M2000 vs. V2000 vs. V2000Z, and which processor?

I've decided I want either an M2000 or a V2000.

Which one is better for battery life? (If I get the V2000 I will get the 12 cell battery; is this also available on the M2000?)

And, I want a Pentium 4 M (Centrino), but if I get one of the models with AMD, which processor should I get?

Is Sempron better than P4M?

 

P4-anything in a notebook is just wrong. Extremely power inefficient. Celerons are evil too. If you have to have an Intel CPU, get a Pentium-M.

Semprons are decent but I'd spring for a Turion just to be absolutely sure you're getting a 64-bit capable machine. Yes, it won't be useful for a while yet (unless you run Linux), but you'll get much more L2 cache in the meantime. Some Semprons are 64-bit capable but you won't know ahead of time. If you're on a tight budget the Sempron will do though. The AMD notebooks have far better GPUs than the Intel notebooks too.

Definitely get a 12 cell battery no matter what you buy. The M2000z's offer them too.

 

Sorry, I meant Pentium M, not P4. As far as I know no one currently sells a P4 notebook.

I noticed that the "Z" units (AMD based) include ATI video cards that look a LOT beter than the Intel "extreme" integrated graphics they have on the Intel systems.

And I just read an article about how AMD Turion 64 gets better real life power consumption (life, not conditioning) than the PM Centrino hookup. The 12 cell is a great upgrade price, just $39 for double battery life.

I think I will spring for the Turion, especially since I can get a 1.6GHz Turion with ATI graphics, 60GB and a 12 cell battery for $763 off the Compaq website.

 

My vote for v2000z, better cost/perfomance. Besides it'll probably run Windows Vista.

 

Smaller screen will help with the battery life as well on the v2000z

 

I can get a V2000Z, spec'd just how I want it except memory which I can replace for cheaper, at $813:

Turion ML30, 1.6Ghz, 1MB L2 Cache
14" TruBrite
ATI Xpress 200M
60GB
802.11b/g integrated
12 cell battery

Any chance this will go down another hundred or so before Christmas?

A similarly outfitted M200Z is cheaper, at $788.

Do you think the V200Z is worth the extra $30? Are there any other advantages besides the smaller screen?

 

The V2000Z is also widescreen. I'd pay the extra $30 for that alone. And as zazonz said,

 

What is the benefit of widescreen? I'm a bit confused about this. How can it have 25% more space than a 15" screen? This just doesn't make any sense to me.

Does everything look weird and stretched out?

 

I suggest going to a local computer store and looking at them. That is the best way to find out.

 

That's 25% more viewable space. On a V2000Z, you get 1280 x 768 instead of 1024 x 768.

 

Unfortunately, Pentium 4 notebooks are still being made, such as with HP's ZD8000 series.