Notebook Questions

[Chiguy]

I've been looking at notebooks for someone who is going to college soon and I think I've come to these two. This person has told me that it will be used for playing music, movies, and whatever media there is, getting school work done, internet, and mobile stuff (wireless and etc). I'm getting a seperate card for the wireless rather than having it built in for school network compatibiliby reasons. This person doesn't want a top of the line notebook but something that is still pretty good.

http://www.powernotebooks.com/pp28specs.php3

http://www.powernotebooks.com/specs/4060specs.php

The only difference between the two that I'm concerned about is the chipset. The first one has a Intel 845PE and ICH4 while the second one has a SiS M650/962.

What do you think of either of these? Which chipset should I go with? And if you don't like either of these, what would you recommend and why?

Thanks

[dragonb]

those seem pretty close to top of the line to me.
Anyway, your question I would suggest sticking with the intel chipset.
Also, I would look at getting mobile chips, either a P4-M or Mobile Athlon, they tend to use less power(or at least are designed to) and make for much longer battery life.
also, first thing I tell someone getting a laptop is to get a usb mouse with it, preferrably optical!
dragonb

[Chiguy]

Thanks

I have looked at mobile chips from other places, Dell, Toshiba, etc. and they are nice but kinda expensive. I'm looking to keep this under $2000, the less the better. According to this person, the notebook is going to be plugged into the wall outlet most of the time. Any recommendations on a moble processor config?

Thanks again

edit: This person definitely plans on getting a USB mouse.

[VHockey86]

If they're not looking for alot of higher end gaming and video editing you might wanna look into a centrino processor. From what I've seen they use alot less power and are typically much smaller. My sister has a dell inspiron 8200 at college. Although she loves it, she says that its quite inconvenient and big to lug around to classes or even to the library. I believe hers is around 7 1/2 lbs.

[Chiguy]

Thanks

I have looked at Centrinos and I like everything about them except the price

The two up there are around 7 to 7.5 pounds and I looked at the Centrino at www.powernotebooks.com and that was 6.4 pounds

[Telexen]

I think getting a Radeon 9000 is kind of a waste...I think my P4 notebook (HP) almost caught fire when I tried to play GTA Vice City...nevermind what video card is in it.

[thegladiatorgy]

We've been purchasing Sager notebooks from powernotebooks.com for the past two years in office. They are very reliable notebooks. I prefer the Sager over the PowerPro because everything is built-in. I think the Power Pro has an external floppy.

The Radeon 9000 is not a bad option if you're going to be doing alot of gaming.
We don't purchase them with the Radeon's since it's for office use and not gaming. Although I wish if mine had one! There's alot of graphic intense games out there that I can't play on my laptop.

[Telexen]

The systems get HOT though...gaming isn't an really an option on notebooks at all.

[Chiguy]

Thanks

The PowerPro does have an external floppy which is making me lean towards the Sager because this person wants a built in one. I would perfer the Intel chipset. SIS has been doing pretty good in the past few years so I have a feeling that that would be ok as well.

What's wrong with a Radeon 9000? I've seen notebooks do pretty well at LAN parties.

[Sinestr]

Originally posted by Telexen
The systems get HOT though...gaming isn't an really an option on notebooks at all.

I have purchased 2 systems from Powernotebooks.com and am awaiting my 3rd. The only reason I bought them was form gaming. Of course anyone who plays games knows that you need a fast video card and alot of ram on it for decent frame rates and right now the Sagers have that. The ATI 9000 with 128mb of ram will play anything you want it to play. I have played BF1942, UT2003, Warcraft 3, Rise of Nations and others without a bit of a problem, and that is at 1600x1200 32bit on a 16.1 inch lcd on my 8887 force. The Np5660 also has enough power to satisfy even the hungriest of games.

The bottom of the laptop gets luke warm at best under the heaviest of loads. It has a very efficient cooling system and heat does not pose a problem. These Sagers are the exact same laptops that Alienware sells as high end gaming systems. Yes, I do agree that they can be a little weighty and for all you are getting it does not seem that overburdening when you realize it will last you several years. I have researched alot of laptops and almost bought the Dell Inspirion 8200 but glad I waited. If I was dropping alot of cash on a laptop I would research all my options and I think equipment and service, which Powernotebooks.com has a 9.8 out of 10, are the 2 biggest reasons for doing that. IMHO. So good luck.........