Averatec Laptops

Don't do it. Avaratec laptops are often severely discounted at the big retailers - the kind of thing that you can find for discounted price + instant rebate + mail in rebate.

I believe you'll find the difference in durability and reliability is not worth the cost savings. You can get a very capable Lenovo for about $1200; I couldn't imagine how much you'd need to save to make the Avaratec a reasonable alternative - maybe 1/2 off.

That said, I want to give a warning about current Lenovo notebooks. I ordered, one, but sent it back last Friday. The new models (T61, X61, R61) are having issues. I've been frequenting the notebookreview.com web page, and we've more or less narrowed it down to problems with turbo memory, Windows Vista, Lenovo loaded drivers & protection software and running on the battery. Check out the forum there if you want more details, but the bottom line is that the new models lock up and blue-screen, and Lenovo doesn't really have a solution right now.

If you do go with a Lenovo, get Windows XP Pro and do not select turbo memory. You shouldn't have any problems with that.

Thanks for the advice, Peli.

I agree, but I can't believe the crap about the Lenovos! Glad to know that XP Pro (which I am getting) isn't the culprit. But I think I was planning on doing the turbo memory, but I won't now. I really don't do anything very demanding with my machines, so it's not worth it.

thanks again
AAu

I got the T61 with XP pro. I am very happy with it so far. The turbo memory won't be an option with XP pro. I believe only the vista kernel (ooops..operating system) can take advantage it.

I am going with one of the X models. I want skinny.

There won't be a tracking pad or an optical drive. You will need to use a mouse or a thumbstick...just a heads up.

I like the nubby. Prefer it, in fact. All hale the nubby!

I'm not sure about the lack of optical, though. I guess an external wouldn't be the end of the world, but I dunno. I hate this.

I got the X60 a while back and have warmed up to the nubby. *hale to the nubby*

I did get the docking station with an optical drive just in case though.

Xeo -

Did you consider getting the other optical drive? Slimline something or another....I wasn't sure from the specs if it was an internal or external drive. It's cheaper than the docking station, but of course, it's not a docking station!

I didn't. The docking station was a good solution because it is.. well, a docking station. I wanted that so that I could hook it up to a bigger monitor when at home. Plus it wasn't that pricey when I got it.

How much did you pay for the docking station? Does it come with a multi-burner?

Honestly don't remember, but it was in the range of $2-300 and yes it came with a multi-burner. You have a choice on what kind of optical drive you want in there though.

When I looked, it was closer to $200. It actually wasn't much of a savings over the slimline optical drive - that was about $170.

Update - my IT guy found a motorcycle he had to have and really wanted to unload the laptop, so he sold it to me for $725. Included cooler and carrying case, plus the upgrades he'd done and Office 2003 & XP Pro CDs.

So far, so good. It's not quite as light as the X60 would have been, but it doesn't get at all hot and runs very quietly.

Now we'll just have to wait and see if it craps out on me.