Just for reference.

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 9300 notebook for $1400 about 4 months ago, which came with the following:

- 1.6 Ghz Pentium M class processor
- Intel 915 chipset
- PCI express 533 Mhz FSB
- ATI Radeon X300 mobility 128 MB graphics card
- 2 GB DDR RAM
- 17" Widescreen display
- Windows XP Home
- 40 GB hard drive
- DVD Rom optical drive
- Intel Pro wireless (b/g)

The nice thing about the Dell products is that the hardware is extremely easy to replace, the drivers and software are readily available for download from their web site, and you can ask for the operating system installation CD.

Whatever you decide to purchase, make sure you will be able to get the MoBo drivers, video drivers, audio drivers, and USB drivers.

Any newer (2004/2005) notebook should be relatively easy to upgrade for the next 5 years or so.

I did not shop for the best bargain, so I am sure you could find something similar (perhaps with less RAM) for around $1200 - whether it be Toshiba, Sony, HP, Dell, or Gateway.

The machine I got is not a gaming machine (I am not really a gamer by any stretch), but it will do just about anything else, with the exception of Video Editing, and 3D modeling.

Good luck.

Bash2cool agrees with #26

Bash2cool still agrees with #26

"Some say Toshiba is unreliable, some the opposite."

It's possibly coincidence that Toshiba laptops were always the most feared for their unreliability and power consumption in three companies I worked at. But I'd not take that risk, considering that Dell are cheaper, Sony more stylish, and HP more business-like. There is just nothing that speaks for Toshiba, but I have seen a lot that speaks for keeping away from them. And I don't even use PC laptops at all.

About HP: you are probably right.

And of course it is possible to not buy Windows with a laptop. But if you don't want to run Windows anyway, why not buy an Apple laptop? Linux, at least on a laptop, doesn't really have that many advantages over Mac OS X. And while Apple laptops are slower than PC laptops (until next year, of course), if you don't play games (which is likely if you don't want Windows) this shouldn't be an issue.

If they deliver in ONE week, seems short but ok. I'm looking at second hand ThinkPad too, since they have a reputation for being undestructible.

About Dell:
They are cheaper, but I was said that they cut the price by taking cheaper components. I built my desktop exclusively with QUALITY component, and if Dell doesn't do that they are then the opposite of Apple/IBM (and my desktop). Better pay a quality premium since it's worth it on the long haul, no? So is what I heard for Dell true?

No Windows:
How can you get the computer without Windows? The seller at "Liquidation Direct Thedeal" didn't know how or even if it was possible! (D'uh!) And if I later need a Windows partition, does any normal Windows copy do as well (some computers got their own "adapted Windows")?

And again, thanks to everyone

If I had $1200 my first choice would be an Apple. If I really had to have a Windows machine I would go with one of these:

http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4440226?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Use the extra money to add memory and maybe a bigger HDD.

Just got finished configuring the only two true gaming laptops out there: Dell XPS Gen2: $3602 discounting tax/shipping Alienware 7700: $4265 without office software/tax/shipping

Wow! That's absurd! Let's wait a minute here...I got my new Toshiba M60 for $1900 and it's quite nice for gaming. Not as spectacular as the above models, but it does the trick. Here's the specs:


Toshiba Satellite M60-S8112TD
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 [1.73GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB]
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (SP2)
1 GB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (512MBx2)
17" Diagonal Wide-screen SXGA+ w/TruBrite™ Technology (1680x1050)
ATI® MOBILITY® RADEON® X600 SE PCI-E x16 with 128MB DDR SDRAM
60GB HDD (5400rpm)
DVD/CD-RW multifunction drive, Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g)


Not to mention all of the nice software Toshiba pops on there (Yes it's bloatware but GOOD bloatware suprisingly), and a FREE printer. Ca-ching, I was sold. (Look at NotebookReview.com's opinions too) I'd check out Toshiba if I were you, I'm really happy with mine.


Here's some pictures of it: http://doctornick.wincustomize.com/photos.aspx?a=12


And, to brag a bit about the gaming...how does playing World of Warcraft at 1680x1050 sound to you?

$1200 will get you alot on ebay.