Clan x86

General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 01:10:42 PM

Title: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 01:10:42 PM
My old laptop finally crashed. Luckily I can still recover data off the hard drive.

I'm looking for a cheap laptop, with the most bang for my buck. Unfortunately, Newegg doesn't have a large selection of cheap notebooks, so I'm unsure of an easy tool for comparing prices. I'm also fine with getting a laptop that is prebundled with Linux if it means I get even more bang for my buck. (I have a Windows XP Pro disk and a valid key.)

Any suggestions? I'm off to Dell and other websites for now.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: iago on January 11, 2009, 01:13:14 PM
I'm a fan of my Dell desktop that had Ubuntu pre-installed. Even if you don't keep Linux, it's a really nice laptop (XPS M1330) and it supports a good cause.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 01:20:03 PM
The only Dell prebundled with Ubuntu on Dell's website is a mini, with no CDROM. (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~laptop-inspiron-9_anav1~~) Is there another website with a larger selection I could browse Dell (or any) laptops at?
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: iago on January 11, 2009, 01:21:37 PM
I had trouble finding the Linux ones too. Here they are:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 01:42:42 PM
Thanks. This (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwpl1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=segtopic~linux_3x) is the cheapest one I found that fits my needs, but it might be out of my price range. I'm off to eBay right now, any idea where else I could look?
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Hitmen on January 11, 2009, 04:05:50 PM
I bought my laptop a couple months ago from dell, same model you linked. I suggest looking through their stuff a bit, I actually saved money (~$50) getting the same system with vista instead of ubuntu and just formatting it and installing it myself.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Newby on January 11, 2009, 04:18:54 PM
Everyone hates on Dell, but I do recommend them. They're solid machines most of the time.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 05:20:56 PM
Quote from: Hitmen on January 11, 2009, 04:05:50 PM
I bought my laptop a couple months ago from dell, same model you linked. I suggest looking through their stuff a bit, I actually saved money (~$50) getting the same system with vista instead of ubuntu and just formatting it and installing it myself.
Are you sure? My math says the Ubuntu system is $40 cheaper.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Hitmen on January 11, 2009, 06:11:11 PM
Quote from: Armin on January 11, 2009, 05:20:56 PM
Are you sure? My math says the Ubuntu system is $40 cheaper.
I haven't looked since I bought mine, but when I did Ubuntu was definitely more expensive. Maybe they noticed how ridiculous that was.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 11, 2009, 07:59:24 PM
Ah. Either way, it was a good idea to suggest me to closely look through their site.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on January 14, 2009, 03:05:36 PM
As it turns out, the company my mom works is a part of Dell's "Employer Purchase Program", which resulted in $70 off the laptop I linked above. Hopefully it's here by next week; I can't record without my laptop!
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: iago on January 14, 2009, 03:40:56 PM
Quote from: Armin on January 14, 2009, 03:05:36 PM
As it turns out, the company my mom works is a part of Dell's "Employer Purchase Program", which resulted in $70 off the laptop I linked above. Hopefully it's here by next week; I can't record without my laptop!
Yay!

...I mean... ;)
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: deadly7 on January 15, 2009, 01:03:19 AM
Quote from: Armin on January 14, 2009, 03:05:36 PM
As it turns out, the company my mom works is a part of Dell's "Employer Purchase Program", which resulted in $70 off the laptop I linked above. Hopefully it's here by next week; I can't record without my laptop!
haha. I turned my friend into a Vayden fan fyi. =p
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Armin on February 09, 2009, 04:31:28 PM
What the fuck. Dell delayed the shipment, twice, then canceled the order claiming, "We can't put Ubuntu on that laptop!" Then they removed the offer from their website (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=6004&l=en&s=eep), and denied any compensation for my month of wasted time while in urgent need of a laptop. >:(

Mother fuckers.

Goddamn it.

This blows.

And after all of this abuse, I still find myself buying another Dell to save money. This guy (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_studio_17?c=us&cs=6004&l=en&s=eep&~ck=mn) for $649.44 after shipping, taxes, and the discount from my mom's company.

I blame iago for suggesting Ubuntu.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: MyndFyre on February 09, 2009, 06:38:15 PM
Should've gone Gateway. :P  They went so far to discount the sale as this (I love this story).

The laptop I wanted was $1500 (incl. a 3-year in-home warranty).  Add $200 for a 4-hour battery and $100 for an extra power adapter (so I could leave one perpetually at work). 

Student discount: Kick off $150.  Total price: $1650.

Gave them my credit card, it was declined, "Oh I forgot, that credit card has a $1500 credit limit, I just wanted to use it so that I could use the zero-interest offer."

"That's allright, let me just adjust the price down for you."

Final price: $1442 ($368 less than the original price with all parts and warranty).  :D
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Sidoh on February 09, 2009, 08:10:12 PM
Haha, that's awesome.