17" Laptops

Everyman · 4th July 2005, 7:55 PM

Guys,

I'm looking to buy a laptop - budget is $2300. At the moment I am leaning towards an Inspiron 9300, but my local Good Guys have guaranteed to meet and beat any price on most makes of laptop.

It'll be used as more of a desktop replacement machine, with wireless - 17" screen is pretty important to me...

What else would you guys recommend me?

MWP · 5th July 2005, 2:57 AM

Im now looking for a 17" laptop also.

I dont think youll find much cheaper than the 9300.
The 9300 is one of the worst 17" laptops around too (low quality LCD, bad keyboard, etc).

At $2300 for a 17", i think youll be seriously comprimising on everything else in the laptop (cpu, ram, hdd, etc).

You would be better off going for a 15".

Everyman · 5th July 2005, 12:57 PM

Yeah, but the size difference between 15.4 and 17" is quite a bit, given the notebook will mostly be used as a desktop replacement unit.

In the 15.4's, I was looking at an Acer 1692wlmi, or the 4102wlmi

MWP · 5th July 2005, 2:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everyman

Yeah, but the size difference between 15.4 and 17" is quite a bit, given the notebook will mostly be used as a desktop replacement unit.

How is it a desktop replacment if it cant run anything that needs a bit of CPU grunt?
The only thing youll get is a dodgy 17" LCD.

Decromin · 5th July 2005, 2:39 PM

I have a HP ZD8002 (17", P4 560), and I can't fault the quality so far - I think the Dell can have a faster vid card (GeForce over an X600). I'm not sure of the current prices, so I don't know if it will meet your budget.

Everyman · 5th July 2005, 5:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWP

How is it a desktop replacment if it cant run anything that needs a bit of CPU grunt?
The only thing youll get is a dodgy 17" LCD.

its only being used by a uni student, its doesn't need to be a uber cool uber powerful system

clementwcm · 7th July 2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWP

The 9300 is one of the worst 17" laptops around too (low quality LCD, bad keyboard, etc).

I would seriously disagree on that as a owner of a 9300 since March. The LCD panel on my 9300 is a Samsung UWXGA. I don't think there is another 17" laptop LCD that can produce such a high resolution at 1920x 1200. The screen is reflective and to me the colour is great. There's a bit of light leakage from the bottom but you can't notice it unless u turn everything on the screen to black. Fonts are clear and I can game on it very well without much ghosting.

For the value the Dell cannot be beat and I challenge anyone with a better 17" laptop under 3.5k AND WITH a nVidia 6800go 256mb video card (just a tad slower than desktop 6800GT). Please don't mention the Sony 17" either coz their LCDs aren't even close to UWXGA and their prices.. well... everyone knows...

I highly recommend the 9300.. especially when there's a good deal on (worth the wait IMO).

PS. Mine is a PM2.0Ghz with the 256MB 6800go, 1 Gig DDR2 RAM, 100GB HD, 8XDVDRW, UWXGA, Bluetooth + free USB mice. All for $2699 back in March huge sales

Xassius · 8th July 2005, 8:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everyman

its only being used by a uni student, its doesn't need to be a uber cool uber powerful system

then you're not after a desktop replacement

4th July 2005, 7:55 PM	#1
Everyman Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 633	17" Laptops Guys, I'm looking to buy a laptop - budget is $2300. At the moment I am leaning towards an Inspiron 9300, but my local Good Guys have guaranteed to meet and beat any price on most makes of laptop. It'll be used as more of a desktop replacement machine, with wireless - 17" screen is pretty important to me... What else would you guys recommend me?

5th July 2005, 2:57 AM	#2
MWP Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,515	Im now looking for a 17" laptop also. I dont think youll find much cheaper than the 9300. The 9300 is one of the worst 17" laptops around too (low quality LCD, bad keyboard, etc). At $2300 for a 17", i think youll be seriously comprimising on everything else in the laptop (cpu, ram, hdd, etc). You would be better off going for a 15". __________________ MWP PC Database AdminCrystalfontz CrystalControl2 Author - Offical Forums Motoring Worklog - Toyota V8 RA28 Celica SA Classic Celica Club Member - Website

5th July 2005, 2:39 PM	#5
Decromin Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Aus Posts: 1,115	I have a HP ZD8002 (17", P4 560), and I can't fault the quality so far - I think the Dell can have a faster vid card (GeForce over an X600). I'm not sure of the current prices, so I don't know if it will meet your budget. __________________ Spin my nipple nuts and send me to Alaska!

5th July 2005, 12:57 PM	#3
Everyman Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 633	Yeah, but the size difference between 15.4 and 17" is quite a bit, given the notebook will mostly be used as a desktop replacement unit. In the 15.4's, I was looking at an Acer 1692wlmi, or the 4102wlmi