...as I'm going to need one. Is it:

a. big retailer like CompUSA
b. small "chop shop" (don't know if you have them in the US? Small owner-operator stores, usually run by Chinese or Koreans who sell at big discounts
c. online retailers like Dell
d. someplace else

Some feedback please. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I ordered my last laptop on-line from Fujitsu. I've been happy with it. It all depends on what you're looking for, though. A gaming machine? Something to get through school? Something small to carry around?

If you're not looking for something fancy, go for a Sunday special at one of the discount retailers. You can get a decent machine for $400-600. A higher end machine... you're better off going to someone like Dell or another on-line place.

As for the local guys... sorry, but I wouldn't do it. Not for a laptop, at least. Support is one of your key concerns, and you have a more challenging time from the corner guys.

Good luck, amigo.

It's going to double as a student/business thin-and-light and a gaming machine. I'm looking at something with the following features:

- light (<6lb - need to think in lbs now :D ) and easy to carry around if I have no car
- fast (at least 1.5Ghz)
- preferably Pentium M
- big HD (60GB+)
- WIFI connectivity
- DVD/CD/CDRW
- lots of ports

I'm not hugely fussed about the monitor size, as long as I can look at spreadsheets etc on it. I'm planning to get an LCD screen to have at home anyway.

I was thinking this:

Basic specs for HP Compaq nc6230

Processor-- Intel Pentium M (2 GHz)
RAM installed-- 512 MB DDR SDRAM
Hard drive-- 80 GB IDE
Removable storage type-- None
Input device-- Keyboard, Touchpad, Pointing stick
Weight-- 5.1 lbs
Dimensions (W x D x H)-- 12.4 in x 10.1 in x 1.1 in
Display-- 14.1 in TFT active matrix
Max resolution-- 1400 x 1050
Video RAM installed-- 64 MB
Audio output-- Sound card
Networking type-- Network adapter
Modem-- 56 Kbps Fax / modem MDC
Battery installed-- 1 Lithium ion
Mfr estimated battery life-- 4 hour(s)
OS provided-- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service & support type-- 3 years warranty

With this stuff on it as well:

Priced at $2,108 (as of March 2005), our nc6230 test unit featured a nice array of components: a 2GHz Pentium M 760 Sonoma processor, 512MHz of average-speed 400MHz memory, an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 graphics chip with a standard 64MB of VRAM, and an 80GB hard drive spinning at a brisk 5,400rpm. Our model also included a 14.1-inch display with a high 1,400x1,050 native resolution; a Broadcom 802.11a/b/g mini-PCI Wi-Fi card, which does not support Intel's Sonoma technology; and a useful CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive in a hot-swappable bay. Another corporate thin-and-light with nearly identical components, the Dell Latitude D610, is slightly more expensive.

$2k seems a bit expensive though...

Also, I noticed Bluetooth technology isn't big in the US at all?

LOL that is expensive. I've configured a Alienware laptop for less than that. Or at least for that price a machine with twice the grunt.

I'm tossing up whether or not to buy it here in Sydney and just package it for half the price...

Which Alienware PC did you config for less than that, Tim? I checked the latest Alienware PC and it costs...$US3500 (Holy Ferk!! [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] )

Alienware Area-51m 7700
Full specs
Processor
Clock speed 3.6 GHz
RAM
RAM installed size 1024 MB
Storage Hard Drive
Hard drive size 60 GB

Hard drive 60 GB
OS Provided
OS provided Microsoftý Windowsý XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Optical Storage
CD / DVD type CD-RW, DVD+/-RW

CD / DVD drive CD-RW, DVD+/-RW
Video Memory
Video RAM installed 256 MB

God.. I would hate to see the overheating with that sucker. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Personally, you gotta think of "if it dies, I MUST have a replacement right away" type thing. ask Best Buy or Circuit City if they allow that-- now you WOULD have to buy their 2 or 4 year replacement warrantee. but in the US, those are the two biggies. with alienware, you would have to send it in, wait 4 weeks and.. well, you know.. [img]smile.gif[/img]

If you DO go online, try www.newegg.com . I think they have laptops, and they RMA freaking FAST!!!

Yeh mate, I checked CompUSA and their selections were pox, to say the least!! :eek: If I were getting a desktop gaming machine, I'd get an Alienware, but because this is going to be primarily for study I might stick with Dell, IBM or HPCompaq. Just tossing up whether or not I should buy it here or in the US - if I buy it here I can effectively halve the price because I can get it salary packaged (bought out of pretax salary).

Hey Mems,

My mistake I was looking at the price after a $600 mail in rebate. But going off your original spec's I put this together. I got that for $2336 But as I said it was after a $600 rebate which unfortunatly ends today.

56K Modem with V.92 Technology
24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software MPEG2 Decoder
60GB 7200 RPM ATA100
Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with 7.1 surround sound - Plug in your Digital speakers directly to the System
Area-51m 7700 NVIDIA GeForce™ 6800 Go with 256MB of DDR3 memory
512MB DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 1 x 512MB
Intel® 915P Chipset Supporting PCI-Express
Intel® Pentium® 4 530J Desktop Processor w/ HT Technology 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB 1MB Cache
Area-51m 7700 Case with 17" WideXGA+ 1400 x 900 LCD Display - Xeno Grey
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2
1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service