New laptop, what to buy?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Ok, i need a new laptop for uni/work/net and have $2500 to spend, it will need to be able to run graphic software for uni as well as things like visual basics etc.

Can anyone give me some guidance on what to get, I have a Acer Travelmate Centrino which is coming up for its 3rd birthday (was one of the first Centrino's on the market). Its a 1.4, 512RAM, 40 GB, DVD burner etc, it was nearly double what I wish to spend this time but its starting to show its age...

THe Specs im after are.

Centrino Duo - 2.0 Ghz or better
1024 Mb Ram
128 Video
100 GB hard drive
DVD burner


Help would be much appreciated :evilsasmo

[AUIIIXR8]

Where are you at?

[Professor Farnsworth]

mate DELL COMPUTER will get you what you need. i used to use dell equipment at my old job.. was reasonably good. $1500 or so will get you what you're after, nothing else comes close in price, i've been looking recently. in the end i decided i didn't need much for this laptop i use in the lounge room, paid $999 for a Compaq 1.8, 40gig, dvd, wireless, 512mb.. does the trick as a wireless net terminal.

Go to dell, use the online build/pricer. You can't go wrong! Price will beat anything out there.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Im in Brisbane.

I was looking at dells, the only thing thats turned me away so far is the fact they look bulky. We have dell desktops at work and the seriously dont miss a beat, so asside from the fact id prefer to have it by Monday rather then in a week or so Dells up there on the list.

Thanks for the replies so far.

[Noddy]

I'd have to agree with the comments on Dell, nothing come close in price and spec. I have had my laptop 2yrs now and although i had a hard drive failure and lost everything (i should do backups more often) i will probably purchase a Dell again. I'm not entirely sure that the failure was not my fault as the laptop has hit the tiled floor more than once. :

[MoreHPformyXR6]

I have a Toshiba Satalite since last August has been awesome but I have to agree Dell offers alot of bang for buck (debatable if the quality) is "quite" as good as Toshiba.

[loxxr6]

I was sussing out laptops as well because the place I took mine for a repair quote is an ASUS dealer. Here's what people are saying about ASUS's http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...591#post835591

Our current damaged laptop is a Sony Vaio. Prior to a swim in a salt water pool it was going great with no hassles whatsoever.

[jonk]

I wouldn't spend money yet on a laptop until the core duo CPU's from Intel come out. Just wait a couple more months and there is going to be some real good value notebooks come out... lot's of grunt, using the same or even less power than current laoptops.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by jonk

I wouldn't spend money yet on a laptop until the core duo CPU's from Intel come out. Just wait a couple more months and there is going to be some real good value notebooks come out... lot's of grunt, using the same or even less power than current laoptops.

they're already out, the price i gestured for the Dell system is a core duo.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Ended up getting a Toshiba, only because ive had them in the past and they have been good and I could get it today (really needed it buy monday). Its a Centrino Duo 1.66 with 1024, 80 gb hard drive, DVD burner, 256 mb video etc etc and was under 2 k. I would have liked to try a dell but they look bulky on the website, maybe next time.

Cheers.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Ended up getting a Toshiba, only because ive had them in the past and they have been good and I could get it today (really needed it buy monday). Its a Centrino Duo 1.66 with 1024, 80 gb hard drive, DVD burner, 256 mb video etc etc and was under 2 k. I would have liked to try a dell but they look bulky on the website, maybe next time.

Cheers.

guys guys.. he already bought one ;p

[Paris Hilton]

Damn. Should have tried a MacBook. Just the way they are built and the way they run, nothing compares really.

They can run XP too, (not like you'd want to anyway)

[Professor Farnsworth]

mac's are using intel chips now anyway

[jonk]

Some brands aren't shipping core duo's like Toshiba's and Dell who always get first pickings.

[jim1606]

Get a mac mate, you cant go wrong with one of them.

[new2ford]

LSTG our Dells (notebook and two PCs) have been fine. (BTW I believe they're called notebooks now because they're trying to discourage people from putting them on their laps and setting fire to their pants! Could be an urban myth?!!)

Only thing with Dell is the initial purchase process is OK (except for the couriers) but the whole thing is run from overseas, so if you need any follow-up or have problems you're stuck with an Indian call centre that you can't understand and they don't understand you or emails to Singapore. They just won't get a technician out to you.

I cut the losses and just have a local service person I pay for and figure if the whole thing goes bottom up the advantage of Dell's cheaper prices is it's less painful to write off and replace a $1000 computer than a $2500 one (not to mention $5000 or whatever they cost a few years ago).

jim I know Macs are good but if you're communicating with others they're just incompatible and infuriating. I know Macs will read PC files but Mr Gates has carefully ensured that anything that comes in from a Mac is unreadable. Like Brunel's 7 foot railway gauge - brilliant idea, just not the way the rest of the world went!

[mitch_lx]

Compaq and HP have released new look notebooks.

Compaq are now using the true 64 bit X2 (dual core) Turion chip.

And now Compaqs look like Darth vader