Looking to buy a Laptop. ZT Systems any good?

**eedmond** · October 22nd, 2007, 01:24 PM

Anybody have any experience with ZT Systems? It looks like they have the best laptops with the best video cards for the cheapest price. Am looking to buy a decent gaming laptop for around $1k. I also DO NOT WANT 17". They are just too big/heavy, would rather lug my desktop with it's 21" CRT around.

The one I am looking at is the 300 series which I believe has the 7600 Go:
http://www.ztshopping.com/Default.as...roductid=19910

The Home systems all have GMA 950 or X3100's or cruddy ATI's. The 7600 GO looks like the best they got with a monitor smaller than 17".

Some others that I am looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220236
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834210003

This one has the card I really want with lots of dedicated ram but it is a stinkin 17".

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834210007

If I absolutely have to I will get a 17" but would rather do my best to avoid it.

What this system is for:
Programming in Visual Studio 2005 or higher
Programming in Torque Engine (3d rendering engine)
Working with Maya (I am a programmer just learning how to use it so not extensively)
Some light MMO gaming (EQ2, LOTRO, COH)

**geeksRus** · October 22nd, 2007, 02:27 PM

i dont know about ZT but i do know that Power Notebooks is an EXCELLENT place to deal with. also Newegg is also terrific.

**CCT** · October 22nd, 2007, 04:17 PM

Check out the Dell Inspiron 1420 special now on - configure it - may be $250 more than you say you want to spend BUT a KNOWN company and assured support I would think.

imho anyway

**markduren2458** · October 22nd, 2007, 07:15 PM

Their ok for everything but gameing...small company, like CCT said, spend a little more and go for someone better known..

**eedmond** · October 22nd, 2007, 08:54 PM

The 1420's have Intel X3100's though.

EDIT: NM it also has the 8400M GS as a option.

**Ferrit** · October 22nd, 2007, 09:42 PM

if you want a dedicated gaming laptop then you may want to check out Alienware
http://www.alienware.com/Configurato...de=SKU-DEFAULT

**eedmond** · October 22nd, 2007, 09:56 PM

Not worth the premium. Upgrade that from that horrible ATI card to the nvidia and the price starts skyrocketing. If I was gonna spend that much I would buy another brand and get a better card like a 8600 GS/GT.

**Niclo Iste** · October 23rd, 2007, 06:26 AM

Speaking as one gamer to another. You're looking for a gaming machine, that means you're looking for quality and performance. Once you go cheap you throw both out the window. So regardless of what you get remember the age old saying of "You get what you paid for". I advise taking the suggestion of looking into alienware products. To better help you understand I'll put it into car terms. When people want to build a race car they look for performance brand name products. They NEVER go for the cheaper stock parts that they can get from the local store. Good luck.

**BOB IROC** · October 23rd, 2007, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Niclo Iste

Speaking as one gamer to another. You're looking for a gaming machine, that means you're looking for quality and performance. Once you go cheap you throw both out the window. So regardless of what you get remember the age old saying of "You get what you paid for". I advise taking the suggestion of looking into alienware products. To better help you understand I'll put it into car terms. When people want to build a race car they look for performance brand name products. They NEVER go for the cheaper stock parts that they can get from the local store. Good luck.

I kind of have to agree. When it comes to PCs I say stick with a reputable company that is established and you know will be able to provide you support. Working on PCs for over 15 years I have found it difficult to get the less known companies for support. I remember a recent repair I did for a customer on a "Store Brand" PC that shall remain nameless that I could not even get support to help me and the customer through a hardware problem. It was under warranty and I gave them an error code from their very own diagnostics program and when the customer wanted to use the onsite warranty they were told they had to ship the PC to the repair center and pay for the cost themselves. They had very little online support for documentation and drivers so it made it difficult for the customer to try and help themselves. At the very least check out their support section of their webpage to make sure it contains thorough information. But I try and tell my customers to stick with the big boys for the most part (Dell, HP, Sony, Apple, Gateway, etc...) and any of their sister companies like Alienware, ACER (now merged with Gateway/eMachine I think). You know that even if their tech support line is not there for everything you can always get better support from the internet community and find parts if you should need them.

just my 2 cents

**Ferrit** · October 23rd, 2007, 08:42 AM

Well said Bob Iroc and Nclo
Who in the heck is ZT Systems anyway?
Never even heard of them and I dont think its cause I don't get out enough.

**markduren2458** · October 23rd, 2007, 10:59 AM

They are a small company out of New Jersey trying to go big. They sell desktops at Staples and I work for Staples and I can not give them away without major arm twisting

**eedmond** · October 23rd, 2007, 11:55 AM

I think I am gonna go with a Dell Inspiron system. Found one that I like. Only problem is it is about $1800 but they do have coupons sometimes up to $750 off so just waiting for Dell to send out that coupon.

**eedmond** · October 23rd, 2007, 11:54 PM

New idea:
Anybody had any experiences with building your own laptop? I thought I might try it because I can get what I want this way.

This is what I am looking at:
Asus C90S $950 (comes with a 8600M GT with 512mb ram):
http://tinyurl.com/33ngol
2GB Crucial DDR2 $100:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=C90
Hitachi 80GB 7200RPM HD $80:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145194
Intel C2D E6750 $195:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115029
Intel A/B/G/N Wireless $45-5(combo with the C90S):
http://tinyurl.com/3aqttg

After shipping, etc... Approx ~1400.

A bit more than I wanted to spend but it has great expandability. Comes with NO OS but I can get one easily.

Built hundreds of desktops but never touched laptops before. From what I have read the C90S is the premium system to use for building your own (at least for 15").

**Niclo Iste** · October 24th, 2007, 06:03 AM

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.

**NooNoo** · October 24th, 2007, 06:19 AM

That was a bit harsh Niclo. While I agree cheap and gamer do not belong in the same sentence, I would also say that the likes of Alienware are overpriced and short on service once the warranty has run out (speaking from experience here).

The route eedmond is suggesting gets him close to his budget with the ability to further upgrade when the budget allows plus the ability to learn about his laptop in great detail.