Question:
Need notebook for work & play?
I'm changing jobs, so it looks like I'm going to have to give up my HP nc6400 (T2400, 1GB, WXGA+, 60GB HDD):( . I loved it, but it would be nice to get slightly better graphics for the occasional game (eg. X1400 or Go7400). What's a suitable replacement? Thanks in advance.
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General Questions
1) What is your budget?
<$1500 (preferably below $1200)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
b or c (14.1"-15.4")
a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Office applications (excel, word, powerpoint) email, internet, occasional light gaming
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Some Travel
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Mostly older stuff, ideally could play Oblivion on Low to moderate settings.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I've had good experiences with HP and IBM business versions (nc6400 and thinkpad T series). Some colleagues have complained about Dells, but it may have been a specific model problem, so I would be willing to try it if enough people recommended it.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
2+ would be plenty (but really 2+, eg. during dvd playback)
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
No
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in. Done
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Widescreen
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Not sure. Probably 1440x900 or better, since I have this now. Will I kick myself if I downgrade to 1280x768?
Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.
Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Matte
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Couldn't care less about looks, but it should be durable (solid).
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Plan to buy this month. Should last 4-5 years even with abuse...
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 200GB?
80GB or more
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
DVD-RW
17) Pointing device?
Prefer something with a point stick (Touchstyk, Trackpoint, UltraNav, etc...) Touchpads drive me nuts! I'll consider something without a stick, but including it would be worth another $100 to me.
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Answer:
Re: Need notebook for work & play?
you could consider the thinkpad r60 if you can stand standard....
the hp nc8430 or compal hel80 are some matte options.
Answer:
Re: Need notebook for work & play?
Aside from price, does the Thinkpad R60 have any advantages over the widescreen T60? I've actually been eying the T60 rather closely and would appreciate any comments.
As for the nc8430, it seems to be just a bit over my budget. Maybe if I strip it down enough, I could make it work, but then would I be better off with the T60? Also, can I get the nc8430 with Vista Home Premium? (I figure I might as well bite the bullet.) So far I only see XP.
I've never heard of the compal, I'll have to check it out.
Answer:
Re: Need notebook for work & play?
Typically the custom HP models cost much more than the pre-configured machines.
Answer:
Re: Need notebook for work & play?
For your budget, I'd also get the Compal HEL80 or HGL30 models.
Answer:
Re: Need notebook for work & play?
Aside from price, does the Thinkpad R60 have any advantages over the widescreen T60? I've actually been eying the T60 rather closely and would appreciate any comments.
As for the nc8430, it seems to be just a bit over my budget. Maybe if I strip it down enough, I could make it work, but then would I be better off with the T60? Also, can I get the nc8430 with Vista Home Premium? (I figure I might as well bite the bullet.) So far I only see XP.
I've never heard of the compal, I'll have to check it out.
the thinkpad r60 is the budget t60....the only advantage it has it the price.
the biggest advantage the nc8430 has over the t60 is that its gpu is twice as powerful...so it would be much better for gaming and 3d design stuff. but if you can get a better deal on the t60, and those aspects i just mentioned are of secondary importance, go for the t60. the nc8430 doesn't come with vista if you get the pre-configured models, which are usually quite a bit cheaper than customized models.