Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

SoCal_BigFoot · 11:07 AM

ZD5$P0NS954P16 will give you $750 off any notebook today.
Some features available (when will they be available with OS X?):
- gorgeous wide display with unbelievable resolution of 1920x1200
(1680x1050 for less hard-core oriented)
- 256MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY� RADEON� 9800 AGP 8X
- 8x DVD burner
- 100GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
- 132 WHr 16-cell Battery
- Pentium� 4 Processor 3.40GHz w/ HT Tech Extreme Edition - 800MHz
Front-side bus, 1MB Level2 cache
- or Pentium� M Processor 755(2GHz/400MHz FSB)

It stinks, runs Windowz, it's thick and looks like a Russian toy, but...
Check out those features. You can get a system like that for ~$2000.
It's getting out of control. What the @#$% is going on with Apple!
I need that screen with that ATI card and some descent speed
to run graphic intense applications. More waiting? How much more.
iPod is cool, but we need a great line of Powerbooks. If Apple wants
to sell music, just let us know - "we stopped developing computers,
we are know concentrating on developing 6 new iPods, some....
with color displays!"

sorry for a vent, but those kinds of deals are really pushing me to forget
how much I hate Windowz. Talking to myself - "it's just Photoshop, looks
almost the same..."

pjmurphy · Oct 19, 2004, 11:13 AM

I feel your pain! I was on a windows laptop all last week for a work project and I was reminded how much I despise XP.. BUT.. the speed was incredible, the screen was bright and crisp..

I hate being tempted because I love my PB 17" but it looked like a dull dog next to this windows machine...

Voch · Oct 19, 2004, 11:34 AM

The P4 2.66Ghz Dell notebook I'm using right now (I'm at work) feels like a slug compared to my TiBook but I think we have too much goop installed on it (two databases, e-mail server, etc.). I'm not that impressed.

Voch

cambro · Oct 19, 2004, 04:10 PM

Yea, I had to use a Dell laptop the other day to do GIS stuff (this is a real hole in OS X applications).

I wasn't impressed. Damn thing locked up twice and really wasn't all that snappy compared to my two year old Ghz TiBook.

Oh, and to the original poster, I would hardly call that computer portable! Apple could make a cheaply assembled gargantuan of a laptop with tricked out specs, but they have little reason to. I agree that Apple needs to keep pushing the performance of their portables, but not at the expense of form and utility as a portable. But then again, this is just my opinion...

plasticmoz · Oct 19, 2004, 04:12 PM

You guys can whine all you want, but you can beat those deals. For around $800 odd for the 700m you get a much better display and plenty of similar features.

I myself own a Rev C. 12" but you cannot deny the value for money here. Especially with those gorgeous widescreen displays that Dell have going.

adambooth · Oct 19, 2004, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by cambro:
Yea, I had to use a Dell laptop the other day to do GIS stuff (this is a real hole in OS X applications).

Agreed. Is there any remote solution to GIS on OS X? As far as I know there isn't. By the way, what are you using GIS for? I use it everyday at work. I'm an engineer for the city, and it comes in really handy.

Good to see another GIS user out there!

iPoder · Oct 19, 2004, 04:59 PM

It does not seem to apply to all notebooks.

I configured an Inspiron 700m and tried to apply the coupon. It wouldn't take it.

It might apply to XPS only.

plasticmoz · Oct 19, 2004, 05:52 PM

That's because you are too late. The deal has been pulled on 700m and 8600/9100 laptops as of 3PM CST due to overwhelming demand. Plenty of people here where I work got 700m's to go through with the coupon this morning.

gbafan · Oct 20, 2004, 12:52 PM

There is a new coupon for the 600m and 700m laptops:

Dell Small Business has $450 off the Online purchase of the Inspiron 600m or 700m notebooks with code: 896X78QQN1SBLF Exp 10/20 11:59pm CT or after 1500 redemptions. Free shipping, tax is charged.

Inspiron 600m 4.9lb Centrino Notebook Pentium-M 715 1.5Ghz 2MB Cache, 14in Screen, 256MB/30GB, DVD, Intel 802.11b card, 1yr warranty - $1299 - $450 off code: 896X78QQN1SBLF = $849 shipped free.

Select Middle config, Free Intel 2200 802.11g card.

Inspiron 700m 4.1lb light, 1.5in thin Centrino Notebook Pentium-M 725 1.6Ghz 2MB Cache, 12.1in WideXGA Screen, 256MB/30GB, DVD drive, Intel 802.11b card, Word Perfect, 6 months ISP, XP Home SP2 $1449 - $450 off code: 896X78QQN1SBLF = $999 shipped free.

Select left config, Free Intel 2200 802.11g card.

buffalolee · Oct 20, 2004, 12:55 PM

With my Powerbook, everything just works and they work really well. That's how I like it.

iPoder · Oct 20, 2004, 01:09 PM

I have to tell ya: the deals are all pretty tempting. I am an implusive buyer, so it takes a whole lot for me to resist this.

But right now, I would rather save my money on a new color screen iPod (my third one if it comes true) than another Windows machine.

gbafan · Oct 20, 2004, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by iPoder:
I have to tell ya: the deals are all pretty tempting. I am an implusive buyer, so it takes a whole lot for me to resist this.

But right now, I would rather save my money on a new color screen iPod (my third one if it comes true) than another Windows machine.

Man I hear you on the implusive buying... been resisting this since the first deal yesterday morning. $800 for a top of line laptop? I passed that up? AM I CRAZY?!?!

The 600/700m aren't that great actually... at least in the video card department which is what I'm most interested in: Mobile Gaming.

Any thoughts?

plasticmoz · Oct 20, 2004, 01:21 PM

That is one thing us 12" Rev C owners have over the 700/600m - a pretty decent graphics card. The 700m only has shared video memory, so I'm pretty happy with my portable. However, let me tell you first hand the 12.1" widescreen display is amazing. Only major weakness I see with the Apple notebooks at present.

Valarauko · 10:44 PM

Order Details
Inspiron 700m, Intel Pentium MProcessor 725 (1.6GHz), 12.1 in WXGA
512MB,DDR,333MHz,2 Dimm, Inspiron 700m
30GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 700m
Dell Resource CD with Application Backup,W/Tool for Inspiron 700m
Inspiron Tools CD
Generic Inspiron Dell Support
Image Restore
Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2, English, for Inspiron
Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
Integrated NIC for Inspiron
Internal 56k Modem
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, for Inspiron
24X Combo DVD/CD-RW for Inspiron 700m
CyberLink PowerDVD v5.1, Decoding Sofware for DVD Drives,for Inspiron
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 (802.11b/g) Internal Wireless
No Security Subscription, Norton
Dell Jukebox powered by Music Match
32 WHr 4-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
AOL 9.0 PUB
Dell/My Way Home Page
Dell Photo Album Standard
Microsoft Enclyclopedia,2004 for Inspiron
WordPerfect Productivity Pack 12, English, for Inspiron
No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
1 Year Limited Warranty
Type 12- Mail-In Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
Soft Contracts - DHS Home Sales
Technical Support, Initial Year
Money 2004 Standard Version for Inspiron
Dell Media Experience,v2.1, for Inspiron
$49 SHIPPING MAIL-IN REBATE 51110. Redeem within 30 days of ship at dell4me.com/rebatesreimburses shipping cost
Sub-Total $703.00
Shipping $49.00
Tax $0.00
Total Price $752.00

$752 - $49 MIR = $703 = Can't resist.
This will make a good thanksgiving gift for my mom, wether she'll replace her ThinkPad T23 for this still unknown.

Edit: I have yet to apply my 5-10% student discount, will call them later

iPoder · Oct 21, 2004, 01:29 AM

Valarauko: pretty damn good deal on your new purchase.

Though 700m's GPU is not great, the Pentium M is a very good CPU. It is all the matter of what you plan to use it for.

Well, I already have two notebooks (PB 15" 1.25 GHz and Athlon 64 3000+), not to mention a few desktops I have. If I keep buying new stuffs, I can open a computer shop in no time.

Valarauko · Oct 21, 2004, 03:02 AM

Originally posted by iPoder:
Valarauko: pretty damn good deal on your new purchase.

Though 700m's GPU is not great, the Pentium M is a very good CPU. It is all the matter of what you plan to use it for.

Well, I already have two notebooks (PB 15" 1.25 GHz and Athlon 64 3000+), not to mention a few desktops I have. If I keep buying new stuffs, I can open a computer shop in no time.

I feel ya..
PB, iBook, T40, and a PC desktop here + that on the way 700M.

iPoder · Oct 21, 2004, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Valarauko:
I feel ya..
PB, iBook, T40, and a PC desktop here + that on the way 700M.

We need an implusive buying syndrome (IBS) support group here !!

Anyway, good collection of toys there!

JKT · Oct 21, 2004, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by adambooth:
Agreed. Is there any remote solution to GIS on OS X? As far as I know there isn't. By the way, what are you using GIS for? I use it everyday at work. I'm an engineer for the city, and it comes in really handy.

Good to see another GIS user out there!

No idea how well it works and I think it needs X11 to run, but try GRASS GIS