[plug] Which brand of laptop?

[Craig Foster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-bounces at plug.org.au [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.org.au] On
> Behalf Of Bret Busby
> Sent: Tuesday, 5 August 2008 12:03 PM
> To: plug at plug.org.au
> Subject: RE: [plug] Which brand of laptop?
> 
> On Tue, 5 Aug 2008, Craig Foster wrote:
> 
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: plug-bounces at plug.org.au [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.org.au] On
> >> Behalf Of Bret Busby
> >> Sent: Tuesday, 5 August 2008 1:28 AM
> >> To: plug at plug.org.au
> >> Subject: Re: [plug] Which brand of laptop?
> >>
> >> On Mon, 4 Aug 2008, w0018749 wrote:
> >>
> > <snip>
> >> While that
> >> one comes with 2GB RAM, a couple of weks ago, Dell had a special on
> > the
> >> XPS M1730, with a model with 3GB RAM, for $1200 (delivered).
> >>
> > <snip>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Bret Busby
> >> Armadale
> >> West Australia
> >> ..............
> >
> > Anyone with a XPS 1730 can tell you it's *NOT* a laptop at 5KG.
Maybe
> > the 1720 is what you were thinking of.
> >
> >
> 
> No, it was the 1730. I am fairly sure of that. If you want to check
it,
> you could always phone/email Dell, asking them about the specific
> offer,
> of a laptop computer with a 17" screen, for $1200, delivered.

I was asking, as the current minimum price of a 4.81 kg XPS 1730 is
$2699, whereas the 3.57 kg 1720 is being phased out at $1299 in favour
of the Studio 17 at $1399.
The XPS doesn't include the 0.6 kg power supply either.

> As I stated in my response, to get the numeric keypad inbuilt, a
> portable computer (since you do not like the term "laptop" being used
> for a 17" screened portable computer) with a 17" screen, would likely
> be
> required.
> 
> The Dell XPS M1730 is such a system, and, whether it weighs 5kg or 1
> kg,
> it is a computer that meets (from my understanding) the specified
> requirements.

I don't dispute the 1730 having the requirements, however it is not (to
my knowledge) available at $1200. Especially since the 1730 is a dual
video card (8800 SLI), dual hard drive behemoth.

> My missus has a slightly heavier (and, better, because of the screen
> aspect ratio; 4:3) Acer 1711, and
<snip>
> the battery life for the Acer is only about an hour.

The 1730 is the same unfortunately :(

> But, anyway, the original poster HAD specified that an inbuilt numeric
> keypad was wanted and, as far as I am aware, on a PORTABLE COMPUTER, a
> 17" screen is required, to get the keyboard width sufficient to
include
> an inbuilt  numeric keypad (of usable size).

The Studio 17 and 1720 models are suitable, and just as importantly,
they're portable and much cheaper.

> --
> Bret Busby
> Armadale
> West Australia
> ..............

I'll keep this email short as I've just lost the feeling in my legs
since typing on "The Behemoth" :)

Craig F.