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Has anyone brought a notebook from PowerNotebooks.com?

I am looking at the Centrino notebook for a grand total of $2177.00. It's fully loaded (1.5 GHz, WinXP Pro, 15", 512MB, 40GB @5400, CD-RW/DVD, ATI Radeon 9000) without Microsoft Office XP and extended warranty. It doesn't have those AOL-similar software programs pre-installed (thank goodness). Shipping is $50 and included in the total.

Is this a good deal?

By Justin185 (Justin185) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 06:36 pm: Edit

I bought my laptop a few years ago for $2500 which I would never do again. I just bought a Gateway desktop (with monitor -19"- and printer) for $1153. Similar stats (more speed, less RAM). But just be sure to look at a lot of computer companies. You may find a hidden deal somewhere.

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 09:27 pm: Edit

Justin, desktops are cheaper than laptops.

The stats I gave you above is what the average $2500 - $3500 computer will cost on Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, IBM, etc. While the deal I have is not fabulous, it's better than paying $3000.

By Serene (Serene) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 10:38 pm: Edit

Tenisghs: are you sure?

this is a $1249 Toshiba Satellite I just saw:
512 MB, 2.2 GHZ, 40 GB, DVD/CD-RW, 15", WinXP Home. So... with a better processor and everything else about the same, it's about $900 less. Where did you get the idea that "The stats I gave you above is what the average $2500 - $3500 computer will cost on Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, IBM, etc."?!

By Justin185 (Justin185) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 10:55 pm: Edit

I know that desktops are cheaper but some laptops are ridiculously more expensive than desktops and other models of laptops. Just shop around.

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 11:28 pm: Edit

Serene, it's a CENTRINO notebook. Of course it will be expensive because the model, which beats Pentium 4, is brand new. Longer battery life, faster processor...I rather get that.

What about $1975? It's below $2000 now. It has the Intel Centrino technology in it built for wireless and longer productivity. Windows XP Professional operating system.

By Serene (Serene) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 11:37 pm: Edit

Tenisghs: Ah I see. Would you clarify the difference between centrino and say celeron for me? Centrino has faster processor even when the # of gigahertz is less?

By Poutingminotaur (Poutingminotaur) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 04:44 am: Edit

centrino is actually not a faster processor. my friend works for intel and he told me all about it... this is the basic run down.
centrino is made for wireless computing... meaning if you carry your laptop around a lot, it'll probably best if you get that. centrion is a few pounds lighter than the pentium 4, and the battery life is also longer... but the down side... it is slower. the processor speed of the centrino is basically the same as the pentium 3... actually in other words, the centrino is the improved version of the pentium 3, made for better wireless communication.
i myself actually got the toshiba that serene mentioned in the post. i did a bit of research re: laptops in college... i find out that people dont really carry their laptops around that much... a lot of them usually just leave it in their room, almost as a desktop replacement... and that was the reason why i chose the pentium 4 over the centrino. i pick faster processor speed over wireless friendliness.
as for the difference between celeron and and pentium... this explains it:http://www.howstuffworks.com/question268.htm

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 10:26 am: Edit

From PowerNoteBooks.com:

**The Pentium M processor is the most important of the three, and it has been much-anticipated by those who value battery life over raw performance. It uses 25 watts at full maximum, compared to the >100W a Pentium 4 3.06GHz Hyper-Threading processor uses. This allows laptops to be smaller and lighter because the cooling system requirements are much lower, and it dramatically improves battery life. On battery, the Pentium M is set to slow down to 600MHz, and it will consume 6W at that speed.

Because increasing the processor GHz also increases the power used, Intel created a more efficient design with the Pentium M and increased the L2 On-die Cache to 1,024k (as opposed to 512k used in the Pentium 4) so that the performance of a 1.6GHz Pentium M is roughly equivalent to the Pentium 4 2.4GHz, even outperforming it in a number of tests. Those numbers can be extended to indicate that a 1.3GHz Pentium M could be estimated to be equivalent to a 1.9-2.0GHz Pentium 4. The formula is that 1 Pentium M GHz is worth roughly 1.5 Pentium 4 GHz.**

http://www.powernotebooks.com/centrino.php

There ya go. I'm going for the Centrino.

By Lethalfang (Lethalfang) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 05:54 pm: Edit

www.pricegrabber.com
www.pricewatch.com
www.bizrate.com

By Localmooer (Localmooer) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 02:41 pm: Edit

i got a compaq presario x1000
centrino, widescreen (15.4 inch), cool specs (1.4 ghz, 40 GB hd, 640 MB ram, radeon 64MB 9200, wireless, bluetooth, CDRW/DVD)
1250, 100 rebate, and an extra 100 for 512 MB of ram (apparantly it's cheaper to go with the minimum ram and buy a bunch of ram your self) so it was only 1250... but that was a special deal... (5% academic discount, 10% off, 100 rebate, and also free shipping)

Edit: I got my computer at www.hpshopping.com

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 03:07 pm: Edit

If you want to save yourself a lot of grief, ALWAYS check out the reputation of a vendor at Reseller Ratings BEFORE you make a purchase from an unfamiliar vendor! That web site is also doing price checks as well.

Powernotebooks.com appears to have an excellent track record with many customers!

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 10:42 pm: Edit

Morgantruce, do you think a laptop from PowerNotebooks (they have a Platinum Plus rating) is a good deal, even if it's $2178 in cost? (It's loaded with essentials). I am definitely interested in their laptops, more so than Dell (check out the Dell Forums....eek!!).

By Unicorn (Unicorn) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 09:03 am: Edit

how do ya c the dell forums?

By Spectzix (Spectzix) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 12:32 am: Edit

get an Apple Powerbook...you will not regret it

By Ferrari (Ferrari) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 01:01 pm: Edit

True, you won't regret it

By Nerdboy (Nerdboy) on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 06:51 pm: Edit

I love PC not apple. It's weird.

By Wjm0222 (Wjm0222) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 05:52 pm: Edit

I've been going crazy finding a good laptop. Everytime I talk to someone different, they say that this brand sucks because of support, or keyboards, or their screen, but then you talk to someone else, and they think they’re great. It's hard to know who to believe. I've narrowed my search down to a Dell 5150, a Compaq X1000, or a Toshiba A20-S207. Does anyone have any real experience with any of these, not just other things they’ve read - good or bad? I'd really appreciate it. I have to make this last for 4 years (or longer!).

By Nerdboy (Nerdboy) on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 06:12 pm: Edit

Why wouldn't you choose a Dell 600m over a 5150?
It's lighter and has centrino mobile technology. 5150 is a desktop replacement notebook and is therefore very heavy and bigger.

By Localmooer (Localmooer) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 12:06 pm: Edit

For the x1000 look at www.x1000forums.com i've had one but returned (awaiting new one) because of the reported shift key problem (pressing shift doesn't override the previous key press, see forum for more details) the next one better have it fixed....

However, I just -LOVE- the notebook... a desktop replacement at only about 6.5 lbs, great screen/sound, great keyboard (minus the problem), great everything..........

By Sirmoreau (Sirmoreau) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Dude you can get a good refurbished labtop, that is basically new or even a new one for way less from www.pcmall.com.

By Wjm0222 (Wjm0222) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 07:22 am: Edit

You're right tha tthe Dell 600m is alot lighter & it costs about the same, but the screen is smaller. I wanted atleast a 15" screen. I know the 5150 is heavier, but I don't plan on having to carry it around much. I did get a chance to see one of the x1000's. They look really nice, but they felt a bit flimsy. But, really nice. In the end, I went with the Dell. Thanks for all the advice though.

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 10:32 am: Edit

Why did you choose the 5150?

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 11:41 am: Edit

My passionate appeal: down the drain!

By Andrlacrosse (Andrlacrosse) on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 02:40 pm: Edit

have you guys seen the new Tablet PCs , they double as a laptop and a notebook or notepad, they're really cute and can be found for an inexpensive price at some places, just gotta know where to look. I don't know how great it is compared to other computers though..as far as Power goes

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 05:04 pm: Edit

ooh! I'd like to get a cute computer!

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Just for you MT

http://www.pcplasterz.com/