Help buying a laptop

KBZ · Post by **KBZ** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:42 am

So I'm moving to vancouver and wont be able to bring my desktop pc. So I'm looking to buy a laptop top take with me.

here's what I'm looking for in a laptop

- Under $1000
- 1.6 ghz processor or more
- 512 mb ram or more
- as much HD space as possible
- DVD burning
- Nvidia card if possible
- Good linux compatibility
- full speed NeoGeo emulation
- playable Half Life 2
- S- video out
- Decent battery life
- cup holder

here's what I've been checking out in my local auctions...

Sharp Actius gp22w - $700 cdn

http://ottawa.craigslist.org/sys/173835729.html

Review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1041583,00.asp

This seems like a decent deal, but I'm a bit worried about the graphics chip in this thing. Since I want to use xgl in SuSE 10.1. The low hard drive space, and short battery life.

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Toshiba Satellite 1905-S301 - $800 cdn

http://ottawa.craigslist.org/sys/172489021.html

Review: http://pcworld.about.com/news/Oct232002id106121.htm

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Macbook intel duo core - $1099 usd

http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html

This intel mac would be ideal with it's intel chip allowing me to triple boot osx, linux, and winblows all at once. However once again I'm stuck with an onboard intel graphics chip. It's also quite pricey for a poor student like me.

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IBM Thinkpad T30 - $800 cdn

http://ottawa.craigslist.org/sys/168919505.html

IBM Thinkpad X40 laptop $550 cdn

http://ottawa.craigslist.org/sys/166306026.html

I've heard great things about ibm thinkpads as well, but I've never actualy used them. Not really a fan of that mouse nub.

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HP Pavilion dv5170us Notebook -$599cdn

http://ottawa.craigslist.org/sys/165177202.html

Review: http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?s ... HEO&page=2

this HP pavillion looks pretty beastly too, but the graphics are pretty low end apparently. So maybe I wouldnt' bother with XGL. But it would be nice to play the odd round of half life or Phantasy Star Universe.

So which from all of these would you guys pick?

thanks,

King.

ahnslaught · Post by **ahnslaught** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:19 am

My vote's with the thinkpads. Can't say much as to other laptops brands because I haven't tried them, but I've gone through 4 thinkpads since 1994 and I've loved them all. They all work to this day as well, which I can't say for other brands which family and friends have bought.

I'm pretty sure the T series come with eraserheads and trackpads, if you really want one of those. I don't know if you gave yourself time to get used to the eraserhead, but it's in my opinion the greatest pointing device, mouse included, for web surfing and general office tasks. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority, but I'm basically stuck to the thinkpads now because they are the only brand that uses the eraserhead. It's so much more accurate than trackpads, and you never have to get your hands off the keyboard. I even thought seriously for a while about buying a keyboard with the eraserhead built in. Too bad that even a couple of years ago, I had the choice between Toshiba and IBM, but no more...

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:37 am

Good to see you're staying away from Dell.

I've also owned two Thinkpads in the past, only positive experiences. Running NeoRageX from the S-video port was an amazing experience. The eraser head beats the crap out of any track ball or touch pad. Best Pointing Device. Ever.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:30 am

Welcome to Vancouver in advance. Drop me a line when you're in town and we can shmeet up and eat Salt 'n Vinegar potato chips until our tongues fall off. Now THAT's a party.

Scared you already eh?

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:20 am

So which ones have the cup holder then?

D · Post by D » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:48 am

icycalm wrote:So which ones have the cup holder then?

You can always use your dvd burner as a cup holder, but i guess the trick is to get your cup held while burning a dvd

KBZ · Post by **KBZ** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:58 pm

I checked out the craig's list in Vancouver, and it seems like it just makes more sense to get something when I get there. There's just so much more available.

like this

I know it's a dell but it's supposed to work well with linux and has an Nvidia card

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/sys/174081842.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/sys/172992701.html

there's also a pretty good deal on a powerbook g4

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/sys/174230392.html

How come you guys get all the cool shit over there!