I don't usually recommend HP, or used, laptops, BUT.
If Peggy's insistent on a laptop, and one that can handle CoX, might I suggest the HP zd8000 series if you can find one in good condition? They're a
couple years old now, but that's what I just landed (for only $500), and it's my gaming rig. It handles CoX without a hitch. Battery life is poor at
best, but it's meant as a 'desktop replacement' laptop, which means it was designed to be plugged in most of the time anyway. I figure, as long as
I get a year or two out of it it'll be worth the investment, as my current rig couldn't handle CoX any more (started crashing again, dagnabbit).
Quick stats:
* XP pro
* Intel Pentium 4 640 w/HT Technology, 3.2GHz
* 17" WSXGA+ blah de blah screen, 1680 x 1050 resolution
* 2 GB DDR2, 120GB HD, 8x DVDRW, etc
* FULL KEYBOARD WITH NUMERIC KEYPAD -- this is a big win for me
* 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X600 -- I get warnings about drivers being out of date (and HP seems to have stopped updating them), but it hasn't been a
problem at all yet for any game I've tried
* built in bluetooth, wifi, etc... usual stuff
Anyway, point is, if you're looking to save a buck or three, used might be a way to go, if you can find one that works. This one came to me by way of a
former coworker who upgraded to something else, but he was planning on listing it for $500 on eBay, and a quick search turns up several in that same price
range (under $1000).
(This is meant more as a "here's a model that works for CoX" rather than a "you should buy THIS brand instead!" thing, if that makes
sense. I normally avoid HP like the plague, but this one's been incredible for me.)
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs
If Peggy's insistent on a laptop, and one that can handle CoX, might I suggest the HP zd8000 series if you can find one in good condition? They're a
couple years old now, but that's what I just landed (for only $500), and it's my gaming rig. It handles CoX without a hitch. Battery life is poor at
best, but it's meant as a 'desktop replacement' laptop, which means it was designed to be plugged in most of the time anyway. I figure, as long as
I get a year or two out of it it'll be worth the investment, as my current rig couldn't handle CoX any more (started crashing again, dagnabbit).
Quick stats:
* XP pro
* Intel Pentium 4 640 w/HT Technology, 3.2GHz
* 17" WSXGA+ blah de blah screen, 1680 x 1050 resolution
* 2 GB DDR2, 120GB HD, 8x DVDRW, etc
* FULL KEYBOARD WITH NUMERIC KEYPAD -- this is a big win for me
* 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X600 -- I get warnings about drivers being out of date (and HP seems to have stopped updating them), but it hasn't been a
problem at all yet for any game I've tried
* built in bluetooth, wifi, etc... usual stuff
Anyway, point is, if you're looking to save a buck or three, used might be a way to go, if you can find one that works. This one came to me by way of a
former coworker who upgraded to something else, but he was planning on listing it for $500 on eBay, and a quick search turns up several in that same price
range (under $1000).
(This is meant more as a "here's a model that works for CoX" rather than a "you should buy THIS brand instead!" thing, if that makes
sense. I normally avoid HP like the plague, but this one's been incredible for me.)
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs