Compaq 3077WM Notebook PC With 2.4 GHz Pentium 4?

Should I go for this laptop which has a 16" screen?

full details here:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2349355&cat=4070&type=19&dept=5434&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A4070%3A76856

It is on clearance for $798

Any opinions?

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

Without knowing what your needs are it's hard to say if this is a good fit for you. It is however a good deal if that's all you want to know.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

I'm mainly looking for a laptop to do the usual office applications, surfing, email etc.

I'm quite keen on watching DIVX/XVID movies on the move at an airport or on an aircraft too.

I would like to have the option of playing Half-Life based games though and not too sure if the SiS graphics on this machine will cut the mustard though?

I've not really found too much info on the 3077WM but wonder if the larger 16" screen will just reduce the battery life when travelling?

Any ideas?

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

I should really say that ideally I'm looking for the cheapest laptop that will run HL/CS at decent frame rates and has a DVD-ROM

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

In that case, you'll want at least 64MB of dedicated video RAM. And yes, the larger screen will suck more battery, no way around that.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

What notebook would you recommend for my general use?

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

What's the budget and what's more important, performance or portability/battery life? Lastly, do you want a large screen or does that not matter?

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

Well to be honest I'm a bit of a bargain hunter at the end of the day and like to think I get a good deal on most of the stuff that I buy.

I watch the threads over at Fatwallet on a daily basis and have scored numerous deals as a result.

The theoretical budget would be perhaps $1000 but I keep finding myself in the "for just $XX more...." I can get a..laptop

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

I pressed post by mistake..[:I]

"What's the budget and what's more important, performance or portability/battery life? Lastly, do you want a large screen or does that not matter?"

Performance is important - I really can't stand sluggish machines. I've always built my own Desktop PC's and know that in general "brand-names" are usally built to a price with all the right numbers and specs to woo the unknowing public into buying their low performing boxes.

I'd happily build a laptop if I could get the chassis cheap enough but it seems that quite often the finished product would be no different to what most of the established names produce pricewise?

Portability is not the main priority as it will normally either be in the back of the car or using it at an airport or on an aircraft as a distraction.

A minimum 2 hr battery life is my expectation - more would be good but not a high priority as most of the time the unit will be plugged into the mains supply.

I guess a 15" screen would be about right - or perhaps something that can be viewed sitting in "cattle-class" on an aircraft?

On the move the laptop would mainly be used for DIVX and Mame32 gaming.


Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

Just to give the end of the story.

I ended up buying the Compaq 2199 from Best Buy for something like US$720 AR ($400) including taxes. (The advert was for US$649.99 after rebates)
I also accumulated an additional $35 of Best Buy Rewards Points on that purchase, which, in theory would take the price below $700 at the end of the day.

Does everything that I wanted it to do and plays HL with very acceptable frame rates at 1024x768.

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be