Curse

Stormstaff · Jul 27, 2006, 05:18 PM // 17:18

I've been looking on Ebay, Dell, Dell Outlet, and a few others trying to compare prices and features.

Anyone had luck with any good sites they'd be willing to share? I'd like to be able to run Guild Wars and burns DVD's with it. Trying to stay around $800 max if possible or the wife will kill me.

Any advice/help is greatly appreciated!!!!

Unkemptwolf · Jul 27, 2006, 08:14 PM // 20:14

Note: This is only my experience. I am not saying this is how it is for everyone, only that this is what I have seen among my friends and I.

Alright, so the major brands of laptop that I've delt with are:

HP/Compaq
Gateway
Dell
Toshiba

I know there are others, but I've never delt with them over any significant length of time, so I cant really comment on them. Out of those brands, I would reccomend them in the order I have them listed, with HP/Compaq being my personal favorite (mine has been trouble-free for three years now), and toshiba being the bottom (everyone I've known that owned one hated it and wanted to ditch it ASAP). Apple's new (Intel) laptops are also very nice, if you're willing to be flexible on the $800 (a refurbished one can run around $900), it'll get you OSX and windows, and choice isnt a bad thing right?

I would avoid Dell however. Like Toshiba, everyone I've known who has owned a Dell laptop has regretted it (I know six or seven people who own one, and the feeling is universal among them). Just my two cents worth.

Wrath Of Dragons · Jul 27, 2006, 08:47 PM // 20:47

i really like my hp pavillion (hp = compaq)
Also, intel JUST came out with core 2 duo processors. iv heard nothing but good about those, and generally although more expensive, give better speed and battery life. GW sucks battery

If i was gonna get a laptop, i would try Frys electronics (not a common store), best buy, and comp usa.
if you can look past the dam mail-in rebates, got some good deals there.

lord_shar · Jul 28, 2006, 05:51 AM // 05:51

HP and Dell would be my recommendations. Both are pretty big/stable, provide excellent customer support, and have good availability. I purchased a souped up Dell XPS M1710 as my new primary PC and have been quite happy with it. If you can get a corporate rate discount or online coupon, you can lower the final price by a significant chunk of change.

Stormstaff · Jul 28, 2006, 06:54 AM // 06:54

Thanks for the replies.

Where I work, we use nothing but Dell's and have no problems at all with the desktops or notebooks.

I actually got on the Dell site and looked at the Outlet section. I found a "Previously Owned-New" (someone bought, powered on, but not used) one that ordered. It's got 1.83ghz Intel Duo Core, 1gig Ram, 60gig 7200 rpm hdd, 256mb ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory video, 15.4 inch screen, 8x DVD burner.

Now that I have more than one computer, I'll have to figure out this whole wireless router thing, hehe

Amonster666 · Jul 28, 2006, 10:01 AM // 10:01

best place to buy a laptop is at a laptop shop ^^

Edge Martinez · Jul 29, 2006, 08:03 AM // 08:03

Tiger Direct is a decent place, or has been for me. I just walk to their store, but they have an online place too at tigerdirect.com. I see laptops there always on sale for anywhere from $400-thousands, but don't really know much about them.

Malice Black · Jul 29, 2006, 03:58 PM // 15:58

Dells Xps laptop is good..dunno if you can pick it up for $800 tho

I pwnd U · Jul 29, 2006, 09:16 PM // 21:16

You can not pick up an XPS for 800 no way. The lowest is $3200.

lord_shar · Jul 29, 2006, 09:27 PM // 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by I pwnd U

You can not pick up an XPS for 800 no way. The lowest is $3200.

It depends on the actual XPS model... lowest XPS M1210 (12.5" mini-laptop) starts at $1200, M1710 (17" laptop) at $2400, and the uber-boat-anchor XPS M2010 at $3500.

Malice Black · Jul 29, 2006, 09:35 PM // 21:35

in Uk £1200 for top model

I pwnd U · Jul 29, 2006, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Last time i checked dell it was $3200 for the lowest one.

Former Ruling · Jul 29, 2006, 09:53 PM // 21:53

laptop that will run Guild Wars and other current games for $800?

You can get that in Never Never Land with Peter Pan and friends, but on Earth..You are going to pay more for a decent Laptop that you can game on..

Wrath Of Dragons · Jul 30, 2006, 12:17 AM // 00:17

850$ (900+50 mail-in)
was for sale at staples last november
HP Pavillion, zv6100
128 dedicated vid ram, x200m ati
80 gig
512 ram
widescreen
DL dvd/cd burner/reader
3200 64 bit amd 2ghz

i have played hundreds and hundreds of hours of gw on it....addin a gig of ram next week when it comes in

Former Ruling · Jul 30, 2006, 01:04 AM // 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons

850$ (900+50 mail-in)
was for sale at staples last november
HP Pavillion, zv6100
128 dedicated vid ram, x200m ati
80 gig
512 ram
widescreen
DL dvd/cd burner/reader
3200 64 bit amd 2ghz

i have played hundreds and hundreds of hours of gw on it....addin a gig of ram next week when it comes in

I hate offers like that.

"ONLY $600!"
*Smallprint*$1,000 dollars initial price
$100 Mail in through producer
$100 Mail in through company that sells it
$200 Cash Back in you cluck like a chicken 5 times while dancing on 1 foot*/SmallPrint*

Bane of Worlds · Jul 30, 2006, 01:55 AM // 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Former Ruling

I hate offers like that.

"ONLY $600!"
*Smallprint*$1,000 dollars initial price
$100 Mail in through producer
$100 Mail in through company that sells it
$200 Cash Back in you cluck like a chicken 5 times while dancing on 1 foot*/SmallPrint*

well it's business since ppl will look at that and buy it.
did I mention that some ppl don't know how to do the rebates properly? which means more profit for the company that makes/sells it

Stormstaff · Jul 30, 2006, 03:05 AM // 03:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Former Ruling

laptop that will run Guild Wars and other current games for $800?

You can get that in Never Never Land with Peter Pan and friends, but on Earth..You are going to pay more for a decent Laptop that you can game on..

Well, hopefully sometime next week I'll be able to report back and let you know if I found the way to Never Never Land.

Wrath Of Dragons · Jul 30, 2006, 03:41 AM // 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Former Ruling

I hate offers like that.

"ONLY $600!"
*Smallprint*$1,000 dollars initial price
$100 Mail in through producer
$100 Mail in through company that sells it
$200 Cash Back in you cluck like a chicken 5 times while dancing on 1 foot*/SmallPrint*

well for some credit, it was only 50$ mail-in rebate
900 instore, 850 final

lord_shar · Jul 30, 2006, 05:57 AM // 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrath Of Dragons

well for some credit, it was only 50$ mail-in rebate
900 instore, 850 final

This still sounds like an excellent deal for an HP laptop, even if the video card is on the light end.