Buying a Compal HGL30

Is this a good deal or can I do better?

http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php/cPath/95_51_174_175/products_id/1839?wconfigure=yes
CompalHGL30:
Intel ABG Wireless
Bluetooth
DVD-Rw

790.87

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148213
Seagate 100 GB 5400 RPM - 79.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231116
G-Skill 2 GB RAM 667 MHZ - 119.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111303
T5600 - 242

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111304
T5500 - 206.99

Total: $1232.85 (T5600) - Not Including shipping
Total: $1197.84 (T5500) - Not Including Shipping

Anyone know a place where I can get the dvd-rw drive cheaper or suggest other components that can be cheaper and/or better? I may lower the processor to t5500 as I probably will not see a big difference and the money can go toward an oem's vista business. My budget is a little tight but am willing to spend $1300.

My needs: Vista , Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash. The laptop will be a multimedia type but will mainly used for basic.

Looky here, I am thread number 667 (RAM)

 

That seems like a good deal.. I couldn't seem to find myself a better deal on the HGL30.. or anything else as powerful for the price

 

oh wait your building, milestonepc.com has a cheaper barebone im pretty sure

i couldnt find any with a cheaper dvd rw than xotic

also i made a thread about building a hel80, i listed some parts you might find useful

 

I check milestonepc and with the components I try to purchase came out to be $826 which adds more to the laptop when I could use the extra cash for an OEM's OS disc. Thanks for the suggestion.

Are all the part correct? Everything I will be ordering are compatible with the notebook, right?

 

If you are a college student you could get your O/S for free through academic alliance. Not sure if you were aware of that. Good luck with the new system!

 

Cool, anyway... I am going to pull the trigger. Am I missing anything like thermal paste for processor or just assemble everything as its is? All part are compatible? Would I benefit from a 7200 rpm HD with my low-end processor? Thanks.

 

You will need thermal paste, but even the best of that stuff is cheap.

7200RPM drive will raise your temperatures a few degrees. No real gain unless you are working with alot of real-time stuff.

 

Which is good? I simply apply the paste to the processor only right? Does xopticpc apply the paste by default if I let them assemble the notebook?

 

yeah if they assemble, they would use the paste

theres a video on how to put the hel80 together on this forums, i think it would be the same for the hgl30

 

Here's a link to AS5's site on how to apply it.
XoticPCapplies the paste by default I believe, you could PM Justin and ask him, but I dont see why they wouldn't

Here's the link to chrisyano's post of the assembly video for hel 80 that kickdim was referring to

 

Thank You everyone, I have ordered everything from my list including the Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound, Vista Business, and replace the hd with a Seagate 100 GB 7200 rpm for $1383.82 (w/ shipping and wasted 2.99 for nothing on newegg). I will now play the waiting game and will come back for assistance on assembling the HGL30 with pics.

More questions, when I feel I need a higher processor, can I simply change the chip as long as I clean the heat spreader/board and reapplying the paste for the new chip?

 

If it's the same socket then it shouldn't be a problem. I believe up to the current C2D's are all the same socket, you won't be able to put in one of the new cpu's coming out w/Santa Rosa tho :/

 

Cool, I guess I should of worded my question with more detail. You're right, I cannot upgrade to santa rose but was curious about upgrading c2d. Thanks for the answer. I was hoping for that answer.

Last question (I hope): What is a good messenger bag for the HGL30? Is there a bag where you can fit only the notebook w/9cell and ac charger and does not look like a full notebook bag? Maybe some paper/media/thin book.

Maybe I am stretching the "whole looking like a notebook bag" but I do not want eyes on me when walking with my notebook. I hope this is the last question . Excuse my naive and curious mind.

 

Here's a thread about bags and makers.

 

I use an OGIO metro bag. Looks like any normal backpack. If you are going for "stealth" thats where I'd look.

EDIT: Just to note, I've had this bag for 5ish years and it still looks new...

 

Bad news, I receive a phone call from Justin a few days ago and it appear that compal recalled their laptop for a revision/update. He told me that it will take about two week before they can ship my laptop . But the good news is that I get a more updated hgl30 with no extra cost .

I already received my HD, RAM, Thermal Paste, and OEM's OS and are collecting dust at the moment. My processor will not arrived until the 17th. I wonder what kind of revision is compal will make?

 

What kind of update is going to happen to the laptop? Do you know?

 

I believe it'll be an update with centrino pro platform, and maybe some new looks?

 

Justin told me something about the motherboard/internal parts but nothing major. That a relief if its true as I already have my parts ready for the HGL30 except for my processor.

Maybe they revising the design to accommodate the santa rosa? Just kidding .

EDIT: Let really hope for a better keyboard as many have complain about the flex.