Decent notebook

[CMF_MALLIE]

G'Day Peoples, I'm looking at getting a decent notebook but I only wanna spend about $1000-1200.

Have seen two COMPAQ jobbies on the net (M2217AP and v2340AP), the M2217AP I believe has firewire but has a very slow start up and I'm scared that this is a very old model.

I wanna notebook mainly for portable use (when I go on holidays), watch DVDs at work on slow days (everyday) and possibly to play SIMS 2 if the notebook can run it and edit DV.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

 

[CMF_NotAnotherSSS]

Stay as far away from Compaq/HP as possible.

 

[CMF_Napster]

the "Toshiba" and "Sony Vio" are good.
most laptops are good.
have a look around for any really.

possible get one with:

2.2ghz or more
256 or 512 mb
32 or 64mb graphics card to play "sims".
also look for "battery life" cause sims will run it flat.

napster

 

[CMF_Alex_B]

for DV editing, i'd go in this priority:

Must have Firewire/1394 port
Quality/Big Screen, 16:9 / 16:10 widescreen if you like.
Min 512MB RAM, or max ram you can afford, but put it before cpu speed. No point having fast cpu if you run out of ram and have to start using the hdd pagefile.
Fast HDD, 5400rpm or more
CPU

Alex

 

[CMF_makes]

Hi Mallie.. I can recommend Dell. I have found them to be excellent value for money with very good warranty support. www.dell.com.au and no I don't work for them...

 

[CMF_NotAnotherSSS]

I second makes on the Dell recommendation.

You might pay a little bit more initially but the 24/7 tech support and the optional warrenty extensions really do pay off in the end.

 

[cisco]

You'll get something really decent off ebay with that much to spend Mallie.

I bought mine off there and then later sold it on there.

Turns out it was stolen, and the cops from Mackay in QLD phoned me months after I'd bought it to ask for my help for any evidence I had to help put the guy away. Its amazing how quickly the right people with the authority can link up any ebay account to the real person in real life.

I gave some evidence, never had to go to court and was allowed to keep the laptop. Then I sold it later on.

 

[cisco]

Oh but it was stolen from a large company who had about 10 of them stolen. So it was practically brand new. I don't like supporting the thieve industry, but you have no way of knowing when you're just buying it.

But I reckon its safe to say ebay is a lot like a porn shop, so much of the stuff getting flogged off on there would be stolen.