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General discussion

Seeking for an advice on what laptop to get

Jan 14, 2005 4:53PM PST

I am looking for a laptop that I will be able to run the following programmes; autocad, illustrator, photoshop, flash mx, 3ds max and revit....
would be much if appreciated if someone could recommend me some specific models...
I was looking at Toshiba m30 special edition or Compaq Presario B3813AP...i did look at big desktop replacement types such as Sony Vaio A290, Qosmio and HP zd7000....but not too sure what to get..please help.

Discussion is locked

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NO HP
Jan 14, 2005 6:26PM PST

Stay away from HP....there prices suck u in to the trap of a crappy computer that u will be stuck with for a long time...there computers work fine for some time but then you run into the whole mess of problems...plus their service is that of talking to a brick wall...you will get no where and they wont give u any info on how to fix ure computer..I had a loud fan on my hp and the person at the tech services asked me what it sounded like so i honestly made the sound of a loud fan on the phone to these "slightly idiotic" techinicians

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NO HP
Jan 14, 2005 7:54PM PST

what would you recommend??
i have sort of narrowed it down to either compaq b3813 or toshiba m30 special edition....
really not too sure what to choose...with compaq..it has an advantage of having 128mb of ati radeon 9700 graphics card which is a bonus, and 80 gb of space. but comes with 2 256 ram rather than one...and not a wide screen....where as for toshiba has only 64mb of geforce 5200 graphics card but its more reliable source...

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What to buy
Jan 17, 2005 1:12AM PST

Do check out the Fujitsu line of computers. Beware of SHARED memory ....video in ram vice having its own ram. The higher priced computers have seperate video cards and ram. However, the Fujitsu units that I have share their video with the allocated operating ram.

Centrino may be a way to go. CAD needs a fast processor.

I have 1.2gb of PC-2100/266 ram in a Fujitsu C-2310 and have checked the ram allocatlions when GPS mapping programs; OpenOffice, Paint, and about four other heavy duty graphics programs running. Total ram used in my situation was about 500megs plus with a residual "free" ram of about 400megs with a full set of applications loaded in ram.

BTw! Fujitsu and other laptops SOLDER ram position "0" into place with ram positon "1" able to receive upgraded ram. In my case, two 256meg chips were in place. Slot "1" ram (256) is replaced with a 1.0gb ram stick.


hope this helps.

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Why not a Dell 9200
Jan 15, 2005 12:11AM PST

I've been looking at higher end notebooks and kind of like the Dell 9200... help me understand why Dell isn't on your list?

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Why not a Dell 9200
Jan 15, 2005 3:06AM PST

it has reviews of having really poor quality lcd screen which is required of me to have,

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Seeking for an advice on what laptop to get
Jan 15, 2005 3:12AM PST

You will want plenty of memory. If I had a choice between Compaq and HP I would specifically get an HP not a Compaq. Yes I know they are in bed with eachohter because they merged but still...

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See 4 hp/compaq user forums to determine notebook type
Jan 15, 2005 1:33PM PST

Many HP and Compaq models are indentical internally and built off the same assembly line in China mostly (as are most other brands as well).

HP service has a slightly higher rating than Compaq in surveys (Consumer Reports, etc) but is not by much and again the notebooks are the same under the hood (differ by external colors inside in the keyboard, palmrest area, etc.

Pricing can vary between the 2 depending on options you choose so you should figure out which models are the same and then compare prices for both custom at hpshopping.com

My Compaq X1000/HPZT3000/HPnx7000 business 15.4" Pentium M notebook for example are all the same internally and are shipped by Compal to the use via Fed ex from Shanghai (see X1000forums.com)

The Compaq R3000 and HPzv5000 (Athlon 64) notebooks are the same --see R3000forums.com

The HPDV1000 14" widescreen Pentium M and its Compaq V2000 sister are similar but only the HP has the built in remote control I think --see DV1000forums.com

Also, the zd7000forums.com (17" Pentium 4M desktop replacement notebook only) has a Compaq counterpart

So read more on these 4 user forums so determine which notebook type is the best for you (and to find the best hpshopping discounts) and then you can get another brand in comparison (Dell,Toshiba, Gateway) if you wish