Help me pick a notebook
 

I have to get a new machine. Actually, I already got a new machine but it is either going back or going to someone else in my office. I've read some of the other recent posts here and would like some of the good help that seems to be available.

Up until two days ago I had a Micron ZX. About three years old. Getting tired, getting gray, out of warranty.

got a Dell D600 two days ago. The machine is not what I had expected/wanted. the display is blurry and the integrated wireless on the chip is of very poor quality in my opinion.

So, I'd love some suggestions. Some requirements:

- I use it as a workstation; I dock it, I run SQL Server on it, I load it up with a gig of docs and xls files.

- I travel with it...obviously for this board right? It has to have a modem, it has to have a network card, it has to have at least two USB ports that work on the unit itself.

- From above, it has to have a reliable and easy to use docking station/port replicator/whatever they're called these days.

- It has to have a CD burner/DVD combo drive.

- It has to have an option for three year on-site/next day swapping of the base unit.

- It has to be a known name brand...don't consider this something to dabble with.

- It has to run Windows XP Pro; scratch that, it has to have Windows XP Pro preinstalled.

- It would be nice if I could pick up some miles or points for the purchase. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

- It has to have at least a 14 inch display.

- It has to be fairly light and slim in profile.

Am I asking too much? Probably not...seems like this is all pretty standard these days.

Please post your suggestions for me. If you've got a "stay away from this machine" story, go ahead and put it here as well.

Finally, what are the best PC mags to pick up in terms of notebook reviews?

Thanks all!

[This message has been edited by dingo (edited Jan 10, 2004).]

Consider an IBM Thinkpad T41. Not positive about the warranty service.

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...goryId=2072541

Try a search...this topic comes up all the time, every week at least once...there are dozens of threads on this topic.

Too bad it has to run XP Pro.

For a moderately priced system, a G4 iBook would fit the bill quite nicely. At the higher end a G4 Powerbook would be perfect.

Running SQL on Mac OS X is a dream, as is MS Office. Making the box a server requires a few clicks.

All your other requirements could be met by these two machines at a price lower or at least competitive with a Thinkpad.

On top of that, your computer will go to sleep properly and wake up instantly when opened, Rendezvous will automatically detect all network connections for you, without requiring much, if any setup, most drivers are built into the OS, the computer will remain useful about 25% longer than a Wintel system, and, for technical users, you have complete access at a unix command line level.

I found it interesting that the vast majority of laptops floating around JPL in Nova's Mars documentary that aired last week were Powerbooks. I watched a trading shop switch from Thinkpads to Powerbooks with Cinema Displays and rackmount XServes over the course of a few months after their IBM hardware couldn't support their needs as well.

If you're at all flexible on the OS criterion, the most elegant solution would definitely be the Powerbook: thinnest, lightest, 5 hour battery life, with all the other specs you desire.

Apple makes a dock?

Dell laptops are junk in my opinion ...

You want an IBM T40/T41 ... trust me. Make sure to get one with the 1400x1050 resolution screen (some of the less expensive ones have a lower resolution screen). The review that really sold me on it (besides all the praise on this board from T series uses) was this one:

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/artic...,110527,00.asp

I have a T40 with the "normal" screen resolution, which I run at the native 1024x768 on the 14.1" screen. I couldn't be happier with the machine.

I haven't seen a model with the higher screen resolution, but they are a lot more money and the native resolution 1400x1050 on the same size screen is going to make for pretty darn small text.

Re the Apple suggestions, I realize it's like arguing religion with a born again Christian, but the reality is that corporate America, i.e., over 90%, run Windows based PCs. It is extremely difficult to marry an Apple into that family, and technical support within the company is usually not geared to do so.

Apples are very fine stand-alone machine, and are fine if it is an all-Apple network at the office, but they don't mix well with Windows based PCs.

The reality for most employees at most companies is that they need a Windows based PC.

No, but Bookendz does.

I'm not sure what functions you're thinking of that are not compatible these days. Pre-OS X there were some issues, and Pre-Steve Jobs' Return there were more. But today, it's pretty much seamless. VPN, networking, sharing files, file compatibility, printing, even SAP and Exchange play nice on Macs these days. In fact, Apple is one of SAP's biggest accounts.

Apple's rackmount XServes and RAIDs have even been certified by Microsoft to integrate into Windows environments without issue.

From Apple's Switch FAQ... Networking in a Wintel Environment

An excellent site going over Mac compatibility in a Wintel environment

Column entitled "Can Macs and PCs Really Get Along?"

Coursey's ZDNet column about switching to the Mac for 3 months. He ended up switching permanently and wrote a book to help others migrate platforms.


[This message has been edited by swise (edited Jan 12, 2004).]

They sure do ... and it only costs over twice as much as a Thinkpad port replicator, ouch ...

Seriously though, I just got a port replicator for my IBM ... it's really a must have when you use your laptop in the office as your primary machine, but it sure seems like not a lot of laptop makers are making them anymore ...

I couldn't agree more on the port replicator. You can pick 'em up on ebay for about $25

We run Windows, Linux Solaris and MacOSX. The Mac interfaces extremely well with a mostly Windows environment. I have a Win2000 and a MacOSX on my desktop and have both kinds of notebooks. I can mount disks from one machine to another and exchange files seamlessly. I use Outlook hooked to an exchange server on both platforms. They really integrate very well and there are great SQL options for the Mac as mentioned since it is essentially UNIX underneath. The X11 packages you can install on them are also very nice indeed.

If you're an IBM shareholder you can save a not insignificant amount on a Thinkpad - here's a link to a post on FatWallet.com where someone posted this quarter's discount code. Make your own decision about whether it's ethical to use the code without actually buying a share - I'm not advocating it, but I don't think they check.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...hreadid=244983

I use a Mac at home and with a network of over 700 PCs (for 600 students) with XP at school. I have had no problems. Also at home I am connected to Windows 98 and XP

I have this laptop, the HP 4560 which has all the specs u desire, and has been working great for me for over two months. I love it. And for under $1000 u cant beat it:

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...rk_0&oid=79695

Just noticed on Staples.com

Toshiba A15-S129 Notebook computer w/ Intel® Celeron® processor 2.4GHz

Price $950 with a $200 rebate on top of that.

Only 6.0 lbs/DVD-RW/40GB etc

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Brows...True&bcSCatId=

Just bought an IBM T41 2 weeks ago. 1.6 Centrino, 512MB ram, 60GB HDD, XP Pro, Gigabit ethernet, the whole enchillada. This unit is excellent, many thanks to those who recommended it. It weighs about half what my old tank did...my laptop bag also thanks you for this, as does my right shoulder...battery life is also great (it came with a spare for $69 and free shipping for everything).

Display is awesome, keyboard solid, it has that new hard drive "park" feature that protects the HDD when the unit is running and senses a tilt or fall. So far, this is the finest built laptop I've ever used. Wireless pickup is flawless with the dual antennas. The only thing I don't like is that there's no "Win" button for shutdown...or maybe I'm just stupid and haven't found it yet http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Have been through 5 (count 'em) HDD's, one system board and one CD-RW/DVD combo drive (which still only works when it wants to) on my 11/02 purchased Toshiba 5205-S503. After dealing with Toshiba numerous times (who no longer will accept any responsibility for this POS and will have to be taken to pro se court), I can only say do not buy their products. Even their depot repair facility manager told me last week that they are bleeding cash and their products are going down the tubes...fast. After testing Toshiba M35 and A25 models earlier this year, IMHO the build quality is garbage.

Same goes for the Dell 5100 that I tried out in May of last year for 2 weeks - sent it back. As far as Macs go, everyone says they're wonderful, but I'm just not an Apple guy. Bottom line IMO (and I used to hate Big Blue), spend the money, buy the quality.

quote:
-----------------------------------------
....."The only thing I don't like is that there's no "Win" button for shutdown...or maybe I'm just stupid and haven't found it yet".....
-----------------------------------------

I am unclear what a "Win" button is but on my nice IBM T-40, you can designate the "On/Off" button to totally shut down the computer, put the syatem into standby etc.

MisterNice

If you are considering this screen resolution, check it out before diving in. I find it too small and anyone else trying to look on would be worse off. When one changes the resolution to something lower, like 1024x800, it gets pretty blurry in my opinion.

So, check it out at a best buy, before buying.

Increasing font size may help. Windows lets you adjust the size of many items. I'll confess to using 1024x800, but many are very happy with higher resolution after playing with it a bit.

Dingo, I also run a D600 and the screen does goes blurry as hell is you change the res from the native 1400x1050. Anything else looks crap.

I am running SQL server on XP pro. I have 1GB of RAM and all works well. I am very impressed by the wirless strength it is much better than my old netgear card.


Battery life is also pretty good.

The "win" or "windows" key is simply that; it has a picture of the "flying" four paned Windows symbol on it, which when pressed, activates the "start" button. From there, I'm just used to typing U, S to put the system in standby, U, R to restart (soft boot) or U, U to shut the laptop down. There is no such key on the T41 (that I've found yet). I'm just too lazy to drag the mouse arrow over to the start button, I guess. Time to teach the old dog a new trick...

If there's no win key, hold <ctrl>, then hit <esc>. Does the same thing.

Cool, thanks!

Sorry to stray a little off topic - can anyone tell me why there are IBM T41s with and without Centrino?
My T41 is 1.7 Pentium M - does not have Centrino.
How does this compare to 1.6 with Centrino, performance wise and price wise?
:confused:

Thanks

Your IBM probably didn't come with the Intel-based wireless ethernet built in. That would be the difference.

Yeah, is that still the Intel-badged wireless that was neither designed nor built by Intel or have they got their act together and come through with their own wireless chipset?

I agree with CT-UK. You have to get the D600 with a native screen resolution that matches the one you want to run. Don't buy an laptop with a 14 inch SXGA+ screen unless you want to run it at 1400x1050. If you want to run a 14 inch screen at 1280x1024, buy one that has a panel that runs with SXGA as its native resolution. Ditto for 1024x768 and XGA/XGA+.

BTW, if you have a D600 and use it in a dock and you think you have USB stability problems, apply the patch in the following windows update. Search for it in the Microsoft KB.
WindowsXP-KB822603-x86-ENU.exe

BTW, I suspect that your wireless problems have to do with antenna design/placement. I don't know of any sites that test/review that sort of thing.

Another strong recommendation for IBM Thinkpad based on 5yrs of "hard" use of 3 "T" systems. Agree with T41, latest one with Centrino is the way to go, having run a T40 myself for some time now.