Looking for a laptop

[Grant Lamontagne]

I want to keep it under $500 (the more under $500 the better!) and I'd like to get at least a 1.5g proc, 15" monitor, bare minimum of 512mb RAM (although a gig would be preferable) DVD burner and a (minimum) 40gig hard drive.  Oh, and it has to have built in wireless.  Bluetooth is a benefit, but not necessary.

I am looking at a refurbed Everex NC1502 which seems to have what I want, but it also says it runs Vista, which as far as I am concerned is throwing good system resources out the window, and if I get it, I'll probably install XP on it instead.  Anyone have any experience with this one?  Or any Everex products?  I have never heard of them until now.

If there are any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them too.

Def

[NutSAK]

...but it also says it runs Vista, which as far as I am concerned is throwing good system resources out the window...

I know nothing about Everex, but I agree with the statement above 100%.  You need 1GB MINIMUM to run Vista, IMHO.

I just bought my first computer with Vista (for my mom), and I made sure the performance was there for that resource HOG (AMD 64 X2 5000+, 3GB 800Mhz dual-channel RAM).

I have a lightly used Dell that has the exact specs you mention above.  Email me and maybe we can work something out.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Email sendimified.

Def

[NutSAK]

Well, that didn't work out... 

Anyone else?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I like the instant on feature of many of the UMPC's, but that's is just too much money to spend on something I am just going to break.   

I also think that 1gig is the minimum needed to run XP properly, and it'll be a long time before I upgrade to Vista.  I like XP and it does everything I need.  I don't need to lose more system resources to an OS.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Anyone familiar with the Dell Vostro models?  The 1000 seems to fit what I am looking for and it's brand new as opposed to the nice refurb models I was looking at.

Def

[NutSAK]

I also think that 1gig is the minimum needed to run XP properly, and it'll be a long time before I upgrade to Vista.

I don't have any problems with running XP on 512MB on my laptop.  I tend to be very anal about controlling background processes though, and only run very few that I need like antivirus.

I am familiar with the Vostros, and I don't have and have not read any complaints about them.  There have been some VERY nice deals on the Vostros recently, and I'm sure there will be more of them to come between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Adobe programs like Photoshop and especially Elements like to use lots of RAM.  I don;t like to run unnecessary programs in the background either, and I ran XP with 512mb for a long time, but since I moved up to 1g (both desktops at 1.5g now) I have decided I'd never drop below that again. 

I don't do much intensive photo or video editing, but I do some for reviews and articles and I feel much more comfortable with at least 1g in the machine at all times.  After all, I already have a laptop that can't do what I want it to, why would I get another?

Def

[NutSAK]

Ah...  Yeah, I don't use my laptop for video editing.  1GB or more for sure.  You'd probably want 2GB or more for Vista.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I doubt I will do much video editing with it, but I'd like the option.  And, I won't get Vista....

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

As I mentioned in another thread, I ordered a laptop.  It's a new Dell Vostro 1000 with pretty well everything I wanted, and not too much fancy schmancy stuff:

AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-53
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition or Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic
1GB system memory
120GB hard drive
15.4" widescreen XGA display
8X DVD+/-RW

I ordered it with XP Home and it worked out to just under $550 with shipping which wasn't too bad.  This will be my first dual core proc, and I'll probably add some memory in the new year- I think it'll support 2g, so I expect this one will last me a good while... unless I break it which is entirely possible!   

Def

[Benner]

Glad to hear you are getting what you needed. 

The wait is the worst part.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Tell me about it- I ordered it from the US rather than from Canada because of the better exchange rate right now, which means it'll take at least two weeks to get here instead of the two or three days it would take in Canada.

Def

[NutSAK]

Sounds like a good deal for the specs.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That's what I thought- some of the other units I was looking at were in the same price range but were refurbished models.  I think I prefer something new, especially since it doesn't cost too much!  15.4" screen seems a little small (I have a 22" widescreen on my main machine and 19" LCD on my second computer) but I'm sure I'll manage.  Also, from the reviews I've read it isn't great for gaming, but then I don't really plan to do much gaming on it, so I don't imagine that will be a big deal.

If I do install any games, it'll likely be something like Starcraft or Galactic Battlegrounds, which are older games and I am certain the laptop can handle that.  Hell, my old laptop can handle that much!  It should be a nice upgrade from my Toshiba Satellite 460 with it's astounding 96mb RAM, 166mhz proc and mind numbing 2g HD!

Def