newbie on notebooks! need help!

hi! I am planning on getting my first laptop and I've heard that Toshiba is a reliable brand.

Anyways, I've been looking around and found the M40-YP300E
http://www.toshiba.ca/web/specifications.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=1&product=4070&part=2874

I actually read a couple of posts bout the similar model...with slower processor and smaller HD. I went to the future shop and ATIC and heard that this model (YP300) got phased out. SO, I was wondering if there's a better model out there?

Generally, the specs of what's in the laptop, I like it. 'cept I don't know if I should go for DDR or DDR2 RAM. any comments bout that?

Also, I was actually wondering if the M40 YP300E is better or this...
http://ca.lge.com/en/prodmodeldetail.do?actType=search&page=1&modelCategoryId=040205&categoryId=040205&parentId=0402&modelCodeDisplay=LM70&modelNameLocal=&model=Select+a+model

 

I own the YP3...I can't comment on the difference between DDR and DDR2 since I haven't had a chance to use a 512MB DDR2 notebook yet.

compared to the LG one you posted, I would say the YP3 will handle games a bit better. also, I dont know if the drive on the LG will burn DL DVDs. besides that, the features of the LG is quite nice. the lighter weight would be great. the battery might be worse than the YP3. one more thing I noticed is the LG doesn't read Sony media. sux for PSP/Sony product owners.

the only reasonable Toshiba notebook that's better than the YP3 is the Qosmio F10, which has a price of $2700. the G models are 17" LCD, which is something I'd personally never buy.

I believe the JM3 is still a great deal for a great notebook. if only the hard drive was 5400RPM like the YP3, I would have purchased the JM3 instead.

The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that is has never tried to contact us.

 

yeh, the Qosmio is kinda ...too big. not kinda..but i just think it's huge.
Anyways, I posted this on another board here..but I guess it's much more suitable in here...

The prices are quoted as of today from ATIC and Staples. Which one would you pick?

Toshiba M40-YP3
$2099.85 CAD
Pentium Centrino 1.86GHz
512MB PC2700 DDR RAM
80GB 5400RPM HD
DVD Super-Multi Double Layer Drive
15.4" Wide XGA TFT with TruBrite
nVIDIA GeForce Go 6600 (128mb dedicated video memory)
Harmon Kardon Speakers
WinXP Home
6lb
1 yr international warranty

Toshiba Tecra M3-KK3
$2095 CAD
Pentium M 1.6GHz
512MB DDR2 (1x 512)
60GB 5400 RPM HD
14.1" TFT
nVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 (64mb dedicated video memory)
CD-RW/DVD ROM
Built-in Bluetooth Antenna
Software Sound 16-Bit Stereo
WinXP Pro
5lb
3 yr international warranty

Toshiba Tecra M3-KK5
$2270 CAD
Pentium M 1.86GHz
512MB DDR2 (1x 512)
80GB 5400 RPM HD
14.1" TFT
nVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 (64mb dedicated video memory)
CD-RW/DVD ROM
Built-in Bluetooth Antenna
Software Sound 16-Bit Stereo
WinXP Pro
5lb
3 yr international warranty

Toshiba Tecra M3-KK7
$2550 CAD
Pentium M 2.0GHz
512MB DDR2 (1x 512)
80GB 5400 RPM HD
14.1" TFT
nVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 (64mb dedicated video memory)
DVD Super-Multi drive (note KK3 and KK5 is not a dvd writer and this is not a DL writer)
Built-in Bluetooth Antenna
Software Sound 16-Bit Stereo
WinXP Pro
5lb
3 yr international warranty

 

Clb,

You gotta tell us what you're gonna be using this notebook for. You listed 4 units, one consmer model that has a 15.4" LCD and the other 3 are business models with 14.1" LCD's. It really depends on what your needs are at the moment. If you're looking for small and portable and mainly for office apps/surfing the web, the Tecra's would be a better choice, but if you're looking for something with a bit more power for gaming, then the Satellite is the way to go.

-Vb-

 

well, this is pretty much what i'm gonna do

MS office
Internet
DVD playing
Music playing
Solidworks (3-D modelling)
AutoCAD
matlab
light games like The Sim2

i've talked to a few frds and i'm at a state where i'm very undecisive...
i don't know whether i should really get a dvd-writer on the laptop or just get it on my desktop. also, i don't know if i should go w/ a smaller HD and get a bigger+faster external HD. also, i really don't know if weight is gonna be an issue since I don't exactly know what it's like to carry 6lb all the time comparing to say a 4-5lb.

 

Clb,

For office apps, surfing, DVD watching and MP3 listening, any standard notebook will do the job. But since you mentioned things like CAD & 3D Modelling, you're gonna need a unit with a good graphics card (dedicated video memory recommended). From your list, the M40 has the fastest graphics.

I'd recommended getting a DVD burner in your notebook. You never really know when you might have the need to burn data onto a DVD. It's just good to have available (possibly while you're on the road).

I'd also recommend getting the larger, faster HDD for notebook (internally). Getting a fast external HDD won't make any difference because it's still limited by the USB speed. Internal drives will probably always perform faster than a drive connected via USB/Firewire.

Regarding the weight, if you travel a lot, the heavier notebook will start to get heavy after a while, as with anything. 6lbs is still a good weight for a notebook and shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just make sure you have a proper carrying case (something with a shoulder strap or even a back-pack made with nylon or other light materials. Not leather/p-leather as this will increase the weight by 2-3lbs).

So from the listed systems, I'm probably go with the M40 over the other units. Mainly because the video card is better, has a DVD built in, a larger HDD & fairly fast CPU. Plus, I think you'll like the Tru-Brite LCD screens. Really bright, and DVD colours are very vivid.

Since you're in Canada, you may even want to checkout the LG notebooks that Futureshop carries. They have some pretty good specs for just a bit more, but I'm not too sure how their quality is like.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10059783&catid=22496

-Vb-

 

thanks venombite.
i'm also lookin into the sony S460
i like what it's got there but i've heard of ppl quoting a much lower price...but here's the
specs if u're interested in lookin...
u think this would be a better one than the m40?

http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/en-US/Product+Detail/Computers.htm?CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=Computers;Computers;PC%20Computer%20Systems;Notebooks;Sony%20VAIO%20VGN-S460PB%20Notebook%20PC&CS_Catalog=Computers&CS_RootCategory=Computers&CS_Category=Notebooks&CS_ProductID=1292127&ProductTab=1

 

If I might butt in here, I am a total novice re options, specs etc and have the same requirements as clb except for the need for a fancy graphics card (unless this is required for TV/DVD viewing also).

My main priority is to have tru-brite 17" wide-screen display.
This being the case would someone please offer an opinion as to the kind of things I should be considering.

Thanks

lazzaman

 

You should really go to a store and look at a 17" laptop.

They are HUGE!!

 

Clb,
The Sony S460 is even smaller than the 14" models you listed previously. The screen will look nice because of the X-Brite, but I personally think anything smaller than 14" is just note worth getting. Especially if you're planning on playing any kind of games and 3D modelling/CAD with it. With CAD/3D modelling, you normally need a lot of Windows desktop real estate, therefore larger screens and higher resolutions. Getting a 13" LCD will just be counter productive in this case.

Lazzaman,
If it's just for multimedia purposes, a power graphics card is not 100% required, it's just a nice bonus. As Coriolis mentioned, a 17" unit will be BIG and is not really meant to be something very mobile. If it will mainly be sitting on your desk, than I don't see a problem in getting a 17" notebook.

If this is a desktop sitting, multimedia system, then I'd get something with a good screen (X-Brite, Tru-Brite, Brightview, etc....) and a fast processor. I'd stick with the Pentium M based notebooks rather than P4 as they run cooler and the notebook designs are thinner and lighter.

You may want to take a look at the Sony A Series, Toshiba Qosimo Series, and if you're in Canada, the LG LW70.

-Vb-

 

Will do, corialis, was just presuming bigger was better but seems not necessarily so with notebooks.
Thanks for your advice, Venombite. I can't find too much about Toshiba Qosimo's here, would Centrino's be our local equivalent here in Oz?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by lazzaman

 

Thanks, mate, much obliged.

 

thx Venombite
i think i'm pretty much set on the M40 now but still...kinda wanting LG LM70 'cept the price is just too much

M50 is pretty nice...lightweight and got most of the stuff i'm lookin for. But only if the graphics card is better and HD is faster...

 

Lazzaman,
You're welcome. [ ]

Clb,
The M50 looks nice and has some decent specs, but the main problem is the video card. That's the one component that's completely non-upgradable. A slow HDD can be changed out for something faster, bigger. But a crappy video card is stuck with you, haunting you 'til the day you get a new notebook. [ ]

Have you looked at the Acer LW60? It's a 15.4" model that goes for a bit more than the Toshiba at Futureshop.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10059783&catid=22496

It has pretty much everything you're looking for, except that it has only 64MB of dedicated video memory with an ATI x600 GPU. I saw the unit in Futureshop on the 1st day they released it, and it looked pretty good. The screen was bright (high-gloss), good weight, and a lot of features. There were only 2 reasons why I didn't consider the LG.

1. To get the unit repaired, I'd have to ship it out to a repair facility and wait for it to come back (don't like that).

2. I already bought an HP Compaq nx8220. Since I service notebooks (Toshiba, HP, IBM), I'm capable of repairing my onw unit. No need to send it out and not get it back for a few weeks.

-Vb-

-Vb-

 

Venombite,
The more I look at the M40 specs, the more I see things wrong with it. The battery life I heard is poor... @_@ the HD is not SATA..and I think there's a move to everything SATA very soon, at least in desktop already.. and the memory is a PC3200.

aiii... and I also heard that toshiba is no longer a brand that produces reliable units? true to that?

the only thing that's stopping me from getting LG is the price. Sony..price and the bunch of rather useless softwares they include.

is Dell any good? but also heard they have virtually no tech support at all...true?

by the way, what is PATA HD drives?

now lookin at asus W3V.... AIIII..i'm so undecisive!

 

Clb,

The M40's have been reported by users as having battery runtime results. I believe the reason for the low runtimes is the fact that the battery has only 6 cells. Normally, a 15.4" unit should have an 8 cell battery (min) and some now even have a 12 cell option.

Yes, Toshiba has dropped in their overall quality. They've been having a a lot of problems with their designs and also the poor matching of technologies (fast CPU but slow graphics). They've started to add faster video to their systems, but overall, I'd rather get an HP.

The M40-YP3 is approx the same price as the LG LW60 from Futureshop on the link I provided in the previous post. Also, the M40 only has DDR memory (operates at 333Mhz), not DDR2 like the LG (operates at 533Mhz).

Dell, well, there have been a lot of good and bad things said about Dell. Mainly about their overall quality and lack of tech support. Some say their units feel very cheap, while others say they feel solid. But the one thing most people agree on is the lack of quality support. Personally, I wouldn't get a Dell.

PATA = Parallel ATA
Here's a link that describes what PATA is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATA

SATA = Serial ATA
And here's the link for SATA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

Generally, SATA is supposed to be faster and allows more devices to be connected, but how many devices can you connect in a notebook.

The one main issue I have with getting Asus is the lack of service centers where you can get the unit fixed. With brands like Toshiba, HP & IBM, you can just bring your defective unit to a local authorized (for your specific brand) repair facility and get it fixed within a couple days. With Asus, I believe you have to ship it to them and who knows how long that'll take to get back.

Usually, your first chioce is your best choice. Throw too many things into the mix and you're just gonna get lost. Newer technologies will always come out, but if you keep waiting, you'll never get a notebook. You just need to sit down, list off everything you need (not want, but need) in a notebook. Then find a short list of notebooks that meet the needs (not wants). Finally, compare the specs between each system, weigh the cost and service locations. Once you've done that, you would end up with THE system that you want/will get.

Good luck!

-Vb-

 

Venombite,

thanks! you really helped me a lot!!!!

right now, i've done what you told me to...to list things i need.

i'm pretty much down to toshiba m40-yp3 and asus W3V
I've looked around the computer stores in my city and there're a lot of small computer stores selling asus laptops (but not necessarily that model). So, would fixing work by bringing to those stores? Whereas the M40-YP3, I've only been seeing it in large comp stores like Staples, Future Shop and Best Buy.

it's hard to compare those 2 models...
'cause 1's got 128mb dedicated VRAM, the other 64mb VRAM
but 1's got DDR and the other got DDR2
1's 15.4", the other 14"
1's 80gb, the other 60gb (and i dun even know what rpm it's running at, i can't seem to find that info anywhere)

asus W3V specs
http://usa.asus.com/products/notebook/w3series/w3000v/w3000v_overview.htm

anyways, it'd be really great if you could point out some things between the two... I've read reviews for both and generally, can't really be compared ...at least to me.

 

Clb,

That's one problem when trying to get systems of differing types. But I'll see if I can put something together.

Toshiba M40-YP300E vs Asus W3V

DDR vs DDR2 (Faster)
XP Home vs XP Pro (Personally, I find Pro better, more features)
Nvidia 6600 w/128MB vs ATI x600 w/128MB (I believe the 6600 is faster)
DVD+/-RW DL (can't swap) vs DVD+/-RW DL (hot swappable) (Hot swap means that you can remove the drive and put in a different device like a 2nd battery, 2nd HDD, etc... while the system is still on)
15.4" WXGA LCD w/TruBrite (1280x800 resolution) vs 14" WXGA w/Color/Crystal Shine (1280x768 resolution)
100MBit LAN vs 1000MBit (Gigabit) LAN
6lbs vs 5.5lbs
6 cell battery vs 8 cell battery with 2nd battery option (hot swappable as mentioned above, increased battery life)
Firewire vs no Firewire
No external mouse vs includes external optical mouse
1 year standard warranty vs 2 year standard warranty (1yr for battery)
External mic only vs Built-in MIC or external MIC

Those are generally the differences I found on a quick look over the specs. Hopefully this helps you make a final decision. If you decide on the Asus, make sure you goto the Asus forum on this site and ask any questions you have. You should be able to get all the answers you need.

Good Luck!

-Vb-

 

thanks Venombite

i thought IEEE1394 is firewire...

 

Sorry, I missed that when I quickly looked over the specs last night. Both units do have Firewire.

-Vb-

 

thx Venombite for all ur help.
i think i'm ready to get my first laptop [ ]

 

Clb,

You're welcome. [ ]

I see from your avatar that you have decided on the Asus W3V. Congratulations! After you get the system, let me know how everything is with the new system.

-Vb-

 

definitely will.

i was wondering how i could test out dead pixels?
do i just use a black backgrnd to see if there's any bright pixels and then a white backgrnd to see dead pixels?

 

As you indicated, that would probably be the easiest way to test for dead/stuck pixels. Yes, just change the background colors and you should be fine. You can try downloading some programs that just do the same thing for you, but I don't think it's needed.

-Vb-