Late Night PC

Step 2: Research
After deciding that it's impossible to get the notebook computer you want - yes, my old mobile computer was a laptop, my new one will be a notebook. Notebook sounds so much more chic, I think, but I always reserved it as the term for the portable computer that was the next step up from mine. Maybe that says something deep about my psychology, but the next one will definitely be a notebook computer since my old one got way too hot to keep on my lap.

So as I was saying, after the realization that you'll have to settle for a notebook computer that's actaully physically possible to manufacture, the next step is doing research on what different computer companies offer in the way of a notebook. Trying to avoid being too brand-conscious, I've decided to compare the offerings of all the relevent competitors. To be relevent, the manufacturer must 1) have a reasonable range of computer models and 2) come to mind when I make the list off the top of my head. I've decided to consider IBM, Compaq, Toshiba, Gateway, Dell and Acer. Now the first round of trimming the list through insight and unfounded opinion. IBM ThinkPads have a great reputation, but I read recently they've sold their PC business off, so who knows if they still deserve the reputation. Besides, I had a ThinkPad at work years ago and I thought it was clunky. I never liked the look of the Toshiba Satellite line. In the past they've had crummy displays and an overall cheap look. Maybe their other models deserve a look. So here are the results of my research for now (at least until I get tired of typing):
Dell
I had a look at the notebooks from Dell and the best I could come up with was the Inspiron 8600. I looked at their preconfigured choices to get an idea of where they're at. Frankly, it looks like a really expensive computer (based on what I've been looking at in stores). Over $1500USD and no wireless ethernet? By the way, that 40GB hard drive is 4200RPM. Maybe there are some features that I'm overlooking because they weren't in my requirements, but I just don't see it.

Compaq
I verified my hunch about the Dell Inspiron by configuring a Compaq Presario R3000T to the same specs. I came up with a price of about $1200USD with 802.11g and a 60GB, 5400RPM hard drive. I was so impressed, that one is currently at the top of my list. I might even buy it online - normally I prefer the instant gratification of taking it home and playing immediately. Since I can't see how to link to the configured notebook, it's a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 (it doesn't say Pentium-M, does this make it a power hog?), has a 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800) , has an ATI Radeon 9000, 512MB RAM, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, and a multiformat flash card reader (which doesn't do compactflash).
I liked this one, but the R3000Z could be configured with an AMD CPU and Nvidia graphics. The nice thing there is that the Nvidia chipset include IEEE1394 (Firewire), it seems.

That's all the biased copy that I can write tonight (don't know why I like Compaq, they've never done a thing for me - but maybe if I keep writing like this they will). If I have the fortitude, I'll ply on with researching offerings from those other companies later.