Looking for an XP Laptop

Looking for a good deal, as usual. Gave my daughter my Visa Toshiba laptop and now I need a replacement. Been looking at page after page of laptops on ebay till my head is spinning.

I need a P4, 1GB of ram, 15" screen or a 17", XP or XP Pro, it would be nice if it had a built in wireless network adapter. I need this primarily to play music for my musical act. This isn't very demanding on the processor and it isn't graphics intensive.

I suppose I could use one of those small PC's, but then I would have to lug around my LCD monitor, a laptop would be more convenient, just flip it open and go. I'm trying to keep this under $600, under $500 would be better, under $400 I would be ecstatic.

try tigerdirect.com

also, try Geeks.com

Dell has 1520 Inspiron with XP...$649.00

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/winxp_inspnnb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

I was going to recommend Dell too. When I was price shopping for my new laptop, I noticed Dell was the most expensive of all. Comparative systems were priced around $100 less from other manufactures like HP and Acer.

You're going to pay a premium for XP. Believe it or not you're paying more for old technology :eek: . Every thing I looked at with XP pre-installed was more expensive than the same thing with Vista preinstalled.

It may be more cost effective to by something with Vista off the shelf and buy an OEM copy of XP for ~$90 (New Egg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056) or Tiger Direct (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2552182&CatId=672))then do a format and install. Just make sure you do your research for drivers. For instance with my new computer everything worked under XP except my DVD burner, which was a clincher for me. I wound up going back to Vista.

If you do decide to go the route of buying XP aftermarket do so soon as sales of XP will stop in June and make sure you make a master backup copy of Vista in case you ever want to upgrade back to Vista.

Just as a side note, I have a feeling we're fighting a loosing battle by buying systems with XP installed. Vista is the latest and greatest soon or later support is going to be dropped for XP from Microsoft like they did a couple years back with support for the Win 9x branch (95, 98, & ME)

New Egg just recently had a deal on laptops... checkout www.newegg.com

I've found that their service and delivery speed is way better than tigerdirect and in most cases their pricing has been the same or better to.

New Egg just recently had a deal on laptops... checkout www.newegg.com

I've found that their service and delivery speed is way better than tigerdirect and in most cases their pricing has been the same or better to.

+1 for New Egg. I order stuff from them all the time. Delivery is very fast. The have a warehouse in NJ and TX. Most of the stuff I order comes from NJ and I get the next day. :)

If you buy the Inspiron 1525 with Vista, you know XP will work as the 1520 is identical.......

Another "secret" ...we run all Dell at work and get the Dell OEM windows disc...those supposedly work on any Dell machine. No activation required.....

Dude, you're gettin' a Dell... LOL

If you can do an AMD chip instead of the Intel...
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=bqdwi1e&cs=04&dgvcode=ss&c=US&l=EN&m_8=80S&dgc=BF&cid=7420&lid=197374

$429 Plus Tax..

Groovielou

I just happen to be selling one on eBay...the auction ends Sunday night.

It will probably go for around $400...probably somewhere between 400 and 425.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Inspiron-6000-Notebook-Laptop-1-6-GHZ-DVD-RW-Used_W0QQitemZ320230310552

Wiz,

If you've absolutely gotta have it right quick, work the phone and see if any of your local puter shops still have 'em in stock. The folks here are correct ~ keep cost and machine capabilities in mind before you buy.

Wow, thanks for all the ideas and recommendations. I accept the fact that Vista is here to stay, but for right now I need something NOW that I can use at my gigs. I'll be performing at a VFW April 5th and I'd rather walk in with a laptop than with a desktop and a separate screen.

Eventually I'll just give the laptop away when Vista has has service pack I and everything is nice and stable and all is well in windoze land. What I need right now is a stopgap. Something to get me through the next year. After that I'll get something a lot better.

I'm happy with all the rest of my equipment, all I need is a sub and I'm all set for a while. Now I'm gonna start checking all of the places you guys suggested and see what I come up with.

Check out ebay. Item number is 120236148927
Not too many laptops are better.

Check out ebay. Item number is 120236148927
Not too many laptops are better.

Pay $550.00 for a used laptop with a 60 gig drive, when you get new, with better specs and XP Pro for the same price (or a bit more)?

Umm Steve he said check it out. He didnt strong arm the Wiz. Easy Killer!!

Thatmusicguy has a good point though Jon. As I've been searching I've noticed that used laptops sell for nearly what new ones with better specs sell for(sometimes ridiculous prices). This is hard to understand. Some peope think that they're geeting a good deal because it's used or refurbished, but the good deals on those type of machines seems to be few and far between. Lot's of good deals to be had on new machines, but they come with VISTA, that's the problem.

The link that goovielou posted looks like a very good deal for me to get me by temporarily. Having already spend what my wife considers to be a considerable amount of money on audio equipment I need to finalize my gear acqusition and start putting on shows/bringing in money. As soon as that happens the temporary lack of funds will be over. I hate to scrimp and scrape, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I've talked to lots of local performers and they all get excellent referrals for weddings, private parties and corporate functions when people in the audience see them perform. I'm not going to get rich, but money won't be a problem once I get going. Even in a recession there is still a need for entertainment, there are still anniversary parties and 50th birthday parties and weddings and corporate functions etc.

That was my point, albeit..perhaps not so clear. Why pay $500 for a used unit with likely no warranty, that you have no idea how it's been treated, when for peanuts more, you get new with better technology and warranty...
I find used units on ebay are way overpriced....used should be no more than 50% of new.....

FWIW that deal Lou pointed out is a great deal........

When we had our yard sale last summer, I sold some audio and computer gear pretty cheap.

In talking with the buyers, I found out that most were eBay power sellers. They go around and buy junk old stuff at yard sales, clean it up a bit, then sell it for a premium on eBay, to unwitting "born every minutes".

We were listening to music on one of my old lappys -- Dell with 1.8 P4 mobile, 1 GB RAM, and 40 GB drive. He offered $50 for it (it was not for sale). Said he could get an easy $450-500 off it :sqerr:

Shop around, and find a new one for that price... ;)

Pay $550.00 for a used laptop with a 60 gig drive, when you get new, with better specs and XP Pro for the same price (or a bit more)?

Yes, it is much better deal than a new one.
Why used Toyota cost more than a new Ford? All comes down to quality.
I say that used Fujitsu will outlast any new laptop in the same price range.
Why? Their motherboard, cooling and case quality is superior to any Dell, HP, Toshiba, Acer, etc.

Yes, it is much better deal than a new one.
Why used Toyota cost more than a new Ford? All comes down to quality.
I say that used Fujitsu will outlast any new laptop in the same price range.
Why? Their motherboard, cooling and case quality is superior to any Dell, HP, Toshiba, Acer, etc.

That may ALL be true, but most people wouldn't even think about that. If I was buying it, my first impression is $350.

He, he, I never go with my first impression. It may look good outside but inside...well I won't go there...:sqwink:
And 350.00 it waaaay to much in some parts of Canada...

When we had our yard sale last summer, I sold some audio and computer gear pretty cheap.

In talking with the buyers, I found out that most were eBay power sellers. They go around and buy junk old stuff at yard sales, clean it up a bit, then sell it for a premium on eBay, to unwitting "born every minutes".

We were listening to music on one of my old lappys -- Dell with 1.8 P4 mobile, 1 GB RAM, and 40 GB drive. He offered $50 for it (it was not for sale). Said he could get an easy $450-500 off it :sqerr:

Shop around, and find a new one for that price... ;)

Speaking of stuff like that, sorry to temporarily jack your thread Wizard but I gotta ask..What's with these idiots that buy stuff from ebay? They always, always think they're getting a great deal when in fact a lot of times they aren't.

Mom's friend bought a laptop off eBay for $700. Nothing special Pentium mobile processor with 512 RAM. For that money she could've gotten a killer laptop with a little price shopping like I just purchased. I don't get the mentality that because it's a person to person sale it must be a great deal. :dontknow:

In fact for a short while I considered buying trinkets at the dollar store and auctioning them off on eBay for 10 times the money but I don't have the heart to screw people over like that.

You must call Blue Hippo now!:sqlaugh:

its ok what I do
I get all mine for Free :)

Well, my new Dell Inspiron 17" laptop came today and I'm really pleased, it looks sharp and feels really solid. It isn't an XP machine, but I'm hoping for the best, VISTA Home Premium. It's an Intel Core 2 Duo, 1.66mhz, 667mhz FSB, 2GB RAM, 160 GB HD, 128MB nvidia 8400 graphics, xga+ screen(looks great, nice and bright-clear-no glossy finish like WXGA), really long lasting battery(over 2 hours), wireless g and more stuff I can't remember right now.

Only a couple of programs are going on this machine and it's going to be used for playing my performance tracks, Karaoke hosting and for DJing, that's it. I'm either going to use autokdj/winamp or Virtual DJ Studio, I haven't totally decided yet. I think I'm done with PCDJ, I just don't want to mess with it or chance any problems.

I spent a couple of hours installing all the windows updates including SP1 and everything seems fine so far. I got rid of google toolbar and anything else I don't need, want or that might slow things down.

Oz, what did that run?

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1260431

512 mb mem, but with cdw, you can add memory, they will install it for you, $499.00

with wireless protocal installed

It was a Dell Refurb. I took a chance and got lucky I guess. It came in pristine, brand new condition. Not a smudge, scratch or imperfection of any kind. I was told when I ordered over the phone that many of the "refurbs" are machines that were ordered, built and then canceled so they never went out the door. I didn't believe the guy at the time, I thought he was just another typical BS artist. It may be that it was true.

It was $620 +$20 shipping + tax, came to $688 delivered. The best deal on a new 17" was at Office Depot, a Toshiba for $799 after rebate + tax which would be around $860. It had an Athlon, I wanted an Intel this time around, the Toshiba had a 200GB drive, mine has 160GB, both machines have 2GB RAM. I think the Toshiba has a web cam which I didn't consider a priority. I think it had the Intel integrated graphics, mine has a 128MB nvidia 8400 which I was told is better. I've seen Toshibas with 17" screens, refurbs, with Athlons going for $699 with good features on BUY.com. I look at a website called deals2buy.com all the time. If you can wait and don't mind looking you can find some great deals. I wanted the laptop before my Saturday gig so I pulled the trigger Thursday late afternoon, it got here today mid day.

If you want a 15.4 Toshiba you can get one just about every week on sale for $499 after rebate+tax at Office Depot, brand new, walk out with it, no waiting and no shipping. They seem to have a better selection than Best Buy, Staples or circuit City and they seem to have the darn things in stock.

One more thing. The 17" laptop is huge. Lots of screen real estate. Good for dimly lit venues like Karaoke bars or at weddings. I think I could have gotten by with a 15.4" screen, I think it would have been just fine. Time will tell if I made the right decision and whether I needed the 17" or not. The difference in price seems to be about $150 or so between a 15.4 and a 17. I could see doing away with a desktop and using a 17" laptop all the time. I could also see getting a 24" display for a desktop at home, that would be awesome.

Ok, I've used the laptop for several hours. I adjusted everything to the way I want it. Everything is updated.

I can say that I'm extremely pleased and satisfied overall.

The screen in particular is very good. It's clear and bright, the color is vivid, the grain is crisp. So far I'm loving the size of the display too and I increased the font size setting in Firefox so these old eyes are lovin' it.

I don't know how reliable it will be or how the performance will be as I add things to the HD, but at this point Dell gets a thumbs up from me. I'd have to say I like it better than the Toshiba that I gave to my daughter.