Laptop Shopping

[Tbone]

Well, seeing as how I'm not going to be in any one place for more than 5 months at a time, I figured it was time to try to condense my blue monster desktop with two monitors down to a laptop with equal or greater specs. The catch, of course, is money, and laptops are pricey. I think I may have found a Dell that matches my computer and is relatively cheap (just resisting the temptation to look at the XPS versions), but could use your feedback on possible tweaks or if this system is even good enough for someone like me. Here's the link - basically it is the build on the left. An Inspiron E1705:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/entnb_e1705?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

My current computer has these specs:

Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.20 GHz
1 gig RAM
150GB HD
RADEON 9800 XT 256Mb
Creative Audigy Audio Processor (WDM)

[Pirus]

seems real good and im sure you know this but dont be concerned as much with the ghz on the core duo's they are more like amd now.  Able to achieve great speed at lower clock speeds.  But, yeah looks like a good computer not sure if you want the x1400 or the 7800 gs video cards but the lower of the 2 (1400) should be close to the specs of your 9800

[Lithium]

Right now I've only been using a Dell XPS M1210 for everything.

It was only around $1400 on ebay with a lot of extra goodies (Built in webcam, extra cell battery, best video card, upgraded processor.) I get 4+ hours on battery and it weights a whole 4lb.

Granted you can't play Matrix Online in full everything but it still comes pretty damned close, I have everything turned up at least past half.

[Tbone]

I also found this on eBay. Hmm, 6 hours left: http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-XPS-M1710-DUAL-CORE-T2700-2GB-LOADED_W0QQitemZ320035832395QQihZ011QQcategoryZ140080QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Lithium]

I had the older version of that (M170) for a few months. Bigger screen and a little bit faster GPU but it was too fucking heavy to lug around everywhere at almost 9lbs. and I would be lucky to get 2hr on the battery. The thing was a brick! But if your not lugging it from class to class to class, it may not be a bad choice.

[Tbone]

Lost the auction. Keep your eyes peeled for more M1710s

[Bellthazor]

What was winning bid?

[Subb]

okay, I'm thinking ahead, should I buy a laptop for uni or just take my own PC that I have now?

[Tbone]

$2300, but if I would have gone toe to toe with him, I think I would have had to have put more than $2500.

[Anonymous]

That's a shame T, don't you use any auto-bidding tools so you can win at $2317.52?

[Tbone]

Yeah, but I think his max bid was already at $2500, so it didn't matter when I bet, I still had to put more than $2500. I'm watching another one that's at $2025 right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200034510914&fromMakeTrack=true

[Anonymous]

I hope you find you a good one Tbone, Laptops are really expensive and its hard to beat out someone when they are worth twice as much as their current bid price.  GOOD LUCK in gettin one, hope you do.

[Tbone]

Since I was the second highest bidder of the auction I lost, I've had THREE different users message me PRETENDING to be the seller offering me a "Second Chance" because the "original winner backed out". eBay should be renamed to eScam, cuz that's all it seems to be anymore. Each user said "don't reply to this email. contact me at this email address." Ridiculous...

[Bellthazor]

how goes the bid on the other one?

[Anonymous]

heh i just looked at the auction again...some idiot noob just put up another bid