17 inch or 15.4 inch and laptop chip query

[andicap]

Due to my pending move I'm back to getting a laptop and am wondering if there is much difference in watching races and movies on a widescreen 15.4" machine or the very weighty 17" screen.
I'm considering the 17" because it's basically a desktop replacement but it is so heavy, it might be better to stay with the still decent 15" screen -- which is also $250 cheaper (a great sale at $749 or $999.)

Definitely 2 GB of RAM.

I know the bigger screen takes up more battery power.

Deciding between two HP Pavilion Series notebooks that have gotten good marks from users. I've dismissed the Toshiba Satellite series because their hard drives only run at 4200 RPM. Dell's quality is too erratic.

The two machines I'm considering have AMD 64x2 TL-56 (1.8GHz) and the TL-64 (2.2 GHz). Is there much speed difference between the two with equal RAM and bus speed -- up to 1600 MHz?

(I know AMDs run hot but I've got a cooling pad.)

Usage: Not much gaming. Lots of video (racing, downloading movies/video, etc. Editing video.) Multiple windows open with Office apps and web browsing.
Video RAM is "up to 559 MB shared."

Cache on both is 2x 512KB Level 2.

Yes I know Vista is a pain but it'll get better (I hope).

The 15 inch screen is such a good deal I don't know if I should pass it up unless watching horses run/movies on a 17-inch screen is just so much more awesome.

thanks!

[cj]

If you are truly using it for travel, go with the 15.4. The 17s are much heavier in my opinion. I don't even notice the smaller one.

[andicap]

CJ.
I thought you had a huge screen?

Some traveling, but not a whole lot.

Also wondering how much I'd notice the difference between the 1.8 GHz and 2.2 GHz processor.

[njcurveball]

Some traveling, but not a whole lot.



From my own experience, 17 inch displays have a far greater frequency of getting lines in them and the cost to replace them ($300+) makes the whole experience something I do not want to repeat.

With Windows you can hook up an external monitor and keyboard and have 2 screens for the price of the 17 inch model. A very good 20 inch monitor can be bought in the $250 range these days.

You are right about the weight as well. My laptop is like a bowling ball when I travel.

My suggestion is to go 15 inch and get an external monitor in the 3000:1 or greater range. You will enjoy the viewing a whole lot more that way and still have a screen to handicap.

Jim

[andicap]

The screen damage risk is very persuasive -- and yes I've always wanted to set up a dual-monitor system.

[Red Knave]

The screen damage risk is very persuasive -- and yes I've always wanted to set up a dual-monitor system.If you're going to do that you may as well get a small screen notebook (i.e. like the Dell XPS). If you want a desktop replacement then a 17" screen is pretty nice.

[Dave Schwartz]

I have 17" laptop and absolutely love it (Sager). I bought my son almost the identical machine from HP with 17", 7200rpm, etc. for about 1/2 the money. I would strongly recommend that the most important place to put upgrade money is in the hard drive. I Will not buy a laptop that does not contain a 7200rpm drive.

And now there are 19" laptops! Now, those are really heavy. Our 17's are just not that bad.

I configured a 17" HP at Costco.com:

Customize the HP Pavilion dv9000z Entertainment Notebook PC (AMD)
Upgrades
1. 2gb RAM
2. 7200rpm, 200gb
3. 1680 x 1050 res, WSXGA (from 1440 x 900, WXGA)

Total price: $1,130.99


On the topic of 2nd monitors, you can get a 22" ViewSonic (pretty good quality monitor) from Costco for around $260! (I have 4 of them.)



http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11223498&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|84|1680|62021&N=4018491&Mo=9&pos=0&No=7&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=62021&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC12116-Cat1680&topnav=


Dave

[BillW]

Dave,

How do you like the Sager? Will you have it with you next month? I'm going to miss Craig and would like to look at one. I've been looking at the Sagers and the PowerPros (ASUS/COMPAL OEM's)

Bill

[Dave Schwartz]

The Sager is awesome. Best laptop I have ever had. However, while other laptops have dropped significantly in price it has risen.

A comparable machine to the one that I purchased 2 years ago for $2,600 is now $3,500. (Newer, faster chips, of course.) This is the same machine specs (but an HP) that I got a for my son from Costco a year ago for $1,600 and highly similar to the one I recommended for Andy at $1,100.

Bottom line? I'd try the HP at Costco first (with a 30-day return policy).


Dave

[BillW]

I have come across a pretty good information resource for those looking for information mainly about things relating to laptops. This is a knowledge area of a link that has been posted before. See link ...

http://www.powernotebooks.com/articles/?action=news