Non-gaming laptop for college

[jchastain]

quote:

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Originally posted by kuplicks22
[br]-Just checked out the Sony S series. They are pretty pricey as compared to the ABS laptop I was looking at. Also to add, the ABS has a bigger screen, better graphics card, and processor for at least $300 less than the Sony S series.

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With the Sony S you are paying for amazing mobility. Just over and inch thick and just over 4 pounds is an achievement. Doing that with the power available in the S series (it has a R9700 graphics option) is simply amazing. But that mobility costs extra. If you just want something you can throw in a bag with 5 books, then it isn't worth paying to knock those couple of pounds off your notebook.

If you want mobility but don't need graphics performance (ie. non-gaming), then the gateway 200 series is a better choice. If you want the graphics performance but don't want to pay for the mobility then there are lots of choices with bigger screens that cost less.

[kuplicks22]

-I don't think I need the extra mobility factor, so the Sony S series is off the list
-I checked out the Gateway 200 series with the same kind of specs as the ABS ZForce F2 and it came out around $250 more. I have also been warned by some people to definitely not buy a Gateway, so that kind of scares me off. I personally had a Gateway about 7 years ago and its performance was soso.
-Back to the ABS... It seems like nobody is really pro-ABS or wants to talk about them. Why is that? Is it because they are not as big of a company and not too many people buy from them?
Let me know
Thanks

[Brian]

I would have no problem buying ABS. They're a lot like Acer here, nice brand, just not marketed much. As for Gateway, I wouldn't touch their notebooks with a 10 foot pole.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

[kuplicks22]

-Aleman- can you post the specs and price on the IBM T42 your going to get?
Thanks

[Aleman]

I will be buying an IBM T42 (2378FVU) for my first semester of college next year. Why? Because it is light (4.9 lbs) and built like a rock.

Seriously guys, if he's not doing any gaming, any Pentium M processor notebook will be fine. Even integrated graphics can play DVDs well. So the bottom line is, grab a notebook with a Pentium M (generally light weight with longer battery life) and that is built solid. I would suggest an IBM T42 or a Dell 600m if you want to save some money.


www.team-md.com

[ReverendDC]

I would stay away from the Sonys. They have reliability issues. I, of course, cannot say that it will fail, just that there is a better possibility with a Sony.

Every person I have talked to who purchased a Sony have had some sort of failure after two to three years. The three that I work with state the same failure-motherboard. That cannot be coincidence.

[Eliwood]

quote:

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Originally posted by ReverendDC
[br]I would stay away from the Sonys. They have reliability issues. I, of course, cannot say that it will fail, just that there is a better possibility with a Sony.

Every person I have talked to who purchased a Sony have had some sort of failure after two to three years. The three that I work with state the same failure-motherboard. That cannot be coincidence.

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Everyone has their story. Which series was this?

I own 2 which have given no problems in 4 years. And I posted results of a survey conducted at my school where Sony's were the second most frequent types of laptops. Sony's came out with the least defects Please don't make a judgement on all of Sony just out of several cases. It's only notable if it's a specific model-related failure.

I'm not saying that Sony's the best in reliability, but I am surprised to see your awful experiences with them.

--------------------
Compaq Presario 2800T
Pentium 4-M 1.6 GHz - 15" UXGA
512 MB RAM - 40 GB (5400 rpm)
ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 64 MB
Pretty good for 2002 isn't it?

[ReverendDC]

quote:

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Originally posted by Eliwood
[br]

quote:

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Originally posted by ReverendDC
[br]I would stay away from the Sonys. They have reliability issues. I, of course, cannot say that it will fail, just that there is a better possibility with a Sony.

Every person I have talked to who purchased a Sony have had some sort of failure after two to three years. The three that I work with state the same failure-motherboard. That cannot be coincidence.

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Everyone has their story. Which series was this?

I own 2 which have given no problems in 4 years. And I posted results of a survey conducted at my school where Sony's were the second most frequent types of laptops. Sony's came out with the least defects Please don't make a judgement on all of Sony just out of several cases. It's only notable if it's a specific model-related failure.

I'm not saying that Sony's the best in reliability, but I am surprised to see your awful experiences with them.

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I would not be saying it if it were not the same exact problem three times over (motherboard). Add to this the dubious reliability reputation of Sony's biggest electronic product (PS2), and there is a pattern.

I will give you this, however...each computer was in the pcg series, which were universally derided. It could be just this series but, after seeing the problem first hand, three times, I am weary about all Sony products.

Thirdly, a measure of defects does not accurately gauge long-term reliability. There is a term-"planned obsolesence," that might describe some of Sony's policies. While the thing might work perfectly at first for a couple of years, parts start to break down after a set number of years by design, thus boosting sales and ensuring a consumer base for years to come. If you don't have to buy a new computer after two or three years, odds are you won't. If it is broken, though, you have no other choice. One of my Toshibas is 7 years old, and I have an HP that is 5 years old that have not suffered the same fate.

[Aleman]

quote:

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Originally posted by kuplicks22
[br]-Aleman- can you post the specs and price on the IBM T42 your going to get?
Thanks

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IBM T42 2378FVU specs:

Pentium M 735 1.7 GHZ
256 MB PC2700 (to be upgraded with 512 stick of Crucial from www.newegg.com)
64 MB Radeon 9600
DVD/CD-RW drive
Built in Intel 2200 B/G wireless
14.1 in Flexview 1400x1050 screen
^^^ 4.9 lbs ~ $1750-$1850 (check www.dealtime.com)

IMHO, that is an ideal laptop for a college student. And it will run games and Photoshop fine, given that you upgrade the RAM.


www.team-md.com

[Aleman]

Yes, but you have to consider that IBM notebooks are built to last. I have no experience with ABS laptops, but I know that IBMs can take a hit and are very dependable.


www.team-md.com