Venting...

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement, and
it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...

I just can't win.

If I'm lucky, my insurance company will give me the whole CDN$2200 original
cost of my R31 (Celeron 1HGz, 128MB stock RAM + 256 option RAM, 30GB HDD,
DVD-ROM). For this if I stick with IBM, for about $CDN1800-$1900, I can get
into something like an R40: P4/1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM
combo). This is a marginal improvement over a machine two years old, given
the standard rate of technology evolution. Worst still, the R-series still
have many of the same SKIMPY limitations that drove me nuts with my old R31:
only a single CardBus slot, no serial port, no audio line-in, no floppy, and
an LCD limited to 1024x768, even when you get into the 15" models.

Now on the other hand, for the same price, I can get a Toshiba that will
give me a P4/3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo, floppy, AND 15"
widescreen 1280x800 display, as well as stereo speakers (not on the
ThinkPad), internal mic (not on the ThinkPad), AND an assortment of
media-card slots. Other manufacturers have similar specs in that price
range. Granted the IBM is an excellent, robust machine; I've owned two
ThinkPads and loved them both for their durability, but they seem to REALLY
be chintzy on features/power for price.

Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make TrackPoints
(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
product specs.

I'm about ready to just blow off the laptop idea and build myself a new
screamin' desktop machine and get into a nice top-end Palm Treo or something
instead...

 

[clint]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

The Dell Inspiron 9100 I have has a Trackpoint as well as a touch pad.
Can't comment on other brands (or even other Dell models), but you can see
the HP's/Toshiba's/etc in store, most times.

BTW, keep in mind that the R40 you're talking about has the Centrino
processor. The Toshiba you're talking about (don't know which model, since
you didn't specify) sounds like it would have a true P4 desktop processor.
On my 9100, the battery life is about 90 minutes. And my laptop weighs
about 10 pounds. Not a really convenient machine for travelling, but as a
desktop replacement, it works pretty good. But it's not a comparable
machine to the R40 you mention. It only has the single Cardbus slot, it
doesn't have the serial port, but it does have a mic-in, USB 2.0, and
FireWire ports. It also has built-in 10/100 networking, 802.11b/g, and
SVideo, DVI, and VGA outputs. What do you need more than one Cardbus slot
for? Just curious. I've only used them for network and modem cards, which
are all built into most laptops nowadays. Oh yeah, and my 9100 has a
1600x1050 display (WSXGA+). You can go higher, like 1900x1280 (WUXGA), I
think, but I didn't see the need.

Also BTW, my Dell is going back. Dell is shipping me out another one even
as I type this. The display on mine is buggered up, and there's some errors
being displayed on the HD diagnostics. Didn't work properly right out of
the box, but I should have the new one this week.

Clint

"Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote in message
news:9pjIc.73934$WB5.54157@pd7tw2no...
> My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement,
and
> it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>
> I just can't win.
>
> If I'm lucky, my insurance company will give me the whole CDN$2200
original
> cost of my R31 (Celeron 1HGz, 128MB stock RAM + 256 option RAM, 30GB HDD,
> DVD-ROM). For this if I stick with IBM, for about $CDN1800-$1900, I can
get
> into something like an R40: P4/1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM
> combo). This is a marginal improvement over a machine two years old,
given
> the standard rate of technology evolution. Worst still, the R-series
still
> have many of the same SKIMPY limitations that drove me nuts with my old
R31:
> only a single CardBus slot, no serial port, no audio line-in, no floppy,
and
> an LCD limited to 1024x768, even when you get into the 15" models.
>
> Now on the other hand, for the same price, I can get a Toshiba that will
> give me a P4/3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo, floppy, AND
15"
> widescreen 1280x800 display, as well as stereo speakers (not on the
> ThinkPad), internal mic (not on the ThinkPad), AND an assortment of
> media-card slots. Other manufacturers have similar specs in that price
> range. Granted the IBM is an excellent, robust machine; I've owned two
> ThinkPads and loved them both for their durability, but they seem to
REALLY
> be chintzy on features/power for price.
>
> Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
> WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make
TrackPoints
> (aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
> does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
> has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
> product specs.
>
> I'm about ready to just blow off the laptop idea and build myself a new
> screamin' desktop machine and get into a nice top-end Palm Treo or
something
> instead...
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Have you considered purchasing a used business class laptop? A friend
recently purchased a T40 Pentium M 1.7Ghz w/512Mb RAM, 60Gb hdd, SXGA+,
DVD/CDRW that was only 4 months old for CAD$2300. It has the remainder
from the three year warranty left.

You can also look into Compaq Evo laptops (particularly the Evo N620c)
that are selling for around CAD$2000 as well. I recently purchased an
Evo N600c P3-M 1.2Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 30Gb hdd, SXGA+, DVD/CDRW for CAD$1100.

There are several stores in Toronto that specialise in reselling
business class laptops. Some laptops are almost new, built-to-order that
were returned to the manufacturer. Since Compaq or IBM can't sell them
as new, they unload them to the resellers for a fraction of the cost.

Cosmin

Matt Ion wrote:
> My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement, and
> it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>
> I just can't win.
>
> If I'm lucky, my insurance company will give me the whole CDN$2200 original
> cost of my R31 (Celeron 1HGz, 128MB stock RAM + 256 option RAM, 30GB HDD,
> DVD-ROM). For this if I stick with IBM, for about $CDN1800-$1900, I can get
> into something like an R40: P4/1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM
> combo). This is a marginal improvement over a machine two years old, given
> the standard rate of technology evolution. Worst still, the R-series still
> have many of the same SKIMPY limitations that drove me nuts with my old R31:
> only a single CardBus slot, no serial port, no audio line-in, no floppy, and
> an LCD limited to 1024x768, even when you get into the 15" models.
>
> Now on the other hand, for the same price, I can get a Toshiba that will
> give me a P4/3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo, floppy, AND 15"
> widescreen 1280x800 display, as well as stereo speakers (not on the
> ThinkPad), internal mic (not on the ThinkPad), AND an assortment of
> media-card slots. Other manufacturers have similar specs in that price
> range. Granted the IBM is an excellent, robust machine; I've owned two
> ThinkPads and loved them both for their durability, but they seem to REALLY
> be chintzy on features/power for price.
>
> Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
> WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make TrackPoints
> (aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
> does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
> has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
> product specs.
>
> I'm about ready to just blow off the laptop idea and build myself a new
> screamin' desktop machine and get into a nice top-end Palm Treo or something
> instead...
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:zHjIc.73953$WB5.60781@pd7tw2no...

> What do you need more than one Cardbus slot
> for? Just curious. I've only used them for network and modem cards,
which
> are all built into most laptops nowadays.

I did with just the one forever in my R31 as well... then one day I needed
to plug another card in (little Nikon CoolPix 100 PC-Card camera) and
discovered that the top half of the slot wasn't actually a working slot.
That annoyed me.

It's not something I used a lot, but I'd a real pain in the ass to not have
it when you need it. Same with a serial port: I work with video
multiplexors and other video equipment that can be programmed via RS-485
interface (like the ol' Cisco DB-9/RJ-45 router cables, accessed through
terminal login) and it would be nice to be able to use this feature.
USB-to-serial adapters only sometimes, sort-of work for this.

> Oh yeah, and my 9100 has a
> 1600x1050 display (WSXGA+). You can go higher, like 1900x1280 (WUXGA), I
> think, but I didn't see the need.
>
1600x1050 on the LCD would be lovely - I'm used to 1600x1200 on a 19"
monitor at home, I just love having all that real estate, especially when it
comes to audio editing.

> Also BTW, my Dell is going back. Dell is shipping me out another one even
> as I type this. The display on mine is buggered up, and there's some
errors
> being displayed on the HD diagnostics. Didn't work properly right out of
> the box, but I should have the new one this week.

Now see, that's the other thing... when I was first shopping for a laptop
(ended up with a ThinkPad 380ED), my buddy tried endlessly to convince me to
buy a Compaq like his... "Uh, yeah, and where's your Compaq now?" "Uh, well,
I had to send it in for repairs again..." AGAIN. That stupid thing was
back to the factory at least three times, usually for something stupid like
the speakers not working. I bought my 380ED, and more recently my R31, and
have never had problems with either of them (well, except that lovely
tendency for the $300 lithium-ion batteries to stop holding a charge after
barely a year... I have a little Milwaukee screwgun I bought in '91, uses
2.4V NiCad batteries - I replaced the first one about four years ago, and
the second only six months ago. Wonder if I can find a way to wire them up
to my laptop?)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Cosmin N." <no@email.com> wrote in message
news:k1kIc.1$mok1.0@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

> There are several stores in Toronto that specialise in reselling
> business class laptops. Some laptops are almost new, built-to-order that
> were returned to the manufacturer. Since Compaq or IBM can't sell them
> as new, they unload them to the resellers for a fraction of the cost.

Any in Vancouver?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Matt Ion wrote:
> "Cosmin N." <no@email.com> wrote in message
> news:k1kIc.1$mok1.0@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
>
>
>>There are several stores in Toronto that specialise in reselling
>>business class laptops. Some laptops are almost new, built-to-order that
>>were returned to the manufacturer. Since Compaq or IBM can't sell them
>>as new, they unload them to the resellers for a fraction of the cost.
>
>
> Any in Vancouver?
>


Sorry, but I do not know of any, as I live in Toronto. But search on the
net, that's how I found some of them...

Cosmin

 

[clint]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Yeah, the 1600x1050 should be nice, once I finally get it working.
That's the part that doesn't work in my current Dell. Can't switch to the
ATI drivers (monitor goes black when I do), so I can't use the custom
resolutions. I used a 1400x1050 resolution unit before on a 14" display,
and that was nice. On the 15.4" wide screen, it should be that much nicer!
Plus it can (theoretically) do a multi-monitor if I hook it up to my desktop
monitor, which will be that much better for coding!

As far as reliability goes, to be fair to Dell, we've got about 16 Dell
machines (3 servers, 3 laptops, and 10 workstations) in our office right
now, and this is the first time I've run into a problem like this right out
of the box. And I probably could have got a tech to come out (Next Day,
On-Site) and jiggle the connector between the display and the graphics card,
and swap the HD out for me, but on a brand new unit, I'm not so forgiving.


Good luck with your shopping!

Clint

"Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote in message
news:QUnIc.75171$WB5.17909@pd7tw2no...
>
> "Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:zHjIc.73953$WB5.60781@pd7tw2no...
>
> > What do you need more than one Cardbus slot
> > for? Just curious. I've only used them for network and modem cards,
> which
> > are all built into most laptops nowadays.
>
> I did with just the one forever in my R31 as well... then one day I needed
> to plug another card in (little Nikon CoolPix 100 PC-Card camera) and
> discovered that the top half of the slot wasn't actually a working slot.
> That annoyed me.
>
> It's not something I used a lot, but I'd a real pain in the ass to not
have
> it when you need it. Same with a serial port: I work with video
> multiplexors and other video equipment that can be programmed via RS-485
> interface (like the ol' Cisco DB-9/RJ-45 router cables, accessed through
> terminal login) and it would be nice to be able to use this feature.
> USB-to-serial adapters only sometimes, sort-of work for this.
>
> > Oh yeah, and my 9100 has a
> > 1600x1050 display (WSXGA+). You can go higher, like 1900x1280 (WUXGA),
I
> > think, but I didn't see the need.
> >
> 1600x1050 on the LCD would be lovely - I'm used to 1600x1200 on a 19"
> monitor at home, I just love having all that real estate, especially when
it
> comes to audio editing.
>
> > Also BTW, my Dell is going back. Dell is shipping me out another one
even
> > as I type this. The display on mine is buggered up, and there's some
> errors
> > being displayed on the HD diagnostics. Didn't work properly right out
of
> > the box, but I should have the new one this week.
>
> Now see, that's the other thing... when I was first shopping for a laptop
> (ended up with a ThinkPad 380ED), my buddy tried endlessly to convince me
to
> buy a Compaq like his... "Uh, yeah, and where's your Compaq now?" "Uh,
well,
> I had to send it in for repairs again..." AGAIN. That stupid thing was
> back to the factory at least three times, usually for something stupid
like
> the speakers not working. I bought my 380ED, and more recently my R31,
and
> have never had problems with either of them (well, except that lovely
> tendency for the $300 lithium-ion batteries to stop holding a charge after
> barely a year... I have a little Milwaukee screwgun I bought in '91, uses
> 2.4V NiCad batteries - I replaced the first one about four years ago, and
> the second only six months ago. Wonder if I can find a way to wire them
up
> to my laptop?)
>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Thanks for the info, I may give the Dell a sniff (in fairness, my
mail/ftp/web server is an old Dell PowerEdge 2200 that's absolutely solid as
a rock - running an early release of Warp Server for e-Business, the only
thing that's ever brought it down was bad sectors on ancient SCSI drives
causing hardware traps in the filesystem drivers).

"Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:lYpIc.75609$P7.24213@pd7tw3no...
> Yeah, the 1600x1050 should be nice, once I finally get it working.
> That's the part that doesn't work in my current Dell. Can't switch to the
> ATI drivers (monitor goes black when I do), so I can't use the custom
> resolutions. I used a 1400x1050 resolution unit before on a 14" display,
> and that was nice. On the 15.4" wide screen, it should be that much
nicer!
> Plus it can (theoretically) do a multi-monitor if I hook it up to my
desktop
> monitor, which will be that much better for coding!
>
> As far as reliability goes, to be fair to Dell, we've got about 16 Dell
> machines (3 servers, 3 laptops, and 10 workstations) in our office right
> now, and this is the first time I've run into a problem like this right
out
> of the box. And I probably could have got a tech to come out (Next Day,
> On-Site) and jiggle the connector between the display and the graphics
card,
> and swap the HD out for me, but on a brand new unit, I'm not so forgiving.
>
>
> Good luck with your shopping!
>
> Clint
>
> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote in message
> news:QUnIc.75171$WB5.17909@pd7tw2no...
> >
> > "Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
> > news:zHjIc.73953$WB5.60781@pd7tw2no...
> >
> > > What do you need more than one Cardbus slot
> > > for? Just curious. I've only used them for network and modem cards,
> > which
> > > are all built into most laptops nowadays.
> >
> > I did with just the one forever in my R31 as well... then one day I
needed
> > to plug another card in (little Nikon CoolPix 100 PC-Card camera) and
> > discovered that the top half of the slot wasn't actually a working slot.
> > That annoyed me.
> >
> > It's not something I used a lot, but I'd a real pain in the ass to not
> have
> > it when you need it. Same with a serial port: I work with video
> > multiplexors and other video equipment that can be programmed via RS-485
> > interface (like the ol' Cisco DB-9/RJ-45 router cables, accessed through
> > terminal login) and it would be nice to be able to use this feature.
> > USB-to-serial adapters only sometimes, sort-of work for this.
> >
> > > Oh yeah, and my 9100 has a
> > > 1600x1050 display (WSXGA+). You can go higher, like 1900x1280
(WUXGA),
> I
> > > think, but I didn't see the need.
> > >
> > 1600x1050 on the LCD would be lovely - I'm used to 1600x1200 on a 19"
> > monitor at home, I just love having all that real estate, especially
when
> it
> > comes to audio editing.
> >
> > > Also BTW, my Dell is going back. Dell is shipping me out another one
> even
> > > as I type this. The display on mine is buggered up, and there's some
> > errors
> > > being displayed on the HD diagnostics. Didn't work properly right out
> of
> > > the box, but I should have the new one this week.
> >
> > Now see, that's the other thing... when I was first shopping for a
laptop
> > (ended up with a ThinkPad 380ED), my buddy tried endlessly to convince
me
> to
> > buy a Compaq like his... "Uh, yeah, and where's your Compaq now?" "Uh,
> well,
> > I had to send it in for repairs again..." AGAIN. That stupid thing was
> > back to the factory at least three times, usually for something stupid
> like
> > the speakers not working. I bought my 380ED, and more recently my R31,
> and
> > have never had problems with either of them (well, except that lovely
> > tendency for the $300 lithium-ion batteries to stop holding a charge
after
> > barely a year... I have a little Milwaukee screwgun I bought in '91,
uses
> > 2.4V NiCad batteries - I replaced the first one about four years ago,
and
> > the second only six months ago. Wonder if I can find a way to wire them
> up
> > to my laptop?)
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Clint wrote:
> The Dell Inspiron 9100 I have has a Trackpoint as well as a touch pad.

IBM's trackpoints are in a class of their own when compared to Dell's
(or Toshiba's). Mr. Ion might in fact be thankful for the extra touchpad
should he decide to get a Dell.



> Can't comment on other brands (or even other Dell models), but you can see
> the HP's/Toshiba's/etc in store, most times.
>
> BTW, keep in mind that the R40 you're talking about has the Centrino
> processor. The Toshiba you're talking about (don't know which model, since
> you didn't specify) sounds like it would have a true P4 desktop processor.
> On my 9100, the battery life is about 90 minutes. And my laptop weighs
> about 10 pounds. Not a really convenient machine for travelling, but as a
> desktop replacement, it works pretty good. But it's not a comparable
> machine to the R40 you mention. It only has the single Cardbus slot, it
> doesn't have the serial port, but it does have a mic-in, USB 2.0, and
> FireWire ports. It also has built-in 10/100 networking, 802.11b/g, and
> SVideo, DVI, and VGA outputs. What do you need more than one Cardbus slot
> for? Just curious. I've only used them for network and modem cards, which
> are all built into most laptops nowadays. Oh yeah, and my 9100 has a
> 1600x1050 display (WSXGA+). You can go higher, like 1900x1280 (WUXGA), I
> think, but I didn't see the need.
>
> Also BTW, my Dell is going back. Dell is shipping me out another one even
> as I type this. The display on mine is buggered up, and there's some errors
> being displayed on the HD diagnostics. Didn't work properly right out of
> the box, but I should have the new one this week.
>
> Clint
>
> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote in message
> news:9pjIc.73934$WB5.54157@pd7tw2no...
>
>>My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement,
>
> and
>
>>it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>>
>>I just can't win.
>>
>>If I'm lucky, my insurance company will give me the whole CDN$2200
>
> original
>
>>cost of my R31 (Celeron 1HGz, 128MB stock RAM + 256 option RAM, 30GB HDD,
>>DVD-ROM). For this if I stick with IBM, for about $CDN1800-$1900, I can
>
> get
>
>>into something like an R40: P4/1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM
>>combo). This is a marginal improvement over a machine two years old,
>
> given
>
>>the standard rate of technology evolution. Worst still, the R-series
>
> still
>
>>have many of the same SKIMPY limitations that drove me nuts with my old
>
> R31:
>
>>only a single CardBus slot, no serial port, no audio line-in, no floppy,
>
> and
>
>>an LCD limited to 1024x768, even when you get into the 15" models.
>>
>>Now on the other hand, for the same price, I can get a Toshiba that will
>>give me a P4/3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo, floppy, AND
>
> 15"
>
>>widescreen 1280x800 display, as well as stereo speakers (not on the
>>ThinkPad), internal mic (not on the ThinkPad), AND an assortment of
>>media-card slots. Other manufacturers have similar specs in that price
>>range. Granted the IBM is an excellent, robust machine; I've owned two
>>ThinkPads and loved them both for their durability, but they seem to
>
> REALLY
>
>>be chintzy on features/power for price.
>>
>>Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
>>WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make
>
> TrackPoints
>
>>(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
>>does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
>>has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
>>product specs.
>>
>>I'm about ready to just blow off the laptop idea and build myself a new
>>screamin' desktop machine and get into a nice top-end Palm Treo or
>
> something
>
>>instead...
>>
>>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:44:21 GMT, "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com>
wrote:

>My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement, and
>it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>
>Now on the other hand, for the same price, I can get a Toshiba that will
>give me a P4/3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo, floppy, AND 15"
>widescreen 1280x800 display, as well as stereo speakers (not on the
>ThinkPad), internal mic (not on the ThinkPad), AND an assortment of
>media-card slots. Other manufacturers have similar specs in that price
>range. Granted the IBM is an excellent, robust machine; I've owned two
>ThinkPads and loved them both for their durability, but they seem to REALLY
>be chintzy on features/power for price.

I replaced a 2-year-old Dell Inspiron with a Toshiba Satellite and
have been very happy. The HD speed alone is a big improvement over my
previous Inspiron, not to mention graphics and sound.
>
>Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
>WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make TrackPoints
>(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
>does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
>has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
>product specs.

I've never seen a Dell Inspiron or Latitude with a trackpoint. I don't
care much for touchpads either, but easily get around the problem by
using a conventional mouse.
>
>I'm about ready to just blow off the laptop idea and build myself a new
>screamin' desktop machine and get into a nice top-end Palm Treo or something
>instead...
>
Well, you can always get more power for less money if you go desktop.
Depends on how important a small desk "footprint" or the ability to
travel with the machine is to you.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: ibm.ibmpc.thinkpad,alt.comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

In article <9hp7f09ktce9j79g3vt9sann00bmkpcdd2@4ax.com>, Cyrus Afzali wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:44:21 GMT, "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com>
> wrote:
>
>>My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement, and
>>it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>>
>>
>>Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
>>WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make TrackPoints
>>(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
>>does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
>>has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
>>product specs.
>
> I've never seen a Dell Inspiron or Latitude with a trackpoint. I don't
> care much for touchpads either, but easily get around the problem by
> using a conventional mouse.

The HP NC6000 Business Notebook has both: synaptics touchpad and synaptics
touchstyk. I can highly recommend this laptop, but there are surely other
HP business notebooks with the same touchpad/touchstyk setup.

--
charl p. botha http/cpbotha.net/ http/visualisation.tudelft.nl/

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Charl P. Botha wrote:
> In article <9hp7f09ktce9j79g3vt9sann00bmkpcdd2@4ax.com>, Cyrus Afzali wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:44:21 GMT, "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement, and
>>>it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
>>>
>>>
>>>Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT DEAL
>>>WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make TrackPoints
>>>(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone else
>>>does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell still
>>>has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
>>>product specs.
>>
>>I've never seen a Dell Inspiron or Latitude with a trackpoint. I don't
>>care much for touchpads either, but easily get around the problem by
>>using a conventional mouse.
>
>
> The HP NC6000 Business Notebook has both: synaptics touchpad and synaptics
> touchstyk. I can highly recommend this laptop, but there are surely other
> HP business notebooks with the same touchpad/touchstyk setup.
>

The Thinkpad T4x series, the Compaq Evo N6xx series and other laptops
have them both as well.

Cosmin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Charl P. Botha" <cpbotha@i_triple_e.org> wrote in message
news:cd0pk2$gad$1@news.tudelft.nl...
> In article <9hp7f09ktce9j79g3vt9sann00bmkpcdd2@4ax.com>, Cyrus Afzali
wrote:
> > On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 22:44:21 GMT, "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement,
and
> >>it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
> >>
> >>
> >>Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT
DEAL
> >>WITH touchpads.... and IBM are the only people that seem to make
TrackPoints
> >>(aka eraser-mouse, kitten-nose, clit-mouse, etc.) anymore. If anyone
else
> >>does, they sure don't advertise the fact. One salesman told me Dell
still
> >>has'em, but their Canadian site is wonderfully devoid of any detailed
> >>product specs.
> >
> > I've never seen a Dell Inspiron or Latitude with a trackpoint. I don't
> > care much for touchpads either, but easily get around the problem by
> > using a conventional mouse.
>
> The HP NC6000 Business Notebook has both: synaptics touchpad and synaptics
> touchstyk. I can highly recommend this laptop, but there are surely other
> HP business notebooks with the same touchpad/touchstyk setup.

Thanks, I'll look into that as well.

I'm not nearly as concerned with performance as I am with just
needing/wanting certain features.

Frankly, at this point, I'm leaning more toward dropping my insurance money
onto a Treo 600 (ACT! for PalmOS covers most of what I was doing for
business on the laptop, which was tracking my work time on ACT! 6.0, which I
also have on my desktop), and my wet-dream toy, a Canon Digital Rebel

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

In article <lB5Jc.15008$ek5.4411@pd7tw2no>, Matt Ion wrote:
>
> "Charl P. Botha" <cpbotha@i_triple_e.org> wrote in message
> news:cd0pk2$gad$1@news.tudelft.nl...

>> The HP NC6000 Business Notebook has both: synaptics touchpad and synaptics
>> touchstyk. I can highly recommend this laptop, but there are surely other
>> HP business notebooks with the same touchpad/touchstyk setup.
>
> Thanks, I'll look into that as well.
>
> I'm not nearly as concerned with performance as I am with just
> needing/wanting certain features.
>
> Frankly, at this point, I'm leaning more toward dropping my insurance money
> onto a Treo 600 (ACT! for PalmOS covers most of what I was doing for
> business on the laptop, which was tracking my work time on ACT! 6.0, which I
> also have on my desktop), and my wet-dream toy, a Canon Digital Rebel

A bit OT, but the word is out that the Nikon D70 is currently a better buy
- also sub-$1000 digital SLR, like the Rebel.

See: http/www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond70/

--
charl p. botha http/cpbotha.net/ http/visualisation.tudelft.nl/

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Matt Ion wrote:
> My ThinkPad R31 was recently stolen, so I'm shopping for a replacement,
and
> it's driving me f'ing nuts. Just needed to vent a little bit...
> Now the only catch: I ABSOLUTELY HATE HATE HATE DESPISE LOATHE CANNOT
> DEAL WITH touchpads....

I know how you feel about touchpads but have you actually tried to use one
for a reasonable amount of time?

I bought an HP/Compaq laptop nearly a year ago and was at the point of
shouting in capitals too because I just couldn't get on with the pad. I
will still always use a mouse in preference when I have enough desk space
but I've actually come to like the touchpad for its convenience when on the
move (or even sitting up in bed with a cup of tea and a Visual Basic
manual!) Also there are no twiddly bits to break or lose like some of the
other solutions.

If you've already given the pad a fair trial and still don't like it then
keep on shouting but try to remember how hard it was to double click a mouse
the first time you tried to use one (or was it just me?).

David