Help Choosing a Laptop

I am looking for a somewhat mobile laptop. With great graphics and A centrino CPU.
Right Now my desision has come down to 3 different laptops;

The IBM Thinkpad T42p
ThinkPad T42p (IBM Think Express Program)
60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive 09N4278
iLogistix Series 'O' Label Pack MS Office
IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter
256MB PC2700 CL2.5 DDR SDRAM SODIMM
512MB PC2700 CL2.5 DDR SDRAM SODIMM
ThinkPad T40/R50 Series High Capacity Li-Ion Battery
IBM Integrated 56K V.92 designed modem 7
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003
ThinkPad Multi-Burner Ultrabay Slim Drive - CTO Odyssey


Warranty service upgrade; 4 year onsite repair
ThinkPad Mini-Dock W82QMDE
ThinkPad Nylon Case with system purchase W9SP207

Total:$3924.04


Dell Insipron 8600

Inspiron 8600 Intel® Pentium® M Processor 755 (2.0GHz),15.4in WUXGA LP20PHK [221-5658] 1
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional WPXP [420-3231][313-2174][313-2208][412-0408] 11
Memory 1GB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms 1024M2D [311-3188] 3
Video Card 128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY® RADEON™ 9600 PROTURBO ATI128M [320-2902] 6
Hard Drive 60GB Hard Drive at 7200RPM 60G7200 [340-9766] 8
Power Adapter AC adapter -90w, 19.5v 90W [312-0177] 9
CD ROM/DVD ROM 4x CD/DVD burner (DVD+RW/+R) including Sonic RecordNow and MyDVD LE 4XDVDRW [313-2194][430-0685] 16
Wireless Networking Cards Dell® Wireless 1450 Internal Wireless (802.11a/b/g, 54Mbps) TM1450I [430-0925] 19
Cables and Accessories Multimedia Cable Kit MMCBL [310-1670] 20
Productivity Software Microsoft ™ Office ® 2003 Student & Teacher Academic RW RA03ST [410-0242] 22
Security Software McAfee Security Center w/ VirusScan, Firewall and Privacy, 90-day trial MCAFE90 [412-0636] 25
Digital Music Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH MMBASE [412-0516] 26
Primary Battery 72 WHr Primary Battery ADDBATT [312-0066] 27
Carrying Case Dell Nylon Carrying Case DNCC [310-3397] 28
Limited Warranty, Services and Support 4 Year Limited Warranty plus 4 Year At-Home Service S4OS [950-1000][900-5453][950-7447][412-0360] 29
CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service No Warranty Complete Care NWCCADP [970-1017] 33
Internet Access Options 6 Months EarthLink Internet Access Included ERTHLNK [412-0584][412-0625][420-3224] 37
Digital Imaging Software Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Trial, Photo Album Starter Edition DPS [412-0521] 38
Port Replicator Home Bundle: Advanced Port Replicator,D/View Stand,Mouse and Keyboard DHOME [310-2912][310-3766][462-0748][310-4074] 45
Operating System Enhancements Combo: Microsoft® Plus! for Windows XP and Digital Media Edition DMEPLUS [412-0664] 65
Total COst: $3573

Dell Precision M60
Dell Precision Mobile Workstation M60: Pentium® M Processor 755 (2.00GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache) 15.4 WUXGA Display
M6U20 - [ 221-5445 ]
Memory: 512MB, DDR SDRAM Memory (1 DIMM)
512M1 - [ 311-2171 ]
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® Quadro FX Go1000™ graphics w/128MB DDR Video Mem
FX1000 - [ 320-3354 ]
Boot Hard Drives: 60GB ATA-100 IDE (7200 rpm)
60I72 - [ 340-9357 ]
Floppy Drive: No Floppy Drive
NFD - [ 340-8870 ]
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, SP1 with Media and NTFS
WXP1 - [ 420-3186 ]
Modem: Internal 56K Modem
INTM - [ 313-1428 ]
Modular Bay Devices: 4X DVD+RW/+R
DVDRW4 - [ 313-2052 ]
Wireless Local Area Networking Options: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card
IPW22 - [ 430-0912 ]
Systems Management: Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation
OMCI7 - [ 420-3904 ]
Battery: 9-Cell Primary Battery
9CELLP - [ 312-0064 ]
Hardware Support Services: 3Yr Parts + Onsite Labor (Next Business Day)
U3OS - [ 950-6550 ] [ 950-6552 ]
Installation Services: No Installation
NOINSTL - [ 900-9987 ]
File System: NTFS File System Override for W2K (SP3)
NTFS - [ 420-0153 ]
Docking Solution: Port Replicator
DPORT - [ 310-3983 ]
Docking Solution: Notebook Stand
NBKSTD - [ 310-3985 ]

Total Cost $3987


Ok Now I like the widescreens on the Dells but i hear they have a bad build quality. I like how the inspirion is cheaper but the IBM is more thin and weighs less. WHich would you guys choose? I need opinions to help influence my decision. Thank you.

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Good gracious. I can't even comment on the comparative values of those machines because I can't even imagine thinking of spending that much on a Dell (well, lappy in general!)
Sorry, my eyes still haven't really recovered from the sticker shock.


I'll say one thing, you're really looking at the latest and greatest tech here. If I were you I'd go with the IBM just because of build quality and the shock protection on the hard drive.

 

Do the dells have bad build qualities? How portable and sturdy is the case on the 8600 series?

 

I have no idea why anyone would want to spend that much money on a dell. In my opinion, dell is only for people willing to spend below $2000. In your price range you should aim for a botique gaming notebook like hypersonic. As for the build quality of the i8600, i've heard that it could be better, and with your price range you can probably get a laptop with and magnesium alloy case instead of cheap plastic. Don't limit yourself to the "as seen on tv" companies, with the money you're willing to spend you have many options.

 

Get the IBM, they are of much better quality in all aspects. The IBMs are and feel like they built like a tank, the Dells have a real flimsy feel to them. for instance, the IBMs you can pick them up by the corner of the flat panel display. Try this with a dell and you will probably brak the display off.

Jack

 

The only real downside to the IBM is it does not have widescreen. Is widecreen that much nicer cause that is wut has interested me in dells?

 

How does the Fire GL T2 graphics chipset perform in games?

 

Please don't cross post. I moved the other topic to the general hardware forum.

http://www.notebookreview.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2062

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