If I wanted to buy a <I>really</I> low-end laptop for a grand or under, what would your vote be?<P>And decent contenders?
The Best Cheapo Laptops
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My vote would have to go for the Compaq Presario 1245. Heres the specs:<BR>AMD K6-2/333 3DNow! 32MB RAM / 3.2GB HDD / 24X CD-ROM / 56K V.90 FAX-MODEM / WIN98 / 12.1inch HPA<P>You can get this on pricewatch for $949 plus around $25-$30 shipping.<P>[This message has been edited by Phyte (edited February 01, 2000).]
My vote would have to go for the Compaq Presario 1245. Heres the specs:<BR>AMD K6-2/333 3DNow! 32MB RAM / 3.2GB HDD / 24X CD-ROM / 56K V.90 FAX-MODEM / WIN98 / 12.1inch HPA<P>You can get this on pricewatch for $949 plus around $25-$30 shipping.<P>[This message has been edited by Phyte (edited February 01, 2000).]
An iBook is really low-end, but I don't think it's under a grand.
An iBook is really low-end, but I don't think it's under a grand.
<BR>Is PeterB Latin for "Mr. Helpful"?<P>Are you interested in used or only new?<P>
<BR>Is PeterB Latin for "Mr. Helpful"?<P>Are you interested in used or only new?<P>
If you look really really hard, you could probably find a Wallstreet 233 WITH cache for under a grand. Its not worth it without a cache.
If you look really really hard, you could probably find a Wallstreet 233 WITH cache for under a grand. Its not worth it without a cache.
No, resteves, it isn't.<P>I was just presenting another alternative.<P>iBooks are meant to be low-end fairly cheap laptop computers, aren't they?<P>I just don't know how much they cost in USD.<P>Which is why I suggested that they _might_ be viable, they might not.
No, resteves, it isn't.<P>I was just presenting another alternative.<P>iBooks are meant to be low-end fairly cheap laptop computers, aren't they?<P>I just don't know how much they cost in USD.<P>Which is why I suggested that they _might_ be viable, they might not.
Well, for $339. you can get a Casio full color hand held with Win CE. 16 MB Ram and it plays MP3s and MPEGS in stereo (quoting the ad). Hmmm, I'm even tempted. It's in the Circuit City flyer (if you're in the U.S.).<P>Then, other than the unit Phyte mentioned, PC Connection (a great, reputable, reliable source for gear) has an ACER travelmate, with a Celeron 366 and 32 meg ram for $1099.00. Personally, I like the idea of the Celeron chip over the AMD. Personal preference. Any other new lappy in this price range will (probably) have a K6-X chip. <P>That link: http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?product_id=132538 <P>Can you tell I have a lot of pressing matters to attend to this AM? View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif<P>Oh, whatever you do, get a unit that integrates the floppy and CD simultaneously or you'll be sorry!<BR>Dan<P><BR><P>[This message has been edited by Dan (edited February 01, 2000).]
Well, for $339. you can get a Casio full color hand held with Win CE. 16 MB Ram and it plays MP3s and MPEGS in stereo (quoting the ad). Hmmm, I'm even tempted. It's in the Circuit City flyer (if you're in the U.S.).<P>Then, other than the unit Phyte mentioned, PC Connection (a great, reputable, reliable source for gear) has an ACER travelmate, with a Celeron 366 and 32 meg ram for $1099.00. Personally, I like the idea of the Celeron chip over the AMD. Personal preference. Any other new lappy in this price range will (probably) have a K6-X chip. <P>That link: http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?product_id=132538 <P>Can you tell I have a lot of pressing matters to attend to this AM? View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif<P>Oh, whatever you do, get a unit that integrates the floppy and CD simultaneously or you'll be sorry!<BR>Dan<P><BR><P>[This message has been edited by Dan (edited February 01, 2000).]
<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Oh, whatever you do, get a unit that integrates the floppy and CD simultaneously or you'll be sorry!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>What do you mean by that? How does that work? It sounds like one drive doing both, but that doesn't seem to make sense.<P>
<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Oh, whatever you do, get a unit that integrates the floppy and CD simultaneously or you'll be sorry!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>What do you mean by that? How does that work? It sounds like one drive doing both, but that doesn't seem to make sense.<P>
One unit has a slim CD ROM drive and a slim floppy drive in it. Two different components integrated into a single unit.<P>It means that you don't have to sacrifice one or the other, which can otherwise be a problem.
One unit has a slim CD ROM drive and a slim floppy drive in it. Two different components integrated into a single unit.<P>It means that you don't have to sacrifice one or the other, which can otherwise be a problem.
Sorry, I was not clear. Some portables use a drive bay scheme in which you have either the floppy OR the CD ROM available, but not both at the same time. <BR>Good quality portables use either a combination drive (as PeterB describes) or have both the CD ROM and floppy built in.<P>[This message has been edited by Dan (edited February 01, 2000).]
Sorry, I was not clear. Some portables use a drive bay scheme in which you have either the floppy OR the CD ROM available, but not both at the same time. <BR>Good quality portables use either a combination drive (as PeterB describes) or have both the CD ROM and floppy built in.<P>[This message has been edited by Dan (edited February 01, 2000).]
Good suggestions so far.<P>I'm definitely leaning towards "new" as opposed to used.<P>I'd also like to be able to run Linux on this laptop, but I fear for strange, no-name parts. <BR>
Good suggestions so far.<P>I'm definitely leaning towards "new" as opposed to used.<P>I'd also like to be able to run Linux on this laptop, but I fear for strange, no-name parts. <BR>
Happy_Aardvark
Ars Tribunus Militum
Cheap and Laptop normally are not spoken in the same sentence. If you want a PC notebook check out dell and gateway. Me, I'd go for a Powerbook G3 of some discription. Linux is available for it via linuxPPC and you can still run Window XX apps via Virtual PC. Deck it out with 384Mb of ram and you be just dandy.<BR>
Happy_Aardvark
Ars Tribunus Militum
Cheap and Laptop normally are not spoken in the same sentence. If you want a PC notebook check out dell and gateway. Me, I'd go for a Powerbook G3 of some discription. Linux is available for it via linuxPPC and you can still run Window XX apps via Virtual PC. Deck it out with 384Mb of ram and you be just dandy.<BR>
Zagato-sama
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Actually used may the best choice of action, however I suggest looking for friends or people you know who may have a laptop for sale.<P>I just bought a 2 1/2 year old Ergo BigScreen 3<P>P233<BR>14.1" Active Matrix<BR>128MB ram<BR>8 Gig hdd<BR>20x cdrom<BR>1.44 floppy<BR>10/100 Linksys NIC<BR>4MB somegenericintelgarbagevideochipset<BR>somegenericyamahagarbageaudiochipset<BR>two AC adapters (one for home and one for travel)<BR>two batteries<BR>two leather cases, one air padded<P>$500<P>Runs Linux fine according to the original seller, but I run Win2K.<BR>I think most hardware on Laptops will be supported by Linux with the exception of winmodems. Laptops don't exactly have the wide range of hardware installed that PCs do. Generally a yamaha soundchip and a neo magic, chips and trends, or ati video card.<P>Pretty sweet deal ? Yeah View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif The key is to look around, generally those big buisnessmen marketting people have their company buy them a new laptop every year or two, see if you can get one to part with his old one.<P>[This message has been edited by Zagato-sama (edited February 01, 2000).]
Zagato-sama
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Actually used may the best choice of action, however I suggest looking for friends or people you know who may have a laptop for sale.<P>I just bought a 2 1/2 year old Ergo BigScreen 3<P>P233<BR>14.1" Active Matrix<BR>128MB ram<BR>8 Gig hdd<BR>20x cdrom<BR>1.44 floppy<BR>10/100 Linksys NIC<BR>4MB somegenericintelgarbagevideochipset<BR>somegenericyamahagarbageaudiochipset<BR>two AC adapters (one for home and one for travel)<BR>two batteries<BR>two leather cases, one air padded<P>$500<P>Runs Linux fine according to the original seller, but I run Win2K.<BR>I think most hardware on Laptops will be supported by Linux with the exception of winmodems. Laptops don't exactly have the wide range of hardware installed that PCs do. Generally a yamaha soundchip and a neo magic, chips and trends, or ati video card.<P>Pretty sweet deal ? Yeah View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif The key is to look around, generally those big buisnessmen marketting people have their company buy them a new laptop every year or two, see if you can get one to part with his old one.<P>[This message has been edited by Zagato-sama (edited February 01, 2000).]
Holy undead donkeys of the southern hemisphere am I jealous.<P>Zagato-Sama, you got hooked up. If you ever happen upon such a deal again, and find yourself not wanting it, please, don't hesitate to drop me a line.<P>
Holy undead donkeys of the southern hemisphere am I jealous.<P>Zagato-Sama, you got hooked up. If you ever happen upon such a deal again, and find yourself not wanting it, please, don't hesitate to drop me a line.<P>
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