[Help] Need Laptop Buying Advice

Hello tech savvy aqua-softians!

I present you my dilemma, hoping you can give me some insight on experience you have had and so on.

I am supposed to buy a laptop for my fiancee who is studying Industrial Design (AutoCAD, 3DMax and so on is what she needs it for). It needs to be an x86 winbox as they will be using AutoCAD in her uni.

I went looking for Laptops and for the price range i have been given 1000 - 1500 euros i found these two models most appealing.

1 --------------------------

Toshiba Satellite M30-853

Centrino 1.6

1Gig of ram (expanded, initially 512)

40GB HDD

15.4 wxga widescreen

Nvidia GeForce FX Go5200, 64MB.

3 Years International Warranty

2--------------------------

HP zd7000

Pentium 4 HT 3.02ghz

1gig of ram (expanded, initally 512)

60GB HDD

17" wxga screen (wowzorz)

No International Warranty, only for the GCC countries(1 year)

---------------------------

Basically, i have not used a P4 with HT and neither have i used a Centrino based laptop and thus dont know what to expect from them speedwise. Also, as she is living in Italy, warranty has me a bit concerned, the toshiba warranty is a big plus but then again, the huge screen of the HP is another one (Autocad on a tiny screen? *shivers*)

So what would you guys recommend?

If you have any other recommendations for a laptop, please fire away, keep in mind though my budget and that it might not be available here in the Middle East.

I have also been offered an Acer Laptop with 1 year international warranty and 17" screen, but my past experiences with acer products have been nothing but nightmare-building. Anyone has experience with their laptops?

Thank you for your time and for reading this.

// Seph

Edit: Portability, weight and battery life are not much of an issue for her since she will not be carrying it around much. She wants a laptop to save space and to take it to the library for example (where she will have an AC outlet)

#225014

Hi Seph,

You should go for the PC with most power since your GF is going to use Autocad.

The word out there is, that the power of a processor running with Intel Centrino Technology is the double as running Mobile technology only, which mean that a Centrino 1.6 GHz is equilliant to M 3.2 GHz power. Also you should check the L2 cache ammount, since Centrino normally have a higher L2 cache.

Also the physical storage is important since making 3D developments take a huge amount of space.

But buttom line is, that the centrino is lighter, faster and perform better. I purchased the Sony PCG-Z1XSP and I love it. I did some research before I bought it, and you can find some more info and discussion about the difference in processor here:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/L...Q_20895143.html

Take care,

Stone80a

#225027

The HDD space shouldnt be a problem as she also has an external HDD.

I have heard the same about the centrino, but i havent tried them (none of them) and thus would like to get feedback from people who have

Thank you Stone.

#225031

More RAM, pal, more RAM. i'm studying interior design and own a laptop, so i understand a thing or two about your situation. I guess centrino processor doesn't mean too much difference (cus most of them these days typically range from 1.4 to 1.7 Ghz). but with your picks, i think they're alright. 1 Gig worth of RAM is more than enough for autocad. though, let me guess, hp compaq is cheaper, no?

the words on the street said that hp compaq asia computers are made in china, and is known for its not-so-great quality, even though it has impressive specs. i own one, and i guess it's alright. nothing to brag about (i bought it in may 2003, for 1300 euro): 2.5 GHZ P4, 40 gig hard disk, 512 ram, and a diskette slot; so it's not a centrino based laptop. but a friend of mine recently bought an hp compaq laptop too, widescreen, centrino, and while apparently compaq laptops have the coolest design, the performance is just average.

as with toshiba.. i don't really know much about laptops by them. i own a toshiba tv set if that counts lol.

but well... i dunno, but personally, i prefer normal screen over wide screen for autocad.

and that was my input hehehehehe

#225144

The prices are pretty much the same. The only difference is that the toshiba is a spanking new model and the HP is not.

I am sure that my fiancee will appreciate more ram than processing power, i just hope it isnt one of those type of processors that end up compromising speed for portability because, she doesnt need the portability all that much.

That said, i probably cannot go any higher on the ram for now, im sure 1 gig is enough for her. She was working on a 512mb P4 2.0 till now and she didnt complain (that much).

Thanx for the input

#225194

i've owned 2 toshiba laptops. first a 1998 satellite, then another from 2002, both were fantastic machines on all fronts and if i were to ever purchase another PC laptop it would certianly be a toshiba. i would choose the toshiba over the HP not only because it's a new model, but also because toshiba doesn't cobble their computers together from as many out-sourced component manufacturers as, say, HP, or Sony. there is a sense of integrity i found in their machines, and it's not just psychological: along with fujitsu's, toshiba's are one of the last computer makers who qualify to still label their computers as 'made in japan' since most of their components are manufactured either in-house or at other high quality japanese factories. HP will have outsourced most of their component manufacturing to the lowest bidder.

#225265

^^ i agree. i have to say that hp isn't known for being the greatest.

#225547

Go with the new Pentium-Ms (Dothans)

I would also highly recommend looking at the Dell Inspiron 8600. It's a great machine, and very popular here in uni.

#225741

If you want a beast of an x86 laptop, check out the 8790 or the 5690 (depends on if you want 1600x1200 goodness or widescreen) over here:

http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/pentium_systems.html

#225749

Thank you everyone for the advice

I think i will go for the Toshiba, i have heard a lot of happy customers from their side. Besides that, if they are giving you 3 years of international warranty is probably because they have put an effort on the pieces they uses and are statistically sure about the laptops they sell. Why would they offer you 3 years of international warranty if the POC died after 6 months?

Gillbates, i saw that laptop, that would be ideal. The price though isnt. Also the fact that i can't get it here is another sad point.

#225755