Options for a sub <$600 notebook?

P

plasma

Gawd
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Apr 6, 2004
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I'm looking at inexpensive notebooks for someone who only plans to use it for basic internet surfing and office work and occasionally watching a dvd. Netbooks are out because of the need for an optical drive and a larger screen preferably a 15" and looking to keep it under $600

So far the best looking deal I've found is a Acer T3200 at BB for $399.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=acer&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218022587285

15.6" screen, 2GHz Intel Dual core, 160GB HD, and 2GB memory seems like more than enough, and I'll upgrade the memory to 3GB

For that price seems hard to beat, but is there something else I should look at:confused:
 
I got a DV5T with a Core2Duo 2GHZ, X4500MHD (crysis/cod4 on low settings playable, CS:S dx9 Maxed out playable), 300GB HDD, 4GB ram, and the most beautiful HP laptop case ever made all for $500...

Of course I got a deal on it with black friday and an HP lawsuit redemption, but it price should still be about 500-600 for about the same features.
 
Those things suck. Please do not buy one. I don't have an alternative for you but save yourself the money, please.
 
UncleDavid218 said:
Those things suck. Please do not buy one.
Click to expand...


:confused:I assume you're talking about the $399 Acer? Whats so bad about them that they suck? Just keep in mind the only things this will be used for is basic internet usage, office applications and occasionally playing a dvd.
 
i'm liking my acer aspire one...not quite a laptop but a netbook so if thats all you are looking for i would go for one of those. it has a dvd drive and you can also hook it up to an external monitor if the native lcd is too small for you

if portability is a factor then the acer you linked looks pretty good i think
 
Thanks for link to the Gateway. Looks very similar spec wise to the Acer for $400, but do you think T5750 CPU with 2MB L2 vs T3200 1MB L2 and another 1GB of RAM in the gateway is worth $150?? I can get another 2GB of RAM for like $25, and I just don't think this machine will even be worked hard enough for the extra cache to matter.

I noticed the Acer says it has Intel 4500M graphics and the Gateway has Intel GMA X3100. Is there any big difference there I should be aware of like lack of HDMI on one:confused: Gaming isn't an issue but is one better DX10 for Vista stuff or HD video?

I would also like to be able to downgrade to XP which I assume won't be an issue with any of these, but will I have issues finding drivers etc:?confused:
 
After a lot of looking and more looking I got a Dell Vostro 1310 for $650 with the XP downgrade included which I think is a pretty good deal:) It has the C2D T5670, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, DVDRW, Nvidia 8400M GS graphics, TrueLife LCD, and I upgraded the wireless to Intel 4965AGN.
 
ppandemic said:
...X4500MHD (crysis/cod4 on low settings playable, CS:S dx9 Maxed out playable)...
Click to expand...

Is the 4500MHD really that good? How well would it handle TF2 or L4D (the most taxing games I play)?

plasma said:
After a lot of looking and more looking I got a Dell Vostro 1310 for $650 with the XP downgrade included which I think is a pretty good deal:) It has the C2D T5670, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, DVDRW, Nvidia 8400M GS graphics, TrueLife LCD, and I upgraded the wireless to Intel 4965AGN.
Click to expand...

Also, where are you seeing this deal? I don't even see Vostros on the Dell site anymore.
 
plasma said:
Thanks for link to the Gateway. Looks very similar spec wise to the Acer for $400, but do you think T5750 CPU with 2MB L2 vs T3200 1MB L2 and another 1GB of RAM in the gateway is worth $150?? I can get another 2GB of RAM for like $25, and I just don't think this machine will even be worked hard enough for the extra cache to matter.

I noticed the Acer says it has Intel 4500M graphics and the Gateway has Intel GMA X3100. Is there any big difference there I should be aware of like lack of HDMI on one:confused: Gaming isn't an issue but is one better DX10 for Vista stuff or HD video?

I would also like to be able to downgrade to XP which I assume won't be an issue with any of these, but will I have issues finding drivers etc:?confused:
Click to expand...

Frankly the extra L2 on the T5750 isn't worth a lot, and you know about the ram. Also X3100 gets DESTROYED by x4500, but in the case of that Acer it's more than likely the GL40 chipset (most T3XXXs are) and it has the slower version of X4500 and is limited to 4gb ram and 667 fsb chips. Basically the hard drive and memory are the only upgradable parts in such machines.
 
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