Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Bill Geschwind" <geschwin AT email.unc.edu>]

Hi Colleen,

I bought an HP Pavilion laptop about 6 months ago and have had zero problems
with it. The configuration you listed sounds almost identical to mine and
since these days Compaq and HP are the same company it likely is practically
the same machine. One note about the AMD Athlon XP-M 2400 processor is that
to save power when you are running the laptop on battery only it runs at a
far lower clock speed than when it is running while plugged in to a wall
outlet. IIRC the XP-M 2400+ when plugged in runs at 2.0 GHz and when running
on battery power runs at something like 500 MHz. 500MHz is sufficient to do
things like read email, surf the web (all with built in 802.11b/g), and edit
MS Word documents, but it is not enough for smooth video playback when
watching DVDs. Also, the screen is noticeably dimmer when running on battery
power than when running when plugged in.

One thing I do like about my HP Pavilion over many of the IBM ThinkPads that
we have received lately at work is that it came with a full operating system
CD and all of the drivers and the full install programs for all bundled
software on CDs. The ThinkPads that we have received recently at work did
not come with ANY CDs, but instead have a recovery program installed on a
hidden partition on the hard drive and will let you reinstall the software
ONLY to exactly the same configuration that it came with. Thus, if you want
to reinstall the operating system with a different partition scheme and then
reinstall your CD burning and DVD playback software you're simply SOL! I
have not found any way with these laptops to even create my own install CDs
from the files in the hidden partition. I thoroughly hate that and very much
appreciate getting the installers for my software on CDs. 

Also, be careful if you choose to buy a used ThinkPad. As with any
manufacturer some models are better than others. The ThinkPad 600 series
from about 5-6 years ago was utter crap, and I have had a lot of A20m and
R30/R31 models (all about 3 years old) come through my office in the last
several months with dead hard drives. 

Now, if you can get that laptop that you listed for $399 and you don't plan
on using it as a gaming platform or to watch DVDs in an airplane and just
want to do basic email/web/office type of stuff on it, I think that is an
excellent deal and is an awful lot of machine for the money. If you get it
and want to use Windows XP on it, do invest in some additional RAM (for
buying RAM I am very partial to www.crucial.com). Even though XP can run on
less than 256 MB of RAM, I wouldn't try it with less than that, and ideally
not with less than 384 MB of RAM, and since that laptop likely uses shared
RAM for video it will have less than 256 MB available for the operating
system if it comes with 256 MB installed.

My $0.02 worth sez Go For It!

HTH,
Bill


> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org 
> [mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf 
> Of Colleen McCarthy
> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 12:48 PM
> To: Internetworkers AT Lists.Ibiblio.Org (E-mail)
> Subject: [internetworkers] Laptop Recommendations
> 
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Do any of you have any particularly good or bad things to say 
> about your
> experience with laptops?  I've always had a Dell, and never had any
> problems.  I would look at other vendors, however, if someone 
> recommended
> them.  I'm interested in durability, value for the money, and also any
> features that you have and decided were a waste, or features 
> that you wish
> you had.  Office Depot has a Compaq Presario R3000Z with an 
> AMD Athlon XP-M
> Processor 2400+ for sale through 3/8 for $399 after some rebates.  The
> machine has 256 DDR Memory, a 40 GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM drive (not
> burner-- can get the burner for $55 more), 15"  XGA screen, 
> 32 MB nvidia
> GeForce 4 420 Go (upgradeable to the 64 MB for $25) graphics 
> card.  The guy
> at Home Deport recommended that I upgrade to the high definition clear
> screen for $75. I don't know if this is a good deal or not.  
> Also, does
> anyone know if there is a non-biased site that rates PCs (other than
> Consumer Reports)?
> 
> Thanks much!
> 
> Colleen McCarthy, BSMT, BSEE, MBA, PMP
> (h) 460-0641
> 
> 
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