My first laptop? - Page 2

BoWevil_abx · 07-05-2004, 06:00 AM

If battery life is not a big issue, check out this Averatec model. It even has a DVD burner. Great price for all the features.

*Fraoch* · 07-06-2004, 02:23 PM

Hmm!

ABX member Krash pointed me to a local manufacturer of laptops, Eurocom. Their budget laptops are quite competitive with the Averatec but they use Celerons and when you add all the options that are included with the Averatec you end up several hundred dollars more than the Averatec entry-level models.

However I'm worried the Averatec's puny 12.1" screen will be hard to watch...the Eurocom models are all 14" and larger.

In particular, Eurocom's Centrino models are considerably cheaper than anything Future Shop has. Besides the battery life and built-in wireless, I also hear Centrinos are quite fast.

Anyone hear anything positive/negative about Eurocom?

I wonder if I could get a deal if I show up at their plant in person?

Heck, they're less than 15 minutes from where I am right now!

Lucas_Maximus · 07-07-2004, 10:43 PM

a 1.7 centrino is something like in performance to a 2.4 pentium 4, due to having 1mb of L2? cache, i think.

rizd999 · 07-09-2004, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas_Maximus

a 1.7 centrino is something like in performance to a 2.4 pentium 4, due to having 1mb of L2? cache, i think.

Actually, even a 1.6GHz Pentium M (Banias chip) has the performance of a 2.4 GHz Pentium-4M and it is due to their higher IPC (Instructions Per Clock cycle) than the Pentium 4M and optimized branch prediction.

The newer Pentium Ms (Dothan chips) at 1.7GHz-2.0GHz actually performs more like the Pentium 4M 2.8 and as high as the 3 GHz Pentium 4M. They also have a 2Mb L2 cache, not that their performance is significant due to that alone. But at that performance (and efficiency/size), don't expect anything less than a $2500 pricetag.

BTW, I still say to keep away from the Celeron.

*Fraoch* · 07-17-2004, 12:47 AM

Found a review of the Averatec AV3220H here.

It's kinda strange. Through most of the review they compliment it. But when it comes to the benchmarks, they pan it and their conclusion is negative but kind of wishy-washy. (It's Tom's Hardware, what ya gonna do?

)

They classify the Averatec as an "ultra portable", which is the reasoning behind the 12.1" screen, but also the reason behind its incredibly tiny thickness of about 1" and its very low weight.

The Eurocom models I've been looking at are very nice, particularly the Centrino ones, but I've found that the base models are really lacking in features. Many come with no wireless, no optical drive (!) and no OS. By the time you tack this "optional" stuff on, the price really soars.

Yes I'm staying away from Celerons...

I'm impressed that the Averatec's Mobile Athlon XP 2000+ is actually a Barton. That really puts it up in my estimation. A Barton-cored Athlon XP can beat a Celeron anyday.

Oh and the Averatec has come on sale at Future Shop no less than 3 times since I started this thread.

07-05-2004, 06:00 AM	#16
BoWevil_abx Non-expert Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Traveling full time Posts: 1,857	If battery life is not a big issue, check out this Averatec model. It even has a DVD burner. Great price for all the features.
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07-06-2004, 02:23 PM	#17
Fraoch Resident ABX Wizard Join Date: May 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 8,814	Hmm! ABX member Krash pointed me to a local manufacturer of laptops, Eurocom. Their budget laptops are quite competitive with the Averatec but they use Celerons and when you add all the options that are included with the Averatec you end up several hundred dollars more than the Averatec entry-level models. However I'm worried the Averatec's puny 12.1" screen will be hard to watch...the Eurocom models are all 14" and larger. In particular, Eurocom's Centrino models are considerably cheaper than anything Future Shop has. Besides the battery life and built-in wireless, I also hear Centrinos are quite fast. Anyone hear anything positive/negative about Eurocom? I wonder if I could get a deal if I show up at their plant in person? Heck, they're less than 15 minutes from where I am right now!
(Offline)

07-07-2004, 10:43 PM	#18
Lucas_Maximus Self Terminated Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,311	a 1.7 centrino is something like in performance to a 2.4 pentium 4, due to having 1mb of L2? cache, i think.
(Offline)

07-17-2004, 12:47 AM	#20
Fraoch Resident ABX Wizard Join Date: May 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 8,814	Found a review of the Averatec AV3220H here. It's kinda strange. Through most of the review they compliment it. But when it comes to the benchmarks, they pan it and their conclusion is negative but kind of wishy-washy. (It's Tom's Hardware, what ya gonna do? ) They classify the Averatec as an "ultra portable", which is the reasoning behind the 12.1" screen, but also the reason behind its incredibly tiny thickness of about 1" and its very low weight. The Eurocom models I've been looking at are very nice, particularly the Centrino ones, but I've found that the base models are really lacking in features. Many come with no wireless, no optical drive (!) and no OS. By the time you tack this "optional" stuff on, the price really soars. Yes I'm staying away from Celerons... I'm impressed that the Averatec's Mobile Athlon XP 2000+ is actually a Barton. That really puts it up in my estimation. A Barton-cored Athlon XP can beat a Celeron anyday. Oh and the Averatec has come on sale at Future Shop no less than 3 times since I started this thread.
(Offline)

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