Dolores My almost 4 year old Gateway has a loose power connection with a $400.00 repair tag, so my choices are: 1. Go cheap and take advatage of the Open Boxes and Returns at local stores in the $700.00 to $900.00 range and be satisfied with a 15" XGA which is what I have now with MAYBE a 400 FSB speed. or 2. Get state of the art at $2,000.00 or less I am a disabled widow with a medically fragile child so money is important but so is how I use a computer and what it means to me. I volunteer with several non profits doing public relations, setting up accounting stuff, creating websites and etc. When I travel, the computer goes. It also serves to provide neurofeedback therapy for my son. It has TWO cases. The first is my old briefcase with a sock filled with plastic peanuts on the bottom. The second is a small wheeled suitcase that can also carry a poncho, small purse, camera and its supplies. Which I use depends on my physical function level and distance. I have a USB thing called a Dazzle which can read 6 sizes of memory sticks, so having one built into the computer is not important to me. Hope this helps In a message dated 1/1/04 1:57:17 AM Eastern Standard Time, Foxhillers@xxxxxxx writes: > In a message dated 12/31/03 8:50:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, > inquisitive@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: > >http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=8600SAP&cs=19&; > >dgvcode=ss&c=US&l=EN > > > >the above link is the dell I was considering - so what I'm trying to do is > >compare these 3 for a start: > > > >1 - the e-bay and Sagertown (not the most expensive one but the $1945 one) > >are faster as both have the Pentium 4 hyperthread while Dell only has > >Pentium M - then Dell has 1.5GHz, the Sager and e-bay one both have 3.0GHz > >2 - Dell comes with WXGA (can be upgraded), Sager has UXGA and e-bay has > >SXGA > >3 - all 3 have the XP Home Edition which is all I want > >4 - all 3 have 512 ram of memory > >5 - since I don'tunderstand or see I can't compare the video cards as only > >Dell lists a name > >6 - Dell has a free CD/DVD burner, other two look like only have CD burner > >and DVD player > >7 - Dell and e-bay have 40 gig hard drive and Sager 60 > >8 - e-bay has an internal battery - is that good, bad or indifferent as > >opposed to the other 2? > >9 - Dell has integrated network card and wireless card - unless I'm missing > >other two don't have this > > > >okay that's what I can see to compare - then Dell doesn't mention how many > >if any USB ports while the other two ahve 4, Sager has a carrying case but > >who knows what size > >the price differences are from $1349 (after rebate) from Dell, e-bay $1599 > >and Sager $1999 > >there isn't that much difference between the Dell and the e-bay one but not > >sure the Sager would be worth an extra $600 for me. I wish the Dell site > >was clearer on how many if any USB ports it has as that sounds like an > >important factor - does all that sound like I covered everything to make my > >decision? Dolores > >----- Original Message > > Dolores > > Do you plan to have your new computer be the hub of an entertainment system > more than use as a computer? Do you plan on producing DVDs? If not, why > would > you need a DVD burner? > Here are the specs for the Sager Notebook NP5680S > .... MUCH higher quality screen than the Dell's WXGA, faster bus speed, > faster RAM, 4 times as much video RAM than the Dell at 32 megs, network > cars. > 15" Super-Wide Viewing Angles UXGA Active Matrix LCD Display > Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology at 3.0GHz (800MHz FSB) > > 512 MB PC3200 DDR400 memory [ Expandable to 2048 MB ] > 60.0 GB (5400rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive > 8X DVD / 24X10X24 CD-RW Combo Drive &Softwares , upgradable to 2X > DVD-R/RW Combo Drive &Softwares > Smart Li-ION Battery > Front Panel Audio DJ CD Player > ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 PRO TURBO 128MB DDR > Removable 3.5" FDD exchangeable with opt. CD-ROM, CD-RW, COMBO, > DVD-R/RW, 2nd HDD, 2nd Battery, or 6-in-1 Card Reader > Wavetable 3D Stereo Audio/AC'97 2.1 > Touchpad with Scrolling Keys > 1 Type II PCMCIA Slot > Infra Red, Wireless Fast IR interface > 4 USB 2.0 Ports > 1 IEEE-1394 Port (4 PIN) > Other Ports: 1 S/PDIF out, 1 headphone, 1 infrared, 1 microphone, 1 > parallel, 1 PS/2 keyboard, 1 SVGA video, 1 TV-out, 1 RJ-45(LAN), 1 > RJ-11(Modem) > > Additional Features: Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet LAN &V.90 > 56K Fax/Modem, Optional Internal 802.11b Wi-Fi Module, Internal Bluetooth > Module, 6-in-1 Card Reader Module, 8X Max. DVD-ROM, 8X DVD/24x10x24 CD-RW > Combo, 2X > DVD-RW Drive. > Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition > Standard Carrying Case > Auto Switch 110/220V AC Adapter, AC power cord, User's Manual, > Utility CD > Dimension (H) x (W) x (D) : 1.7"x13"x11.4" Weight: 9.65lbs. with > Battery > One year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty. (2 or 3 year Extended > Warranty Plan optional.) > Lifetime Free Technical Support > > Here are the Specs for the G736 from Zuke Computers via ebay. Again MUCH > faster system, faster RAM, 4 times the amount of video RAM, faster graphics > card, > better screen quality/resolution, network cards > > INTEL PENTIUM 4 3.0 GHz PROCESSOR 800 FBUS! > 800 MHz System Bus Speed Socket 478 > Hyper Threading Technology! > NEW 512k Advanced L2 Advanced Transfer Cache!! > 128 Bit Enhanced Floating Point Unit > Advanced Dynamic Execution > CORE LOGIC > SiS 648FX &SiS 963B1, 8X AGP bus interface, supports host bus at 800MHz & > Hyperthreading > ACPI V1.0b, AGP V2.0 and 3.3V PCI version 2.2 compliant > 800MB/s high bandwidth MuTIOL between SiS 648FX &SiS 963B1 > 512 MB DDR 333MHz PC2700 SYSTEM MEMORY > Expansion 2 slots of 200pin DDR SDRAM module > Upgradeable to 1GB on two DIMM sockets, support DDR 333/PC2700 DDR > 400/PC3200 > specification. > Support Write-Back L1 &L2 Cache > 512KB On-Die L2 Cache > 1 x 512 chip > UPGRADE TO 1GB (1024MB) FOR ONLY $99.00! > BIOS &SECURITY > AMI 512K Flash BIOS, supports password, Plug &Play, ACPI and DMI > BIOS password protection and Kensington Lock hole provided > DISPLAY, VIDEO, AND 128MB ATI RADEON GRAPHICS > 15" SXGA+ TFT-LCD Active Matrix Screen with 1400x1050 resolution (16.7M > colors)!! > ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 M10, AGP 8X, 128MB non-shared DDR video memory > Video bridge supported by SiS 301LV, TV-Out function provided > Non-Integrated Graphics board! No Shared Memory! > Dual-View Display Capability > AUDIO AND SPEAKERS > SPDIF Digital output (5.1 CH) for DVD content > Hardware SoundBlaster Pro for real-mode DOS legacy compatible > Support 6 channels of AC'97 2.2 compliance audio for 5.1 channel Dolby > Digital Material > Built-in two high quality stereo speakers with chamber and mic. > CD-RW &DVD COMBO DRIVE > Equipped with 24X CD-RW &8X DVD-ROM Combo Drive > Burn music and data CD's, and watch DVD movies! > 12.7mm height > UPGRADE TO 2X DVDRW BURNER DRIVE FOR ONLY $129.00! > 40 GB HARD DISK DRIVE 5400 RPM > IBM ATA 100 and Enhanced IDE (PIO mode 4) supported, 2.5" 9.5mm height > Upgradeable easily, optional capacity of 15/20/30/40/60/80/100GB > Supports Ultra DMA HDD for High Speed Access > UPGRADE TO 60GB 5400RPM FOR ONLY $45.00! > UPGRADE TO 60GB 7200RPM FOR ONLY $95.00! > UPGRADE TO 80GB 5400RPM FOR ONLY $119.00! > CNET PCMCIA WIRELESS INTERNET NETWORK ADAPTER > Access the Internet anywhere with a wireless internet connection! > 11Mbps wireless speed > Features a Built-in PCB patch diversity antenna > Power saving mode in infrastructure to minimize power consumption > Automatic fallback data rate under a noisy environment. > UPGRADE TO LINKSYS 54MBPS G WIRELESS FOR ONLY $49.00! > 56K MODEM &10/100 NETWORK ADAPTER > Onboard full duplex 10/100 Base-T ethernet, MAC: SiS 961 built-in > 56K / V.90 Conexant PCI software data/fax modem > Built-in SIR transceiver module, IrDA 1.3 standard compliant up to 4.0Mbps > KEYBOARD AND POINTING DEVICE > Synaptics touch pad with scrolling up/down button > 12 function keys and Windows function key, 19mm key pitch > US/Europe, DOS/V keyboard for Japan, full size keyboard alike pitch > 3.0mm key travel, inverted-T cursor layout > PCMCIA SLOT > 1 Type II PCMCIA Slot > PCMCIA 3.0 Standard Compliant > Supports Cardbus Devices > Plug in your Wireless Networking Card into your laptop! > INTERNAL BATTERY &POWER SYSTEM > Rechargeable INTERNAL Smart Lithium-ION Battery > Full Range Auto-Switching 110V/240V AC Adapter > Li-Ion 12 Cells, 6000mAh, 88.8Whr battery pack or 8 Cells, 4000mAh, 59.2Whr > battery pack > Battery Life Over 2-3hrs (12 cells) > Battery Charge 3.5hrs fast charge when system off (12 cells), 2.5hrs(8 > cells) > > USB 2.0 &IEEE 1394A FIREWIRE PORT > Incorporates with four USB 2.0 ports, transfer rate up to 480Mbps > Integrated 2 UHCI host controller for full-speed (12Mbps) and low-speed > (1.5Mbps) > I/O INTERFACE PORTS > 1 x Parallel port > 1 x External VGA port > 1 x S-Video TV-Out port > 1 x RJ-11 jack for Modem > 1 x RJ-45 for Ethernet > 1 x Firewire 1394 Port > 1 x External CRT port > 4 x USB ports > 1 x IR Port > 1 x MIC-In jack > 1 x headphone jack > 1 x 3-pin DC-In jack for AC adapter > SOFTWARE, ACCESSORIES, &DIMENSIONS > Windows XP Home Edition > WinDVD > PC-Cillin for internet virus protection. > Easy CD Creator, plus much more! > All Drivers for Video, Sound, Modem, ETC Will be included. > BUSINESS SOFTWARE PACKAGE AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $29.00! CLICK HERE FOR MORE > INFO : http://www.zuke.com/ebay/softbus.htm > 332 x 281 x 39.7mm / 44.7mm (13.07" x 10.81" x 1.56" / 1.76") > 8.0 lbs > WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION > Fully Configured with Windows XP Home Edition! > Windows XP Re-installation CD w/Full License and Certificate of Authenticity > > Included. > System is Fully Configured! No more headaches with installing drivers! Just > plug in and enjoy! > UPGRADE TO WINDOWS XP PRO FOR ONLY $50.00! > UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 2000 PRO FOR ONLY $50.00! > Do not need an operating system? Downgrade and save $45.00! > > > Hope this helps > MJH > "The Basil Book" > http://foxhillfarm.us/FireBasil > MJH "The Basil Book" http://foxhillfarm.us/FireBasil To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk