Laptops: Which one ??

[lacywest]

I've started working at a place where I have plenty of free time to watch a movie.

I recently got a Compaq 1210US for $305 on Ebay and it works fine.

So I got another one but this one was the Compaq 1215US. I'm having problems with it. I believe it has been put together from gathered parts. I opened it up and noticed some screws missing. Suggesting it has been opened up and messed with.

I did a system info check on it ... hmmm ... info says it is a Compaq 1216EA ... what does "EA" stand for ... Eastern Asia ... maybe.

The problem I'm having is playing videos made with Dr. Divx ... I have no problems with the 1210US but as the video plays on the 1215US/1216EA ... the screen goes black. I stared at it for a moment thinking it was switching from the company logo to the movie it self. Uh Oh ... stupid thing is froze up.

What I'm doing is converting DVD movies with Dr. Divx and burning them to DVD Disks. They are not DVD Format. So far I've converted 10 DVD Movies with Dr. Divx and put them on two DVD Disks. 5 movies on each disk.

Last night at work using the 1210US ... we watched ... The 6th Sense, X-Men 2, The Rundown ... no problems ... no freeze ups.

So I thought I would see how the 1215/1216 would behave ... same crap as usual.

I'm going to take the harddrives out and swap them. Currently the 1215/1216 is using Windows 2000 Pro ... it has had Win XP and WIN ME in it. Nothing but problems.

I'm trying to figure out ... is it the system board, the ram, or the IBM hard drive. I can get anther system board on Ebay for $175 bucks.

Both look alike ... but the 1215/1216 has a IBM harddrive and the 1210 has a Hitachi harddrive with WIN Me installed on it with the original Compaq setup files installed.

When I received the 1215/1216 it had Win XP Pro ... installed. I couldn't get on line so I reformated and installed WIN ME. I found out a day later the modem in it was the wrong kind. I swapped the modem that came from the 1210US and I was on line minutes later.

So guys ... my question is ... what Laptops do you guys use. I am more concerned with playing Divx and DVDs videos than word processing functions. Word Processing is important ... tho.

I work at a Substance Abuse Program so it is important to have MS Word and Word Perfect installed. We have to constantly update records and files on the 31 clients we have living at the place I work at.

But after 11:00 at night ... I get alittle bored. Especially when I come in at 4 PM and work until 4 AM.

So what Laptop have you guys found reliable and doesn't have a terrible overheating problem ???

[DVD_Ripper]

I have had a think pad (various flavors as that is what corporate has standardized on) for 5 years and all have been solid as a rock. The best laptop I have used.

I have also had 2 personal dells and one displayed some rebooting anamolies.

So ... for me ... IBM

[Faustus]

Never had a single issue from the high end dell laptops, of course my first act is to wipe out the software and do a custom load. Beware their software support though.

Also must add the big spender Alienware option.


OH YEAH maybe check out powernotebooks.com they have an insane rating with resellerratings.com almost a perfect rating to be exact.

[rallynavvie]

I just picked up a Thinkpad 600X with a docking station and new battery for $300 from a friend. From what I've seen it's a great machine. I just needed something middle-end for tuning my car (engine management software is DOS actually) and for surfing the net wirelessly in and around my house. This one was made just before the trackpads though, and I like trackpads. I also wish there were an easier method of scrolling.

I've owned Dell laptops and they are OK but don't seem to be very rugged. The thing started coming loose after a couple years but otherwise everything ran fine with it.

Personally I really like the Sony laptops, especially the small ones. If I were to buy a new laptop I wouldn't make it anything other than a Vaio. With loads of onboard features (which is all too important on a lapper) like 1394, 802.11g, USB 2.0, and more it makes for a very versatile machine. I'd like to get one as a mobile video capture machine for when I'm on location doing a shoot. Just get a large FireWire hard drive to leave back at the hotel room for storage and I'd be set.

[lacywest]

I've been looking at the Presario 2199US ... but it doesn't have USB 2

and that seems to be a ... want ... at my place of work. The director at my place of work ... wants to use the more newer printers available and they are using USB 2 connections.

The DELL INSPIRON 8600 ... seems to be a good laptop ... lots of positive reviews. It has USB 2.

And the Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 ... is also getting good reviews.