screen size im liking a 17 inch.. but i guess im good with a 15.9 too. what do u think of the HP Compaq nx9420? Dell Latitude D820? Im not so familiar with the Lenovo line is it good? Dell Inspiron 9400 looks good too.

lol, which country in Asia.. different Asian countries have different laptops. I think you should go to a store and try a 17" first. They are big and can weigh between 8-10lbs. usually 14" and 15.4" are the norm. Lenovo has two lines.. their thinkpads.. which are built very well.. and the regular Lenovo line which is cheaper and more economy. All Dell inspirons are budget notebooks and are built that way.. Latitude is built much better but costs more money.

can a tablet really replace the traditional way of writing notes on paper ? i need to find someone who has one so that i can test it out

imho. No. especially if you write fast or often flip through pages. aren't you from Canada? does Futuremart? have display samples? I know Milestonepc might have some display samples of Asus tablets for you.. try check them out.. they have a number of locations.

[SongBird]

The ThinkPad R line just doesn't appeal to me.

Does anyone know a good dealer for ThinkPads in Toronto?

I think I might just have to bite the bullet and buy the model that I am looking at.

[Godotology]

The ThinkPad R line just doesn't appeal to me.

Does anyone know a good dealer for ThinkPads in Toronto?

I think I might just have to bite the bullet and buy the model that I am looking at.

i feel you. while the R series is sturdy.. It just doesn't have the same appeal as the T series. I think its mostly due to how thin the T series are. Just get the T if thats the case..almost all Compaq models are aimed towards budget consumers, and while its affordable.. you pay for what you get. Where I work at, we have tons of laptops, but only the Thinkpads still manage to hold up while all the other ones have broken or worn out hinges.

[babymarzy07]

lol, which country in Asia.. different Asian countries have different laptops. I think you should go to a store and try a 17" first. They are big and can weigh between 8-10lbs. usually 14" and 15.4" are the norm. Lenovo has two lines.. their thinkpads.. which are built very well.. and the regular Lenovo line which is cheaper and more economy. All Dell inspirons are budget notebooks and are built that way.. Latitude is built much better but costs more money.

sorry bit vague there. well, i was thinking of buying from HK or singapore since my friend said they sell it cheaper there. hmmm.. i heard the HP Compaq nx9420 wasn't too heavy for a 17"? from Dell, Lenovo or Thinkpad, Asus and Hp could you recommend a model that i can check out? should i wait for the latter part of the year maybe something better will come up?

[SongBird]

i feel you. while the R series is sturdy.. It just doesn't have the same appeal as the T series. I think its mostly due to how thin the T series are. Just get the T if thats the case..almost all Compaq models are aimed towards budget consumers, and while its affordable.. you pay for what you get. Where I work at, we have tons of laptops, but only the Thinkpads still manage to hold up while all the other ones have broken or worn out hinges.

My fav is also the T series. They are not flashy and pretty like Macs but there is something about their design that makes them so simple but yet so attractive.

What is your opinoin on the Z series? I wish the one that I am going to get doesn't have the speakers on the side. It just makes it look too wide and not pleasing. I can't seem to get a T series with all of the specs that I want without having to fork over a liver for. Boo

[Godotology]

sorry bit vague there. well, i was thinking of buying from HK or singapore since my friend said they sell it cheaper there. hmmm.. i heard the HP Compaq nx9420 wasn't too heavy for a 17"? from Dell, Lenovo or Thinkpad, Asus and Hp could you recommend a model that i can check out? should i wait for the latter part of the year maybe something better will come up?

yeap, you are right, the NX is one of the lighter 17". Other light 17" include MSI's L series, Asus W2 series, and the Macbook Pro. IBM/Lenovo does not make 17" machines. I personally like the Asus W2 as it's the sleekest, thinnest and one of the lightest 17" out there, but it does cost quite a bit.

Its still early 2007 so discounts on Core 2 Duo models will be arriving as starting March, we will see the new Santa Rosa CPU coming in, replacing the Core 2 Duo. You can wait and go for the newer Santa Rosa.. or you can save some money and go with Core 2 Duo. I personally don't feel that the jump from Core 2 Duo to Santa Rosa will be big, so might as well save some money.
.. However, if you're needing a really good video card.. Santa Rosa will be the first chipset to use directx10 video cards, in which case, I'll probably wait for Santa Rosa.

My fav is also the T series. They are not flashy and pretty like Macs but there is something about their design that makes them so simple but yet so attractive.

What is your opinoin on the Z series? I wish the one that I am going to get doesn't have the speakers on the side. It just makes it look too wide and not pleasing. I can't seem to get a T series with all of the specs that I want without having to fork over a liver for. Boo

Theres the 14" Z61t, and the Z61m thats 15.4". I've heard good things about the m.. but not so good with the t. oddly now that lenovo has a widescreen T series, I don't know why they keep the Z line. the Z61m has video card options.

Have you tried HPs N series as an alternative?