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Right now I'm stuck having to buy a new laptop because my Toshiba Satellite is house ridden with a touchy DC jack that I just paid $255 to fix. Do you guys recommend any particular laptop in the $400 - $700 range. I just need something basic.

o wai this happen to me

I'm in a similar situation, only I opted not to fix my laptop. I've been looking at HP's dv6500t, depending on your needs it can fall into that range especially if you can get it through their EPP program. Dell's Vostro 1500 also looks like a solid machine, but is a little more costly.

I've been looking at some HP's. It sucks that everything has Vista loaded now.

InnocentBystander wrote:I'm in a similar situation, only I opted not to fix my laptop. I've been looking at HP's dv6500t, depending on your needs it can fall into that range especially if you can get it through their EPP program. Dell's Vostro 1500 also looks like a solid machine, but is a little more costly.

My girlfriend has the Vostro with a GeForce 8600GT, and for the relatively low cost it's an extremely sick computer. Oblivion runs max detail with no lag. Still, it's a bit above the OP budget.

VF5SS wrote:It sucks that everything has Vista loaded now

Not really, vista is a fine operating system.

Seggybop wrote:

InnocentBystander wrote:I'm in a similar situation, only I opted not to fix my laptop. I've been looking at HP's dv6500t, depending on your needs it can fall into that range especially if you can get it through their EPP program. Dell's Vostro 1500 also looks like a solid machine, but is a little more costly.

My girlfriend has the Vostro with a GeForce 8600GT, and for the relatively low cost it's an extremely sick computer. Oblivion runs max detail with no lag. Still, it's a bit above the OP budget.

I *want* the Vostro, because I like the idea of being able to play modern games anywhere again, but I'm not away from my desk all that often anymore. I'm having a hard time justifying paying an extra 30% for a machine that I'm only getting light use out of.

I need to get myself a new laptop but I'm really torn between the $800 HP with the 8400M and the $1200 Dell with the 8600M (of course if I'm spending that much already, I might as well get the 1680x1050 resolution screen, which I much perfer over 1280x800).

It's up to $1200 now?? It was only around $900 before! Though to get that price we had to mess with random options on Dell's site; it seems that the final price you get somehow depends on what area of the site you started on.

Seggybop wrote:It's up to $1200 now?? It was only around $900 before! Though to get that price we had to mess with random options on Dell's site; it seems that the final price you get somehow depends on what area of the site you started on.

Hmmm, I see what you mean. Following the links to the "Fall Super Sale" I can now configure the vostro 1500 to $900 with a 1.6 Ghz processor and an 8600M. I'm going to have to think on this system, that price is far more comfortable; though I'd kinda like the 2ghz processor and the better screen.

Do what I did and haunt the Dell refurb site.
I got a what originally was a Latitude L131 with a 3 year NBD warranty for around $800.
But when I complained about the screen color being 'off' during my 21 day no questions asked exchange period, they exchanged it with a Latitude D820 with twice the RAM, the highest resolution LCD they offered, swappable DVD-RW/Floppy drive modules, etc.

The new machine was easily worth twice what I paid for the L131, and I thought I got a good deal on it with a 3 year warranty, much less the pimped out D820 Dell replaced it with.

Glocksman wrote:Do what I did and haunt the Dell refurb site.
I got a what originally was a Latitude L131 with a 3 year NBD warranty for under $800.
But when I complained about the screen color being 'off' during my 21 day no questions asked exchange period, they exchanged it with a Latitude D820 with twice the RAM, the highest resolution LCD they offered, swappable DVD-RW/Floppy drive modules, etc.

The new machine was easily worth twice what I paid for the L131, and I thought I got a good deal on it with a 3 year warranty, much less the pimped out D820 Dell replaced it with.

Problem with the outlet is that none of the machines are just the right fit. The best I can find is a machine that requires more ram, when you factor that plus the shipping costs its a mere $30 less to buy from the outlet, and thats just not worth it.

Regarding the LCD, you may be better off with the lower resolution. With 1680 crammed into such a relatively small screen area things can be really hard to read.

Seggybop wrote:Regarding the LCD, you may be better off with the lower resolution. With 1680 crammed into such a relatively small screen area things can be really hard to read.

The D820's resolution was 1920x1200 on a 15.4" screen.
Frankly I couldn't read anything at that size, so I bought a 1280x800 panel from ebay and put it in.
Even after figuring in the $180 for the lower res panel, I still made out like a bandit.
If I hadn't found a lower res panel at a reasonable price, I would have simply insisted upon a refund.

Problem with the outlet is that none of the machines are just the right fit.

They aren't the right fit now.
Who knows what'll be up tomorrow.
I got my original machine by haunting the refurb site for 2 weeks (my reason for waiting was because I wanted a machine with the free Vista upgrade, which I got) before pulling the trigger and placing the order.

Of course if time is of the essence, then waiting may not be worth it for you.

Seggybop wrote:Regarding the LCD, you may be better off with the lower resolution. With 1680 crammed into such a relatively small screen area things can be really hard to read.

Oh no, my old laptop runs at this resolution and its just a lot better. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I don't want to go back if I can help it .

Glocksman wrote: They aren't the right fit now.
Who knows what'll be up tomorrow.
I got my original machine by haunting the refurb site for 2 weeks (my reason for waiting was because I wanted a machine with the free Vista upgrade, which I got) before pulling the trigger and placing the order.

Of course if time is of the essence, then waiting may not be worth it for you.

I'm comparing prices between new and refurbished, same components and the difference are always +/- $50. Maybe its because there is a sale going on (then again, there is always a sale going on), but I'm just not seeing a huge difference in price unless the machine is listed as scratch/dent.

I am the proud owner of a Dell Vostro 1700. An absolutely killer deal it was as well - Dell are pulling out lots of nice deals at the moment to attract customers.

Also haunt gotapex.com . They quite often have coupons on Dells. Or have links to what the special of the day is.

I got an offer on a Compaq Presario. I'm kinda leery on the idea. I've seen reports of badly designed Heatsinks.

Could you perhaps tell us the model, price and whats inside it?