Laptop experts

[HummBebe]

I heart teh Aliens

Area 51 rocks!

[KenP]

You're not using it for much, so one similar to one of ours would do fine. It's an Acer we picked up at Circuit City, on sale for about $500 with a 17" screen, built in wireless, 40 gig and a bunch of crap I'll never use. I got it primarily for trips and posting on Elcova.

[f5fstop]

I have found some interesting things on the net in regard to my question. Some info from Tom's Hardware and PC World. It does appear the duo core Intel processor is faster than the Turion processors. One major reason is for some reason the Intel's use DDR2 400 versus the AMD's that use 333 DDR.
However, the speed boost for me on a laptop does not appear to be enough to warrant the differences in prices. I guess when 64-bit software comes onboard, the AMD will kick ass, and from researching, it appears if I was purchasing a desktop with the Athalon processors, I would jump to AMD in a second.
Right now, I pretty much have settled on a Compaq V5000Z with XP Pro
AMD Turion 64 ML-40 (2.2 GHz/1MB L2 Cache
15.4 Brightview WXGA 1280-800 screen
128 MB ATI Radeo Xpress
1.0 GB DDR RAM (1x1024)
80 GB 5400 RPM HD
54g 802.11 b/g w/Lan 125 HSM/Speedbooster
DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer Support
$1135.14 plus good old MI taxes

The identical computer V5000T with the Intell, 1 GB DDR2 memory and a 80 GB SATI 5400 RPM HD is $1556.00 (plus MI Tax ) or $420.00 more, for some additional speed I will probably never need in a laptop.

Both include shipping and a GM discount. For some reason, the HP's are more than the Compaqs with the identical equipment.

As for why Compaq? I agree with Eldave. My big desktop is a compaq, and never had a problem in the past year, and my previous Desktop was a three year old HP and the only problems I ever had was a CD ROM drive and Floppy disk drive failed and I had to replace after warranty. I gave it to a single mom with a young kid and today, it is still running perfect.

I can't bash Toshiba though. My current laptop is a Toshiba, and the only problem in the three years I have had it was a hard drive failure the second week, and they replaced it in less than a week via UPS overnight service. It is just too slow anymore with the celeron processor and 512 MB Ram.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Now all I need is a DC to AC converter to run the laptop while traveling to Utah, so I can watch DVDs while I make my son drive (especially through Iowa and Nebraska).

[evldave]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

...Now all I need is a DC to AC converter to run the laptop while traveling to Utah, so I can watch DVDs while I make my son drive (especially through Iowa and Nebraska).

I've used an APC Model PNoteAC75. It's a small 75W inverter that I've had for 4-5 years. Rock solid construction, plus it has the plane adapter in case you travel by air a lot. Might be a bit underpowered, but I've used it with my work Thinkpad (90W) for 14 hr flights to Hong Kong w/no problems - it gets hot, but works flawlessly.

I've used this in my h3 - I just plug it in the far left outlet, and tuck it down under the passenger seat. I like it because it's smaller than many inverters, plus it's solidly built. Only real problem I see with it is it isn't UL Listed.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by evldave

I've used an APC Model PNoteAC75. It's a small 75W inverter that I've had for 4-5 years. Rock solid construction, plus it has the plane adapter in case you travel by air a lot. Might be a bit underpowered, but I've used it with my work Thinkpad (90W) for 14 hr flights to Hong Kong w/no problems - it gets hot, but works flawlessly.

I've used this in my h3 - I just plug it in the far left outlet, and tuck it down under the passenger seat. I like it because it's smaller than many inverters, plus it's solidly built. Only real problem I see with it is it isn't UL Listed.

I was looking at those APCs today. They have one for 49.95 that is rated for 350 Watts. Under 140 watts you can use the cigarette lighter cord, over 140 and you have to use the little cables and connect directly to the battery.

[Aubs]

I have to say I honestly don't know which is better. I've had AMD's and hated them, likewise with Intel chipsets.

However, I do recommend this, and only to my dearest friends like you FStop:

Buy your laptop at Costco!

I guess you might get a special GM deal on one, but at Costco, if your laptop takes a dump within six months (which all I've ever had do!), you can return it for a full refund or a replacement! That is worth paying $200 extra for. Just make sure you keep everything that came with the unit. They need cords, CD's, booklets, etc. Since they're program is also no questions (other than why you brought it back for manufacturer info)/any reason, you could try out the one you think you want and if you don't like it take it back.

Just my words of advice. Additionally, I have had poor build quality from AVERATEC. I punched the last one in the screen for it's problems and sliced open my hand. So I blame the brand completely. (But really, it was a POS).

And no, I don't work for Costco, but I do buy a most of my stuff there, and I have returned items and found their return policy to be true. I even dropped my laptop once, broke the screen, and they replaced it. That was really a stretch, but I begged and pleaded, and they obliged.

[evldave]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Both include shipping and a GM discount. For some reason, the HP's are more than the Compaqs with the identical equipment.

HP is the high-end version of Compaq (relatively). Think Nissan-Infinity. I checked best as I could on components in the models and HP and Compaq components used are almost identical - essentially the same computer, only difference is name on the box.