<p>I'm looking at buying a Windows-based laptop in the near future. Does anyone have recommendations for companies or specific models? Any recommendations on certain features: P4 vs. Pentium M vs. Athlon? I'm looking to spend $1000-1500.</p>
<p>Pentium M offers the most powerful processing capability on a laptop and conserves battery life (The laptops with p4 3.4ghz + are just desktop replacements and they have terrible battery life). Definitely go with a pentium M. I'd recommend the IBM Thinkpad T series line (T42 right now... in a few months the T43 is coming out and it'll be sweet).</p>
<p>When you say "desktop replacement", do you mean they aren't useful as laptops? Because I intend to use it as my only computer at college.</p>
<p>Desktop replacement means that it's the same processor as a desktop and it doesn't work well in a laptop, a big part of that is battery life, it's made for power cords.</p>
<p>Two things I recommend: the first is ABSOLUTELY get a Pentium M for optimal speed, battery life and, I'm not as sure here, weight. Also, it may be a good idea to wait for the summer so newer models will have come out, lowering prices on the current top-of-the-liners. For example, the launch of the T43 will lower the price of the T42.</p>
<p>How about AMD Athlon CPUs? Does anyone know if they offer the same benefits as Pentium M processors, since they have lower clock speeds?</p>
<p>I always hear good things about IBM laptops, but you can't really get much power per-dollar. Any opinions on other companies? Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, Toshiba?</p>
<p>If you want more power per dollor, look at retailers such as cyberpowerinc.com or ibuypower.com. If you want a powerful machine without much mobility, an AMD 64 is the best so far. Pentium M is best for mobility. I just bought an X40 for $1400 because my dad works at clemson U. I thought IBM rocked, but after using this laptop for about a week, it just sucks. I wish I bought an AMD 64 system with a Mobility Radeon 9700. X40 feels more like a toy than a serious laptop (it's smaller than your typical three-ring binder).</p>
<p>one word. </p>
<p>alienware. of course, it is a bit expensive. damn. i ll just get a celeron. jk.</p>
<p>The new Pentium M comes out TOMORRROW. This means that there are gonna be about 80 new laptops released tomorrow. I personally am going to start college next year and I'm gonna get the IBM T43. The reliability and service are outstanding, sure you pay a little more but its worth it in the end. Look to spend about 1700 for a good one. As far as other laptops you could look at the T42's since their prices will surely go down a lot. They are also rock solid. Or you can cheap out and get an HP/Compaq which won't last long and is easy to break.</p>
<p>Hahahaha wooooo alienware! or falcon northwest. :)</p>
<p>check this out: <a href="http://www.intel.com/performance/mobile/notebook_configc.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.intel.com/performance/mobile/notebook_configc.htm</a> (some charts/comparisons between P4 and M)</p>
<p>i'm personally gonna wait 'til summer to customize a laptop from cyberpowerinc.com (prob. gonna get a yellow one)</p>
<p>Actually the Sonoma upgrade doesn't come out until the 19th, which is Wednesday. I would wait until later this year when the price will go down and you'll be able to get a really good deal.</p>
<p>The Pentium M (codenamed Dothan) totally owns all other processors out there right now. For it's low power consumption, it gets a lot more processing per watt than the Athlon64 or the Pentium 4, at the laptop and desktop level. The Athlon 64 FX-55 is about the fastest desktop processor you can get right now, but in terms of most performance per watt, P-M is the way to go. I hear the IBMs are really nice, but more expensive than similarly spec-ed laptops out there. Alienware tends to be overpriced on the desktop front, not sure about their mobile units. I would wait till summer (price drops on the way) since you probably don't need one til right before you go to college anyhow.</p>
<p>alienware laptops are terrible. Come to think of it, I wouldn't buy one of their desktops either...
overpriced pieces of junk.</p>
<p>Alienware offers one of the only laptops with a PCI-Express motherboard. It's not as overpriced as you may think.. but it's still a battery hog thanks to it's 17" screen and it's not good for carrying around with its 12lb weight.</p>
<p>You want overpriced flashy laptops get alienware, falcon, etc. You want a good solid laptop get a IBM thinkpad. My friend has one, dropped it from 5ft up onto the ground two times, didnt break still works perfect. Plus IBM customer support beats all of the rest. For the college if you want the reliablity and warranty for breaking things(which you will do) get an IBM since they come to you to fix it for three years.</p>
<p>IBM X40
2.7 lbs
1" thick
8 hrs battery life.</p>
<p>Thats a great laptop, too expensive for my tastes tho. I prefer the good ole t series. (bigndude patiently waiting for another few months for college laptop time)</p>
<p>Yeah, IBMs are great laptops - worst looking out of any brand by far, but still extremely well made.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies, people.</p>
<p>As I said, though, I'm looking to spend $1000-1500. It doesn't seem like you can get much of a laptop for that price from the likes of IBM or Alienware. Does anyone have an opinion on the cheaper companies?</p>
<p>I got an Acer for $1250 with the following specs:
1.5GHz Pentium M (w/1MB of cache)
512MB of PC2700 RAM
40GB HDD
DVD+/-RW drive
Wi-Fi card built-in
ATi Mobility 9700 w/ 64MB RAM
Windows XP Professional</p>
<p>I've had it since the summer and it's still working great.</p>
<p>Look into Twinhead for ruggedized or semi-rugged laptops with pretty good performance. Sager and Chem-USA also make good machines at decent prices. These guys are the laptop builders for the name brand companies.</p>
<p>For high performance machines, check out cyberpowerinc.com as mentioned above, or the Battalions at <a href="http://www.ibuypower.com/mall/lobby.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ibuypower.com/mall/lobby.htm</a></p>