Hi gang,

This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm debating
over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
Linux+.

Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
laptops and found both put out good notebooks.

I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be great.

Cheers,
Rick
A+, Net+
----

Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)

- Full-sized Windows keyboard.
- two USB
- 256MB RAM
- 20GB hard drive
- 14.1" Active Matrix display
- Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
- 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
---------

HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.

- Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
- 20GB hard drive
- 256MB RAM
- 14" screen,
- floppy disk drive,
- 32MB shared video memory,
- DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.

Report this post to a moderator

what would be your primary use for the laptop?
P4 might be preffered over the Celeron if your using cpu intensive apps..


"Rick Blythin" <mosguy@gosympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:Osj3a.1103$bU6.152483@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Hi gang,
>
> This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm
debating
> over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> Linux+.
>
> Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
>
> I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
> to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be
great.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
> A+, Net+
> ----
>
> Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
>
> - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> - two USB
> - 256MB RAM
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> ---------
>
> HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
>
> - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 256MB RAM
> - 14" screen,
> - floppy disk drive,
> - 32MB shared video memory,
> - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.
>
>

Report this post to a moderator

In article <Osj3a.1103$bU6.152483@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Rick Blythin"
<mosguy@gosympatico.ca> wrote:

> Hi gang,
>
> This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm debating
> over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> Linux+.
>
> Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
>
> I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
> to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be great.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
> A+, Net+
> ----
>
> Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
>
> - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> - two USB
> - 256MB RAM
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> ---------
>
> HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
>
> - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 256MB RAM
> - 14" screen,
> - floppy disk drive,
> - 32MB shared video memory,
> - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.


Most major manufacturers make crappy and decent laptops- low range line,
mid-range line, and high range line. Regardless of any specs, it is
important to me, as a tech, to look for other things. These are things I
would look for due to many years of repairing laptops.

How easy it is to open the case and work on it.

How easy can you get to the HDD

How easy can you replace components such as floppy, optical media, etc.

Do NOT get one that has a swappable media bay with a floppy. You do not
want "one or the other" in the media bay. You want the floppy and the CD
to work at the same time. Why? Well, this one is easy- if you have to
work on the laptop and you need to boot to a floppy, but then need to
input from a CD, you will not be able to. So, you want the floppy and CD
drive to work at the same time.

Typically, I would not want an internal modem. But, if you really need an
internal modem, make sure it is a modem module inside the laptop rather
than a modem integrated into the motherboard. Modems get hit with
lightning- alot! I would rather replace a PCMCIA card or replace a modem
module rather than an entire motherboard.

Oh, and based on your specs above- never use "shared" video RAM. You
always want (laptop or desktop) seperate video ram.

Report this post to a moderator

Hey,

If your in Canada go check out bureau en gros. I just got me a new laptop
last week from there.

Compaq 2105CA
AMD XP1800+
512 MB DDR
40GIG
64MB ATI Radeon (not shared)
Integrated Blue tooth
56k
10/100 NIC
14.1 XGA
16 bit sound
2 USB 2.0
IEEE 1394
2 ps/2
DVD/CD-RW combo drive
1.44 mb floppy drive (not swapple all in the machine)
2 pc card slots

Cost me like 2000$ cdn for it ... couldn't believe how low the price was.
Sounded too good to be true and I guess maybe later I'll find out it is with
all the net bloodhounds in the newsgroup

Pat

"Ghost" <user@user.com> wrote in message
news:user-1502030954330001@1.0.0.2...
> In article <Osj3a.1103$bU6.152483@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Rick Blythin"
> <mosguy@gosympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> > Hi gang,
> >
> > This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm
debating
> > over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> > Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> > Linux+.
> >
> > Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> > laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
> >
> > I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I
went
> > to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> > precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be
great.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Rick
> > A+, Net+
> > ----
> >
> > Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
> >
> > - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> > - two USB
> > - 256MB RAM
> > - 20GB hard drive
> > - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> > - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> > - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> > ---------
> >
> > HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
> >
> > - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> > - 20GB hard drive
> > - 256MB RAM
> > - 14" screen,
> > - floppy disk drive,
> > - 32MB shared video memory,
> > - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.
>
>
> Most major manufacturers make crappy and decent laptops- low range line,
> mid-range line, and high range line. Regardless of any specs, it is
> important to me, as a tech, to look for other things. These are things I
> would look for due to many years of repairing laptops.
>
> How easy it is to open the case and work on it.
>
> How easy can you get to the HDD
>
> How easy can you replace components such as floppy, optical media, etc.
>
> Do NOT get one that has a swappable media bay with a floppy. You do not
> want "one or the other" in the media bay. You want the floppy and the CD
> to work at the same time. Why? Well, this one is easy- if you have to
> work on the laptop and you need to boot to a floppy, but then need to
> input from a CD, you will not be able to. So, you want the floppy and CD
> drive to work at the same time.
>
> Typically, I would not want an internal modem. But, if you really need an
> internal modem, make sure it is a modem module inside the laptop rather
> than a modem integrated into the motherboard. Modems get hit with
> lightning- alot! I would rather replace a PCMCIA card or replace a modem
> module rather than an entire motherboard.
>
> Oh, and based on your specs above- never use "shared" video RAM. You
> always want (laptop or desktop) seperate video ram.

Report this post to a moderator

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the tip, I am from Canada good old Niagara Falls. That sounds
like a sweet deal, although a little out of my range at the moment. Plus I
have a good desktop system for heavy duty work. I've never been a fan of
Compaq's myself , still for the specs you got a good deal on it.

I know all about the joys of swappable floppy/cd drives. My father picked up
a used HP Omnibook on e-bay with swappable drives.. It makes for an
interesting time getting Windows installed!, I did find a method that works
fine.

Let us know your thoughts when you get it if you haven't already .

Rick

"Tessier" <colpatrickhatesspam@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:O6u3a.6866$606.1217714@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Hey,
>
> If your in Canada go check out bureau en gros. I just got me a new laptop
> last week from there.
>
> Compaq 2105CA
> AMD XP1800+
> 512 MB DDR
> 40GIG
> 64MB ATI Radeon (not shared)
> Integrated Blue tooth
> 56k
> 10/100 NIC
> 14.1 XGA
> 16 bit sound
> 2 USB 2.0
> IEEE 1394
> 2 ps/2
> DVD/CD-RW combo drive
> 1.44 mb floppy drive (not swapple all in the machine)
> 2 pc card slots
>
> Cost me like 2000$ cdn for it ... couldn't believe how low the price was.
> Sounded too good to be true and I guess maybe later I'll find out it is
with
> all the net bloodhounds in the newsgroup
>
> Pat

Report this post to a moderator

Well, I got it and it seems to be sweet so far. Installed XP pro over the
home version they put in. When I went there they were having a big reduced
sale. They knocked off about 300$ on every laptop and then took an extra 10%
off. Not this one but older models so they could make room for the new ones.

I never liked Compaq either but at least I can get into the BIOS without a
special disk and it's totally configurable not like the older models. Hoping
that the HP merge will make them even better before long. All I gotta say is
that it's better than my old 700 Mhz Gateway.

Pat
A+, Net+

"Rick Blythin" <mosguy@gosympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:Kyz3a.2951$bU6.280354@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Hi Pat,
>
> Thanks for the tip, I am from Canada good old Niagara Falls. That sounds
> like a sweet deal, although a little out of my range at the moment. Plus I
> have a good desktop system for heavy duty work. I've never been a fan of
> Compaq's myself , still for the specs you got a good deal on it.
>
> I know all about the joys of swappable floppy/cd drives. My father picked
up
> a used HP Omnibook on e-bay with swappable drives.. It makes for an
> interesting time getting Windows installed!, I did find a method that
works
> fine.
>
> Let us know your thoughts when you get it if you haven't already .
>
> Rick
>
> "Tessier" <colpatrickhatesspam@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:O6u3a.6866$606.1217714@news20.bellglobal.com...
> > Hey,
> >
> > If your in Canada go check out bureau en gros. I just got me a new
laptop
> > last week from there.
> >
> > Compaq 2105CA
> > AMD XP1800+
> > 512 MB DDR
> > 40GIG
> > 64MB ATI Radeon (not shared)
> > Integrated Blue tooth
> > 56k
> > 10/100 NIC
> > 14.1 XGA
> > 16 bit sound
> > 2 USB 2.0
> > IEEE 1394
> > 2 ps/2
> > DVD/CD-RW combo drive
> > 1.44 mb floppy drive (not swapple all in the machine)
> > 2 pc card slots
> >
> > Cost me like 2000$ cdn for it ... couldn't believe how low the price
was.
> > Sounded too good to be true and I guess maybe later I'll find out it is
> with
> > all the net bloodhounds in the newsgroup
> >
> > Pat
>
>
>

Report this post to a moderator

I'd pass on both of them and try to find a Toshiba 1415. Better machine
and it should cost less (it's discontinued, but still available. In the
US, they have been going for $690 to $899 [US$], on sale and after rebates).


Rick Blythin wrote:
> Hi gang,
>
> This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm debating
> over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> Linux+.
>
> Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
>
> I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
> to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be great.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
> A+, Net+
> ----
>
> Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
>
> - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> - two USB
> - 256MB RAM
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> ---------
>
> HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
>
> - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 256MB RAM
> - 14" screen,
> - floppy disk drive,
> - 32MB shared video memory,
> - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.
>
>

Report this post to a moderator

I've found iDot Computers,
http://www.idot.com/

who will sell laptops with no OS installed







Barry Watzman <Watzman@neo.rr.com> wrote in message news:<3E4F1BCE.7000303@neo.rr.com>...
> I'd pass on both of them and try to find a Toshiba 1415. Better machine
> and it should cost less (it's discontinued, but still available. In the
> US, they have been going for $690 to $899 [US$], on sale and after rebates).
>
>
> Rick Blythin wrote:
> > Hi gang,
> >
> > This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm debating
> > over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> > Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> > Linux+.
> >
> > Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> > laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
> >
> > I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
> > to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> > precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be great.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Rick
> > A+, Net+
> > ----
> >
> > Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
> >
> > - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> > - two USB
> > - 256MB RAM
> > - 20GB hard drive
> > - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> > - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> > - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> > ---------
> >
> > HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
> >
> > - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> > - 20GB hard drive
> > - 256MB RAM
> > - 14" screen,
> > - floppy disk drive,
> > - 32MB shared video memory,
> > - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.
> >
> >

Report this post to a moderator

Hi Rick,

I just got a ze4229 from Staples last week. Its a pretty nice notebook
for its price, 2usb, IEE1394, s-video out, exterior volume control are
nice little add ons. The performance is ok, but a major downgrade from
a destop that has a nice 7200rpm drive. Its got cool blue lights, and
a quite good altec lansing sound. Havnt seen the 1100 before but I'm
pretty satisified with the 4229 considering how cheap it was.

Cheers,

Orest
oresth@shaw.ca


"Rick Blythin" <mosguy@gosympatico.ca> wrote in message news:<Osj3a.1103$bU6.152483@news20.bellglobal.com>...
> Hi gang,
>
> This is a little off topic but I'd appricate your guys advice. I'm debating
> over these two laptops, as if I get a new one I can use my current old
> Toshiba Sat. 2100 here as a test system for Linux while I'm studying for
> Linux+.
>
> Both systems seem pretty close with specs, I'm use both Toshiba and HP
> laptops and found both put out good notebooks.
>
> I just pasted the blurb that was given from the store site on each. I went
> to the companies sites but couldn't seem to find the exact models for
> precise specs on either. Any opinions which I should go with would be great.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
> A+, Net+
> ----
>
> Toshiba 1100 - $1449.99 Cdn ( down from $1699.99)
>
> - Full-sized Windows keyboard.
> - two USB
> - 256MB RAM
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 14.1" Active Matrix display
> - Intel® Celeron 1.8GHz
> - 16MB ATI's Mobility Radeon
> ---------
>
> HP PAVILION ZE4229 - $1399.99 Cdn.
>
> - Intel® Celeron 1.6GHz,
> - 20GB hard drive
> - 256MB RAM
> - 14" screen,
> - floppy disk drive,
> - 32MB shared video memory,
> - DVD-ROM optical drive and NIC compatible.

Report this post to a moderator

The Inspiron 2650C (C, for Celeron) Notebook has a coupon code which
gets it down to $594.15 (US) with free shipping. See
http://www.savingsdiscovery.com/specials/best.htm

We purchased 2 of the 2650 (Pentium 4) machines at work and they work
fine. Nice display, and fast.

Joe

Report this post to a moderator