Members Paully Posted September 24, 2007 Members Share Posted September 24, 2007 I'm looking for a basement level laptop for light, portable(non muic) projects. Have heard good and bad about Dell and Gateway (although my Gateway PC has been terrific). Narrowed down to these 2 models. http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529596848.php $449 base. Has IEEE bus. http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_1501?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs $499 base. No IEEE bus. Firewire is not really a factor except for porting data to say an external drive. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Best, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dylan Walters Posted September 24, 2007 Members Share Posted September 24, 2007 Neither of these systems have much horsepower by todays standards. For a few more clams you can pick up a much more powerful system like this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paully Posted September 24, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 24, 2007 Thanks Dylan. That looks like a replacement for the 1505, which isn't made anymore. I like the extra RAM. Might be the ticket. Any thoughts on Dell and quality control? I thought they had some trouble for a while there. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dylan Walters Posted September 24, 2007 Members Share Posted September 24, 2007 I have quite a few friends using Dell's that love them. I personally use HP/Compaq business notebooks and have had great luck with them. I helped a friend a Vostro 1500 and it felt pretty solid and snappy to me. For the price I haven't seen any other laptop compare with the amount of features they are offering by a long shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Magpel Posted September 24, 2007 Members Share Posted September 24, 2007 I'm comfortable with Dells. Just am, on the strength of my first two and all the ones I've used at workplaces and campuses. In fairness, they're living a bit off of reputation these days, especially as their reputation was founded on ludicriously good support. "They've come back to the pack," but looking inside, I still think they use better and more standard components. IMO. Not that I look in a lot anymore. I am, however, presently typing on a budget Gateway Celeron 1200 that has given me 5+ solid years of reliable business/Interent use and was even a decent dedicated Softsynth for a while 'til I go all of that happening on one machine. Good computer. Last legs now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rabid Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Wasn't Gateway just bought out by Acer? I use a lot of Acer PC's at work becasuse they are easy to upgrade compared to many other PC's. I alwyas look for a flat front with standard CD/DVD drives above all else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alndln2 Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I put together 2 Gateways for DAW, one AMD for a friend and one Intel for my brother. Both solid and going strong and no FW issues either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dean Roddey Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I've used Dell workstations here at my house for the last I guess 8'ish years now, 3 of them over that time if memory serves. Now I have an HP Pavillion for my work machine plus a home brew for my DAW. They've all been quite solid machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echodeluxe Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kurtisqpublic Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I love gateway's product! That being said, my uncle just got an HP, don't know which model, but it was a stellar laptop. I've never trusted Dell a whole lot, my mother in law has had problems with hers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bbach Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I bought a Dell a few months ago. It was $699, but by the time I beefed it up to the way I wanted it, it was $1400. I do like it though. Seems pretty fast, the next gen wifi is working pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John S. Shinal Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Wasn't Gateway just bought out by Acer? I use a lot of Acer PC's at work becasuse they are easy to upgrade compared to many other PC's. I alwyas look for a flat front with standard CD/DVD drives above all else. Yes, Gateway was purchased by Acer, the Gateway name will remain the face of Acer's operation in the USA consumer market. All Gateway's big-account business to government and education was sold to MPC. Both buyers are fully honoring all warranties, etc in the meantime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members audioicon Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I'm looking for a basement level laptop for light, portable(non muic) projects. Have heard good and bad about Dell and Gateway (although my Gateway PC has been terrific). Narrowed down to these 2 models.http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529596848.php $449 base. Has IEEE bus.http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_1501?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs $499 base. No IEEE bus.Firewire is not really a factor except for porting data to say an external drive. Any thoughts would be appreciated.Best, Paul They are all getting worked up in China. But I'll personally do Gateway. AI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paully Posted September 25, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Thanks for all the suggestions. From personal use I really like and trust the Gateway stuff, but it looks like they might have just lost a quick sale. Of the two choices linked in the OP, it seems that over night the Gateway's $150 rebate is gone, and it now costs $100 more than the Dell. After some soul-searching, however, I think I might step up a notch and call to see what kind of price I can get on this http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529664155.php . It has pretty much everything I'll need, including IEEE. Best, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PBBPaul Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 It has pretty much everything I'll need, including IEEE. Best, Paul Not to be a jerk but IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. They are the body responsible for setting operating standards ie: IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) and IEEE 802.11a/b/g (Wi Fi). Just an FYI for ya' . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 I've -- personally -- had very good luck with Dell. I've bought a laptop and a cheapo tower, both of which I like very much given the givens. I've also arranged purchases for a couple other people (one my mom) and they've been very happy, too (both laptops). All of them have been refurbs. With the laptops, I arranged for next day onsite service packages (for my mom I was able to get next day, onsite, drop and spill coverage, a real load off my mind). My laptop is now out of the 3 year service window, never had a problem; my mom's is only about 6 months old and she loves it; the third machine is probably nearing the end of its own 3 year service contract but I don't think the owner has ever contacted them. He's out of the area but I suspect I'd hear from him if he had to have it serviced. Obviously, not everyone has the same happy experience with Dell. As always, it's a caveat emptor kinda world. Also -- I've never bought one of their machines new -- but I could have got the new version of my refurb tower for not much more extra than the cost of the cheap 15" monitor they were packaging it with. [i elected to buy a 19" -- from the evil, despicable TigerDirect, a mistake I will NEVER make again -- which died about 13 months after I bought it. I replaced that with a nice LG 19" from Circuit City.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Not to be a jerk but IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. They are the body responsible for setting operating standards ie: IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) and IEEE 802.11a/b/g (Wi Fi). Just an FYI for ya' . Pronounced "Aiyeeee!" and properly shouted at the top of the lungs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Magpel Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Not to be a jerk but IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. They are the body responsible for setting operating standards ie: IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) and IEEE 802.11a/b/g (Wi Fi). Just an FYI for ya' . jerk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsongs Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Dell is teh sux0r. I had a bad experience buying a laptop from them (it sucked hardcore, I returned it and still was billed for part of it...wtf?) My friend also had a bad experience with a Dell laptop with the power connector losing contact. I hate Dell with a vengeance. So go Gateway, because IT'S NOT DELL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PBBPaul Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 jerk! Yeah, yeah... I know... I'm sorry... FWIW, I have a Gateway P2 that's been running non-stop for about 8 years now. The thing is unbelievable. I'm using it as a simple storage/print server on my home network and it has never failed. If I recall, it was a refurb unit as well. I've also been using a Gateway laptop for work for about a year now with no problems. Given the amount of travel I do and the number of times the TSA has had their mitts on it, this is a good laptop and I would have no problem recommending it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alndln2 Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Whatever you buy, make sure it has a TI FW chipset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted September 25, 2007 Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 Whatever you buy, make sure it has a TI FW chipset. Well... he claims he's not going to be using it for music. But we all know that it's irresistable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paully Posted September 25, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2007 ... IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers... IEEE 1394 is the original PC name for Firewire(Mac) . Now pretty much everything's referred to as just Firewire. After some back and forth with Gateway sales, I ordered this http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529664155.php . Should be here in a couple of weeks . Again, thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'm just glad that no freakin' wanker said "buy a Mac"! Best, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PBBPaul Posted September 26, 2007 Members Share Posted September 26, 2007 Looks pretty cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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