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Thread ID: 50421 2004-10-20 04:58:00 Buying a laptop asdex (1488) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
282916 2004-10-20 04:58:00 Hi, I am going to buy a laptop on Trade Me and are hoping for some advice on a good model. I want to spend around $400 and its to be used for Word 2000 and needs a USB port. It also needs to be light say under 3kg. Its replacing a Compaq LTE 5250 because the battery is now dead. The new one needs a good battery. Anyone have some suggestions on brand/model.
Thanks
asdex (1488)
282917 2004-10-20 05:05:00 asdex

There might be inf that folk dont want to chuck around in bdl.

pressf1.pcworld.co.nz

D.
drb1 (4492)
282918 2004-10-20 06:02:00 Hi, I think you will struggle to find a laptop in your price range with a good battery - laptop batteries usually go after 2-3 years (by "go" I mean that they can't hold their charge for any length of time) and for $400 you'll be looking at a laptop that is at least 3 years old. Plus the battery can be very expensive to replace ..... but that's just my opinion.
Andrew.
andrew93 (249)
282919 2004-10-20 06:30:00 A laptop "under 3 kg" suggests a high end model of its day.
Budget laptops are heavy.
Lightness costs a lot of money.

Added to a budget of $400, it presents a unique challenge .... without even considering it must have a "good battery".

Have recently disposed of a Toshiba budget model, with mediocre battery (shorter life, due to age).
600 Mhz celeron, Windows ME. Good tidy condition.
Weight over 3 kG, plus power brick would make it around 4 kG.
Retail value second hand was around $650.
godfather (25)
282920 2004-10-20 08:30:00 After reading that thread, I have no idea what its about. My email is asdex@operamail.com if you need that.
asdex
asdex (1488)
282921 2004-10-20 08:55:00 I was thinking of something like these:
www.trademe.co.nz
www.trademe.co.nz
www.trademe.co.nz
www.trademe.co.nz
Thanks,
asdex
asdex (1488)
282922 2004-10-20 09:14:00 Oops the numbers seem to have developed spaces in them when I tested the links.
17449722
17462386
17155170 this one has finished but was under $500 also
asdex (1488)
282923 2004-10-20 10:00:00 I was not trying to sell you a laptop, just telling you what I recently sold one for.
Sorry I thought that was plain when I said "Have recently disposed of "

The laptops in your link will not be likely to be "under 3 kg" as they are all older, and were budget models when new. Thats the only unrealistic expectation.

They would run Word (earlier versions) OK. None is faster than 366 MHz, some are 200 or so. Not that much of a step up from your old 120 MHz. Have you considered a battery rebuild for the old one? Some companies specialise it it, might be a reasonable price?

A couple of them seem to have no operating system, so add that cost if you don't presently have a licence free (but some did have a COA, you need to provide the Windows 98 disk) and buy something like that.
godfather (25)
282924 2004-10-20 20:20:00 > I was not trying to sell you a laptop, just telling
> you what I recently sold one for.
> Sorry I thought that was plain when I said "Have
> recently disposed of "

It appears that asdex's reply was directed to drb1 for posting the link to the "Odd people wanting help" thread rather than to yourself.
tommy (2826)
282925 2004-10-20 23:31:00 Yes that is correct. I was repling to drb1. I only chose laptops with "buy now" prices so it limited my choice but from past history I'm sure I can get a laptop to my specifications. It doesn't have to be faster, just a good battery, and USB. To repack the battery for the LTE will cost $100.00 more than I paid for the laptop. (I have checked).
So, any recommendations for reliablity, ruggedness and features?
Thanks.
asdex (1488)
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