Best mid-range laptop

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KingNurple

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Oct 28, 2005
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I'm a college student and I need to upgrade my PC, but since I don't really play too many games right now, and can't afford to build a gaming PC, I think a laptop may be a better choice due to it's small size and portability. My needs are word processing, using the internet, downloading some torrents, listening to music, watching movies, burning cds/dvds, and possibly importing digital video from a DV camera. I'm not looking to skimp on quality and get a piece of shit, but I also don't want to spend a whole lot since the focus won't be on graphics. I'd like to be able to replace most of my desktop functions with the laptop, but also save enough money to put towards a gaming PC in the future...or possibly a 360 depending on the reviews and games. Thanks.
 
hi tech hate said:
what's the specs of your current system?
Click to expand...

I have a Dell Dimension 8200. 2ghz Pentium 4, 256mb ram, ATI All-in-wonder 9200 126mb. The graphics card is the only thing that isn't stock from Dell.
 
Well without a price I have a few options for ya.

For a good Desktop replacement with only 2hrs or so of battery I recommend the eMachines m68XX series (m6805, 6807, 6809, 6810, 6811) They are the best bang for the buck with a radeon 9600 and a A64 thats upgradable with any a64m 754 chip really. They start at about 650 or so with a good setup but you can get them cheaper. They are my favoriate lowend power system and I would use one any day for a main system. They are a rock solid system. There is a great thread here on this model and its def again a great system.

For a good battery life budget system again I fall to a system that almost mirrors the one above but ads a neat media control center on the left side and comes from gateway. its the M505X and XL Series with Centrino Packages. It has a good 4hrs on battery and scores the same as the A64 system above without the A64 capabilites. The Processor is not in a slot though if I remember correctly so your stuck with the system at its level. But its def a nice system again widescreen like the model above.

Next I would say the Dell 9100 is a complete desktop replacement with no loss for power but def not fun to carry around. It can handle CPU and GPU upgrades to a 9800 radeon that out performs its desktop counterpart. Its my next fav system and is the only dell I feel did not look like the rest so to speak. It was and is a good looking laptop with screen upgrades all the way to UWXGA (My Fav). This system is more money expect about 900 or so on a good one (theres even one for sale here for that price although I think with its specs I would say 825 would be my offer on it).

Now for a lower priced system I say that the Dell 8500 (P4 Mobile) and Dell 8600 (Pentium M) Are great systems with GPU and CPU Upgrades all the way to the 9600 Radeon. I liked the Ti4200 in them myself. You can find them all over eBay and sometimes here they are a good system esp to take with you.

The Dell 600m is a nice system i do not like the 700. To many have told me its junk but then many like it here. Mainly for myself i will not use a Shared Video Laptop (Which the 700 is) end of story so the 700 series is out of luck no matter what :p (Only the small small laptops like the Sony U3 and Picture books would be a laptop i would accept with shared video, etc) But the 600m has the radeon 9000 which still give you shader support so it would be a great mobile pick with Pentium M setups and small form factor. I would pay around 580 for a 32MB 9000 and 635 for a 64MB 9000. (But thats just me) They are a great laptop.

The Dell 8200 is a great laptop that is normally very easily prices around 500 with a UXGA Screen and a 64MB nVidia Geforce 440 Card. They are def a nice system i have owned more then one and a 4200 which is a sim. model. This is my budget recommendation as they are around 500 on eBay as well.

Now beyond this i have yet to test much further so your other forum members are going to be your best friends here. I have been playing with cars and getting ready for my new son so I have yet to test a new system but info from those i trust tells me the following:

The Dell 6000D with the Radeon X300 is identical to the radeon 9600. So its a good system and def one I want to try soon.

The Dell 9300 is a GREAT system. The dell 9200 had screen problems sometimes but I would like to find one to play with all the same.

Apple Still makes great laptops as always. And IBM still makes great T40's, T42's and T43's as well.
 
If you really arent looking for a laptop but an 'upgraded system' just throw some more RAM into your desktop and you're all set. If you don't really need the portability of the laptop, why get it when you have a perfectly good desktop for the tasks you need it to do?
 
Cross said:
Well without a price I have a few options for ya.

For a good Desktop replacement with only 2hrs or so of battery I recommend the eMachines m68XX series (m6805, 6807, 6809, 6810, 6811) They are the best bang for the buck with a radeon 9600 and a A64 thats upgradable with any a64m 754 chip really. They start at about 650 or so with a good setup but you can get them cheaper. They are my favoriate lowend power system and I would use one any day for a main system. They are a rock solid system. There is a great thread here on this model and its def again a great system.

For a good battery life budget system again I fall to a system that almost mirrors the one above but ads a neat media control center on the left side and comes from gateway. its the M505X and XL Series with Centrino Packages. It has a good 4hrs on battery and scores the same as the A64 system above without the A64 capabilites. The Processor is not in a slot though if I remember correctly so your stuck with the system at its level. But its def a nice system again widescreen like the model above.

Next I would say the Dell 9100 is a complete desktop replacement with no loss for power but def not fun to carry around. It can handle CPU and GPU upgrades to a 9800 radeon that out performs its desktop counterpart. Its my next fav system and is the only dell I feel did not look like the rest so to speak. It was and is a good looking laptop with screen upgrades all the way to UWXGA (My Fav). This system is more money expect about 900 or so on a good one (theres even one for sale here for that price although I think with its specs I would say 825 would be my offer on it).

Now for a lower priced system I say that the Dell 8500 (P4 Mobile) and Dell 8600 (Pentium M) Are great systems with GPU and CPU Upgrades all the way to the 9600 Radeon. I liked the Ti4200 in them myself. You can find them all over eBay and sometimes here they are a good system esp to take with you.

The Dell 600m is a nice system i do not like the 700. To many have told me its junk but then many like it here. Mainly for myself i will not use a Shared Video Laptop (Which the 700 is) end of story so the 700 series is out of luck no matter what :p (Only the small small laptops like the Sony U3 and Picture books would be a laptop i would accept with shared video, etc) But the 600m has the radeon 9000 which still give you shader support so it would be a great mobile pick with Pentium M setups and small form factor. I would pay around 580 for a 32MB 9000 and 635 for a 64MB 9000. (But thats just me) They are a great laptop.

The Dell 8200 is a great laptop that is normally very easily prices around 500 with a UXGA Screen and a 64MB nVidia Geforce 440 Card. They are def a nice system i have owned more then one and a 4200 which is a sim. model. This is my budget recommendation as they are around 500 on eBay as well.

Now beyond this i have yet to test much further so your other forum members are going to be your best friends here. I have been playing with cars and getting ready for my new son so I have yet to test a new system but info from those i trust tells me the following:

The Dell 6000D with the Radeon X300 is identical to the radeon 9600. So its a good system and def one I want to try soon.

The Dell 9300 is a GREAT system. The dell 9200 had screen problems sometimes but I would like to find one to play with all the same.

Apple Still makes great laptops as always. And IBM still makes great T40's, T42's and T43's as well.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I appreciate your help. With so many computers out there it's hard to know where to start.
 
hi tech hate said:
If you really arent looking for a laptop but an 'upgraded system' just throw some more RAM into your desktop and you're all set. If you don't really need the portability of the laptop, why get it when you have a perfectly good desktop for the tasks you need it to do?
Click to expand...

I've thought about that too. I may put more RAM in it and get a decent 256 graphics card and see if I can play the newer games, but I am still leaning toward a laptop so I can take it to class. Honestly, gaming is the only advantage I see a PC having over a laptop. I'm sure there are more, but none I would use it for.
 
Cross said:
For a good Desktop replacement with only 2hrs or so of battery I recommend the eMachines m68XX series (m6805, 6807, 6809, 6810, 6811) They are the best bang for the buck with a radeon 9600 and a A64 thats upgradable with any a64m 754 chip really. They start at about 650 or so with a good setup but you can get them cheaper. They are my favoriate lowend power system and I would use one any day for a main system. They are a rock solid system. There is a great thread here on this model and its def again a great system.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind also that the eMachines m68xx series notebook lives on under the Gateway name should you not want to buy used or refurbed. Arima still makes them, they are just badged as a Gateway instead of an eMachines.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat39100050016&id=1125464966640
 
I'm really happy with my Asus. The widescreen is incredible for DVDs and such. I use it for digital audio processing, watching movies, music, schoolwork, and gaming. Really versatile, IMO. Got a great deal from www.istnc.com. Rick from there offers excellent customer service and regularly posts on wwww.notebookforums.com. There's a lot of good information on there, so I would recommend making it one of your stops when making your decision.

I would point out that there is a refresh of my model available with an x700 instead of an x600. This would be great to have, but I needed to get a laptop immediately and the refresh wasn't out at the time. The x600 is more than acceptable for the games I play though. (HL2, Battlefront 2, City of Heroes)
 
the 8200 takes RDRAM...it's not worth upgrading.


personal suggestion is sell your system on ebay, then buy yourself an Acer Travelmate 4400( $1109 at newegg), or an Asus Z70VA depending on your budget(if between 1200+.
 
as much as I liked the M6805 (hell, I started the FAQ on it back in January 04...and it's likely the largest thread in Mobile Computing)....I would advise against any Athlon 64 systems.

Turion 64 yes...but the old hot A64...not so much so.
 
Again thats why i lean towards the gateway m505x and xl model for mobile but for desktop replacement I love the m68XX series ^-^

I would like to try the Turon series but I have yet to see many with nice video cards, it seems they lack in that area but then I have not looked TO hard. :D I would def love to try one out though.
 
m1dg3t said:
I'm really happy with my Asus. The widescreen is incredible for DVDs and such. I use it for digital audio processing, watching movies, music, schoolwork, and gaming. Really versatile, IMO. Got a great deal from www.istnc.com. Rick from there offers excellent customer service and regularly posts on wwww.notebookforums.com. There's a lot of good information on there, so I would recommend making it one of your stops when making your decision.

I would point out that there is a refresh of my model available with an x700 instead of an x600. This would be great to have, but I needed to get a laptop immediately and the refresh wasn't out at the time. The x600 is more than acceptable for the games I play though. (HL2, Battlefront 2, City of Heroes)
Click to expand...

I found some nice configurations with the 6600go but nothing A64 type. I like seening brands I am not familure with those are my favoriate to try. However I did notice that Twinhead had a great laptop with bluetooth for 640.00. However its out of stock.
 
Cross said:
I would like to try the Turon series but I have yet to see many with nice video cards, it seems they lack in that area but then I have not looked TO hard. :D I would def love to try one out though.
Click to expand...


the Travelmate 4400 I mentioned has a 64mb X700

the Ferrari 4000 has a 128mb X700


but, you're right...most companies are putting them in xpress 200m(but only using onboard...as the above 2 notebooks use the Xpress 200m chipset) or SIS based systems.
 
I really wanted my next laptop purchase to be nvidia because of ati's lack of great support for linux drivers. I am find with ATI for windows but i want to go back to linux personally. :D

But its def nice to see the Turon with a good graphics card. I would like to try either of those systems, lol I am looking them up now ^-^ :p
 
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