IFL90 BAREBONE vs Sager2090

Ok here is my dilemma. My budget is $1100(minimum, preferred)-$1300(max)
My needs for a laptop(only Santa Rosa) for college with capabilities for next 2-3 years:lots of typing(programming) some web,some music, some videos and some gaming on breaks. OS choice is: bunch of Linux flavors and maybe XP or Vista for college if I have to but I am not buying it with laptop. So no OS needed installed.

At first when I started looking for laptop, my choice were barebones for reasons: cheaper(very tight budget but power system preferred, never build a laptop but all my three previous desktops built myself along with a bunch of friends desktops, this kind of hobby so I have no problem to build my laptop.)

Another thing before you answer is warranty issue. I know that everybody compares Compal to Sager by warranty(3yrs vs 1yr) but this is not the issue with barebone since it gets same 1 year warranty as Sager and XoticPC adds another year on labor for both systems. So both units are with the same warranty and if I buy through my AmericanExpress card, they will cover warranty repairs for extra year. I know its a hassle to go through all this, but budget is tight and I still will have
two years of warranty.

If I buy barebone and parts I will save, but if I buy Sager I will get couple extras which I am not sure I need.

Compal IFL90 BAREBONE from XOTICPC

IFL90 1280x800 Nvidia 8600GT 256MB(standard) BAREBONE $675
with 6 Cell Battery
Intel Wireless 4965 39$
Shipping $30
TOTAL = $744

The rest of the parts will be from NEWEGG.COM
T7300 2.0mgz $256.99
Corsair 2x1GB $84.99
Hitachi 80GB 7200RPM $79.99
Sony NEC Combo $41.99 (This is DVD drive with CDRW, no DVD Writing)
Tax $38.28
Shipping $ 9.14
TOTAL = 511.38

TOTAL to build this system $1255.38

OR

Sager NP2090 1280x800 Nvidia 8600GT 512MB(standard)
T7300
1x1gb Total 2GB
80GB 7200
DVDRW (standard)
Intel 4965 (standard)
9 Cell Battery (standard)
$1292+$30 Shipping

Total to build this system $1322
(This system comes up to $66.62 more, but come with 512mb video memory, 9 cell battery and DVDRW standard. The rest is the same.)

Please, everybody's opinion appreciated.
Thank you.

 

I'd check out the HOT RAM Deals! Pretty recently it had a 1x2GB stick of OCZ memory for $85. Currently it has some better prices on 2x1GB kits.

 

are you sure you would know how to install the CPU?

 

I would definitely pay the $66.62 for the DVDRW (which is worth like $40 already) and the 9-cell, along with the convenience of having the laptop shipped to you completed, rather than a shell you need to complete with risk of voiding warranty, if you aren't already.

 

I'd go with the built laptop without the OS. I built 20-30 desktop systems with ease and i've done about 2 laptops and every time I always have a nightmare with laptops. leave it to the professionals.

my 2 cents.

 

Taking the risk of building it yourself, and not getting the warranty and lifetime tech support for $67 is not a good idea. (and that is my polite version! )

 

If the budget is a big factor, drop one of the ram sticks from the Sager and get that on your own. Putting it together yourself isn't a big deal if you're comfortable with it, but that warranty even for one year is well worth the $67. Get the Sager and put 1 gig of ram in yourself, then you can still say you put some of it together.

Edit - I see what you wrote on the warranty, but you will be covered on warranty with the barebones only on the chassis and gpu. The rest will have varying warranties from varying manufacturers, if you get the Sager you have one place to get everything taken care of, not to mention the fact that they installed it reduces the chance of a voided warranty situation.

 

I even have some Arctic Silver 5 compound if you know what I mean

 

What kind of problem did you have? Could you be a little more specific.
Thanx

P.S. Who do you call a professional? Yes maybe building several desktops, being almost finished with second semester of Computer Science and working for second year at electronic service shop does not make me a laptop builder professional.

 

I don't really need a DVDRW, because I have one on my desktop (Plextor 16x DL) and I don't burn that much DVDs. Plus I f I build myself I can get Sony Nec 8x for less then $60. With sager there is no speed and brand stated which sometime makes a difference.

 

I will have to agree on warranty issue, that getting serviced everything at one place would make it easier. On the issue of varying warranty's, it would be a little complicated but I could win on some on warranty for example: Seagate hard drive with 5 year warranty or lifetime on ram.

Yes I know I'm a pain in a when it comes to new computer purchase, I still might buy the sager or not but thanks to all your reply guys.

 

vitalik, I did a similar price comparison between the barebones and a Sager NP2090. I've decided to go with the Sager. My price differential was different because I looked up different specs but anyway at the price difference you are looking at, I would advise going with the Sager unless you just can't help yourself and just have to build you own machine. Yes, you're paying more for the Sager but as you yourself noted, you're paying for better specs besides the fact that the machine is pre-built.

If the description you give of yourself is accurate, I would not be worried about you building your own laptop. I'm in a similar situation to yours. I could build my own laptop if I wanted to but I don't think bragging rights make up for the convenience of getting a pre-built laptop. A few years ago, the very idea of building one's own laptop was pretty much inconceivable. But things are slowly changing. Assuming that laptops are still a sensible choice by the time we need to replace our current machines, perhaps the market will have evolved to the point that there will be an advantage to building our own. Just like for desktops.

 

Even with the Sager warranty your Seagate 5 year warranty will still hold past the Sager warranty, as will the memory warranty.

 

Go with the Sager, drop down to a 5400RPM 80GB, and put more $$ into the warranty.

This way, if you want, you can upgrade the HDD later.