[plug] Which brand of laptop?

[Bret Busby]

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 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.
>

Now, I'll keep my response short, as this is all getting to involved in 
a digressive argument.

It appears that I was likely wrong.

I have just looked, and, after some convoluted searching on the Dell web 
site, have found the web page at 
http://dellstore02.dell.com.au/public/cart/configurator.jsp?prd_id=654955&sr_no=1 
; two days (I think it is, to go.

If I had the money at the moment, I would go for that one.

If the original poster is reading this thread, and has not bought a 
portable computer, then I recommend that you look at this one.

Will it run Linux without any significant problems? I believe so.

Have fun.

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

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

....................................................