Lower priced laptop opinions...

[Jeff]

My work laptop bit the dust and it will be months before it is repaired and I receive it back.

Since there are also "personal" reasons for me carrying a lappy as well as business related, I've decided to get a cheaper laptop to call my own.

I don't plan on gaming with the laptop or anything so I don't need anything top of the line.

I'm thinking about this Acer...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=34-115-120&depa=0
I like the fact that it has an estimated 5.5hrs runtime.

BUT... I'm also trying to just talk myself into this cheaper Acer(with it's estimated 2.5hrs runtime)...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=34-115-125&depa=0

One big question I have is how does the 1.5GHz Pentium M compare with the AMD 2600XP-m? The other thing is the graphics subsystem... will I really notice moving up to the "Intel Extreme Graphics 2"?

Decisions... decisions...

Opinions are appreciated. :toast:

[Soulburner]

A 1.5 Ghz Pentium M should perform about equal to or better than an an XP 2600 I think.

[Tedinde]

The graphics are the same also. I've tested xtreme graphics 1 and 2 on boards, You might get 100 more 3dmark with xtreme graphics 2. Only thing different if i remember what i read right was i uses your onboard memory better, but the "core" is the same.

[Jeff]

Decided to go with this one... :devil:
http://www.myfavoritehacker.com/somepictures/lappy/acer01.JPG
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=34-115-116&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

Should be here Friday morning. :D

One more view from the front...
http://www.myfavoritehacker.com/somepictures/lappy/acer02.JPG

And here is a down-to-earth review...
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=29826&highlight=acer+2012
Can't wait to try this little guy out. :banana:

(the wifey doesn't know that NewEgg.com just started a 90-day same as cash type thing... YET!!! :eek: )

[Jeff]

Just noticed this review over at NewEgg.com...


One day old impressions... this is a very nice rig. I'm no laptop expert but we just got it up and running but this one has the Dothan processor! 2MB cache! The spec on the Acer site lists it as 1MB cache but cpuz shows it as a Dothan not the Banais proc and identifies the cache as 2MB. I was expecting the original Pentium M so I'm doubly impressed. The Norton AV 2004 included is a 3 month trial version. I've got to do some more investigating but Acer has it set up running FAT 32 not NTFS. It might have something to do with the way the recovery CD's are setup. The hard drive is actually partitioned into 3 volumes, one is invisible 8MB FAT (probably for recovery) C drive is the main install and has about 42 GB free and a D drive ACER Data is 9.75 GB with 8.35 GB free??? I have had the wireless running here at home using 'G' w/o any encryption and very pleased with the range and performance (Netgear WGT624 router), streaming audio off one of my servers. Newegg as usual delivers the goods once again.

If I get a Dothan... I'm going to drop to the floor. :)

CAN'T WAIT!!! REALLY CAN'T WAIT!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Jeff]

Guess what I received...
http://www.myfavoritehacker.com/somepictures/SuperPi-51s.png

51s doesn't seem too shabby for a 1.5GHz CPU. ;)

[LilGator]

wow :)

ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 :p: