Computer Purchase Opinion
 

I am primarily a Mac user although I do have a couple of PC's in the house as well.

Am doing some web and video work that requires a PC to confirm compatabilty and such.

My PC's are all worn out and the kids have taken over my home office so to conserve space and allow mobility I've elected to pick up a laptop instead of building a new tower.

Went to CompUsa this week and picked up an HP. Monster rebate on the thing, $500 brining final price to $699. Still more than I wanted to lay out up front but it was a good deal so I got it and it's sitting here unopened which means it can be returned without a restock fee.

Here's the quick spec. Needs more RAM.

Pavilion zv5360us Notebook
Intel Pentium 4 Processor, 3.06GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 15-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

Got a circular that CompUsa is having a midnight madness sale today.

2 other choices present themselves.

1st one is less up front than the HP, $899 vs $1199. Same final price of $699.

Averatec
6110-EH1 Notebook
Mobile AMD Sempron 2800+ 1.6GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 15.4-inch WXGA TFT Display, 4X DVD+/-RW Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

2nd new choice is $929 up front and $499 final.

Compaq
Presario 2232us Notebook
Intel Celeron M Processor 360, 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 15-inch XGA TFT Display, DVD / CD-RW Combo Drive, Windows XP Home Edition

Remember that I need it as a test bed and not neccesarily as a workhorse.

I'm concerned about the upfront cost because of the flaky nature of rebates.

I'd be less pissed getting hosed on a $200 rebate vs. a $500.

So what do you guys think?

Thanks
Scott

Overall the Averatec is a better computer, the mobile AMD chip and the 512 ram is going to move things along much faster. Plus you get a bigger screen and hard drive. Seems like I've gotten screwed on the last couple of rebates I've submitted.

RAM and Hardrive I was least concerned about. They can be upgraded cheaply when needed.

Processor info is good. The AMD Sempron 2800 is really better than the P4 3ghz?

Scott

With both processors that fast, and with notebooks always trying to cycle them down to conserve heat, you honestly shouldn't notice any difference.

I would personally probably pick the HP. I don't like them in particular (I only buy Dell Latitudes), but I would think it'd be easier to get parts for down the road. Presarios aren't bad either, but I've had odd issues with them that make no sense, could have just been odd users though.

I end up replacing laptop keyboards quite often for people, and it's nice to be able to find them on eBay for $30.

They should both work well though, as long as you don't beat on them too much.

Hmm, thanks Rob.

I'm leaning towards keeping the HP, it's got an ATI RADEON Mobility 9000 64mb video card vs. the SIS M760 32mb in the Averatec.

HP does not have firewire but does have s-video out and PCMCIA, Averatec has firewire but no PCMCIA. I can always add a PCMCIA firewire card to the HP if necc.

The larger screen is so tempting though, I'm on a 17 inch Mac and love all of the real estate.

Kurt, It's in the back of my head as well. $200 is easier to swallow than $500.

Scott

I have the HP Pavilion ZD7000 and it has never had a problem
I take it with me all day, in a truck over rough terrain, w/out a case!
All the color is worn off the shell.
I have dropped it many times...and it still works like the day I bought it.

Re: Computer Purchase Opinion
 

Sounds like the best deal. Don't get Celeron - not for video editing at least.

Well just came from CompUsa. The Averatec was on a 2 day sale which was in small type on the flyer so of course they were already sold out.

Played with the display unit. Nice box, actually has more features than they list. But still the box felt flimsy/cheap. Display unit is locked down so it can't move and it looked like the DVD drive tray was broken. Does not bode well for real life use.

And the video chipset is only 32 mb's.

So looks like I'm keeping the HP and they better not screw me on the rebate.

Thanks for the input.

Scott

Came to this late....

Good decision IMHO.