Sub $700 Laptops

[airmenair]

I'm looking at getting a laptop soon, probably in a week or two. My requirements are pretty simple, under $700, 2 GB RAM (if I run Vista), good hard drive capacity (150 GB+), nice display for watching media, a decent video card for maybe a game or two (not a gamer really, just something to do when bored) and a good processor (something that will make the computer pretty fast).

Some of those descriptions are a bit subjective, like "nice, good" but I don't know how else to describe them since I know little of the technical side of computers.

Right now I'm looking at a refurbished Gateway M-6750 for under $600 and an Acer Aspire 5720-4984 for under $650.

Anyone have any info on these? Good products?

[LurkerPatrol]

By name alone, go with acer. They make fairly good laptops, some of my friends have acers and have been using them for ages now. Gateway is code word for "shit in a box".

Originally Posted by ACER

* Manufacturer: Acer, Inc
* Manufacturer Part Number: LX.ALA0X.182
* Manufacturer Website Address: www.acer.com
* Product Line: Aspire
* Product Name: Aspire 5720-4984 Notebook
* Product Type: Notebook
* Processor: Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2370 1.73GHz
* Processor Technology: EM64T
* Bus Speed: 533MHz
* Chipset: Intel GL960 Express
* Standard Memory: 2GB, 1GB
* Maximum Memory: 4GB
* Memory Technology: DDR2 SDRAM
* Memory Standard: DDR2-667/PC2-5300
* Hard Drive: 120GB
* Optical Drive: DVD-Writer - DVD-RAM/±R/±RW (Integrated)
* Display Screen: 15.4" WXGA Widescreen Active Matrix TFT Color LCD
* Graphics Controller: Intel GMA X3100 358MB DDR2 SDRAM Shared Integrated
* Network: Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3ab
* Keyboard: Standard Size
* Ports: 1 x DC Power Input
* Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
* Batteries: 1 x 6-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Standard Battery

Originally Posted by Gateway

General

System Type
Notebook
Built-in Devices
Stereo speakers, Wireless LAN antenna
Width
14 in
Depth
10 in
Height
1.5 in
Weight
6.3 lbs
Color
Garnet red
Notebook type
Mid-size laptops (6-7.5 lbs.), Budget
Screen type
High-gloss/Anti-glare screen, Wide-screen
Wireless capabilities
802.11 pre-N, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a

Processor

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 / 1.67 GHz
Multi-Core processor technology
Dual-Core
64-bit processor
Yes
Data bus speed
667 MHz
Chipset type
Mobile Intel GM965 Express

Cache Memory

Type
L2 cache
Cache size
2 MB

RAM

Installed Size
3 GB
Technology
DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz
RAM configuration features
1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB

Storage Controller

Storage controller type
Serial ATA
Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface
Serial ATA-150

Storage

Floppy Drive
None
Hard Drive
250 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Storage Removable
None
Hard drive type
Portable

Optical Storage

Type
DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Integrated
CD / DVD read speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL)
CD / DVD write speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 2x (DVD-R DL) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL)
CD / DVD rewrite speed
16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM)
Disc Labeling Technology
Labelflash Technology

Optical Storage (2nd)

2nd optical storage type
None

Card Reader

Card reader type
5 in 1 card reader
Supported flash memory cards
Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, XD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Pro

Display

Display Type
15.4 in TFT active matrix
Max Resolution
1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Widescreen Display
Yes
Features
Ultrabright

Video

Graphics Processor / Vendor
Intel GMA X3100 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
Max Allocated RAM Size
384 MB

Audio

Audio output type
Sound card
Audio output compliant standards
High Definition Audio
Audio Input
None

Notebook Camera

Camera Type
Integrated
Notebook Camera / Sensor Resolution
1.3 Megapixel

Multimedia Functionality

TV Tuner Type
None

Input Device(s)

Input device type
Keyboard, Touchpad, 2-way scroll button

Telecom

Modem
Fax / modem
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications
ITU V.92

Networking

Networking
Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported
Yes
Data link protocol
Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Networking standards
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)

Expansion / Connectivity

Expansion Bays
None
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54, 2 ( 0 ) x Memory
Interfaces
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm

Miscellaneous

Features
Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Power

Power device form factor
External

Battery

Technology
6-cell Lithium ion
Installed Qty
1

Operating System / Software

OS Provided
Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Software
CyberLink Power2Go, Microsoft Works 8.5, Microsoft Money Essentials, Norton Internet Security (Trial), Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60 days trial)

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support
1 year warranty
Service & Support Details
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year

[Vette Boss]

Probably best to avoid Acer, their build quality is very bad. The quality of the plastic is just awful, it flexes everywhere and the hinges are very stiff.

[airmenair]

Hmm well that's two opposing opinions, anyone else?

[jeffy777]

Personally, I would spend a few hundred more and get a nice quality ASUS

But if you must keep it under $700, I'd say for that price, an Acer would be alright. You can't really expect excellence for under $700. Just try to avoid Celeron processors. And I wouldn't buy a Gateway either.....

This would be a good one for that price range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115470

Or this one is better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115485

This Sony is also an option, though the specs aren't as nice, but build quality may be better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834117722
^^ haha, just noticed it's pink though.......I always look at specs first

Another Sony:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834117689

Or this Toshiba:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114475

[airmenair]

Honestly as long as it is durable i don't care about the feel it has. Just looking for something utilitarian

[LurkerPatrol]

To be honest, I wouldn't buy either acer or gateway. If you could spend a little bit more money I would either go with asus, thinkpads, and some dell laptops (latitude, not xps... don't get dell xps laptops).

I didn't want to tell you that because I didn't want you to feel like you had made a wrong decision or if your final decision was to choose between those 2 brands I didn't want to say something that wasn't either of those choices.

[Vette Boss]

Toshiba quality is pretty good, possibly the best of the cheaper brands. Beware of bloatware, they come loaded with plenty. Plan to spend a solid hour of frustration removing it.

If you can spring for a Sony or Thinkpad, those are still better.

[airmenair]

Originally Posted by LurkerPatrol

To be honest, I wouldn't buy either acer or gateway. If you could spend a little bit more money I would either go with asus, thinkpads, and some dell laptops (latitude, not xps... don't get dell xps laptops).

I didn't want to tell you that because I didn't want you to feel like you had made a wrong decision or if your final decision was to choose between those 2 brands I didn't want to say something that wasn't either of those choices.

Those weren't my only two options, just a few I had come across today.

EDIT: Just found this Toshiba Qosmio F45-AV411 Notebook for $650 from buy.com, factory refurbished. How's that?

[LurkerPatrol]

I had a sony vaio and my 2nd roommate had a toshiba. I replaced mine with an awesome desktop + laptop after 3 years and my friend replaced his toshiba after about 2.5 years.

Some of the bits were loose on the toshiba after a lot of use and the power cable broke. Both the sony and the toshiba had some nice features (card reader, good wifi, tons of USB ports, great monitors, great speakers on the toshiba).

Subpar gfx on both but good enough for movies. The problem with my sony was that the mobo started heating up to 98* C (almost boiling point for water). The vid card must have been fried since it was an IGP obviously. I'd be careful not to play too many games or overwork the vid card.

The only other disadvantage is that they're really freaking heavy sometimes.

[airmenair]

Originally Posted by LurkerPatrol

I had a sony vaio and my 2nd roommate had a toshiba. I replaced mine with an awesome desktop + laptop after 3 years and my friend replaced his toshiba after about 2.5 years.

Some of the bits were loose on the toshiba after a lot of use and the power cable broke. Both the sony and the toshiba had some nice features (card reader, good wifi, tons of USB ports, great monitors, great speakers on the toshiba).

Subpar gfx on both but good enough for movies. The problem with my sony was that the mobo started heating up to 98* C (almost boiling point for water). The vid card must have been fried since it was an IGP obviously. I'd be careful not to play too many games or overwork the vid card.

The only other disadvantage is that they're really freaking heavy sometimes.

I really won't be doing alot of gaming on it, and if I do it probably be some high hardware demand game either.

Are factory refurbished laptops good deals? Or should I go with something brand spankin new.

Here is a link to that toshiba I found: http://www.buy.com/prod/toshiba-qosm...206671747.html

[-Cpt. J.-]

Reserve the money and buy the most performing Toshiba. A very good manufacturer.

[airmenair]

Two more I found from newegg.com for $600. Looks good to me, thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-724-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-451-_-Product

[Deviate]

Conn's Electronics on Cherry Street (just west of Ft Worth) has a nice HP for $650. 15.4", 2 or 3 gigs of RAM, decent-sized HD, nVidia graphics card and I want to say the processor was ~2.0 GHz dual-core. I was going to buy that one until I found my Vaio (also at that store) for $900.

[gogirl.a]

^^ haha, just noticed it's pink though.......I always look at specs first

And thanks for that too!

Would this really be a good lappy, because I obviously like the look of it

I need to purchase a new one in the next 2 months but am happy to spend up to a couple of grand (Australian)
Suggestion would be welcome, but I'm still a tech novice so might require patience

Cheers
GG

[airmenair]

After my brief research I have a couple of questions...

The two major processors are Pentium and AMD, from what I see computers with AMDs are typically cheaper than their equal performance Pentium counterparts. I assume this means that the pentiums are of higher quality, but what is the real difference in performance? I've found AMD 64x2 processor computers at 2 GHz with 2+ GB of RAM for under $700, but finding similar pentium processor computers for that price is much harder. Will I regret it if I get an AMD?

Also, what is a good speed processor in terms of GHz for running mutiple programs? 1.7? 2?

[BlitzR]

I have a laptop with that AMD spec running Vista and is not really nice to use, it lags a bit and the cpu usage is high. Maybe it's just me, probably could use more ram, but it's mostly for internet use so I tend not to worry about it.

[jeffy777]

Originally Posted by airmenair

After my brief research I have a couple of questions...

The two major processors are Pentium and AMD, from what I see computers with AMDs are typically cheaper than their equal performance Pentium counterparts. I assume this means that the pentiums are of higher quality, but what is the real difference in performance? I've found AMD 64x2 processor computers at 2 GHz with 2+ GB of RAM for under $700, but finding similar pentium processor computers for that price is much harder. Will I regret it if I get an AMD?

Also, what is a good speed processor in terms of GHz for running mutiple programs? 1.7? 2?

Try to get an Intel Core 2 Duo, like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114475

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115485

The Core 2 Duo uses less power, generates less heat, and is all around just better than an Pentium Dual Core or an AMD 64x2.

1.8+ GHz dual core is good for for multitasking.

I'd probably go with the Acer since the specs are nicer, although the Toshiba is lighter, if that means anything to you. But again, if it were me, I'd save up and get an ASUS.

[NooDle]

what about that tiny little EEEpc? It's a lot less than 700$, and as far as I can tell, will do everything a budget laptop will do.

Yeah it's tiny, but so what?