toshiba tecra m2? Please give me your comment.

Right now, I have one desktop from dell and one notebook from toshiba(A25-S207). I'm planning to change my notebook to smaller size like M2.

How does game work on M2? I see that M2 has Geforce FX 5200 for Graphic Card. I'm playing Final Fantasy XI with desktop now.

I had thought about Alienware, but it's too expensive and really heavy.

Please give your comment. Thanks.[ ]

 

What graphics card do you have in your desktop? The M2 is a bit more expensive then other alternatives. You can get an Acer 3201XCi for less and it has an ATI 9700 GPU which is more powerfull than the 5200 GPU. Since games mainly require a fast GPU to perform well, the ATI 9700 would be a better choice.

-Vb-

 

hmm Acer 3201XCi...
Well~ After I looked up people's review and Acer homepage, I can't decide which one I should get.

I see Acer 3201XCi has few problems..

1) I have to switch the hard drive to new one from Acer.

2) There is no 12cell battery!!!

3) CPU is only 1.5ghz


My plan for Toshiba tecra M2 was...

Pentium M 1.8ghz
40GB 5400rpm HRD
256MB memory (About to upgrade to 1GB soon as I sell my old laptop)
Cd-RW/DVD-Rom
Geforce 5200 with 64MB firewire/bluetooth ready
14" XGA

for $1620 after rebate. After I save more money, I will pay for 12cell battery

Please give me some advice which one I should go for.
Should I go for Toshiba or Acer. I never used Acer before.

 

Personally I don't see anything really wrong with the 3201XCi.

1. The HDD is a standard 4200rpm HDD unless you have been specifically told by Acer that it's a 5400rpm drive. If you were, they should send a new replacement drive for you to swap (after you call them). Replacement is fairly easy to do.

2. 12 cell batteries are rare for any Pentium M notebook. You get the occasional unit that has one (Tecra M2, M30/M35 maybe, Sony A series). FOr thin & light units like the M2 and 3201, it normally comes with a 6 cell battery.

3. The CPU depends on what you're doing. A Pentium M 1.5 Dothan should operate close to a P4 2.8Ghz CPU. Below is a comparison between the Pentium M & P4 CPU's. You will see that a Pentium M can hold its own against a P4.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2129&p=1

Another plus for the Acer is that it comes with Bluetooth integrated into the unit (from what users on this site indicated). The Toshiba is only Bluetooth Ready (has slot available for optional Bluetooth module).

But a plus for the Toshiba is the 3 year warranty that comes with the Tecra notebooks. The Acer only has a 1 year warranty.

-Vb-

 

Oh, thanks for this great information Venombite. The information on link was what I was looking for. I did not know 12cell batteries are rare for Pentium M notebook. I needed it because I travel alot from USA to S.Korea. Alot of people told me I should get 7200rpm HDD for gaming. I should buy a HDD that comes with 7200rpm.
Once again, thanks for this great comment.


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