Dual core laptop + 2G RAM - $1200 New!

[csb]

This seems like a bargain.

Asus F5R
Intel dual core 1.6Ghz
512G RAM
80G HDD
15.4" Widescreen (Colourshine - glossy)
126mb ATI video
DVD Burner
Wirleless,Expresscard slot, etc
2 year warranty
Free bag + mouse

Price $1088
Pay an extra $99 to upgrade to 2G RAM
Shipping $25

Total $1212.00

From www.mln.com.au (http://www.mln.com.au) (Vic)

I ordered one. What a cheap upgrade!

Too bad it didn't have Firewire but found Expresscard IEEE1394 for $66.

Usual charge to upgrade from 512G RAM to 1G is $150 at most places.

Strange though - to "upgrade" to XP Pro is $125??

[iceman]

That does look pretty good.
Unfortunately my laptop is a work one, so I'm stuck with it unless I buy my own.

[[1ponders]]

Very tempting :confuse3:

[h0ughy]

we dont want it to flood next month Paul:D . some interesting deals there.:whistle:

[[1ponders]]

You are not wrong Dave :whistle:

[KG8]

NO NO NO!! Please! No more deals to tempt me ok.

[[1ponders]]

Hmmmm....I wonder if I could salary sacrifice for it :confuse3: :D

[csb]

Soooo,..you visited the site Paul .....& 3 posts here...:confuse3:?

I'm glad no-one could find fault with this system nor a better deal...so far.

Has anyone looked at the glossy screens - just like looking at a glossy magazine. Fantastic!

Very convenient for me as I needed one. Blew my budget a little bit though.

Now it's just the DMK to get.....for now.

[[1ponders]]

Actually I didn't find the one you were referring to, I got dragged away looking at some of the others. I did a search for F5R and only came up with the Ram for $99

[[1ponders]]

Found it :P

[h0ughy]

i didnt find it either, but looked at some of the other "specials"

[[1ponders]]

Gotta get rid of that damn vista though. Wonder how it would go if I formated it and reinstalled XP? :confuse3:

[[1ponders]]

http://mln.com.au/product/?itemID=261&typeID=

Damn that is tempting.

[mill]

Yeh even Micro$oft thinks WinXP is an upgrade to Vista :violin::whistle:

[[1ponders]]

I really think I need to delete this thread.......if only for my own safety. :scared:

[csb]

Direct link (I hope) to Asus F5R $1088 + 2G RAM $99 = $1187

http://mln.com.au/product/?itemID=261&typeID=

I spoke to a salesman at Truscott's Hifi and he said it was a bit of a hassle to change a laptop from Vista to XP, especially due to driver installs - hence the $125 fee to change it to XP, I suppose.

I was looking for an XP laptop because I was looking at 1G RAM, but with 2G it should be no problem running anything and (maybe) everything.

Is that your only concern with Vista, that it needs lots of RAM?

[csb]

LOL ! Too funny !:rofl:.........I hope :sadeyes:

[[1ponders]]

I've just had a months experience of trying to run numerous Astronomy oriented programs on Vista and I HATED IT!!! It was an absolute pain.

I'll just ask my IT specialist about switching......


h0ughy!!!!!How easy is it to change back to XP

[csb]

Actually, while you're here Paul or others,

Can you verify that with this laptop, this is the adapter that I need for the DMK?

http://www.eyo.com.au/prod_I-C-200_proddesc_IEEE1394a_to_ExpressCa rd_Adapter_ST_Lab_2_X_1394a_6-Pin_Port_ExpressCard_34.html

I had to do some reading about firewire and learnt some basics so I know this is the correct adapter but I want to be sure.

Thanks

[[1ponders]]

It looks like it. You will need a power supply with that to run the DMK. If the laptop had a PCMCIA slot or 6 pin firewire port it would be very hard for me to resist. :)

How many usb ports does it have? Does it have firewire ports? I can't find too many specs on it.

[[1ponders]]

Just rang them. 3 USB, no firewire and no PCMCIA slot. :(

[csb]

Thanks, I think there is an adapter with 6 pins.

I spoke to a salesman and from memory it has 4 USB's but no firewire.

But it seems there may be an Expresscard to PCMCIA adapter

http://www.sewellsupport.com/archives/expresscard-to-pcmcia-adapter

But then I suppose you would just then buy an Expresscard firewire adapter.

[[1ponders]]

It's all good. This is just the Universes way of telling me I don't need to buy this laptop at this time .:lol:

[csb]

PS Did you eventually get all programs to run on Vista?

Bye for now and thanks.

[[1ponders]]

Not all of them. Some worked ok after running the "compatibility" wizard, others didn't. It was a right royal pitb

[mill]

Paul i dont know if you can use the migration tool to go from vista to xp, it is worth a try.
If that fails it will mean a format and reinstalling all your programs :(
I hate windoze, but all these icons are soooo cute :P

[[1ponders]]

Which migration tool is that?............Actually I shouldn't be asking that question. I just took a drive in the country to cool down and talk myself out of buying it. :lol:

[mill]

Must have been a long drive to cool down from that many goodies.
The migration tool is called: files and settings transfer wizard.
Start -> all programs ->accessories -> system tools
I never used it because i always start with a clean slate.

[[1ponders]]

Must.....Not.....Read.....:prey:

[mill]

:whistle: :newbie: :evil2: :help2: :bashcomp:

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

And do you know what my wife said to me?????? Why don't you buy it. :insert scream emoticon:

[mill]

Hmm and did she have an evil grin on her face or was it more like an angel?
Both could mean the same :shrug:

[[1ponders]]

She is a tease. I think its because atm I have more money in my account than she does. Not much but I think she wants to be really in the lead. :lol:

[mill]

Just go ahead buy it.
You know you want it :P

[[1ponders]]

You are as bad as her. :lol:

[Shaun]

Well since there are no negative comments thought i might add some.

!) Vista is bad for laptops because a lot of drivers do not work it is hard to get a lot of programs to run on vista

2) It would be better to get 2 gig of ram

3) The video card is intergrated so you won't get the best graphics to run on it (forget playing games)

4) batterylife is a bit low

5) older intel duo core processor


Besides all this it is a nice entry level laptop and is made by a good company, i own an asus myself

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Shaun. I feel much better now I didn't succumb :D

[Shaun]

I find Asus laptops are well priced for what you get, but you get what you pay for

this is my model
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3615

My processor is a 1.8ghz i have a 120gig HD and upgraded the ram to 2 gigs cost be a bit more and i think i paid to much but it was hard to find the right laptop at a good price with that video card.

Here is the laptop my wife wants http://www.mln.com.au/product/?itemID=246&typeID=

[[1ponders]]

Isn't that the same one that Craig has ordered?

How come yours comes standard with 1 Gig ram and 120 gig HDD?

[Shaun]

I got mine elswhere from www.trinix.com.au (http://www.trinix.com.au)

http://www.trinix.com.au/catalogue/details.jsp?productID=39167&type=

[csb]

Does Registax run on Vista?

Thanks for finding the review, Shaun. I couldn't find one.

I would certainly have liked to have read it before my purchase.

The laptop reviewed also had a different cpu, perhaps newer or more powerful (it has a higher number code).

The Asus will be fine for me I think. I got it only because I need laptop for astrophotography, although I hope to be able to run a flight sim on it, also.

I seem to fit the market they were aiming for. This is my first laptop - so even 1.5 hrs battery seems good. And 2 year warranty got me.

It fell behind the others in a lot of areas but the build, keyboard, screen are a good sign.

So, are you happy with yours?

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I like playing around with Dell's website, customising various machnes. Thought this may be of interest:

http://dellstore04.dell.com.au/public/cart/pb_cart_full_details.jsp?frompage=n ull&uvst=042892130363728087

$1038

Dell Inspiron 1501 Notebook
AMD Turion 64X2 Dual Core processor 1.6Ghz 256+256kb L2 cache
Genuine Windows XP centre edition 2005

15.4" widescreen XGA (1280x800) TFt monitor
2GB (2 X 1024MB) 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM
120GB SATA Hard Drive (cheaper with an 80Gb hdd)
Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with dual layer write

Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g 54Mbps Wireless Mini Card
1 ExpressCard Slot, (DOES NOT SUPPORT PCMCIA CARDS)

ATI Radeon ® Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory
Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet
Internal 56K Modem

I'd take one of the battery upgrades - basic battery included is a
4-cell 29Whr Lithium Ion Primary Battery
add $39 to go to 6-cell 53Whr Lithium Ion
or add $88 for a 9 cell 85Whr Lithium Ion

;)

[csb]

With XP!! That would have been better.

I have been checking Dell over the past 2 weeks waiting for a promo change. It happened on Fri (I think) but next promo wasn't as good.

That system seems great, except it doesn't have glossy screen.

[Shaun]

Not bad except the video card is onboard, it depnds what you want i wanted somthing i could play games on and a dedicated graphics card will add a few hundred to the price and with a 4 cell battery you would use half the power just booting up.

Here is a good guide on video cards

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=39568

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Dell's site has options on some, but not all, systems (both desktop and notebook) that allow the choice of Xp versus Vista, sadly but understandably it tends to be the older / slightly less powerful systems that have options for XP.

I'm a bit unclear why you specifically want the glossy screen - from my experience they tend to allow so much more reflection, which inhibits the clear view of actual screen contents that the "unglossy" screen gives. Is there some other reason you want it?

[Gargoyle_Steve]

For Paul .... includes Firewire (1394) ports and 4 x USB2.0 ... the cheapest config I can find at Dell so far is this one:

Dell Latitude D531
$1516.90 inc GST

Dell(TM) Latitude(TM) D531 (XP)
AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual Core
Genuine Windows(R) XP Home SP2 Edition (English)
(Pro version available add $37.40)

15.4" Wide Aspect XGA (1280x800 resolution) Display
2GB (2x1GB) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
80GB SATA (7200RPM) Hard Drive
(larger capacity 5400rpm drives available, cheaper)

8X DVD+/-RW Drive
9-Cell Li-Ion Primary Battery (1 Year Warranty)
Dell Wireless(TM) 1390 (802.11 g) MiniPCI Card
D531 Integrated Graphics ATI Radeon(TM) Xpress X1270
Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet

http://dellstore04.dell.com.au/public/cart/pb_cart_full_details.jsp?frompage=n ull&uvst=042892130363728087

The description on that page somehow dropped the Firewirebit from it's listing, but the basic config of any D531 system includes it as shown on this page:
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/latit_basic?c=au&cs=aubsd1&l=en&s=bsd


Cheers!


PS: A few weeks ago I was knocking up a dream laptop on the Dell site, I was surprised to find when I'd finished that a $3k unit had evolved to be worth $5700. :P

[csb]

The glossy screen just looks so clear, like looking at a glossy magazine and seems to have more depth than the matt screen, you should see the aquarium screensaver on it:eyepop: I just fell for it:love: . So it's just a desire.

When using a laptop for solar imaging is it advisable/required to sit it in a hutch/box to block out the daytime glare?

My brother has a Dell (2Ghz single core) with the same 128mb ati (although his is x300 this is x1100) and 1G RAM.

His can run BF2 at high settings (res 1024xsomething) - no probs.

I see on the review that the screen res on the Asus is not as high as some.

Wish I could have seen this before ordering as I could have made a more informed decision, but this laptop shouldn't be a slouch. Has many features above my brothers Inspiron 6000 and his was my benchmark. So I'm happy.

The Dell site certainly makes it easy/probable to blow a budget.

[[1ponders]]

Damn you Steve :tasdevil: go back to work :sad:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I WAS at work, and working VERY hard Paul when I was trying out the various configurations of laptop specs just for you ;)


.... and kind of for me too I have to admit. I can't afford one at present so I wanted to know how much I might need to save up for a new one. My 90's model Toshiba lappie with 300Mhz Pentium class processor, whopping 64Mb RAM and goliath 3.2Gb hardrive just doesn't cut it any more, especially since the hard drive appears to have suffered a complete and total crash recently.
:mad2:


Like you I'd rather have XP purely for compatibility reasons, but I know that system with XP options are going to be disappearing fast so I had best see what I can do about this asap.

Cheers!
:D

[[1ponders]]

:lol: So you work sourcing laptops do you ;) :lol: :poke:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Well ... um, no, not exactly :shrug: but I WAS at work I swear, all night long -
but we have to remain alert and clear headed and ready at all times, and using the net is one way of doing that. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it)
;)

Just don't tell my boss it was a quiet night!