danny25

I'm shopping around for laptops and so far I think this is the best deal i've found. It's a Compaq 1500 for $1674:

2.00 GHz P4
30 GB hard drive
8x DVD/ CD-RW 24x/10x/24x combo drive
256 RAM upgradable to 1 GB

One reason I like this one is that for the same processor in a Gateway, it's like $600 more. I looked at Dells too, but they were all more expensive. Are Compaqs good quality computers?

Another question I had is about the RAM. It has 256 266MHz DDR SDRAM (2 DIMMs). I can go with 1 DIMM for $50 more. 512 with 2 DIMMs is $200 more, and 512 with 1 DIMM is $400 more. But I don't have any idea what that DIMM stuff is. Any help?
Thanks-

Scrib

My vote is for one of these:



Click me

UNIX core... Fast as shit... Ultra thin... 15" screen... DVD burner as an option...


:wackit:

danny25

I hate Apples. Don't know how to use them.

Scrib

You have much to learn, my child. :P

Ashburner

Sounds like a great deal on the Compaq. I would just keep the 256 MB Ram in the two Dimms... It should be plenty for now and if you need to upgrade down the road, you can always keep one of the Dimms and junk one. For $50 extra, that is about the price of 128MB.

-Ash

Ashburner

BTW, Compaq, HP, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Micron, etc... all buy their parts in mass quantity from basically the same distributors. You can get quality in all of them or a lemon in all of them. Compaq has a good name.

-Ash

danny25

Thanks for the replies, I think I understand the DIMM thing. If it's 256 & 2 DIMMs then it's two 128 sticks, and if it's 256 & 1 DIMM then it's just one stick of 256, with another DIMM left empty. Does that sound right?

DreamU

Looks like a good deal. Yeah, you got the memory figured out. Basically, you are paying $50 extra bucks in case you want to add more memory later you'll have an empty slot. 256 is plenty unless you are some kind of power user. I added 512 to one notebook and found I never used that much memory so only put 256 in my machine at work and its plenty.