Best Laptop for $2000-$2500??

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Jono

68 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 9008 13-Aug-2006 12:49

Hi there Guys!!

I am a total Laptop purchasing newbie so dont know whats good and what i should stay clear of!

Basically i want a Laptop for Uni/Work, Internet, emails, music Etc.

Im not intending to use it to play games or anything like that so dont need suburb graphics or anything.

I would like a decent screen, 15' or so and a reasonably good battery life
Pref Windows with Office etc
CD/DVD Burner & Player
Wireless
Decent Memory/Ram/Processor Etc with the option to upgrade in the future.

Im intending to spend around $2500 but if theres something worth chucking in a few hundred $$'s in than that may be considered.

A respectable brand with good service support and warranty.

If you guys have any opinions/advice let me know!!

My friend has one of those Tablet thingys which i think is quite user friendly but im looking at other options.

Thankz in advance!!
Jono

tonyhughes

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Reply # 43832 13-Aug-2006 14:44

in general, you cannot upgrade laptop processors... get the fast you can reasonably afford (although there are other factors).

Dont let RAM sway you too much - very easy and cost effective to upgrade. You will want 512mb or more if using XP, or 1GB or more if you plan to use the new Windows Vista.

Do you need Office? Openoffice 2.0 is a very capable replacement for many people, and its free.

barf

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 43833 13-Aug-2006 15:04

I reccomend the new Intel-powered Apple laptops; MacBooks
For battery life an iBook G4 is nearly impossible to beat (5-7 hours); a marvel of engineering, but these will be outdated soon.

A test I do when evaluating a laptop is the 'one-hand' test. Quite simply, pick it up with one hand, close your eyes and feel how strong it is - not a very geeky test I know but a strong laptop is better than a flimsy one!

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chiefie

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Reply # 43836 13-Aug-2006 15:29

that Dell D510 is old, i'd stay clear that. If only Dell offer D520 which has Core Duo, with Telecom's Data Card, then that'll be a great deal of course.

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Jono

68 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 43838 13-Aug-2006 16:54

Are Toshiba laptops good?

Ive found this and its got all the basic requirements i need (not sure if its got bluetooth or not) but its a Toshiba Tecra A3X:
http://www.eoneonline.co.nz/shop/NOTEBOOK+COMPUTERS/Toshiba+Notebook/For+Intel+CPU/TOSHIBA+Tecra+A3+PM740+1.73+512+15%22+XGA+60+DVD+SuperMulti+DL+802.11a+b+g+Win+XP+Pro/id/Cry8fZNJ.html

http://203.56.127.51/topic/pdf/DOWNLOADS/BROCHURES/Toshiba_Tecra_A3X_Specification_Brochure_22.11.05.pdf

I can purchase a laptop under my dads business so can claim back the GST.

Is this a good laptop or are their better ones for around the same price?

If you know of something please post a link!

Cheers

s.joseph

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Reply # 43840 13-Aug-2006 17:14

yeap go with a toshiba, mine hasnt given me any problems and alot of people recommend them.

freitasm

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Reply # 43841 13-Aug-2006 18:31

I have a Toshiba Tablet PC, and is lasting for two years with no problems at all...

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jpwise

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Reply # 43885 14-Aug-2006 10:23

Toshiba is generally very good. If you end up buying through one of the retail chains however watch out for the extended warranty. A Toshiba 3 year warranty is definitely worth the money, but if you buy one of the 5 year warranties through Bond&Bond/Harvey Norman etc you may find it's actually an insurance underwritten policy, not a warranty per se.

So if you can get the manufacturer warranty. It'll cost an extra $200-300 generally but if your screen or motherboard dies in the second year it saves alot of hassle.

Jp.

Working for Service Plus - www.serviceplus.co.nz

Authorised Service Agent for Apple, BenQ, Sony, and Toshiba - warranty & non-warranty repairs.

jpwise

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Reply # 43887 14-Aug-2006 10:24

PS: The Toshiba Portege series is normally 3 year warranty from factory.

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Jono

68 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 44304 19-Aug-2006 10:20

Ok ive found this Toshiba M100: http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/44e628e70b8c4d9a273fc0a87f99073f/Product/View/XC3762

I think its a good price for what it has, and most of it is what im looking for.

Its only a single procseesor though. Is it worthwhile paying the extra $400 or so for a laptop with a dual processor or will this one be fine? If i brought it i would probably chuck in a 1G Ram.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cheers!!

SirTrev

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 44487 22-Aug-2006 14:18

Oh man, no one has said Alienware yet?? They have some awesome(ly expensive) but sweet laptops.

Jono

68 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 44756 26-Aug-2006 23:39

Hey Guys

Well i ended up getting a Compaq Presario V3000!! Its an awsme laptop and feels really great to use ands looks nice.

I brought it from Dick Smiths Botany and found them really helpfull, and they also gave me a discount and a free HP Printer/Scanner!!

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/44f030ce0edc307c273fc0a87f990747/Product/View/XC3840

Processor: AMD Turion” 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-50 (1.6 GHz, 256KB+256KB L2 Cache)

Memory: 512MB DDR2 533 (1 slot) upgradeable to 2GB

Hard Drive: 60GB (5400rpm)

Optical Drive: Dual layer DVD writer

Display: 14" WXGA widescreen + Brightview

Video: nVidia GeForce Go 6150 Graphics

Audio: Built-in Altec Lansing stereo speakers

Networking: Integrated 10⁄100 Ethernet LAN

Modem: Integrated high speed 56K modem.

WiFi: 802.11a⁄b⁄g

Card reader: Integrated 5-in-1 digital memory reader slot (xD, SD, MMC, Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO)

I⁄O: 3 x USB 2.0, VGA, IEEE 1394, RJ-11 ⁄ Modem, RJ-45 ⁄ Ethernet, Headphone jack and Microphone jack, 2 Omni-directional microphones, S-Video Output

Battery: Lithium Ion, 6 Cell

Weight & Dimensions (mm): 2.4kg, 334 x 237x 39mm (w x d x h)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Software: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home, Microsoft® Works 8.0, Microsoft® Money 2005, Microsoft® Encarta Standard 2006, Microsoft® Windows Media Player 10, Sonic Digital Media Plus, Muvee AutoProducer DVD Edition, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0, Symantec” Norton Anti-Virus” 2006 (60 days live update), Symantec” Norton Internet Security 2006 (60 days live update)

Warranty: 1 year limited hardware

The laptop Cost $1798.

I also got another 512MB put in. A D-Link G604T Wireless Router. And a 5 Year Warranty for the Laptop ($200).

All up the guy gave me a deal of $2165

Really happy with the purchase!

I decided not to go for the M100 Toshiba and put in a few more $$'s. I also read reviews that the Toshiba makes lots of noice and the fan get quit annoying, people were also having problems with the screens.