After searching for 3 weeks for a new notebook (including building over a dozen machines on Dell.com), I've found absolutely the best deal currently going. That is the . I've been using this laptop hardcore for almost two weeks now, and absolutely love it. I purchased it for $1050 ($1200 before mail in rebate) from Best Buy.
Here are the specs:
15.4" 1280x800 widescreen display
AMD 2400 processor (1.8 ghz)
512 MB RAM
40 GB HDD
Integrated 802.11g
Integrated ethernet 10/100 Base-T and modem
DVD-R + CD-RW burner combo
Firewire
ATI Radeon chipset w/S-Video out and true dual monitor support
Windows XP Home
Microsoft Works
6.5 pounds
This thing looks and runs great. The display is fantastic. Mine doesn't have a single stuck or dead pixel (of which both my previous Dells had, one that was a $3000 laptop). Now that I've gone to a widescreen display I don't think I can ever go back. The extra real estate is really useful for software development. I get around 3 hours of battery life with typical usage. Continuous gaming or DVD playback lasts around 2 hours. This machine encodes movies more than 4 times faster than my PIII 500 MHZ desktop.
So anyway, if you want $2000 dollars worth of laptop for $1050 then check out one of these eMachines.
BTW, this is their first laptop. Tecnically the m5305 was their first, but this model just adds a slightly faster processor and integrated WiFi. Since they are new to this market I believe they are trying to undercut everyone else to gain some respect and attention.
Dan East
