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General discussion

Buying New Compaq R3000Z Laptop - Good choice?

Mar 31, 2005 9:26PM PST

Hello. I'm thinking about buying a Compaq R3000Z laptop with the Athlon 2800+, 1.6Ghz processor, 40GB, 256MB RAM, etc... and I was wondering if it's a good choice for me. I'm an International Business student and I'm about to study abroad in May for 3 weeks. I only want the laptop to be able to use the internet, wireless or not, use programs such as MS Office, listen to music, watch DVDs, use my webcam and download my pictures that I take everyday while I'm abroad for those 3 weeks. (I have a desktop as well, that's why I don't want to jam it up with stuff).

Is the Compaq R3000Z a good choice for me? I think it is and I really like it... but I'd like so EXPERT opinion on this or personal experiences with it.

Thank you! Happy

Discussion is locked

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2 R3000's at the office.
Mar 31, 2005 9:41PM PST

These are big laptops. Great for the work we do and the Athlon 64 is a bonus since our 2005 policy is 64-bit capable units only.

The drool guards are working and of course I get to use one of them all the time now.

If traveling with this one, I wonder if the size is a liability. Maybe the dv1000 or v2000s would be a better idea.

Bob

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I'm also on a budget
Mar 31, 2005 9:45PM PST

And I can get one of these for under $675- $700 so that's why I was looking at those...

So you highly recommend it?

Thanks for the help. U are the man!

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So are we.
Mar 31, 2005 10:06PM PST

The R3000's were (from) HP refurbs and cost 720 and 829 each. It only the users would stop drooling.

Bob

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LOL so you think it's the right choice?
Apr 1, 2005 6:58AM PST

Since you have 2 of them, you think the Compaq R3000Z is a good choice for moi?

Thanks.

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Maybe. (I know that's not a clear answer)
Apr 2, 2005 1:15AM PST

We have 2 R3000 Athlon 64 based units at the office now. I get one of them. These are fine desktop replacement units and don't seem to suffer the hot spots I've seen in P4 HT 3+ GHz based units. They also meat our mandate of all 64-bit capable units from now on.

Outside of the bigger footprint, we like them.

Bob

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Compaq 3000-series...great machines
Apr 4, 2005 2:19AM PDT

Not sure which 3000-series version you're looking at, but I've had a 3460 for about two months and I am really pleased with it. The AMD processor run very cool, the wireless has great reception and the machine overall is high-quality. It run circles around my corporate-issue IBM (which cost $500 more).

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I just got mine last week
Apr 1, 2005 10:47AM PST

Mine has same specs you named. I got the regular modem as I will NOT be travelling with it but it will be a desk-top replacement. I was very pleased with the screen quality/brightness/clarity. I have not yet connected my 19" Viewsonic monitor to it but I plan to. I have the DVD/Rom-CD/RW combo.

I don't have much to compare it to. I had a sub-notebook [Zeos] about 10 years ago. Small, light black/white screen, Win 1.2, 40mb HD, 40mhz etc. External floppy drive and external modem. When AOL upgraded the space was not sufficient for me to stay on line. So it sat in the closet til 2 yrs ago and I gave it to a monk in Nepal. I built my desk-top in May 2001 with Wn2k andAMD Athlon 1.3 ghz, 40 gb but it has been having unsolvable connection/modem problems so my reason for getting the Presario. I have not given up trying to fix my desk top but miss being online. I made the decision based on money. Everyone I know Has a DELL but their customer service has been unsatisfactory. So this sale on Presarios came at the right time for me. I'm hoping my decision was a good one. But limited time/experience on it at this moment.

Altho I have an ISP I'm currently using the free 90 day AOL [which I don't plan to continue].

Perhaps you already know, but I don't, so I'm raising these questions, how will you connect to web in other countries? Is AOL in other countries? They say there exist 'blue-tooth' cafes where you walk in and if your computer has blue tooth you get connected thru their ISP. But to find these?? I did not get blue tooth but like the concept.

Which country/s will you be in? Europe? Asia?
Go for it.
SkyDancer

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Prices
Apr 1, 2005 10:56AM PST

I see you are getting some price input which I hadn't mentioned but mine was on sale for $399 [with rebates] and I added $50 upgrade and s/h was $50 so my total was $499 delivered [sooner than they had promised]. Not a refurbished but a custom new.
I would say the store but not sure that is allowed??
an office one...
SkyDancer

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Going to Europe...
Apr 1, 2005 11:53AM PST

I'm going to Europe... Normandy, France to be more specific. I'm planning on buying it off of Ebay, that way I don't have to deal with rebates. How did you get yours so cheap?? I wish I could get it that cheap. The cheapest I've seen is $599 with like $60 shipping. Thanks for the advice.

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here it is
Apr 1, 2005 10:32PM PST

hope this is ok to say... Office Depot.
I saw Sun ad in paper went in store and ordered custom build they said 18 working days but sent it much sooner. Saw their ad after I received mine and they still had same price. Not sure this week. But check out on line site. Price is after rebates you pay more up front ...my rebates were like $330. I haven't submitted yet just checking out computer to be sure its all ok. So far seems fine, only thing is I couldn't get free SW MSWorks to install but still thinking it might be me. Rebates are a hassle and usually take 6 weeks to get rebate check but I have to count every penny and was only way I would have ever bought a notebook.

I think of France as having good web connections, incl bluetooth.
If you have time could you answer my question about web connections in other countries? I truly don't understand. Probably I wull never travel again, I'm retired, but I've lived in asia 7 years and have often thought I'd like to have a computer with me if I'm ever able to return. Know asia has internet cafes but guessing they aren't bluetooth equipped yet [but I could be wrong]. Anyway I have pondered the connection question.
Good luck.
SkyDancer

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Not sure about France's web connection but...
Apr 2, 2005 9:27AM PST

I was told by the professor that there is access in cafe's and universities, of course. However, I will be asking more about that because I want to make sure i'll have wireless access from my hotel, on the bus/train rides, etc.

I will let you know when I find out. Thanks for the help.