Laptops

[King]

I'm looking at buying one. Not for anything really fancy. Word processing and internet. POSSIBLY gaming, but not important. What are the best ones. I'd like to keep it under a grand.

How's this one?

http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?product_code=316613&pfp=ADPRODUCTS

[Uncle Donnie]

I've had really good luck with Toshiba laptops. I'd look around for the best deal though, CompUSA is often overpriced.

[ChumpDumper]

Toshibas are pretty good. I'll double your memory for $30 if you get that one (extra SODIMM after upgrading).

I really like Fujitsus these days.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

You're gonna need at least 512 MB of RAM, 256 sucks, Toshiba is good though.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=34-114-102&depa=3

chump - where the hell are you getting notebook RAM for $30?

[ChumpDumper]

I just have an extra 256MB SODIMM I'll let go cheap -- replaced one of mine with a 512. I'm assuming the Toshiba has 2 slots

[King]

Ah, yeah...I forgot to say that I would double the RAM on it to 512. Chump, how would you double it for me? I'm listening.

The CompUSA one I listed is pretty cheap (799), and it goes back to 1099 on Sunday. For what it is, 799 is about as good a price as I would find, right?

What's the difference between Celeron and Pentium?

[ChumpDumper]

If battery life is important to you, go with the mobile Pentium -- the Celeron's don't have as advanced a power managment system. It's faster in most situations at the same clock speed as well, Celerons are basically Pentiums that have a large chunk of their capacity disabled.

PM me if you want the SODIMM, we can work it out.

[ChumpDumper]

This article (http://www20.tomshardware.com/mobile/20040309/) is dated, but describes the basic differences between the two in as much detail as most would care to know.

[Nbadan]

Ah, yeah...I forgot to say that I would double the RAM on it to 512. Chump, how would you double it for me? I'm listening.

There is a slot on your laptop with access to your memory slots. You just unscrew the cover and slide the new SODIMM beside your old SODIMM. Of course, this is assuming that you have a open SODIMM slot, which you probably do if it only comes with 256K installed. You also have to make sure that both the SODIMM are operating at the same speeds, for instance you can't make a 2100 DDR SODIMM operate properly with a 2700 DDR SODIMM. Most older SODIMM are standard 100 or 133 mhz.

[atlfan25]

mayne, them Dell laptops are tight as fuck. That would be my pick.

[ChumpDumper]

My experience has been that DDR DIMMs can be mixed and matched without a problem -- faster sticks clock down to the slower speed, though matching sticks completely (brand, model, # of chips, etc.) is best -- older PC100/133 DIMMs are much more finicky depending on you motherboard and other factors. It's always good to check with crucial.com to see what your computer is designed to accept, although I've gotten away with matches that were not supposed to work at all.

Mine is PC2700 if you are concerned, and I wouldn't stick you with it if it didn't work.

[Nbadan]

My experience has been that DDR DIMMs can be mixed and matched without a problem -- faster sticks clock down to the slower speed, though matching sticks completely (brand, model, # of chips, etc.) is best -- older PC100/133 DIMMs are much more finicky depending on you motherboard and other factors. It's always good to check with crucial.com to see what your computer is designed to accept, although I've gotten away with matches that were not supposed to work at all.

Oh they'll work together, but the long-term stability of the OS is always been kinda iffy from my past experience. I'm not sure older 100/133 mhz stuff will work with the newer DDR memory though. Either way, $30 is a good price for 256K of PC2700 laptop memory.

[Shelly]

I've had really good luck with Toshiba laptops. I'd look around for the best deal though, CompUSA is often overpriced.

Ditto

Just stay far, far, FAR away from an IBM Thinkpad (if they still make them)

[ChumpDumper]

I'm not sure older 100/133 mhz stuff will work with the newer DDR memory though.Probably not, though the form factor is the same. Wouldn't want to take that bad a hit to the speed anyway.

[ChumpDumper]

Dell has some good coupons today: click here. (http://www.techbargains.com/)

[ducks]

www.crucial.com,kingston.com are good places to get memory

crucial you have to pay tax in az but they 2 day fed ex for free

[T Park]

Gateway makes a nice laptop

[Slomo]

Ditto

Just stay far, far, FAR away from an IBM Thinkpad (if they still make them)
They do! Why is beyond me.

2 years ago at my company we switched from SONY VAIOs (which did a decent job) to DELL laptops and we're really happy with them.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Gateways are junk. The eMachines/Gateways have skinny hinges that crack with normal wear and tear.


for instance you can't make a 2100 DDR SODIMM operate properly with a 2700 DDR SODIMM

Actually in just about all cases I know of the PC2700 is essentially overclocked PC2100. Put 2700 in with 2100, and it will revert to PC2100 speed, no problem.

[Nbadan]

Actually in just about all cases I know of the PC2700 is essentially overclocked PC2100. Put 2700 in with 2100, and it will revert to PC2100 speed, no problem.

This is why I always install TRUE 333mhz and 400mhz memory. None of that over-clocked shit for my machines.