Laptop choice

[supra90turbo]

I've got a choice of 2 laptops, both second hand, both roughly $400

being somewhat computer hardware illiterate, this is what the spec sheets read.

the first is a Dell.
Pentium Centrino 1.6mhz
Internal wireless
14.1" screen
Modem and network
768mb
cdrw/dvd rom
30gb hd
windows xp
carry bag

second is a Gateway
Intel Celeron 2.4ghz
768mb
14.1" screen
modem and network
cdrw/dvd rom
30gb hd
windows xp
carry bag
5mo mail in warranty
linksys wireless-b adapter wusb11
internal intel wm3b2200bgmwxf mini pci wireless-g (54mbit)


the gateway is like $50 more, but im sure i can get either for $400 pretty easily.

any thoughts, guys?
thanks a lot
Kurt

 

[Kai]

Dell easily. Centrino Platform means the Pentium-M CPU and it'll walk all over the mobile Celeron. Plus - it being a gateway means much easier to get parts for, should anything break - just my £0.02

 

[OneJoeZee]

I swear when I read the title, I thought it read 'lapdance choice'

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

Dell easily. Centrino Platform means the Pentium-M CPU and it'll walk all over the mobile Celeron. Plus - it being a gateway means much easier to get parts for, should anything break - just my £0.02

in some cases yes but more times then not no. The Celeron has a low bus speed and less cache so it will be slower at initial opening and what not but it will be faster once its running. Personally i would stay away from both as 400 seems waay too much for both laptops.

 

[Kai]

Erm - you do realise that the Pentium-M kills the Celerons and even high model P4's in almost everything thats not FPU intensive. The Pentium-M's instruction pipeline is shorter, than the celerons, so the speed differential makes no difference.

For day to day usage, and gaming, the Pentium-M based Dell will come out on top everytime.

If he were going to be doing video encoding, i'd say yes, pick the celeron, but in all likelyhood, he wont be - so i still vote for the Dell.

 

[supra90turbo]

Thank you Cryo and Kai for your inputs. What would you suggest I say as a worthy offer?
My gf's father builds computers as a hobby, and he can and will build me a laptop for parts cost only... so what would you suggest I go with? It's not a gaming rig, it's just for internet, and videos... oh also EMS control and datalogging when the time comes

 

[MassSupra89]

I'm on the same page as far as computer illiterate Kurt. But I had nothing but problems with my Gateway, and having to call the crappy customer assistance on a monthly basis. Got a Dell and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

 

[Kai]

Laptop rather than desktop - especially if you're going to be using it for EMS and datalogging. $350 sounds like about the right price for both of those.

I have a Dell C640 and it's been rock solid - built it from spare parts, and its easy to shoehorn in new bits...

In the UK at least, Gateway have a horrendous reputation for poor quality, shitty quality customer service and when you do get through to tech support, its based in fuckin india :/

 

[MassSupra89]

In the UK at least, Gateway have a horrendous reputation for poor quality, shitty quality customer service and when you do get through to tech support, its based in fuckin india :/

Same over here.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I'm not a fan of dell and even I say go with the Dell. Great customer service, cheap parts and quality of craftsmanship tends to be lower, but they actually perform pretty well.

Gateway was awesome ten years ago, but since then they seem to have problems with everything about their company.

 

[OneJoeZee]

my dell laptop had a recall issue with the cooling system. it was fixed free of charge but other than that I have no issues with it. 5150. its ~3 years old now though

 

[Kai]

I dont like the 'feel' of modern Dell machines - too...plasticky. feels too flimsy. If you ask me they sacrificed build quality for price, at least on some of the low end models.

Although, Compaq years ago had the best build quality ever. I had an Armada 7400 and it was made from magnesium + carbon fibre. Most indestructible little laptop ever. I still have it, although it serves no purpose these days with only 256mb mem and a P2-400

I'd use it for Datalogging and EMS myself...but a) no EMS that'll work b) can't be bothered with the expense for an N/A

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

Erm - you do realize that the Pentium-M kills the Celerons and even high model P4's in almost everything thats not FPU intensive. The Pentium-M's instruction pipeline is shorter, than the celerons, so the speed differential makes no difference.

For day to day usage, and gaming, the Pentium-M based Dell will come out on top every time.

If he were going to be doing video encoding, i'd say yes, pick the celeron, but in all likelihood, he wont be - so i still vote for the Dell.

No the Pentium M fails in pipelining against the almight p4 anyday. IIRC the P4 has 31 stages as opposed to the M's 24. And in any independent instruction the pipelining system again fails because it has to run more commands therefore making it slower.
But w/e ill stick to my AMD's anyway. Get a AMD with the 64 Bit applications. You wont regret it other then occasionally programs not working.

 

[OneJoeZee]

I dont like the 'feel' of modern Dell machines - too...plasticky. feels too flimsy. If you ask me they sacrificed build quality for price, at least on some of the low end models.

Although, Compaq years ago had the best build quality ever. I had an Armada 7400 and it was made from magnesium + carbon fibre. Most indestructible little laptop ever. I still have it, although it serves no purpose these days with only 256mb mem and a P2-400

I'd use it for Datalogging and EMS myself...but a) no EMS that'll work b) can't be bothered with the expense for an N/A

mine feels pretty sturdy :dunno: I've dropped it and carry it in a briefcase that I throw around. It's still fine.

 

[Kai]

P4 has 28 stages, and later, 31 stages. The Pentium-M has a 12 stage pipeline. Ie - it can execute two instructions in the same time it takes the P4 to do one. As i was saying, in anything other than FPU intensive applications, the Pentium-M rules. I have an Opteron Desktop machine myself (Dual Core) but i still recommend the P-M over the P4, for the simple reason that a) it's cool running (eh sanka man!) b) longer battery life c) faster in general usage than the P4 or Celeron Mobile.

 

[PROJECT N00b]

dells = suck and gateway = suck.


compaq with AMD processor = win.

 

[Syris]

Dell Laptop

I hate dell computers but they can make good laptops. Dont let ppl fool ya

Centrino is so much better than celeron

Go with the dell

 

[PROJECT N00b]

AMD owns all.

 

[rumptis]

My day job is working on computers.....like others have said the Centrino will kick the Celeron's butt, the Centrino will give youlonger battery life and will run cooler. Plus Gateway's are junk at this point, I would not even choose the Gateway if it has better Spec's.

 

[PROJECT N00b]

what about AMD's. how come no one has brought that up?