Any opinions on this laptop?

[sylvar]

The specs look good enough to me, but I don't know anything about modern CPUs.

http://bfads.net/HP-154-Pavilion-Laptop-w-AMD-Athlon-64-X2-DualCore-at-Circuit-City

$549.99 AFTER $150 MIR
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-53, 2GB memory, 160GB hard drive, wireless b/g, DVDRW, Webcam, Vista Home Premium.

What do you think, sirs?

Comments

[zanna-voodoo.livejournal.com]

My laptop is very similar -- an AMD dual core chip, mine is the TL-56 (slightly lower power consumption, slightly faster processor speed), and it's a Toshiba. I don't love HP products, but that is a good processor and good price, and I would go for it.

Don't count on downgrading to XP, tho, because on a new machine like this you won't find enough drivers for it. G just bought a new laptop and has been fighting the drivers battle for two weeks. If you can live with Vista, just keep it for now. It hasn't bothered me all that much.

As for memory, the 2 GB will serve. But upgrading memory is not very difficult or terribly expensive with laptops anymore. It used to be a major pain, but it isn't now. They are now standard laptop memory sticks and most cases have easy access. It's easier than popping into a desktop these days. I upgraded the memory for my laptop when I bought it and it was a total breeze.

Welcome to the AMD world, my friend! >:) You'll be overclocking in no time!


Please not Circuit City though! This model is available practically everywhere. And after CC did that mass firing of their hourly employees a few months ago, so they could hire cheaper people instead... I encourage a more worker-friendly vendor. :(

[sylvar.livejournal.com]

If you can find it for around $550, please let me know. I've seen comparable machines for $700 at other stores, and I'm not in a position to give an extra $150 to a slightly less evil megacorp.

I've never been to Fry's; is it worth a trip?

[zanna-voodoo.livejournal.com]

Fry's has good sales with rebates, but not every day on every item. Worth checking online before going. Same with MicroCenter (which won't have anything useful on their website).