Laptop Search

jrdgames · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 1:03 pm

Hello I'm helping a friend choose a laptop to buy because hes going to Germany for a year and would like to communicate back with his family so I was hoping that you all could give me ratings (1-5) on how good you think each of these laptops and web cams would perform and whether you think each one is worth the money.

Laptops

Quote:

HP Pavilion Notebook 1.8GHz, 200GB HD, 15.4" LCD
dv6567cl
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?catg=535&item=372199&prDeTab=5&pCatg=5680#A
$1,149.63

# Processor and Memory: Intel Centrino Duo processor technology featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7100
# 1.80GHz processor speed
# 2MB L2 Cache
# 800MHz FSB
# 2048MB 667MHz DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm); max supported = 2048MB
# Accessible Memory Slots: 2

Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives:
# 200GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
# LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support

Audio, Video and Graphics:
# Altec Lansing
# NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS with up to 895MB total graphics memory with 128MB dedicated

Connectivity:
# Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
# High speed 56k modem
# Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection

Ports:
# 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro or xD Picture cards
# 3 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
# 2 Headphone out
# 1 microphone-in
# 1 VGA (15-pin)
# 1 TV-Out (S-video)
# 1 RJ-11 (modem)
# 1 RJ-45 (LAN)
# 1 notebook expansion port 3
# 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire(4-pin)
# 1 Consumer IR
# 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

Keyboard, Pointing Device and Display:
# 101-key compatible & 2 Quick Launch Buttons - HP Quick Play Menu and DVD
# Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical scroll Up/Down pad
# 15.4" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display

Security:
# Kensington® MicroSaver lock slot
# Power-on password
# Accepts 3rd party security lock devices

Power:
# 90W AC adapter
# 6-cell Lithium-Ion

Dimensions and Weight:
# Dimensions: 14.05"L x 10.12"W x 1"/1.69" (min H / max H)
# Weight: 6.14 lbs.

Additional Software and Information:
# HP Imprint finish
# Symantec® Norton Internet Security 2007 (including 60 days complimentary live update)
# HP Total Care Help & Support Center
# PC Recovery (Softthinks Restore Solution)
# Wireless Home Network
# Microsoft® Works
# Microsoft® Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition: 60 day trial version
# Vongo
# HP PhotoSmart Essentials
# HP Quick Play
# Muvee AutoProducer Basic Edition
# RealRhapsody
# Roxio Creator 9 Basic
# Adobe® Acrobat Reader
# SnapFish

Operating System:
# Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

Included:
# HP Pavilion Webcam, Mic & Fingerprint reader
# Mobile Stereo Earbud Headphones (1 pair)
# HP Mobile Remote Control

Quote:

Gateway Notebook with Intel® Centrino® Duo Processor Technology
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8408145&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050014&id=1180743805755
Reg. Price: $949.99
You Save: $150.00
Sale: $799.99

Model: M-6816

built-in Web cam

Product Height 1.5"
Product Width 14"
Product Weight 6.3 lbs.
Product Depth 10"
Processor Brand Intel® Core(TM)2 Duo Mobile
Processor Speed 1.5GHz
Display Type Widescreen WXGA TFT-LCD with Ultrabright Technology (1280 x 800)
Screen Size 15.4"
System Bus 667MHz
Cache Memory 2MB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM) 2GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To Nonexpandable
Type of Memory (RAM) DDR2
Hard Drive Type Serial ATA (5400 rpm)
Hard Drive Size 160GB
Optical Drive Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Optical Drive Speeds 4x DVD+R DL; 4x DVD-R DL; 8x8x8 DVD+RW; 8x6x8 DVD-RW; 5x DVD-RAM; 24x16x24 CD-RW
Direct-Disc Labeling No
Digital Media Reader or Slots Yes, digital media card reader
Diskette Drive No
Graphics Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Video Memory Up to 384MB
Personal Video Recorder (PVR) No
TV Tuner No
MPEG Yes
Modem 56 Kbps* ITU V.92 *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps.
Networking Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (with RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Networking Built-in high-speed Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection (802.11a/b/g)
S-Video Outputs None
Audio High-definition (2-channel support)
PCMCIA Slots None
USB 2.0 Ports 3
IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports None
Parallel Ports None
Serial Ports None
Game Ports None
Notebook Weight Standard (more than 6 lbs.)
Battery Type Lithium-ion
Pointing Device Synaptics touchpad with vertical scroll
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
Included Software Microsoft Works 8.5, Money 2006, Digital Image Starter Edition 2006; Adobe Acrobat Reader and more

Quote:

Systemax Pursuit 4155 Intel Mobile 15.4-inch Widescreen Built-To-Order Notebook with Genuine Windows® XP Home and Integrated Web Cam
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2507577&CatId=2741#
My Price: $699.99

Brand Systemax
Series Pursuit
Model 4155

Operating System Windows XP Home Edition (Upgradeable XP PRO $59.99)
CPU Intel Celeron-M 440 1.86GHz 533FSB 1M
Screen 15.4"
Memory Size 512MB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz SODIMM (Upgradeable 1GB $50, 2GB $100)
Hard Disk 60GB 2.5" 5400RPM SATA (Upgradeable 80GB $10, 120GB $30, 160GB $80)
Optical Drive DVD/CDRW Combo Drive with Cyberlink Software
Graphics Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics
Communication Modem, LAN (maybe WLAN also)
Card Slot PC card, Express card
USB 3
Card Reader SDx1
Webcam Integrated 1.3 mega pixel

Dimensions:
Width: 14.25" (362mm)
Depth: 10.43" (265mm)
Height: 1.25~1.50" (31.7~38.9mm)
Weight: 6.28 lbs, (2.85 kg)

Processor:
Intel Core Duo CPU, speeds up to 2.33Ghz

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Chipset:
Intel 945GM
ICH7-M

Memory:
Two 200-pin DDR 2 SODIMM slots
Up to 2.0GB of RAM using two 1.0GB modules
PC24200, DDR 533 memory technology

Flash BIOS:
Phoenix First BIOS, 1024 KB Flash EPROM

Video Graphics Controller:
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 with
DirectX 9 graphics
Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0, up to 224MB video ram

Widescreen Active Matrix Display:
15.4 inch WXGA 1280X800

Integrated Digital Camera:
1.3 Mega Pixel

Hard Drive:
Up to 100GB SATA 5,400 RPM

Standard I/O Ports:
3 USB 2.0 ports
IEEE1394 port
Audio-Out
Mic-In
VGA port
Type II PCMCIA slot
Express Card Slot
S-Video port
RJ45 LAN
RJ11 Modem

Media Card Reader:
3 in 1 Memory Card Reader
Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Multi-Media Card

Network Controller:
Built in 10/100/1000 Mbps onboard LAN
802.11b/g Wireless

Audio:
Realtek High Definition Audio

Removable Storage:
USB 1.44MB Floppy Drive (sold separately)
CDRW/DVD Optical Drive (Optional)
DVD Super-Multi Optical Drive (Optional)

Keyboard:
85/86 Keys, including Windows keys
Inverted T cursor keys

Built in Pointing Device:
Two button Touchpad
Side Scroll

Speakers:
2 built in stereo speakers

Modem:
56K V.92 Data/Fax Modem

Battery:
6-cell Lithium-Ion

Security:
Kensington Lock Slot
BIOS level password protection

Quote:

Acer Aspire AS5610-2089 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T2080(1.73GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 1GB DDR2 533 160GB DVD Super Multi Intel GMA950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115388
Original Price: $749.99
You Save: $100.00
$649.99

Model
Brand Acer
Series Aspire
Model AS5610-2089
Part# LX.AXK0X.140
General
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type Intel Pentium dual-core T2080(1.73GHz)
Screen 15.4" WXGA
Memory Size 1GB DDR2
Hard Disk 160GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card Intel GMA950
Video Memory shared memory
Communication Modem, LAN and WLAN
Card slot 1 x Type I/II PC Card Slot
Battery Life 3 hours
Dimensions 14.1" x 10.43" x 1.15-1.41"
Weight 6.35 lbs.
CPU
CPU Type Intel Pentium dual-core
CPU Speed T2080(1.73GHz)
CPU FSB 533MHz
CPU L2 Cache 1MB
Chipset
Chipset Intel 943GML
Display
Screen Size 15.4"
Wide Screen Support Yes
LCD Features Acer CrystalBrite Technology
Display Type Wide XGA
Resolution 1280 x 800
Operating Systems
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
Graphics
GPU/VPU Intel GMA950
Video Memory Up to 224 MB of shared system memory
Graphic Type Integrated Card
Hard Drive
HD Capacity 160GB
Memory
Memory Slots 2 x SO-DIMM
Memory Speed DDR2 533
Memory Size 1GB
Max Memory Supported 4GB
Memory Dual Channel Support Yes
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated
Optical Drive Spec Integrated variable-speed Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM):
Read - 24X CD-RW, 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD-ROM, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer)
Write - 24X CD-R, 8X DVD+R, 8X DVD-R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 4X CD-RW, 3X DVD-RAM, 2.4X DVD+R (double-layer)
Communications
Modem V.92 56K
LAN 10/100Mbps
WLAN 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
Ports
Card Slot 1 x Type I/II PC Card Slot
USB 4
Video Port 1 x VGA, 1 x S-Video TV-out
Audio Ports 1 x Headphones/speakers/line-out with SPDIF support
1 x Microphone-in
1 x Line-in
Audio
Audio Microsoft DirectSound and Sound Blaster Pro compatibility
Integrated microphone
Speaker Built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers
Input Device
Touchpad Touchpad with four-way integrated scroll button
Keyboard 88-key keyboard, inverted "T" cursor layout, embedded numeric keypad, hotkey controls, 2.5mm minimum key travel, international language support
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
Webcam Acer OrbiCam integrated 310,000 pixel CMOS camera with 225° ergonomic rotation
Power
AC Adapter 65-watt AC adapter
Battery 6-cell lithium ion
Battery Life 3 hours
Physical spec
Dimensions 14.1" x 10.43" x 1.15-1.41"
Weight 6.35 lbs.

Web cams
Now you may be wondering "Why does he need a web cam when each of the laptops above have built-ins" well thats because the family doesn't have a cam so that explains that.

Quote:

Creative Live! WebCam Chat
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5750839
$13.98

Model No.: VF0330WM
Shipping Weight (in pounds): 0.8
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 6.7 x 3.3 x 8.5
Wal-Mart No.: 000513899

Quote:

SOLIDTEK PetC@m USB Web Camera / Tan Golden Retriever
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1552507&CatId=130
My Price: $19.99

Image Sensor: VGA CMOS
Sensor Size: 1/4.5"
Effective Pixels: 300K Pixels
Adjustable Focus: Yes
Auto White Balance: Yes
Auto Exposure Control: Yes
Number of Colors: 24 bits
LED Indicator: Yes
Frame Rate: Up to 30 FPS
Interface: USB 1.1
Dimensions: Appr. 135.45.135mm (LxWxH)
USB Cable Length: 50 cm
Driver Support: TWAIN, WDM & VFM
Driver Language Support: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazillian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese & Simple Chinese
Also includes USB extender.

Also he wanted an external floppy drive for some old data he wanted to retrieve so what do you all think of this?

Quote:

Diablotek 1.44MB External USB Floppy Drive (Black)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2143215&body=MAIN#detailspecs
My Price: $19.99

Brand Diablotek

Device Type: Floppy Disk Drive
Connectivity: USB
Mounting Options: External
Supported Media: 1.44MB Floppy Disks

Hopefully you can give me a review of your experiences with each of the dealers and manufacturers also.

Thank you very much.

EDIT: btw I need to keep the price lower then that of the HP at the top of the post if you want to suggest a better laptop.

Adbot · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 1:03 pm

Sebastian · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 1:21 pm

Laptops: the first one.
Web-Cams: Second one
Floppy: Is there so much of a choice there? :lol:

jrdgames · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 1:33 pm

Red Rooste5 wrote:

Laptops: the first one.
Web-Cams: Second one
Floppy: Is there so much of a choice there? :lol:

Are HP Notebooks good? I've heard that alot of people say they don't last very long after the warranty.

Sebastian · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 1:43 pm

It mostly depends on ow and where you buy it.
If you buy it cheap, you souldn't expect it las very long after the warranty runs out.
But if you buy it a tad more expensive, you could have some better changes to keep it alive a long long time.
And you could also buy a laptop cooler ad a couple o' fans in it and it will last longer.

Mike · **Posted:** July 28th, 2007, 9:46 pm

I'm going to ask some questions to help narrow down what kind of stuff is needed in the laptop.

What else is your friend going to be using it for besides keeping in touch with family?

Is it going to be used a lot under heavy use with lots of applications open?

Is your friend going to be playing newer full screen games on it? (I noticed a couple of those have good graphics cards that you listed)

Are they going to be using it on battery power?

Is your friend going to keep using it a lot after their one year in germany?

When does your friend need to have the laptop by?

Gontcha · **Posted:** July 29th, 2007, 5:43 am

Just want to point out, the Gigaherz of a laptop arent important if it has low ram or video card, so don't be blinded by very fast CPUs,they use alot of power (my desktop has AMD 64 X2 4800+ dual core, and it can draw up to 65 Watt of energy...). So he better answer Mike's questions and think of the laptops purpose.

Adbot · **Posted:** July 29th, 2007, 5:43 am

jrdgames · **Posted:** July 30th, 2007, 7:27 pm

What else is your friend going to be using it for besides keeping in touch with family?
viewing webpages for his job, keeping track of pictures sent to him, probably not alot.

Is it going to be used a lot under heavy use with lots of applications open?
Probably not, although I haven't observed him on the computer the most he'll probably have open would be internet explorer, yahoo messenger, and maybe an email client, maybe something else.

Is your friend going to be playing newer full screen games on it? (I noticed a couple of those have good graphics cards that you listed)
No he probably won't play much in the way of games on it, certainly nothing requiring high end graphics.

Are they going to be using it on battery power?
I'm not sure I don't think so. Power is one thing I need to look into, How to convert the power so that the laptop can be plugged in.

Is your friend going to keep using it a lot after their one year in germany?
I don't know he might use it for his music after that since he plays the guitar.

When does your friend need to have the laptop by?
Well he doesn't *need* to have it till september but yesterday he saw this one at office depot which he plans on buying thursday since we will be having taxes lifted on certain items including computers that day.

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=476730&Nr=200000&N=265454%204294933585&Ne=164&An=browse
This HP is very competitive to the Acer Aspire at newegg and I think he likes it more because he can touch it and do things on it before buying it unlike buying one over the internet where you can't get acquainted with a pc before buying it. (he isn't in to buying electronics over the internet very much)

I found these two voltage converters both come with plug adapters for european contries:
VC100w at voltage converters.com
and
Jensen 1,600-Watt Foreign Voltage Converter at bestbuy
I think the one at bestbuy would probably be sufficient and he could probably get it locally, but what do you all think?

Mike · **Posted:** August 1st, 2007, 4:09 pm

It seems as though your friend has already made their mind. That one they've chosen should be more than enough for their needs. They could probably get a cheaper one but I don't really trust the cheaper manufacturers.

I've never tried an HP laptop before but I had problems with the last HP desktop I had which was 8 years ago now... so I hope they've improved by now...

I personally would recommend a dell laptop cause I use one of those right now, but they seem to have removed most of their lower priced models from their website.

It would probably just be easier to get the one he's already chosen locally if he is hesitant about buying stuff online.

I don't know anything about the power conversions so I can't help with that... I'd suggest maybe trying to find some reviews of them

Luke · **Posted:** August 1st, 2007, 5:16 pm

Yeah if they were just talking to people and using the internet then

any new laptop out now is perfectly fine

For gaming or anything none of those laptops would be amazing, they'd just be ok

*oh also HP laptops at the mo are amazing, I think they are very well built and worth it.

jrdgames · **Posted:** August 5th, 2007, 3:52 pm

Yeah, He bought this one http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Specifications-of-Acer-Aspire-15-4-Widescreen-Notebook-PC-5100-5023/sem/rpsm/oid/185214/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs thursday I haven't seen it yet though. A mod/admin can lock this.