Notebook with Centrino or Pentium

[galactica]

So i have been researching into a new laptop

One of the ones that I am very interested in is the Toshiba Satellite M35-S359. This has the centrino 1.4Ghz processor. My question is how does this related to the Pentium 4 Notebook modles with processers that are running 2.8 Ghz to 3Ghz.

I realize the centrino is thin [one of its perks] but are there advantages / disadvantages to the centrino over a pentioum notebook??

[mujahid7ia]

You want a PC? I knew he'd come around

From what I've read, a 1.4GHz Centrino (Pentium M processor) is WAY faster than a Pentium 4-M processor of comparable clock speed. Not sure how much, but definitely significant.

Centrino has a lot of advantages over Pentium notebooks, namely: integrated wireless; PowerStep technology (or something like that) = a lot longer battery life, I've seen 4-6 hours on diff. powersaving modes; and a chipset that was designed for wireless.

I would definitely go for the Centrino.

I'm sure you can find more benefits of Centrino on Google or whatever.

[galactica]

You want a PC? I knew he'd come around
.

Im required by my school to get a laptop - they only offer support for PC's. I brought in my Powerbook and the IT guys said it would only connect to the schools presentation netowrk via VPC. I have that but its not good at all (even running on a 1Ghz G4!)

so what they hey... the money comes from student loans, so yes even I am looking to get a PC

Thanks for your suggestion. As you can imagine i know very little about this stuff, only that I am trying to get one that closely resembles my powerbook

Im surpirsed how THICK PC notebooks are .... thus my thinking on the centrino model

thanks!

[Greg12]

I have a dell laptop, it's not to good, good technical support though, i have an old toshiba relic laptop (P-2 at 200mhz) and it broke once and the tech people helped me even though the warrenty was expired.

[Piccoro]

Just so you know there is a difference between Pentium M and Pentium 4 M.
Pentium M is the one you want. Avoid Pentium 4 M like you would avoid celerons (not because they are that bad but because they are misleading with the M).
I've heard a 1.1ghz P-M is like a 2.0ghz desktop P4.
The highest P-M i've seen was 2.3ghz and the most common are 1.4+1.5ghz.

[Hardcoreruss]

Centrino all the way, P4's battery life is around 2 hours at best. My centrino 1.7 lasts for over 4.

[shoozleboy]

IT guy was in my office yesterday with his Compaq CELERON laptop... said he is looking at getting a Centrino powered laptop, because of the very reasons mentioned here already AND that the Centrino does not get as hot as the P4 or P4M ones do....

I'm no expert on it, but that alone makes more sense to me... all the wireless capabilities and not having the thing cook my legs when sitting at the airport....

[mrtristan]

Centrino laptops are more expensive, but the way to go, in my opinion. The main benefit is the Pentium M. The Pentium M was designed to be run in a laptop, so it has all kinds of cool power saving technology. Basically, you're able to get longer life out of a smaller battery and the chip runs more calculations at a lower clock speed. Something like and AMD chip, but a lot cooler. Integrated wireless isn't much of a big deal, because most laptops come with it, anyway.

There's actually four parts to Centrino technology, but the wireless integration and Pentium M are the two that I remember. The other two weren't really significant, to me.

Don't be mislead by the clock speeds.

[galactica]

thanks for the input fellas, I think im pretty much sold on this toshiba with centrino. Just wanted to see the differences between it and the pentiums in the same price range (which were all 2x Ghz faster)

Soon as next financial aid comes though its on order!
Do you all have any input as to if this particular toshiba is any good??

http://hardwarecentral.dealtime.com/xPF-Toshiba_M35_S359_Satellite