i think this also depends on how big a machine you want. 17" is tight for graphic work and viewing cool ish, but is a pain to lug around.
that said, i'll throw some asus machines up on here, as i'm so happy with my asus laptop (z83v - well below your target price, though)...
when i was looking (8 mo.s ago), the Asus W2V was pretty hot... dope design, really pretty machine... slot-loading DVD burner, etc.
now, they've got the W2J for ~2,400$
at
Tiger Direct
Check out this
comparison chart for the W2Jb from PCMag:
17" WXGA+ (1440 x 900) Color Shine (glaretype) & Crystal Shine (high brightness)
Intel 945PM
Intel® Yonah® M T2500 (i think that's the duo)
1024MB DDR2 667
100 GB 5400 RPM HDD
DVD±RW (8X Dual)
ATI Radeon x1600
w/ 256MB VRAM (512MB Hyper Memory)
Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000
- 17" WXGA+ (1440 x 900) Color Shine (glaretype) & Crystal Shine (high brightness)
- Intel 945PM
- Intel® Yonah® M T2500 (i think that's the duo)
- 1024MB DDR2 667
- 100 GB 5400 RPM HDD
- DVD±RW (8X Dual)
- ATI Radeon x1600
- w/ 256MB VRAM (512MB Hyper Memory)
- Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000
the old W2V for ~2200$
ASUS Notebook W2V, 17" Widescreen TFT LCD
Intel Pentium M Processor 770, 2.13 GHz
1GB DDR2 Memory
100GB Hard Drive
PCI-E ATI X700 128MB
DVD+/-RW Dual Layer
Card Reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO
Bluetooth, Wireless... ladeedadee
- ASUS Notebook W2V, 17" Widescreen TFT LCD
- Intel Pentium M Processor 770, 2.13 GHz
- 1GB DDR2 Memory
- 100GB Hard Drive
- PCI-E ATI X700 128MB
- DVD+/-RW Dual Layer
- Card Reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO
- Bluetooth, Wireless... ladeedadee
there's also custom machines - not as solid as far as having all the parts from the same spot, but you can still come out with a tight machine for a decent price, like...
the z83v a little more tricked out than mine for $2427 from agearnotebooks.com
17 inch WXGA+ (1400x900) (16:10) widescreen LCD Display
2.26GHz Intel Pentium M 780 w/2MB L2 Cache - 533MHz FSB
Graphics & Video: ATI Mobility Radeon X700 PCI Express w/128MB VRAM
Memory: 2.0GB DDR2-533MHz Memory (2x1024MB-Dual Channel)
Hard Drive: 100GB 5,400 rpm Ultra DMA HDD
(you can get better harddrives - faster, bigger, but it'll really drain your battery)
DVD/CDRW Drive: 8X DVD Dual-RW Dual Layer/CD-RW Drive w/Software
Wireless LAN: Built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Tri-Mode 802.11A/B/G LAN
Main Battery: 8-Cell Smart Li-ion Battery
TV Tuner with Remote Control: Built-in TV Tuner w/ Remote Control
MS Windows XP Professional w/SP2 CD
AC Adapter: Auto Switch 110/220V AC Adapter
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless
Built-in 1.3M Pixel Digital Camera
Free Deluxe Carrying Case
Built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet LAN w/RJ-45 Jack
Built-in IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and 56k V.90 Fax/Modem
Warranty: 2-Year Parts/Labor, Lifetime Telephone Technical Support
- 17 inch WXGA+ (1400x900) (16:10) widescreen LCD Display
- 2.26GHz Intel Pentium M 780 w/2MB L2 Cache - 533MHz FSB
- Graphics & Video: ATI Mobility Radeon X700 PCI Express w/128MB VRAM
- Memory: 2.0GB DDR2-533MHz Memory (2x1024MB-Dual Channel)
- Hard Drive: 100GB 5,400 rpm Ultra DMA HDD
- (you can get better harddrives - faster, bigger, but it'll really drain your battery)
- DVD/CDRW Drive: 8X DVD Dual-RW Dual Layer/CD-RW Drive w/Software
- Wireless LAN: Built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Tri-Mode 802.11A/B/G LAN
- Main Battery: 8-Cell Smart Li-ion Battery
- TV Tuner with Remote Control: Built-in TV Tuner w/ Remote Control
- MS Windows XP Professional w/SP2 CD
- AC Adapter: Auto Switch 110/220V AC Adapter
- Built-in Bluetooth Wireless
- Built-in 1.3M Pixel Digital Camera
- Free Deluxe Carrying Case
- Built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet LAN w/RJ-45 Jack
- Built-in IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and 56k V.90 Fax/Modem
- Warranty: 2-Year Parts/Labor, Lifetime Telephone Technical Support
look pretty hot, too...
sorry for the ridiculous post, but i mean, how often do you get to spend 3500$ of somoene else's dough...
You can look around for other options, but my wife and I both have an asus and I'll swear by 'em... really well-made machines... my only two big concerns are that they don't have stores (you have to find a service station near you or mail it to them if you have a serious problem) and they're not publicly traded in US.
cheers!
September 12th, 2006, 1:36 pm
