Finding/Buying a new Laptop

[Blahages]

Okay, I've been looking for a new laptop. I went out to some stores the other day, and I decided I'm going to get an AMD Athlon 64 3400+. But, the only problem is, I can't find a qualifying laptop for the price I'm willing to pay. While I was at Best Buy, I found an empty counter space, with a tag saying Gateway AMD 64 3400+ (Model 7422GX) with a DVDRW, 80GB hdd, 1024meg of ram, ATI Radeon 9550 Video card, 15.4 in WXGA, etc. All for $1399, which isn't too bad. It's a little high on what I can afford right now, but I can make up a few hundred in the next few weeks.

Anyway, it was just the tag. They were sold out. And, I don't think they were planning to get any more in. So, I checked the Gateway site. And, I found the laptop. Same price. But, it didn't have anywhere for you to click buy. I asked their online sales chat person, and they said that they don't sell AMD Laptops directly to customers, which makes absolutely no sense to me. They said all they sell are intels, and that any amds would be only sent to retail stores. That doesn't help me. I can't find one store which has it, and believe me I've tried. I looked all day yesterday and most the day today. The only thing I could find, is one of the same models which is being sold on some classifieds site, which looks like the owner isn't responding, and one on eBay, which has 9 days left, and looks like it will surpass 1400$. Every other place I've looked says it's either discontinued, or none of their suppliers have any in stock. It's like they just vanished.

I looked at a few others, but it's hard to find a AMD 64 laptop for very cheap, with all those specs. I found one similar, an HP which had some lesser features, which I didn't like, for about a hundred less. I don't really want that though. Half the ram, worse video card, etc. Not good.

Well, just a few minutes ago, I found an eMachine laptop which is basically the same thing as the gateway. It even looks the same (probably because they are the same basic company). But, 1 it's an emachine, which I don't know if I want, and two, it has half the ram. Same price, though. I've heard a lot about eMachine laptops having breaking hinge covers. I'd prefer not having any part of it break.

I don't know if I could get them to add an extra 512 meg of ram for free, since the gateway has the same specs, besides more ram, and same price.

But, I would really love to find that Gateway 7422GX or 7422GZ, either are the same thing, for sale. Any one have any ideas where I could find one? I've searched everywhere I could think of.

Otherwise, anyone have any comments about the eMachine (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/pc/B0002LGP9W/002-2420627-9792009)
or a suggestion for a laptop? I want something with the specs I have above, for either the same price or less. I can't afford anything more.

The link for the gateway is here if anyone wants to look: http://www.gateway.com/home/products/ret/ret_7422gx.shtml

Thanks.

[<-Dying_to_Live->]

dont get the emachines. i had an emachine computer once and it was teh shit.

[nwshc]

Well, you could go on to Bizrate.com and type in the model and stuff and it will come up with the cheapest price. But to the part where they dont sell AMDs to consumers directly, thats a little strange.

[Blahages]

dont get the emachines. i had an emachine computer once and it was teh shit.

What was your emachine? Was it one of those old Celeron that were like 1.5ghz or less? If so, I understand what you're talking about. Was it a desktop? I know eMachines has greatly improved their quality of computers. My dad has a Desktop Emachine Athlon XP 3000+, and it's great. I used to have a eMachine Celeron 566Mhz, and it was crap. They've definitely improved, which is the only reason I would even consider it.

Well, you could go on to Bizrate.com and type in the model and stuff and it will come up with the cheapest price. But to the part where they dont sell AMDs to consumers directly, thats a little strange.

I know, it is a little strange. That's what they said, though. I'll definitely call their phone number before I decide on something else. Because, I don't believe that. I might be able to get Best Buy or a similar store to order me one. I don't see why they wouldnt. Especially when they were getting them up until like a week ago.

I just checked that site, and unfortunately, they dont have the laptop I want. Just like every other site. Didn't have any good other ones either.

[<-Dying_to_Live->]

OH, ya the emachines comp i was talking about had 900 mhz and it was celeron :O lol ya it was bad, ive never tried a new one though so i didnt know they improved

[nwshc]

If eMachine Did give AMDs directly to the consumer, i bet they would make a lot more money.

[Kiros]

only if customers would buy more... otherwise they would lose profit

[Blahages]

OH, ya the emachines comp i was talking about had 900 mhz and it was celeron :O lol ya it was bad, ive never tried a new one though so i didnt know they improved

Yeah, they've definitely improved. My dad's computer is as follows:

eMachine T3092
AMD Athlon XP 3000+
1.0GB DDR RAM (came with 512)
160GB HDD (and a 60GB)
Integrated Nvidia GeForce (I forget the model, but it's 64 or 128 meg shared)
Windows XP Home
9-in-1 Media Readers
DVDRW and a Reg CDROM
Builtin Network Card (and a Dlink 11mbps wireless)

All of the things not listed in parenthases came with the computer. And, he bought it like half a year ago for $599. Not too bad. And, it works great. It's never slowed down. It even plays games good. Anything He's used, it's worked. Granted, he's not a power user, but it's held up really nicely.

The only thing I can complain about, is the cpu fan has always had a slightly loud noise to it, but it's not bad. The Nvidia video is good too, it does as good as my ATI Radeon 9200, for the most part. It's actually pretty good for being integrated. Much better then a computer he used to have with an intel integrated 64 meg video card.

only if customers would buy more... otherwise they would lose profit

It would seem smarter, though, to offer it to both. I mean, it would be nice If I could call Gateway right now and order any model of computer they made. It just makes sense. And, it wouldn't hurt their profits. They'd make more. How would they lose? They don't have to change any thing besides allowing customers to buy them. They don't have to advertise, if they dont want to spend money on it, and they don't have to do anything else. They just have to say they'll sell any person the same computer they would sell to a retailler.



As for the laptop, I've decided what I'm doing. I found the model I was looking for, and I'm trying to get it. But, if I can't, I'm going for an eMachine on TigerDirect.com with all the same specs besides a little less ram.

[Anonymous]

I have an emachines. It's functioning quite alright. It's hp I have the problem with. The don't make their products to last. I have a digi camera that needs a rubber band on to keep in the bateries, and a laptop that the screen was damaged beyond repair from it being tapped.