[mdlug] [(DIS)RECOMMENDATIONS] used/new laptop

[Morris, Tim]

I love my Dell D810... 
* Nice keyboard/touchpad layout (or I'm used to it :)
* Good battery lif (2.5 hours with a new battery)
* Plays World of Warcraft very well (even windowed!)
!! Dells do seem a bit cheaper on some components. IBMs last longer.
!! Battery is proprietary (aren't all laptop batteries?)
!! PSU actually has an ID signal, telling the D810 if it's a supported
model. If it's not, it will NOT charge the battery.   	Found that out
the hard way with my UN-supported 12v adapter.
* I believe it has S-Video/Composite & S/PDIF out using a dongle.
* USB 2.0
* Serial port
!! No PS/2 ports (except on dock)
!! No parallel port. (except on dock)
* DVI-D port on dock (not on laptop)

That probably doesn't help you, but at least you know NOT to buy one if
those features are really important to you!

I also like my IBM A31p, but it's not with me at the moment so I can't
tell you what ports it has/doesn't have. I do know it is NOT usb 2.0
however.

I have a slew of other Dell <400MHz laptops also, but you don't want any
of those... Trust me.

--  Tim Morris - UGS

-----Original Message-----
From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On Behalf
Of Robert Meier
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 10:26 PM
To: mdlug at mdlug.org
Subject: [mdlug] [(DIS)RECOMMENDATIONS] used/new laptop

Portables,

My Dell Latitude laptop broke this weekend.
The 3mm square posts and hinge that attached the display to the console
broke at the screw holes.
Though I will attempt to chemically reweld the posts, I am not confident
of success.

I am looking for (dis)recommendations for a used (or new) laptop.

My principle uses include (most-frequent -> least frequent):
   o portable development environment (e.g. text editting)
   o portable training environment (e.g. java sandbox, flight simulator)
   o presentations (via local web server)
   o portable data entry (e.g. PS/2 barcode scanning)
   o sound recording
   o household appliance programming/control

At this time, my priniciple desired features include (most to least
important):
   o long battery life (> 2hr)
     o inexpensive (non-proprietary) battery type
   o coaxial power supply plug (to use cheap power supplies at common
sites)
     o ideally 12V for car use
   o robust
   o many output options (e.g. SVGA, TV)
   o mid to hi-fi sound input/output
   o support for wireless (either builtin or cardbus)
   o parallel port/serial port (preferably builtin)
   o usb-2.0

Any suggestions for manufacturers/models and/or features to seek or
avoid are appreciated.

TIA,
--
Dr. Robert J. Meier
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