[geeks] Best laptop for $3K max

[Francois Dion]

This is more geek than rescue, although there's an interesting laptop
discussion over there.

Anyway, I've been looking at a few laptops. I thought I wanted a
precision M6300 but it's a bit too big. The M4300 seems more what I'm
looking for. Actually the XPS would have been good too, but the M1330
just has a pathetic resolution and M1730 is too big. Too bad they dont
make an M1530.

So anyway, I'm looking at the M4300. just a tad less than $3000 MSRP:

Intel(R) Core 2 Duo T7800 (2.60GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 800MHz) Dual Core
Genuine Windows(R) XP Professional, SP2 with Media
NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M, 512MB Turbo Cache memory (256 dedicated)
15.4 IN WIDE WUXGA Anti-Glare LCD Panel
4.0GB, DDR2-667MHz SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
120GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM
24X CD-RW/DVD w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD
Dell Wireless(R) 360 Bluetooth Module for Windows XP
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card
Standard Touchpad
Resource CD - Contains Diagnostics and Drivers for Windows XP
My Accessories
9 Cell Primary Battery
90W A/C Adapter, Energy Star Compliant
Internal English Keyboard

What I want
Graphics requirements:
-I need Nvidia Quadro FX
-I want 1920x1200 but willing to go 1600x1200 if I can get a smaller laptop

CPU: T7800 good, T7900 best

Memory: 4GB ddr2-667 minimum

Physical:
I dont want a 10lbs monster
I dont want larger than 15.4. Current Dell Latitude D600 is perfect in
term of size.
9 cell battery

15" MacBook Pro
I looked at MacBook Pro, but with 4GB, even with 15" 1440x900, slower
cpu and slower hard disk, it is way > $3000. At any rate, on 15" I
expect 1920x1200 or worst case 1600x1200, but 1440x900 that's even
lower than my 3 years old 14" laptop. So, no macbook pro.

Alienware Area-51(R) m5550
was a shoe in ($2569 w/4GHz, fastest processor, 1920x1200, nvidia)
until I realised I couldn't get any faster than a 2.33GHz T7600. Argh.
And I still had $400 to go, could have been a contender.

ASUS G1S 15" is borderline on resolution (nevermind, it doesn't even
do 1600x1200, it does1680x1050) but T7500 cpu. I'm really wanting
T7900 but T7800 will do if it means I am south of $3K.

Any other ideas? Needs to run Solaris, but nowadays they pretty much all do.

Francois