Looking for a laptop
airbornflght
Houston, TX Icrontian
Ok. I've been looking at acer laptops pretty heavily. I'm using a friends right now and I'm really liking it. But I am having difficulty deciding on a laptop. I thought I'd ask your opinion on the matter and what you'd recommend.
Here is what I'm looking for:
For now those are my main curriculum. Did I leave anything out? The acer travel mates seem like pretty slick laptops. But I am more than open to suggestions.
The ones I have been looking at are:
Acer Tavelmate 6592
Acer Tavelmate 6410
Acer Tavelmate 6492
I am still trying to figure out acer's numbering scheme. I think the second number is related to the size of the screen. And maybe the first number is how feature packed it is. But I honestly don't know.
Here is what I'm looking for:
- 14.1"wxga or 15.4"wsxga monitor. I like the idea of a high res monitor, but I worry 15.4 might be too big. The one I'm using right now is 14.1 and it seems perfectly fine. But I don't know...
- Core 2 Duo 7x00 series processor. Would someone mind explaining the difference between the 2xxx, 5xxx, and 7xxx processors? I'm pretty dead set on ~2Ghz dual core.
- 2gb ram. I will not go lower
- Dedicated video card. I don't really care if it's nvidia or ati. I don't game a whole lot, maybe once or twice a month. Just to kill time. Anyone have a reason I should pick one over the other?
- I'd like a 7200 rpm hard drive if possible. Definitely no slower the 5400.
- Integrated Webcam, a must.
- Fingerprint reader. I like the idea of it. If I read this correctly it will allow me to use my biometrics (fingerprint) to log in to windows? Or is it only pre-boot authentication? The pre boot is pretty slick, but I know I would just close the lid and send it to sleep most of the time.
- Battery life and mobilty. I'd like it to have a decent battery life and not weigh a metric ton. Which is why I am more or less leaning towards a 14.1" screen.
- Wireless. I'd like it to have the new intel a/g/n or equivelant.
- HDMI out would be a plus, but not a dealbreaker.
For now those are my main curriculum. Did I leave anything out? The acer travel mates seem like pretty slick laptops. But I am more than open to suggestions.
The ones I have been looking at are:
Acer Tavelmate 6592
Acer Tavelmate 6410
Acer Tavelmate 6492
I am still trying to figure out acer's numbering scheme. I think the second number is related to the size of the screen. And maybe the first number is how feature packed it is. But I honestly don't know.
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Comments
notebookforums.com
notebookreview.com
I used those resources heavily to gauge what I couldn't directly see on a spec sheet. Obviously, they weren't an end-all-say-all, I know people are idiots.
Spec it and choose your OS or none ...
http://powernotebooks.com/
http://powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=78#id2002
It has everything I want except for a DVI port, but if I remember correctly can't you go from HDMI to DVI without any problems.
I like 15.4" Can you get it without the stupid coating on the screen? I don't like the glare and shine.
How much are they charging for 2GB memory? On my machine it was cheaper to buy the standard 2x512 and toss them out any buy 2x1GB from newegg.
The 7200 HDD will draw more power, but they sure do feel fast. I would go that way.
Nice looking box.
I am looking at a new Toshiba A205.
Actually ASUS offers 2 year warranty with 1 day shipping both ways... not 1 year.
pretty much the same as my laptop just the newer model witht he same specs your's has the HDMI mine has the DVI
If you would rather have the DVI you can snag the Asus F3SV-B1 for less cash and get the same specs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220162&Tpk=Asus%2bF3SV-B1
My review
I've never noticed any glare that made the screen unusable, I don't use it in direct sunlight. Even if I did, I'd be no better off with the matte finish, either.
Edit: Link please, Sledge. I was unable to find anything other than 1 year.
shouldn't need a link, every company I have seen that is legit selling them has this posted...
Disk speed's a little low, but it's perfect for just watching crap on, or using to diagnose wireless problems, or stuff I do for fun. Battery life is gonna be a problem, but I plan on getting atleast two 9 cells for it.
I'm getting the laptop and a trendnet Draft-N AP.
This may turn into a nice little experiment. I'm going to attempt to set up a radius server, and if everything works out I'll beef it up as my house is wanting to go wireless within the next year.
not sure about the trendnet AP, but i have used their wireless card, they were not good.
Thank you, I see it now. It looks like some of them even have 3 year warranties. Powernotebooks.com's showing a few ASUS models with 2 year global, 3 year US warranties and outright 3 year warranties.
Just my $0.02
The ASUS V1s, an Apple Blackbook, or Apple Macbook Pro. I seriously considered the blackbook, because of its small size, but I don't like the fact that it has integrated graphics. I've also heard problems about the casing fading.
The macbook pro is only an aditional $150 or so than the asus.
But some things I've noticed on cheaper laptops. Poor - real poor design where the screen has the bear minimal clearance of the keys so when it's closed it doesn't touch, unless of course you apply a little to much pressure on it, like say have it in a bag and it gets bumped or has something set ontop of it. Then the screen touches the keys and gets dinged.
Laptop hinges that loosen after repeated use. I've got several lenovo's that are a few years old and get lots of use and they are just as tight today as they were brand new. I haven't come across any other laptops that can claim that.
On the subject of hinges the lenovo ones are steel and about 1/2 wide and thick. I've seen Dell's that look like they are made out of tin, with some plastic to support them. Screw that.
Internals Lenovo the T series, steel inner frame and they say that the keyboard is liquid resistant and isolates the insides from spillages. I can attest to the fact that I've had (not mine) a user bring in a laptop that had a glass of OJ spilled on it and it kept working. I did replace the keyboard though becuase of stickiness.
I'd personally never recomend anything to anyone other then a lenovo. Call me a fanboy if you want but I base it on quality over bling and lenovo wins.