Countdown Has Passed

[trickykitty]

Shit. I'm skimming the vittles in laptops on Newegg looking for XP machines.

This has been the most absolutely gut wrenching decision I've actually made in a while. Had I looked more whole-heartedly before getting this close to the deadline I probably would have found exactly what I wanted. As it is, I'm absolutely and completely torn between two systems. Hopefully the links will work, as I'm sure the systems will be sold very soon indeed.

ASUS A8 Series A8SC-X3 NoteBook

PROS: lots of goodies

CONS:
not black
not ergonomic keyboard

1.83 GHz
14" WXGA display (I prefer closer to 12-13")
3GB DDR2
250GB hard drive
DVD Super Multi
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M G
1 x Express Card
5 USB
1 IEEE 1394
1 x VGA, 1 x DVI, 1 x S-Video TV-out
1 x Headphone-out jack (SPDIF)
1 x Microphone-in jack
5.25 lbs.

versus
Acer TravelMate TM5720-6462 NoteBook

PROS: not too bad as well on it's crunchy bits, but a little short in a couple areas, but not so much I can't deal with it
also, black, and ergonomic and all around pretty in my eyes

CONS:
15.4" WXGA display (again, I prefer closer to 12-13")
Intel GMA X3100 (not dedicated)
6.6 lbs. (I also prefer under 5')

2.0 GHz
1GB DDR2 (upgradable to 4GB)
120GB hard drive (this will easily do for my purposes)
DVD Super Multi
IrDA-FIR 4Mbps
1 x ExpressCard/54 slot
4 USB (I can live with one less USB than 5)
1 IEEE 1394
1 x VGA, 1 x S-Video TV-out (no DVI, but I like the S-Video)
1 x headphones/speaker/line-out
1 x microphone
1 x line-in
5-in-1 card reader (eh, I have this on my main computer)

_____
Really, the crunchier isn't that much of a difference between the two systems for my needs and purposes. So it basically boils down to black/ergonomic versus smaller/lighter. Yes, I am that materialistic that the black/ergonomic really does hold THAT much sway over my decision. Damn it, I can't decide!

Also, I must note that this decision was made after taking a good hard look at the black MacBook and it's ability to run vitual Windows simultaneously with the OS X. However, I see a couple kinks that I would like Apple to work out, like my vain request for the power cables to come in black. I would also be interested in seeing if Parallels can work out it's little kinks as well. I may come back to the MacBook in time, but I'm not quite there yet. Besides, I'd hold my breath for something like this.

_________
EDIT:
And then I went with the XP downgrade after all.
Acer TravelMate TM4720-6218 NoteBook

2.20 GHz
14.1" screen
2GB DDR2 (upgradable to 4GB)
160GB hard drive
DVD Super Multi
802.11a/b/g/Draft N wireless LAN
IrDA-FIR 4Mbps
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
1 x Type I/II PC Card Slot
4 USB
1 IEEE 1394
1 x VGA, 1 x S-Video TV-out (no DVI, but I like the S-Video)
1 x headphones/speaker/line-out
1 x microphone
1 x line-in
5-in-1 card reader supports optional MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO or xD-Picture Card
5.3 lbs.

Such is the Nikki.

Comments

[the-paco.livejournal.com]

First one's got a better graphics option, barely.
Second one's got a newer generation processor with a faster bus, so everything else will move a little smoother and give you more upgrade options. Honestly, unless you're gaming the dedicated graphics wouldn't do too much. It also will be almost impossible to upgrade if you get that one... well, not impossible, but hard. The Vostro I'm getting has a slightly better video card than the first one you mention, too. Feature-wise, it's not worth the price. I'd say number two.

Granted, I'm feature driven with the bottom line, so I put up with a slightly less ergonomic and slightly larger system to get the features I wanted at the price I liked. You will pay a premium and/or suffer a lack of hardware features in a smaller laptop. The price range you're giving though is giving you a lot of better options, though.

I'll keep looking around for a 14.1 inch laptop with dedicated graphics and a new core 2 duo generation processor under 1000. I think you could find a better one than what you can find on newegg.

[the-paco.livejournal.com]

Argh, missed the XP/2000 requirement... gr. Well, if you want new the Dell Inspiron 1420 can be built with some good stats for $949:
Jet Black
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2MB cache/2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800)
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)

I'll check around at toshibas and others tomorrow during work.

[trickykitty.livejournal.com]

1)I did the math wrong on the date in my head. It's still 30th for the XP deadline.

2)XP Pro on NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16837116195) (for you)

3)I have updated the post with new purchase info. I'm a happy, and now sleepy, kitty. :)

4)Oh, and I'll get to touch mine, and play with mine, and rub on mine, and hump on mine before yours even comes out of the closet. :P

Thanks for looking for/with me. I'm just glad the final cost was as close to $1k as it was, because those $3k jobs just looked sooooo sexy.

[trickykitty.livejournal.com]

Also, re:Jet Black, it's the inside keyboard and monitor area that I prefer to be black, not necessarily the case, although case black as well is a plus.

Now I'm back to looking at GTD systems, now that I know what I'll be running it on.

[the-paco.livejournal.com]

Yay for you! Good choice on that one, glad you found one that fit your needs/wants.

[fleurrette.livejournal.com]

Nice choice, what is up lately with everyonw getting laptops?
I mean I was content with my Satellite till it died.
Sure I WAS looking at the eee PC as a lightweight-non-mommy-arm-inducing alternate travel pc.
Then the Toshiba killed its drive for the second time in 3 years and I got this Gateway.
Then my Connection at the club came through with the Asus.
And I've ordered a drive for the p25 so now I'll have three laptops.
OCD Lili strikes again....

[trickykitty.livejournal.com]

I've wanted a laptop for a while but always sunk money into upgrading my computer instead. Since moving in to this apartment I've noticed more and more wanting to be able to do productive internet/research/school stuff in the living room instead of the confines of my bedroom. We tried to hook my system up to the tv, which was great for watching shows until the sound cables started buzzing recently. I even purchased a bluetooth keyboard and mouse set as well as cordless headphones just for working on my computer in the living room from the comfort of the big screen tv. However, the blurriness of regular web pages as well as any form of MS Office program on the big tv was problematic for my eyes and my sanity. Also, if I am trying to work on computer stuff on the big tv it prevents others from having access to it.

Likewise, I've been looking for a while at PC Tablets for school and note taking in class. After messing around with a fellow classmate's tablet, I discovered that I am more likely to stick to pen and notepads for notes, so I decided to stop looking at those and only concentrate on laptops.

More than anything, I wanted to be able to have XP on my laptop, hence my own rush to buy. I'm still looking for some sort of PDA-type gadget to carry around, although Katherine said she might have one to give me. I've wanted one of those ever since the 80's even before Palm finally cornered the market for that short while. An ex-bf of mine had a little Casio that he carried around, but I never could find a reason to get rid of my pen and paper address book and calendar and I never found a DayTimer-like product that I could absolutely fall in love with.

With the research into the GTS to-do list systems, I'm finding a reason now to start looking into certain portable products. This has added a lot of umph to my buying choices just within the past month or two. Microsoft's XP deadline just cinched my decision to buy by a laptop now rather than wait for it.

[fleurrette.livejournal.com]

GTS?

[trickykitty.livejournal.com]

Oops, meant GTD - the Getting Things Done (http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done) system as posited in the book by David Allen. I'll tweak it for myself, but I'll admit it's the first self-help book that I've been introduced to, thanks to vadania who's now been following this system for about a year and a half I believe, with really great ideas that I actually plan on implementing.

[fleurrette.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh