Is the 2096 a good choice for me?

[matheo]

General Questions

1) What is your budget?

1500$ including shipping + taxes

2) What size notebook would you prefer?
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in.

Canada

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

Not really, I just found that the 2096 looked awesome!

5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?

A lot of student works, office works, play videos, DVD, music and work with photos.

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?

Yes, probably, but the weight is not a big issue for me.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?

Yes, light games. I'm not an hardcore gamer but I like to play sometimes.

8) How many hours of battery life do you need?

2 hours and up

9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?

No, I prefer to buy online.

10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc.

XP

Screen Specifics

11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?

Widescreen

12) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer? (more details below)
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.

13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non glossy screen? (Read below on differences)

Not sure yet.

Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
NO

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?

at least 4 years

Notebook Components

16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 500GB?

around 250 GB

17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?

DVD/CD burner



------------------------------

Do you think the 3 years warranty at 139$ is necessary (or at least a good idea)? Thanks a lot for your advices. I live in Canada. Oh, and is the 2096 ready to be shipped if I decide to buy it in the next days? (I read it would be on sale at the end of july)

[Anewbus]

The Sager NP2096 is a great choice. :)
Here's a configuration suggestion for you:

Sager NP2096 Custom Laptop (Built on the Compal JHL90) PRE ORDER
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.26GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9600M GT DDR2 DX10
- ~ 2,048MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 5400RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 8MB Cache)
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
- Internal Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Carying Case Optional (Select if desired)
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- ~Windows XP Home SP2 with Drivers and Utilities CD
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Tech Support

TOTAL = $1185.34 (USD) with cash discount. (Does NOT include shipping)
($1222.00 without cash discount)

This machine will fullfill your needs and then some. In the configuration suggestion above I added the Hi-Res glossy screen. Yes, you want to go with glossy, it offers better contrast and crisper picture especially if you working with photos and such.
The only other thing I selected as an upgrade in the config above is the Hard Disc. You mentioned you were looking for around 250GB. I selected 320GB 5400rpm because its actually faster than a 200GB 7200rpm HD due to the design of the drive. The 320GB 5400 HD also will run a bit cooler and is a lower drain on battery than a 7200RPM drive.
Lastly of course, I added XP.
I kept everything else standard. The CPU where it is as that will give you plenty of power. I also kept the RAM at 2GB as you said you would be running XP then you won't need 4GB as XP doesn't recognize anything over 3GB anyway. The video card is nice and powerful as well.
Yes, since your in Canada the extra $139 for the 3 year warranty may not be right for you. If you were in the U.S. I would say you should definitely get it.
You still get the same full free 24/7 lifetime support anyway.

The NP2096 won't be availble until end of July as far as I know.
You'll want to go back on the site and click the "XoticPC Info" tab and read up on "Why XoticPC" and Warranty". This will give you some idea of how it all works in regards to ordering and everything, such all the accepted payment forms availble and what have you.

Depending on how you send funds it could take 1 to 2 weeks to clear.
Production could take 7 to 10 business days. (These are custom built machines of great quality with great QC. They are not slapped together, quick out the door, expensive paper-weights).
The machines are tested rigorously which can take a day or two berfore they are shipped to you.
XoticPC has the highest standards in the industry for QC, they let nothing inferior go out the door to a customer.
The customer support of XoticPc is second to none! You get full support pre-sales, mid-sales and post-sales and the support does not end the minute you have your lappy. It goes on and on.
Places like BestBuy stores and such don't offer support at all and carry inferior product. (Big brand name does not always denote quality). Even Dell can not match XoticPc in quality, price, warranty and certainly not support!

Sure, you may have to wait a few more days for your lappy to arrive, but the wait is rewarded with a quality custom built machine and good support. The folks at XoticPC take great care in the machines and it shows. (You can read the reseller comments section to see what customers say about XoticPC. (The comments are not faked, they are from real customers. I should know, I write reviews and know a fake when I see one)!

You have definitely chosen the right place to purchase your laptop!

Let us know if you have any more questions and everyone here will be happy to assist you.

[matheo]

Nice!

Thanks a lot for all these infos. I needed it because it's been a couple of days of lappy research without a lot of advices. I read a LOT of great comment about XoticPC and that's why I prefer order here than anywhere else.

Why is the 3 years warranty no a good choice if I live in Canada?

The config you proposed seems very nice for the price. I wasn't sure about the RAM at first but since you say XP only needs 2GB, that's fine. Also I wanted to ask if it is worth going for a better processor.

Thanks again

[robamb2002]

First, I agree with Anewbus. This machine would be perfect for you. Second, I would switch the RAM to the 1 SODIMM option seeing as it is the same price. that way in the future you can choose to upgrade without having to buy a full new set of sticks. Third, I've read the same thing with the hard drives, definatly go with the 320 5400. and last, the next big upgrade would be to bump up the processor. The best bang for your buck would be the second highest priced. I don't think you would see a huge performance boost from an extra 0.14GHz to the processor so unless you go a few steps up, don't bother...

well thats my two cents :)

Happy Lappy Hunting!

[Mazeura]

Well, while it's true you can go ahead and get the 2GB of RAM as 1 DIMM, only do that if you plan on upgrading to Vista sometime soon.
The reason why is that in Dual Channel Mode, the RAM gets a free performance boost over the same amount of RAM in a 1 SODIMM chip.

[Anewbus]

Nice!

Thanks a lot for all these infos. I needed it because it's been a couple of days of lappy research without a lot of advices. I read a LOT of great comment about XoticPC and that's why I prefer order here than anywhere else.

Why is the 3 years warranty no a good choice if I live in Canada?

The config you proposed seems very nice for the price. I wasn't sure about the RAM at first but since you say XP only needs 2GB, that's fine. Also I wanted to ask if it is worth going for a better processor.

Thanks again

Glad to help. :)
The reason I mention the 3 year vs 1 year warranty is two-fold. One, I was taking your budget into consideration with the cost of shipping. Two, since your in Canada, I'm not certain there would not be shipping cost involved should you have to sent in the machine for some kind of warranty service. Justin can answer this question better than I could. Give him a call or email on this.

If you were to jump to the P9500, you might notice a difference, but the key word is "might". As a human and enduser I don't think we could possibly detect a difference of .27 of a GHz. Especially with the same caching involved. Again, it's also $165.00 more which effects your budget you listed. Remember shipping is not included in the price, nor are any taxes included.

[matheo]

Glad to help. :)
The reason I mention the 3 year vs 1 year warranty is two-fold. One, I was taking your budget into consideration with the cost of shipping. Two, since your in Canada, I'm not certain there would not be shipping cost involved should you have to sent in the machine for some kind of warranty service. Justin can answer this question better than I could. Give him a call or email on this.

If you were to jump to the P9500, you might notice a difference, but the key word is "might". As a human and enduser I don't think we could possibly detect a difference of .27 of a GHz. Especially with the same caching involved. Again, it's also $165.00 more which effects your budget you listed. Remember shipping is not included in the price, nor are any taxes included.

I'll probably keep it the way you configurated it at first. For the moment I just need more info on the warranty and I'll be ready to order. Hoppefully I can get it for the middle of august. If there are no shipping fees in case of problem with the lappy, I'll go with the 3 years warranty. I sent a email to the sales department for more infos on that.

Thanks a lot again for your help. And thanks to robamb2002 and Mazeura as well! I'll probably keep 2 DIMMS for the 2GB RAM I need because I don't think I'll install Vista in a near future.

[Anewbus]

I'll probably keep it the way you configurated it at first. For the moment I just need more info on the warranty and I'll be ready to order. Hoppefully I can get it for the middle of august. If there are no shipping fees in case of problem with the lappy, I'll go with the 3 years warranty. I sent a email to the sales department for more infos on that.

Thanks a lot again for your help. And thanks to robamb2002 and Mazeura as well! I'll probably keep 2 DIMMS for the 2GB RAM I need because I don't think I'll install Vista in a near future.

If it turns out there are no shipping fees for the warranty service even if in Canada, I would definitely spend the extra $139 (US) and get the 3 year. Someone will get back to you soon on that.

Glad I could help.

[matheo]

If it turns out there are no shipping fees for the warranty service even if in Canada, I would definitely spend the extra $139 (US) and get the 3 year. Someone will get back to you soon on that.

Glad I could help.

Look what I found on the website:
http://www.xoticpc.com/warranty-service-returns-ip-6.html#Sager3

"For Canadian Customers XOTIC PC covers return shipping at our expense during the Warranty period.*"

I have my answer now. The 3 years warranty is worth it, final. :)

[Anewbus]

Look what I found on the website:
http://www.xoticpc.com/warranty-service-returns-ip-6.html#Sager3

"For Canadian Customers XOTIC PC covers return shipping at our expense during the Warranty period.*"

I have my answer now. The 3 years warranty is worth it, final. :)


Well, there ya go then! :) (I just didn't have time to go look it up myself yet. Glad you did).

Yes, the warranty and the outstanding service is what compelled me to order my lappy from XoticPC. Gee, to see they cover Canada as well - XoticPC raises the bar yet again!

[matheo]

Well, there ya go then! :) (I just didn't have time to go look it up myself yet. Glad you did).

Yes, the warranty and the outstanding service is what compelled me to order my lappy from XoticPC. Gee, to see they cover Canada as well - XoticPC raises the bar yet again!

I just placed my order!!!!!!!

1x Sager NP2096 Custom Laptop (Built on the Compal JHL90) PRE ORDER

- Warranty: Sager 3 Year Parts & Labor Warra
- Software Bundle (Not Installed): None Standard
- "Medialess" Microsoft Office Sof: None Standard
- Operating System: ~Windows XP Home SP2 with Driver
- Mouse / Keyboard Accessories: None Standard
- Fingerprint Reader: Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- Docking Station / Port Replicato: None Standard
- Spare AC Adapter: None Standard
- Car Adapter: None Standard
- Battery: Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- Case: Basic Black Business Case
- Sound Card: Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audi
- TV Tuner: None Standard
- Camera: Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Wireless Network Accessories: None Standard
- Wireless Network: Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 530
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- Memory Card Reader: Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/
- Floppy Drive: None Standard
- External Hard Drive (Back Up): None Standard
- Primary Hard Drive: ~ 320GB 5400RPM (Serial-ATA II 3
- Optical Drive: ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +
- Exterior Finish: Standard Finish
- Intel® Robson Turbo Memory: None Standard
- Ram: ~ 2,048MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) D
- External Monitor Video Adapter: None Standard
- Video Card: 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce
- Processor: ~Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" C
- Dead Pixel Policy: Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- Arctic Silver: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super
I really excited and I can't wait to receive it! How much time does it take to go from phase 1 to phase 2?

[Anewbus]

Congrats on your order! :)

Phase #1 = Funds arrive, are deposited and have to clear. Depending on how you paid, please allow 1 to 2 weeks. (Less if you paid by credit card, Wire or Bank Check)

Phase #2 = Production = Please allow 7 to 10 business days

Allow a couple of days for testing and QC as well. (More, if your having graphics work done)

I know its exciting getting a new lappy (especially if its your first one like me), but your patience will be rewarded.

[matheo]

I'm back!

It's just that I decided to change my mind and order the Force 3551 instead. Price is 1,602.00$ with shipping :

FORCE 3551 (Built on MSI-1651) PRE ORDER (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2462%7B76%7D650%7B187 %7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2445%7B88%7D2463%7B186% 7D734%7B93%7D2456%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D2476%7B98%7D 1798%7B96%7D2349%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D1416%7B117%7 D707%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D2426%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7 D1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D1539%7B106% 7D1691%7B121%7D1532%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170% 7D1492%7B173%7D1175%7B103%7D1870%7B113%7D1413%7B11 1%7D1414%7B69%7D1930)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- -Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.26GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9600M GT DDR3 DX10
- None Standard
- - 2,048MB (Corsair, Kingston, Major Brand) DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory
- None Standard
- Standard Matte Bllack with Silver Trim
NO DELAY for Custom Color Options
- - Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti 8X DVDRW Drive w/ Software
- - 320GB 3GB/S SATA II 5400RPM Hard Drive
- None Standard
- None Standard
- Internal 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
- Internal Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- None Standard
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- None Standard
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Carying Case Optional (Select if desired)
- Smart Li-ion Battery (6-Cell)
- None Standard
- None Standard
- None Standard
- None Standard
- None Standard
- -Windows XP Home SP2 with Drivers and Utilities CD
- None Standard
- None Standard
- 3 Year Complete Care Full Parts / Labor Warranty - Next Business Day Shipping - Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Tech Support

What do you think about this one? I exceeded my 1500$limit but I just received a goverment check and decided to review my choice. I'll be happier with DDR3!