A couple questions...

[mrboo001]

(1st off, I didn't know which forum category to post this in. Mods can move it if wrong.)

1: Can you guys send to a Post Office box? I live in a small "city" (5000) where it isn't justified to have the mail delivered to your house.

2: (the heart of this topic starts here) I am going to university this September, and I'm currently looking purchasing a notebook for school work and gaming. While my budget of around $2000CDN (thats including shipping, taxes, all that fun stuff) is larger than the usually person, I'd want this notebook to last at least three years, five years preferably, so quality of built is important to me too.

So after looking around and posting a thread on another forum, I found a link to Maingear. I was impress (heck, gave me a warm fuzzy feeling) when I read all on the "About us" part of the website.

The xS notebook also impressed me too, because I've managed get alot of good features for a decent price. But just for fun, what customizations would you'd suggest? The game I have right now are Civilization 4, Medieval II Total War, and Sim City 4 (at least the most demanding I think)

3: (Why I haven't bought one yet) After posting on another thread (most computer focused one), someone mention the Compal IFL90 (http://store.agearnotebooks.com/compalifl90.htmlurl).

I've gotten quite a shock.

The xS and the Compal IFL90 look (or at least, there gallery photos) very similar, dare I say, identical, when you compare the two photo galleries. Heck, once could come to the concussion that they are the same pictures (and thus, same notebook)! Even the specs (right down to the Robson Technology and graphics card) are similar. Now I can get more with the IFL90, for the same price:

Pro XP and Seagate hard drive for the xS

vs

Vista Ultimate, noname hard drive, that Robson Technology, and Bluetooth for the IFL90.

those would be the difference between the two at similar price

Now I can understand why there might be around a $180 difference (the boutique service/quality (hopefully)), and I haven't yet read a bad thing about Maingear. But I can get more bang-for-the-buck with the IFL90 (admittedly, not that much). So, I'm wondering, what does the Maingear community/staff/ownership think of the IFL90? I've never heard of Compal before, but then again, I've never heard of Maingear before too.

Sorry for the long post, but I want to get as much research possible, and I really was wanting to know what you guys think of this dilemma.

EDIT: Another question... whats the weight of the xS? Couldn't find it on the website.

[RottynDawg]

Welcome to the boards mrboo!!!

I wish I could offer some help with those questions but I am not too up on laptop hardware :( As for your question about the two companies, I would hit http://www.hardocp.com/ and see what the reviews say about the two different companies :) I think lots of research is the only way to go mrboo definitely encourage it. I'll have to leave the shipping question for Maingear as well...might be worth a quick call.

[theDreamer]

First, welcome.
The first thing about the post office I am unable to help with, sorry.
Now on the the facts that I know. The 15.4" will be a great college laptop, I have a 15.4" from another company and love it to death. Mine is older, but for the size and power it packs a good ratio into it. Especially now with the new C2D chips out, along with some nice DX10 cards (that definitely) out due the old DX9 cards that were in this size notebook.

Many boutique builders use OEM parts (or most all), which means is that they buy the same parts as almost anyone else. Yet what they provide is better service, more reliable testing and support, and finally a better feel for what you are getting and your treatment.

You can buy the Compal IFL90 from many other companies, but you end up being a number to them. Your order is processed and shipped in a standard box, with standard OS (with some bloat ware), and a basic warranty.

Now when you step up to pay a slight premium with a boutique, you become almost part of (or do) a family. You are one on one with a sales rep that you personally work with. You get extra help, with top guidance, about what parts are right for you in price v. performance, or if going all out is what you need also. Finally the support, a standard company can not compete on any level of the support of a good solid boutique company. You can call up this company and they will get with you exactly with what you need.

Finally, your position is very common, because many people have always or only ever looked at your big companies, Dell/HP/Compaq/Gateway/etc. Yet seeing a boutique is very nice, and makes you feel that is exactly what I want, yet many then see the price and get turned off because they are paying a higher price for the same parts. Let me tell you something, parts in a computer are only a portion of a computer, the support you get, the type of parts and the detail to failures and fixes is something you will only find in a boutique company.

Now I am making a long post, but I always feel it necessary for people to see both sides to each company and understand if the extra money is truly worth it. Some say no parts are parts, and if they need support who cares, but others feel the complete opposites and know exactly that the one time they need support they want to have the best they can get.

Finally, this time I mean it, besides those few games, do you plan on doing anything else much? Graphics, video, photo editing? Other things I can not think of at this late hour?

[mrboo001]

First off, thanks for the welcomes.

RottynDawg: Well, the problem with Compal is that it seems I'm not the only one thats never heard of them. There based in Taiwan, but the website is based in the US, and thats about it.

Also, like I said in the first price, I can understand the reasons for a price difference. That's not the problem. It's just I'm wanting to know if I'm not the only person who see the similarities between the two notebooks.



Finally, this time I mean it, besides those few games, do you plan on doing anything else much? Graphics, video, photo editing? Other things I can not think of at this late hour?

I wouldn't be surprised if I did CAD work too, since I'm going in engineering. Maybe not in the first year, but later. The notebook is going to hold all of my music though, so I suppose a good soundcard/speaker would be nice. Thats also another thing I couldn't find on the website. Also, does anybody know the difference between the 1 year and 3 year warranties beside the length?

[Plan1x]

1: Can you guys send to a Post Office box? I live in a small "city" (5000) where it isn't justified to have the mail delivered to your house.


No, we do not ship to P.O. Box. We ship FedEx and all packages must be signed for by the recipiant.

[mrboo001]

No, we do not ship to P.O. Box. We ship FedEx and all packages must be signed for by the recipiant.

Ah, so would it just be that they would go straight to my home then, being independent from the mail service?

EDIT: Here's the config I'll probably settle on:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500
2GB RAM
160GM Seagate
XP Pro

Right now I'm trying to deiced on the warranty. Anybody have experience with either 1 year or 3 year?

[Plan1x]

No, we do not ship to P.O. Box. We ship FedEx and all packages must be signed for by the recipiant.

Ah, so would it just be that they would go straight to my home then, being independent from the mail service?

Yup



Right now I'm trying to deiced on the warranty. Anybody have experience with either 1 year or 3 year?

If you are worried about budget, I would suggest the one year. Most of the time if something fails it is within the first year anyway. Besides, most parts have a 3 to 5 year parts warranty from the original manufacturer and most of the time you just have to call them and send them the part and they will fix it out for you.

If you want that safty and security and do not want to do anything yourself, find it in your budget to make yourself feel more secure with the 3 year.

Remember you get life time phone support with MAINGEAR also.