Travel Technology - Averatec laptop - a keeper?

I've been shopping for a new laptop.

Sam's Club has the Averatech 3700 laptop which is around $800. 12.1" screen, all the required stuff (wifi, DVD, 80 GB HD, bla bla bla).

Is this brand reliable? I take good care of my PCs, but want something that is durable and reliable.

Isn't the battery life on those pretty poor (like less than 2 hours)? I don't know anyone that has one.

Keep an eye on the techbargains.com site for the Dell 710m (replacement for 700m that I have). It's about the same size and they've had some pretty good deals bringing it down to the same price as the brand you're looking at. I upgraded mine to the 5 hour battery and after a year it's still running just fine. Here was one from last week:

Inspiron 710m 4.2lb light, 1.5in thin Centrino Notebook Pentium M 735 1.7Ghz, 12in Widescreen, 512MB/60GB, CD/DVD burner, 802.11g wireless, 1yr warranty $799 after $725 off coupon

Thanks Tom. I don't like Dell. For some reason I have always hated Dell PCs. My parents have one and I hate it. I always have tried to avoid Dell. They feel really chunky and junky to me. I've been spoiled with the IBM Thinkpads I guess.

Plus I have a 6 months return privilege with Sam's Club. Guess I'll try out the Averatech.

I have one and like it a lot. Mine is 3 years old and the only problem is that it is not agreat keyboard. The new ones have much better keyboards and my wife is thinking of getting one for travel for her work. Battery life watching a DVD is about 2 hrs 45 minutes.

Please do a search. There are other threads on Averatech. The consensus appears to be that they use quality components.

Sam's Club has the Averatech 3700 laptop which is around $800. 12.1" screen, all the required stuff (wifi, DVD, 80 GB HD, bla bla bla).

Buy.com (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202074144&adid=17653&dcaid=17653) has one today for $779 after rebate. Was in my e-mail for today's sales.

Thanks Tom, looks very tempting.

We have had a 3270 as our porch/travel/laptop for about 8 months now and a 3250 at the office for about a year.

They are great little units and can't be beat for their light weight and solid construction.

Here's a forum for you: http://www.averatecforums.com/

The only other one I would consider in that "cheap and small" category is the Compaq Presario V2000, which I just got at work.

I've been shopping for a new laptop.

Sam's Club has the Averatech 3700 laptop which is around $800. 12.1" screen, all the required stuff (wifi, DVD, 80 GB HD, bla bla bla).

Is this brand reliable? I take good care of my PCs, but want something that is durable and reliable.

I've been using one of their 'bigger brother' notebooks, the 6130 (15.5"). At the time, I needed a desktop replacement for the road and it was considerably cheaper then the competition - at Sam's. I've since upgraded the HD and the memory, and have been pleased with the performance. The battery life sucks, but then I hardly ever run it off the battery, so it's never been an issue.

I think the newer, smaller units from Averatec are more attractive in terms of weight and usefulness if you don't need a real powerhouse, and like to watch DVD's in-flight.

redjr... :cool:

Thanks. I'm using the 3715 right now and really like it, despite the cramped keyboard.

The new Averatec lightweights looks really good. The white one improves on appearance cmpared to the predecessor.

I returned the laptop yesterday.

I had several problems with it. The wifi was extremely weak. I kept mistyping due to the tiny shift key on the right, the laptop would unexpectedly go into hibernation after an instant low battery alarm, and upon re-awakening certain parts of the screen would remain black (like the mouse, clock try icons, etc).

It is a great concept, but poorly executed. I remain in my quest to find a better laptop that is affordable.

I've heard negative things about Averatec from friends, and I own a Thinkpad T42p (so I understand the part about being spoiled). Best Buy recently teamed up with IBM to see thinkpads, so I don't know if that will affect Thinkpad pricing... but yea, keep an eye out for bargains...

all the best in your search for a good laptop :)

Thanks. I have been searching eBay and Craigslist for a IBM Thinkpad. It would be nice if Best Buy does offer them. I'd grab one in a heartbeat. :)

I returned the laptop yesterday.

Did you get that from Sam's? Any problem taking it back? (I took an LCD TV back to Costco at Christmas with no hassle at all.)

Thanks. I have been searching eBay and Craigslist for a IBM Thinkpad. It would be nice if Best Buy does offer them. I'd grab one in a heartbeat. :)

You might want to consider a refurbished late-model Thinkpad. I have two (T23 and X31) and have been thrilled with the signature Thinkpad durability and solidness. Look at IBM's site for their refurbished Thinkpads, or look at sites like laptopcloseout.com or Overstock.com. You can find a very nice T-series for much less than a new Dell or Averatec and you will be far more pleased with it.

I used to like the Dells, but not so much anymore. I have actually had pretty good luck with an HP I used to carry when I worked for myself. Now I have a Thinkpad (T41), and its pretty good to. I will admit, I would think about a Wintel 12" Apple laptop. I love how small and light they are.

Oh and BTW, whatever I buy, if I can get it at Costco, I do. They have the BEST return policy I have ever seen. Great customer service, but not always the best selection for techie stuff.

Did you get that from Sam's? Any problem taking it back? (I took an LCD TV back to Costco at Christmas with no hassle at all.)
Tom - no problems whatsoever. Of course I keep the box with everything neatly packed as if is new (which it is).

I'm really wishing for a Thinkpad I think.

I also have a CostCo membership and buy everything at CostCo first, and Sam's Club second if CostCo doesn't have it.

But they don't carry IBM Thinpads. :(