Well-built Dothan laptops?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I am looking to spend somewhere between $1500 and $1700 on a Centrino
laptop, and I have a nice one lined up with a local white-box place,
but it's not Dothan (they don't have any Dothan laptops yet, since the
base systems they were using don't suppport it). I looked at Dell's
Inspiron 600m, but I'm putting Linux on it and, even given the higher
cost at this white-box place, the discount from not having to buy
Windows more than makes up the cost.

Does anyone know of a laptop company that makes a nicely built (I am a
little rough with my stuff and I don't want a flimsy laptop!) Dothan
laptop, that doesn't require you to purchase Windows or get your
computer preloaded with every application they feel like bundling
(Message to Dell: I DON'T want your branded version of MusicMatch!!!),
and that preferably offers some kind of accidental damage coverage in
the warranty (probably as an extra fee)?

Chances are, I'm buying from this local place, but I just want to take
a last-minute look at my other options in case there is some company I
have overlooked. In my research I have looked at Gateway (not enough
flexibility in customizing systems, and a little expensive); HP/Compaq
(too many models to choose from, and a little flimsy, and their web
site is flaky, so it's hard to find stuff out); Acer (among several
other companies--a gazillion models and no comparison chart... I'm not
that bored that I have the time to open every page on their site);
Toshiba (not enough flexibility); Fujitsu (actually a worthy
competitor...); and some random white-box place in Puget Sound which is
way too expensive for me.

Thanks for the help,

Tom

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Two places to check
www.hypersonic-pc.com. Just got one in a CX-5 from them and love it. In your
price range you'd have to go pretty bare bones though - 5400rpm hd instead
of 7200, but you could always upgrade that. In fact you could save $90, get
it with banias, and upgrade it to dothan later (check with them on that
though).
www.powernotebooks.com - the powerpro m5:6 is their version of the
hypersonic cx-5. both are based off of the compal cl56 chassis.
Richard
"Thomas" <thinkinginbinary@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ccng8e$cml@odbk17.prod.google.com...
> I am looking to spend somewhere between $1500 and $1700 on a Centrino
> laptop, and I have a nice one lined up with a local white-box place,
> but it's not Dothan (they don't have any Dothan laptops yet, since the
> base systems they were using don't suppport it). I looked at Dell's
> Inspiron 600m, but I'm putting Linux on it and, even given the higher
> cost at this white-box place, the discount from not having to buy
> Windows more than makes up the cost.
>
> Does anyone know of a laptop company that makes a nicely built (I am a
> little rough with my stuff and I don't want a flimsy laptop!) Dothan
> laptop, that doesn't require you to purchase Windows or get your
> computer preloaded with every application they feel like bundling
> (Message to Dell: I DON'T want your branded version of MusicMatch!!!),
> and that preferably offers some kind of accidental damage coverage in
> the warranty (probably as an extra fee)?
>
> Chances are, I'm buying from this local place, but I just want to take
> a last-minute look at my other options in case there is some company I
> have overlooked. In my research I have looked at Gateway (not enough
> flexibility in customizing systems, and a little expensive); HP/Compaq
> (too many models to choose from, and a little flimsy, and their web
> site is flaky, so it's hard to find stuff out); Acer (among several
> other companies--a gazillion models and no comparison chart... I'm not
> that bored that I have the time to open every page on their site);
> Toshiba (not enough flexibility); Fujitsu (actually a worthy
> competitor...); and some random white-box place in Puget Sound which is
> way too expensive for me.
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> Tom
>