Hi all, just wondering if it would be at all possible to get a bit of info on some laptops.

I want to use it primarily for uni crap (word processing) and want to be able to watch movies on it. I dont need a graphics card. I'm looking at minimum 80G harddrive, a decentish battery (3 hours life.?), I want a 17" screen, wireless net (for uni) and bluetooth.

I know most of the CPU's are crap down the lower price bracket, but if it's possible, could any of you give me some advice on some possible laptops under $2000 with that stuff above??

Cheers

Only sub $2000 17" laptop I know of is the Acer 9503, its a Celeron-M 1.5ghz, goes for about $1600...

Crap.

Contrary to popular belief you will need some kind of graphics capability if you hope to use the laptop you buy.

What I was trying to say, was that I dont want a fancy one.. Onboard rubbish works for me

I know just the place for you to get a lappy for around $2000 that is sweet. It just so happens I'm selling one.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8760780511

Jump over there and take a look. if you have any questions e-mail me at lepon@our-lan.com

best lappy for that money you'll find!

Runs wow wonderfully on 1680x1050 native res :)

last edited by maVen at 11:58:21 09/Feb/06

http://www.digitalstar.com.au/

I know where I work..

You could pick up a Samsung X20 Notebook for $1799

We also have this brochure from APC magazine saying that in every brands under $2000 price bracket this Samsung won the category.

Im pretty sure the model is the X20-T009/SAU

Oh the shop is Infinite Systems.

The Sony's are nice... one for like 1999 i think.

umart.com.au

a friend bought an Asus a year or so ago, $1800(which i bought later) amd2.4xp, 512ddr, 60g, 64mb geforce 9600. goes bloody awesum plays Wow really fukin good at native res. 17" battery goes for 2.5 hours.

just make sure you get one with geforce or ati graphics with its own memory. they're not that expensive if you goto places that dont try forcing cpu speeds down your throat because they believe that makes all the difference.

the graphics thing makes a big difference, so does getting rid of all the crap they load on their version of windows.

i got one of these about 9 months agao..its pritty sweet and with the ATI 9700(dedicated graphics) and with 1 gig of ram standard(when i got it) its awsome.

is it big w or kmart that are selling awesome laptops for $900/$1100 (upgraded)

good video cards (ati), good everything

ill get more info for you from work
excellent little lap tops thats for sure, i was suprised at all their features!

edit with details:
mate at work got hers from retravision, compaq v2000, 256meg ram, dvd burner, good screen, good video card, $1000 ($100 cash back)

last edited by Spook at 09:24:50 09/Feb/06

Tufnut, we used to sell that laptop too, they were swoit. iirc 1.8ghz (they were Banias centrino's I think) 512mb Ram, 64mb 9700 and 80gb HDD in a 15" package, bzpro wants a 17"

same goes for you Duk.

f***, if we were going for any size, it would be easy.

I checked all the brands I have access to and none of them, have a sub $2000 17" model except that acer I mentioned, which isn't a good laptop...

I'd probably go for a either:

Compaq Presario V2433AU - Microsoft® Windows® XP Home; AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology ML-34 (1.8GHz); 14" colour WXGA BrightView; 512MB (2 x 256MB) DDR SDRAM (333MHz); 60GB HDD; Dual Layer 8X DVD±RW/±R; ATI Radeon Xpress 200M (up to 128MB shared with 512MB system memory)

(We sell an identical model at work, with a different number for $1500)

or...

You can get an Acer 1644 for $1899 which is a 2ghz Centrino, 1gb and 100gb hdd, just a s***ty video card...

if you hope to do anything on a centrino hastily, you need 512mb ram ++ whilst running more than thunderbird and firefox and also msn my current laptop (1.7ghz dothan core pentium m centrino w/ 512mb ram and ati9600 mobility) it gets a bit slow

dont even ask how it plays wow....

The one MaVen is selling on Ebay looks good but I dare say it will go for more than $2000.

I dont need a graphics card. I'm looking at minimum 80G harddrive, a decentish battery (3 hours life.?), I want a 17" screen, wireless net (for uni) and bluetooth.

If you order quick dell has something that might be ok. The Inspiron 9400 is just a tad over 2k.

My housemate has a slightly older version of that model and it lasts for 3-4 hours. That special comes with a second battery, so that should give you 7-8 hours of use without power.

That being said, most universities have spaces with power and wifi available.

Before you order though, go to your university and see if they can help you get educational deals though dell. I know that UQ can.

yeah, thanks for all the info guys, I'm at UQ so I might go and check out what you mentioned with the dell ones.

Thanks a heap again

2k?

the lap top i mentioned from retravision would do what you want flawlessly and its sub 1k . .. . .

(plus dells are expensive and s***)

last edited by Spook at 18:41:29 09/Feb/06

i want something to play games on for under 1700 find me something better than digitalstar.. :-p

Processor Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz

Installed Memory 512 MB (DDR SDRAM)

Display 15 in. SXGA+ TFT Active Matrix

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP HE

Mobile Technology Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Processor
Processor Type Pentium M

Processor Manufacturer Intel

Speed 1.6 GHz

Processor Number 730
Motherboard
Chipset Intel 915PM Express

Bus Speed 400 MHz
Memory
Installed RAM 512 MB

RAM Technology DDR SDRAM

Max Supported RAM 2048 MB

RAM Speed 333 MHz

Installed Cache Memory 2048 KB
Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity 512 GB

Storage Controller Type Ultra ATA 100
CD / DVD
CD/DVD Type CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Display
Display Tech SXGA+ TFT Active Matrix

Size 15 in.

Display Color Support 24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Display Max. Resolution 1400 x 1050
Video

Graphic Processor
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X600

Installed Video Memory 64 MB

Graphic Bus Interface PCI Express
Audio
Audio Output Type Headphones • Sound card • Speaker(s)

Audio Input Type Integrated Microphone • Line In • Microphone
Operating System
Recommended Use Small Business, Corporate Business

Platform PC
Technical Features
Expandability 1 x Type I/II PC Card Slot, 1 x SD Card Slot, 1 x Memory Stick Card Slot, Docking Station/Port Replicator, 1 x MMC Card Slot, 1 x Memory Stick PRO

Expansion Ports 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394a (FireWire), VGA out, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (NIC), S-Video out

Security Features Kensigton Lock Slot, Administrator Password

Input Method 4-Way Scroll Button • Keyboard • Touchpad • Embedded numeric keypad
Networking
Networking Type Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card • Infrared Port • Integrated Wireless LAN

Data Link Protocol Ethernet • Fast Ethernet • Gigabit Ethernet • IEEE 802.11b • IEEE 802.11g
Modem
Modem Type Fax / Modem

Analog Modulation Protocol ITU V.92
Battery
Battery Run Time 4 Hour(s).

Battery Technology Lithium ion
Dimensions
Width 14.3 in.

Depth 11 in.

Height 1.5 in.

Weight 6.42 lb.


How you think that'd go with playing wow and some games etc?? If i dump 1024mb of ram would that help a lot? etc.. thanks..

17" ... carrying that around, blah! You'll hate it after a while ;)

u know where i can get a cheap carry bag?? do acer laptops usually come with one??

17" ... carrying that around, blah! You'll hate it after a while ;)

Maybe if you are a pussy.

After having a 17" monitor on my laptop, my next monitor screen will also be a widescreen monitor. They rock so hard :D

u know where i can get a cheap carry bag?? do acer laptops usually come with one??

If worse comes to worse you can buy one at most retail stores, for not a lot of money. I'd recomend getting a backpack, as it makes long term carrying much easier.

I currently have my dell in a normal backpack. The case that the dell is supposed to be carried araound in is pretty s***ty and isn't that well secured from shock, and is practically homosexual to carry around.

Dont mean to bump an old thread but didnt want to make another one just for this question; After checking out the digitalstar website the POWERNOTE Z71VP seems pretty decent... I'm looking at finding a decent laptop for a friend, but he wants to buy it from a store he can walk into and complain about if something goes wrong, so he wants to buy from a close locale if possible. Is there a store similar in price/range to digitalstar located in south brisbane? Or around the brisbane area (he doesnt mind driving a ways to get what he wants).

I'll keep trawling for one but thought a brisbanite might know of a good place.

Edit: Precision look good, Opinions? Was looking at the Titon Series 495D

last edited by icewyrm at 22:38:43 16/Feb/06

ive got this laptop, love it

http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=nx8220

nx8220's are sweet laptops. HP business range. You get what you pay for kinda stuff.

yeah very nice construction and performance, playing all kinds of games on it reasonably well, im even happier cause my work gave it to me :D

In my experience, laptops are 1 of the few things were you get what you pay for.

Also forget the 17" screen, if you want cheap. you'll be happy with a 14 or 15".

My priority list on a laptop.

1. must have 1gig ram. (512 ain't enough for XP)
2. check the weight is ok (heavy laptops are futile)
3. battery to suit your needs (some people have no need for batteries)
4. not a celeron! (they suck)
5. wireless builtin! (personally centrino standard ftw)
6. has some form of 3d card with its own memory even if integrated.

The rest, well thats just how much money you want to waste.
Personally I wouldn't even lock myself into an 80gig hard drive (laptop hdds are expensive) .. buy dvd blanks or an external hdd.
Bluetooth *shrug* won't add much cost, and never really had anything that used it in a useful way on my lappie (and I own a PDA, phone, lappie and desktop)

But thats just my 2 coppers worth