I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.

I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
a DVD drive.

What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
general consensus?

<redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>
> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
> a DVD drive.
>
> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
> of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
> pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
> general consensus?
>

whatever you get have the 3 year next day warranty............plus the
accident insurance.

<redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>
> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
> a DVD drive.
>
> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
> of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
> pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
> general consensus?
>

Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500 notebooks:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706

Honu

Of that group, I'd go with Dell or Toshiba. You should be able to get a
Core Duo, I'd think (note, Core Duo, but probably not Core 2 Duo).


redsheraton******.co.uk wrote:
> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>
> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
> a DVD drive.
>
> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
> of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
> pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
> general consensus?
>

Hertz_Donut wrote:
> <redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>>
>> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
>> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
>> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
>> a DVD drive.
>>
>> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
>> of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
>> pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
>> general consensus?
>>
>
> Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500 notebooks:
>
> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706

Pretty good deals. Amzaingly, they are being built by Quanta, which is
one of the best manufacturers in terms of quality.

"Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:cOmdnTa6S768SNzYnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@hawaiiantel. net
> <redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>>
>> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
>> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
>> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB
>> and a DVD drive.
>>
>> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these
>> brands of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they
>> are all pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but
>> what is the general consensus?
>>
>
> Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500
> notebooks:
> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706

Oh no! They are just AMD processors (which gives me nothing but trouble
for videos and flight simulators). Plus the get those prices, they give
up rebates! And rebutes are an almost scam. They hope you forget to send
it in for one (only 5% ever do according to studies). And if you do,
they hope you will forget when they never send you the rebate. :(

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:1161972166_89@dscnews2.dcccd.edu...
> "Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:cOmdnTa6S768SNzYnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@hawaiiantel. net
>> <redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>>> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>>>
>>> I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
>>> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
>>> processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB
>>> and a DVD drive.
>>>
>>> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these
>>> brands of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they
>>> are all pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but
>>> what is the general consensus?
>>>
>>
>> Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500
>> notebooks:
>> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706
>
> Oh no! They are just AMD processors (which gives me nothing but trouble
> for videos and flight simulators). Plus the get those prices, they give up
> rebates! And rebutes are an almost scam. They hope you forget to send it
> in for one (only 5% ever do according to studies). And if you do, they
> hope you will forget when they never send you the rebate. :(
>
> --
> Bill

The AMD will outperform the Celeron and Core Duo (note Core Duo, not Core 2
Duo) on any Intel machine in the price range and be cooler temp wise.

AMD chips are 100% compatible with all Windows software, flight sims
included. Whatever issues you have are not caused by the processor.

Honu

The AMD will not outperform the Mobile Core Duo. There almost no
difference between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo in the Intel MOBILE processor
line (the difference is single-digit percentages) ... although there is
a HUGE difference between Core 2 Duo and previous processors in the
desktop line.

And while I agree with you that "AMD chips are 100% compatible with all
Windows software, flight sims included. Whatever issues you have are
not caused by the processor", that is exactly the problem .... there are
a lot more problems with the various chipsets used to support AMD
processors than there are with Intel chipsets.

Also, for laptops, Intel's power management is far more effective in the
line of chips designed by Intel Israel (that's the Pentium-M and all of
the "Core" chips including Core, Core Duo and Core 2 Duo) than anything
that AMD has offered.


Hertz_Donut wrote:

> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
> news:1161972166_89@dscnews2.dcccd.edu...
>
>>"Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>>news:cOmdnTa6S768SNzYnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@hawaiiante l.net
>>
>>><redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googleg roups.com...
>>>
>>>>I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>>>>
>>>>I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
>>>>crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
>>>>processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB
>>>>and a DVD drive.
>>>>
>>>>What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these
>>>>brands of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they
>>>>are all pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but
>>>>what is the general consensus?
>>>>
>>>
>>>Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500
>>>notebooks:
>>>http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706
>>
>>Oh no! They are just AMD processors (which gives me nothing but trouble
>>for videos and flight simulators). Plus the get those prices, they give up
>>rebates! And rebutes are an almost scam. They hope you forget to send it
>>in for one (only 5% ever do according to studies). And if you do, they
>>hope you will forget when they never send you the rebate. :(
>>
>>--
>>Bill
>
>
> The AMD will outperform the Celeron and Core Duo (note Core Duo, not Core 2
> Duo) on any Intel machine in the price range and be cooler temp wise.
>
> AMD chips are 100% compatible with all Windows software, flight sims
> included. Whatever issues you have are not caused by the processor.
>
> Honu
>
>
>

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4542545F.6040307@neo.rr.com
> Hertz_Donut wrote:
>
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
>> news:1161972166_89@dscnews2.dcccd.edu...
>>
>>> "Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>>> news:cOmdnTa6S768SNzYnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@hawaiiantel. net
>>>
>>>> <redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>> news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>>>>
>>>>> I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds
>>>>> GBP. I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact
>>>>> specs are
>>>>> crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron
>>>>> mobile processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I
>>>>> need 512MB and a DVD drive.
>>>>>
>>>>> What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these
>>>>> brands of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe
>>>>> they are all pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony
>>>>> batteries!), but what is the general consensus?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500
>>>> notebooks:
>>>> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706
>>>
>>> Oh no! They are just AMD processors (which gives me nothing but
>>> trouble for videos and flight simulators). Plus the get those
>>> prices, they give up rebates! And rebutes are an almost scam. They
>>> hope you forget to send it in for one (only 5% ever do according to
>>> studies). And if you do, they hope you will forget when they never
>>> send you the rebate. :(
>>
>> The AMD will outperform the Celeron and Core Duo (note Core Duo, not
>> Core 2 Duo) on any Intel machine in the price range and be cooler
>> temp wise. AMD chips are 100% compatible with all Windows software,
>> flight sims
>> included. Whatever issues you have are not caused by the processor.
>
> The AMD will not outperform the Mobile Core Duo. There almost no
> difference between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo in the Intel MOBILE
> processor line (the difference is single-digit percentages) ...
> although there is a HUGE difference between Core 2 Duo and previous
> processors in the desktop line.
>
> And while I agree with you that "AMD chips are 100% compatible with
> all Windows software, flight sims included. Whatever issues you have
> are not caused by the processor", that is exactly the problem ....
> there are a lot more problems with the various chipsets used to
> support AMD processors than there are with Intel chipsets.
>
> Also, for laptops, Intel's power management is far more effective in
> the line of chips designed by Intel Israel (that's the Pentium-M and
> all of the "Core" chips including Core, Core Duo and Core 2 Duo) than
> anything that AMD has offered.

Okay then it is computers with the AMD processors with incompatible
chipsets I dislike. <grin>

--
Bill

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4542545F.6040307@neo.rr.com...
> The AMD will not outperform the Mobile Core Duo. There almost no
> difference between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo in the Intel MOBILE processor
> line (the difference is single-digit percentages) ... although there is a
> HUGE difference between Core 2 Duo and previous processors in the desktop
> line.
>
> And while I agree with you that "AMD chips are 100% compatible with all
> Windows software, flight sims included. Whatever issues you have are not
> caused by the processor", that is exactly the problem .... there are a lot
> more problems with the various chipsets used to support AMD processors
> than there are with Intel chipsets.
>
> Also, for laptops, Intel's power management is far more effective in the
> line of chips designed by Intel Israel (that's the Pentium-M and all of
> the "Core" chips including Core, Core Duo and Core 2 Duo) than anything
> that AMD has offered.
>
>
> Hertz_Donut wrote:
>
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
>> news:1161972166_89@dscnews2.dcccd.edu...
>>
>>>"Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>>>news:cOmdnTa6S768SNzYnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@hawaiiant el.net
>>>
>>>><redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.google groups.com...
>>>>
>>>>>I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
>>>>>crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
>>>>>processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB
>>>>>and a DVD drive.
>>>>>
>>>>>What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these
>>>>>brands of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they
>>>>>are all pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but
>>>>>what is the general consensus?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Dell has announced that it will be selling a line of sub $500
>>>>notebooks:
>>>>http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4706
>>>
>>>Oh no! They are just AMD processors (which gives me nothing but trouble
>>>for videos and flight simulators). Plus the get those prices, they give
>>>up rebates! And rebutes are an almost scam. They hope you forget to send
>>>it in for one (only 5% ever do according to studies). And if you do, they
>>>hope you will forget when they never send you the rebate. :(
>>>
>>>--
>>>Bill
>>
>>
>> The AMD will outperform the Celeron and Core Duo (note Core Duo, not Core
>> 2 Duo) on any Intel machine in the price range and be cooler temp wise.
>>
>> AMD chips are 100% compatible with all Windows software, flight sims
>> included. Whatever issues you have are not caused by the processor.
>>
>> Honu
>>
>>

I have to disagree about the power management and cooling...AMDs Cool n'
Quiet is far superior to anything Intel offers. Every Intel laptop I have
ever owned or use *WITHOUT EXCEPTION* has been hotter (usually much hotter#
than any AMD laptop I have owned. Cool n' Quiet is dynamic, and it allows
much greater gains in battery savings when properly configured than Speed
Step.

It has been my experience that the Turion64 X2 will outperform Intel Core
solo and Core Duo in the laptops. I have not had enough experience with a
Core 2 Duo laptop, but the limited use I have had suggests it is not very
much faster than the Core Duo laptops I have used in the past. I currently
have a TL-56 Turion64 X2, and it is the fastest laptop I have ever used,
regardless of CPU.

I happen to think that when the whole package is considered (on-die memory
controller, direct connect architecture, HyperTransport bus, etc), that AMD
makes a better package. Until Intel gives up the use of the FSB for all CPU
I/O, then lies and labels it faster than it really is, I'll stick with
AMD...at least for the time being.

Honu

"Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:e7ednat-B_XBWt_YnZ2dnUVZ_oednZ2d@hawaiiantel.net
> I have to disagree about the power management and cooling...AMDs Cool
> n' Quiet is far superior to anything Intel offers. Every Intel
> laptop I have ever owned or use *WITHOUT EXCEPTION* has been hotter
> (usually much hotter# than any AMD laptop I have owned...

My Gateway MX 6124 has a Celeron M 1.5ghz processor. And I run it 24
hours a day and it only gets lurk warm in a few places while the rest of
it is ice cold. The fan is so quite, I almost can't hear it even in dead
silence. Sometimes I have to put my hand by the vent to see if it is
running. I can give you temperature readings if you would like with an
IR detector if you would like.

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:1162044085_3433@dscnews2.dcccd.edu...
> "Hertz_Donut" <nowhere@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:e7ednat-B_XBWt_YnZ2dnUVZ_oednZ2d@hawaiiantel.net
>> I have to disagree about the power management and cooling...AMDs Cool
>> n' Quiet is far superior to anything Intel offers. Every Intel
>> laptop I have ever owned or use *WITHOUT EXCEPTION* has been hotter
>> (usually much hotter# than any AMD laptop I have owned...
>
> My Gateway MX 6124 has a Celeron M 1.5ghz processor. And I run it 24 hours
> a day and it only gets lurk warm in a few places while the rest of it is
> ice cold. The fan is so quite, I almost can't hear it even in dead
> silence. Sometimes I have to put my hand by the vent to see if it is
> running. I can give you temperature readings if you would like with an IR
> detector if you would like.
>
> --
> Bill

Not necessary, as the exact same thing can be said for my AMD machines...no
noise, very cool temps, etc. My point is that without exception, my AMD
machines are always cooler (and usually faster) than the Intel machines I
used to own. It is just a given that Intel will be hotter...in a
configuration with proper airflow, it is a non-issue.

Honu

why?


"Lez Pawl" <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:A-idnVAtDY4cWtzYnZ2dnUVZ8smdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> <redsheraton******.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1161937840.721743.78900@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> > I'm thinking of getting a budget laptop - less than 700 pounds GBP.
> >
> > I'm considering Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba. Exact specs are
> > crucial, but it'll probably have to be a Celeron M or Sempron mobile
> > processor, unless I can find a good price Core 2 Duo, I need 512MB and
> > a DVD drive.
> >
> > What are the realtive build qualities and reliabilities of these brands
> > of laptop, Dell, Acer, HP-Compaq and Toshiba? I believe they are all
> > pretty reliable (save for the use of Sony batteries!), but what is the
> > general consensus?
> >
>
> whatever you get have the 3 year next day warranty............plus the
> accident insurance.
>
>

"Hornbill" <hornbill88RUBBISH********.com> wrote in message
news:45475c9c$1_1@news.tm.net.my
> "Lez Pawl" <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:A-idnVAtDY4cWtzYnZ2dnUVZ8smdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> whatever you get have the 3 year next day warranty............plus
>> the accident insurance.
>
> why?

Well some people are rough with laptops for starters. The background
lamp will only last about 2 years if you run it 24/7 (I use an external
LCD screen). The main battery will probably fail in 2 years without use,
but kept in the laptop (I keep mine out of the laptop). I don't pay
extra for warrantees and I buy used or refurbished (usually just comes
with a 90 days warrantee). As you see, I take my chances. And my first
laptop was back in '84. And that one still works too. ;)

--
Bill

Laptops lamps can be expected to last 15,000 to 50,000 hours; 2 years at
24x365 is about 15,000 hours, but that's the extreme low end of expected
life. Also, the definition of "lamp failure" is not that the lamp goes
out, it's that it's brightness has fallen by half.


BillW50 wrote:

> "Hornbill" <hornbill88RUBBISH********.com> wrote in message
> news:45475c9c$1_1@news.tm.net.my
>
>> "Lez Pawl" <Lez@Pawlbtinternet.com> wrote in message
>> news:A-idnVAtDY4cWtzYnZ2dnUVZ8smdnZ2d@bt.com...
>>
>>> whatever you get have the 3 year next day warranty............plus
>>> the accident insurance.
>>
>>
>> why?
>
>
> Well some people are rough with laptops for starters. The background
> lamp will only last about 2 years if you run it 24/7 (I use an external
> LCD screen). The main battery will probably fail in 2 years without use,
> but kept in the laptop (I keep mine out of the laptop). I don't pay
> extra for warrantees and I buy used or refurbished (usually just comes
> with a 90 days warrantee). As you see, I take my chances. And my first
> laptop was back in '84. And that one still works too. ;)
>