HP dv8000t series or Alienware?

[Specks]

I have a hard choice to make. I'm buying a new laptop and I've never owned one before. I have been looking at two companies. The first is Alienware, I've been eyeing their Area-51 m5700. Everything is good on it with the exception of price. The configuration I'd like runs about $2,488.00. The processor I chose is the Pentium M 2.0 GHz. It also comes with a 17" wide UXGA display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200.

The HP is the dv8000t. Whats different is that it offers the Duo core instead of an M processor. I chose the Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2500 option. I have no idea how this would impact battery life compared to an M chip. Like Alienware I have the option to have either one big drive or two hard drived made in to a Raid 0 configuration. HP is cheaper and larger in this department. The screen comes with three options the last being an WXGA+ Ultra BrightView Widescreen (1440x900). As far as screens go I have no knowledge in this area and I'm not sure if having an Ultra BrightView is worth the extra money or not. At the end, creating a comperable laptop to what Alienware can offer the end price comes out to a whopping $1,933.99. A savings of $554.01.

So, hard choice here. I need a few questions answered. Alienware has the style, going with the cool look. HP, is rather plain. They always have been and probably always will be. Even Dell looks better with their new laptops. But if that is the only difference then I'd rather have the money in my pocket and forget having a cool looking piece of hardware. It's functionality what does it for me.

What would you choose? The HP or Alienware?
Aside from the fact that one is a Dual core and the other isn't. What is the difference in CPU power between the Duo Core and an M chip? Is the Duo a dual core M chip?
Would you go for a higher resolution or a brighter display with lower resolution?
Would you go for savings or status?

Thanks,

Specks

 

[Kasher_Khan]

Have you considered the DELL XPS systems. Just ordered an M170 for $1385 the other night and it comes with a 1920 by1200 screen and a 7800GTX. And definetly cooler than the HP if not Alienware.

I

 

[pates03]

second with khan, def a better machine for the price

 

[CompilerDude]

I also agree that the dell is a good choice. 2500 for an Alienware system translates to more bang for you buck at Dell.

 

[lopoetve]

Yeah. Dell over either of those

 

[Specks]

Have you considered the DELL XPS systems. Just ordered an M170 for $1385 the other night and it comes with a 1920 by1200 screen and a 7800GTX. And definetly cooler than the HP if not Alienware.

I

Where did you order this? I looked on the Dell site and all I saw were systems $1600 or greater.

 

[Gob]

Well, if you want a great well running laptop that has good battery life that will last a while durability wise... get neither.

Desktop replacement laptops are the most pointless things ever. WHAT'S THE POINT?

 

[Kasher_Khan]

Where did you order this? I looked on the Dell site and all I saw were systems $1600 or greater.

there is a forum about this not too far down. Just search M170 and you will find the link. Basically you start off with the $1699 version and then choose the lowest options including the 2.0Ghz M chip and no productivity software and standard warranty.

 

[DarthBeavis]

I would do an Alienware AMD FX 60-based system first, then Dell second. I have an AMD 4800 X2-based system (not AW) with a 7800 Go GTX in it and the system rawks. If you really need mobility instead of a desktop replacement, the Dell might be better. I think my AMD rig will outperform a pentium M but the battery life sucks.

 

[Specks]

That's the thing. I'm not just looking for a desktop replacement. I have a desktop and it suites me fine. I play WoW on it just fine with no real trouble at all (except for those that WoW creates themselves). I needed a laptop that I can use to work on as well. One with a good battery life. Dell may have been a good choice. I certainly wouldn't have minded the better graphics card and the case is pretty cool too. The outside appearance is superficial though and not important. I went with a compramise. I pulled the trigger so to speak on the HP and here's why.

When I went to the Dell site I didn't find the deal that Kasher_Kahn found (Kasher didn't provide a link either). When I stumbled upon a link for a sale that Dell had it had already expried. No deal for Dell. I'll claim ignorance when it comes to mobile Intel CPUs. I did do some research on the Duo and I liked what I saw. Basicaly the Duo is an improved M chip that is dual core. That's something that Dell didn't have. HP may not have had the best graphics card on their product, they had an nVidia GeForce Go 7400 with 256 Megs, I'm ok with that and it'll suit me fine. I don't have to have the best. I also took the option to have to 80 Gig SATA drives. I didn't see that with Dell either. When I made a comperable system with Dell it came out to be over $600 more than HP. For a first laptop I think the HP will serve me well for a few years till something better comes out.

So here's what I got on the HP dv8000t.

Windows XP Pro
Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2500 (2.0 GHz)
17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050)
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400 (no choice there)
2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024MB)
160 GB 5400 RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (80 GB x 2)
FREE Upgrade DVD+/-RW/R CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer (big deal)
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth (for $20, why not)
Windows(R) XP Professional with SP2 Backup CD (This should have been free, but for $10 ... eh)
1-year HP Accidental Damage Protection with Express Repair
Computrace LoJack for Laptops, Three Years (I have no idea if this really works, but it's worth a try)

I think this system was a good middle ground for something that could play games and be used for work as well. So I'm happy with the choice.

 

[acaurora]

I dont want to burst your bubble, but a few things:

As an employee for Best Buy, HP is our biggest brand. However, they also have their own quirks:

I myself bought an HP, more specifically, the DV5000 (I got the DV5035NR, a Turion 64, just recently now they're doing Core Duos/Turion64s with 7400s). It's great, dont get me wrong, however, their support really sucks:

One day I turn on my computer to be greeted by an error message basically saying the PCI bus had too many devices trying to access resources. I tried contacting HP about it, saying tha tmy Wireless wouldn't work anymore, TWICE, to only get an India call center, TWICE. Either I didn't undrstand them, or they didn't understand me, or, which happened most, we didn't understand each other. I hung up before even letting them tell me "thank you for calling HP". So I figure, hmmm, try online chat. So I chat online with a rep, obviously MUCH better communication, they say that they'll send me a shipper box, will get the motherboard replaced, and I'm all good. Right? WRONG.

I get an email 2 hours later showing order status: UPS will be picking up my laptop in the shipper box (that has not shipped yet): TOMORROW. So I get back on online chat and ask them what happened. They say "Oh, you don't get a shipper box. But they will pick it up tomorrow.". I call UPS to verify: "Sir, we don't have any scheduled pickups for your location tomorrow... or for the next week for that matter.". Back to Online Chat. "Well, if that doens't work, here's HP's UPS ACCOUT NUMBER:". Isn't that fraud?

As for the product, it's good. HP does make good products... most of the time. Last year they shipped a desktop series line WITHOUT AGP/PCI-E slots. Which... obviously has its problems right there. They've shipped desktops with 1 GB of ram by using FOUR x 256 MB DIMMS. Same with 2 GB. 4 x 512s. Granted, now I think they've fixed it, but i"m just expressing the problems HP has had over the past few years. The only problem that I have seen now is that HP does not use the highest speed RAM (i.e., they use PC2700 instead of PC3200 for all Athlon systems, and PC533 instead of PC667 for Intels).


But back to the notebook you ordered - there is an even higher resolution option for your laptop - 1680x1050. It is not the highest option, strangely. The regular BrightView still has a glossy covering. What is the Ultra mean though, who knows. Also, those two HDDs are not in a RAID configuration, and cannot be RAIDed. Your laptop uses PC2700, where you could put in PC3200 ram for a performance boost. Finally, the battery that comes with your laptop averages about 3 hours on the included 8 cell. The QuickPlay function is pretty nice, especially the new QuickPlay 2.0, which will play videos/songs and i THINK pictures straight from the HDD, CD/DVD, OR Media Cards! Finally, I do want to warn you about teh glossy covering that surrounds the keyboard - it is Nano-like. Scratches very easily. Do take care of it =[...

Dont get me wrong, the DV8000 is awesome in size, power, and performance... it's just that there are certain things that really bug me about it in terms fo the product's performing @ max performance as well as the company itself.

If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to ask me. We carry this line @ our workplace and I can probably answer anything about this product.

 

[pates03]

I dont want to burst your bubble, but a few things:

As for the product, it's good. HP does make good products... most of the time. Last year they shipped a desktop series line WITHOUT AGP/PCI-E slots. Which... obviously has its problems right there.

.

i remember those. I felt like HP cheated the customers by being cheap. HP has turned around IMO with the dv5000 and dv8000 series. We're getting a lot buzz in our store with those laptop. Especially the dv8235 we got this past week.

And now the 1440 comes with a dedicated video card, 7300 Geforce, nothing special but better than onboard crap.

Though I like our gateway computers a lot more execpt for they still use IDE HDD

 

[acaurora]

If you also work for Best Buy, I haven't checked, but I'd go check ont eh DV5102. I'm guessing it comes with the new Core Solo/Duo processors. As for teh 1440, I dont think we have it yet. The DV series in general has definately come a long way, and is gaining much momentum. But again Istill have my reservations. It is not perfect (the whole not using high speed RAM is a big thing for me), but it definately is getting there. The QuickPlay is a BIG selling point, and now with the 7400s coming with them definately is a BIG step forward.

Gateway still is in teh lead in terms of the best laptops close to Dell. Check out their 17" notebook line. I remember when we used to sell those, god I wish I had gotten one when we still carried them. They are so light, thin, and YOU CAN GET THEM WITH 7600/7900!!!!... of course they do cost about $15-2500. =[