Looking to buy a Laptop. ZT Systems any good?

[CCT]

Review of that comp 'kit'.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=142447

I would say get a 7200 rpm drive for it if gaming.

[eedmond]

Review of that comp 'kit'.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=142447

I would say get a 7200 rpm drive for it if gaming.

Ya, that review is what gave me the idea of trying to build my own.

I'm guessing you're just hell bent on not going the suggested route. If you're that insterested in not taking advice go for it. From my 10 years of experience I haven't heard anyone say anything good about these build your own laptop kits. Might as well just look on E-bay if you're going for a deal.

Sorry but paying the premium that Alienware wants for a laptop is not my idea of smart. Plus the video card in their cheapest model isn't quite what I am looking for (7600 Go). And Asus is a quality brand. I used to for the longest time ONLY buy Asus MB's for all my desktops that I built. I would take the Asus name brand over Alienware anyday.

[eedmond]

Ok, I decided that building my laptop was just too expensive. I thought originally it would allow me some upgrade ability but since it is limited to 1066 FSB cpu's and the top 1066 FSB CPU is a E6700 and I would be buying a E6600 that is virtually no upgrade later.

What I am gonna buy is going to cost $1540 with a $425 off coupon bringing it to $1114 total which is within my budget considering I got to buy some other misc. items (carrying bag, bluetooth mouse, etc...). I was also going to buy originally like a 3-4 year warranty but after getting all the warranties on there it added up to a easy additional $400. So instead I am dropping the warranty (because I think it is gonna be useless anyway) and instead getting more ram, faster cpu and some additional add ons.

This looks like what I am gonna be buying later tonight from Dell:
Inspiron 1520
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache) CT750HN [222-9009]
Operating System (Office software not included)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition VHP3E
System Color Jet Black BLK [313-5395]
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz 2G2D [311-7215]
LCD Panel
High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1440x900) 15XGAL [320-5461]
Video Card
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT 256AC [320-5639]
Hard Drive
Speed: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) 120GB72 [341-5556]
Network Card and Modem
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem INTNIC [430-0493]
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1 ADOBER [420-7468]
Combo or DVD+RW Drive
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive) 8XDVDRW [313-5197][420-6464]
Sound Card
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™HD Software Edition ISBADV [313-5014]
Wireless Networking Cards
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card TM1390 [430-2307]
Camera Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam DCAMERA [320-5691][412-0968]
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed)
No Productivity software pre-installed MSONO [412-1397]
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed)
No Security Subscription (30-day trial) VNSNT [412-0940]
Battery Options
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell) 6BAT [312-0525]
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options
1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service ST111RR [950-3337][950-9057][960-2780][983-3090][987-5437]
Dial-Up Internet Access
No ISP requested NISPFSS [461-3063]
Miscellaneous
Inspiron 1520 I152001 [466-7698]
Bluetooth and Wireless USB
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR) TM355I [430-2348]
Doms Camera Module
Jet Black color w/ 2.0M pixel Camera DBLKWC [320-5806]
Processor Branding
Intel® Core™2 Duo Label IC2DNB [310-8319]
Labels Windows Vista™ Premium VPN [310-8628]
DataSafe Online Backup Free 3 GB Online Backup for 1Yr

If you see any GLARING problems or know of a better coupon, better deal for this level of computer let me know ASAP.

[brightwindow]

I had no experience with the ZT Systems , and either my friends.I think that if you want to get a laptop around $1000 for gaming , you can have a look at this Compaq Presario v6444us 15.4-inch Widescreen :
2GHz Intel Core Duo Processor T2450
15.4-inch WXGA TFT Display
2GB DDR2-SDRAM memory
120GB SATA-150 hard drive
Integrated Wireless
Windows XP Professional
I noticed that right now it is on sale for $800 :
http://www.**********.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=65382
I think that's quite a reasonable price for the laptop ,quite a good choice , but maybe need something better , just a suggestion anyway hope it helps.

[bluesky]

Maybe he need somthing better , he seems got a good budget .

[Matridom]

If your looking for a powerfull laptop that is easy on the shoulder, you may want to look at the XPS 1330 series, it can run the gforce 8400 series video card. The 13 LCD makes is a very portable and small laptop.

If your looking for a slightly larger screen, the 1530 is rumored to be released soon, looks like a 1330 with a larger screen at 15 inchs ( http://www.lesdelliens.com/ )

The only downside is the price tag, they are expensive systems.

In regards to notebooks and warranties, Speaking from experience, don't skimp out on the warranty at all, get a warranty that covers the time frame of your expected usage. If you plan to replace it in 2 years, get a 2 year warranty, etc. Make sure you get the accidental damage coverage from wherever you buy, it's invaluable.

[NooNoo]

Warranties... oh definitely. At day 367 you are left with a nice doorstop if you don't have a full warranty. Getting parts out of warranty is difficult and often you are reliant on ebay. To put the expense in perspective

cost of laptop divided by number of years warranty...
Example
$1000+$400 insurance/warranty for 4 years = $350 a year

$1000 laptop 1 year's standard warranty=$1000 a year... and all you need to do is drop it or spill something once.

Yes I know, it's a risk, you will look after it, it will never have a drink near it, no children nearby, if you take it in the car it will never get stolen... and if the battery catches fire? or the mainboard has a manufacture defect which only shows after a couple of years?

Frankly, if you want a new laptop every year, then don't get the warranty. If you want to ensure that your laptop lasts 3-5 years, get the warranty.

[CCT]

I have never owned a laptop BUT I would want a 'transferable' warranty so if I wanted to upgrade and sell it I could ask a better price (and thus recoup my extended warranty cost).

[Oblivious.monkey]

there are several companies in the us producing sli gaming laptops at very good prices that blow most alienware and other big brands out of the water for bang to the buck
so just choose carfully the thing with the support is prity irelivant as the laptops already mentioned utilise the same mainboards there arent that many boards out there in the laptop market you would be supprissed how many so called cheaper brands use identicle boards as toshiba ect so drivers are easy to find even for obscure makes try windowpc they have some great laptops there that utilise the mainboards used in so called better brands.
ps do not drop the warranty buy a 2 year minimum get the misc items after when you can