Last July, I pointed to a sub-Php30K ECS Laptop which is the cheapest I’ve seen so far in the local market. It was an ECS320 that runs on a VIA C3 (Nehemiah) 1GHz, 128MB DDR SODIMM, 14.1″ XGA TFT LCD, built-in graphics with up to 64MB shared memory, 40GB HDD, built-in speakers, modem and LAN, 4 USB 2.0, 1 VGA out, 4-cell Li-Ion pack battery.
Not bad for those looking for an affordable low-end laptop, although Migs suggested that a IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad R50e 1834 is a better alternative for another Php5k or so (of which I would agree).
Then, just tonight while looking for specs and prices for a new desktop for my assistant, I found PCX selling two new laptops priced just below Php30 thousand.
The first one is a n ECS G557S laptop wtih SRP of Php31,395.00 but is on sale P 29,995.00. Intel Celeron M 320 (1.3GHz), 14.1″ XGA TFT LCD, 256 MB RAM, 40GB HDD, DVD+CDRW combo, fax modem and LAN. Not bad at all.
Then, the Xmobile C24 Laptop is also on sale for P 29,995.00 with an Intel Celeron M Processor 350 1.3GHz. Same specs as above although the main difference is that this one only has a 6-cell Li Ion battery while the other one uses 8-cell.
For a laptop that’s priced below the Php30K level, these are already good ones.
I just bought ECS 330D for P29T yesterday. It’s actual retail price is P29,995.00 but my husband knows the owner of the shop so we got a discount. I think it is a good buy. For the same specs, ACER Aspire 3628 cost P39,999; same with ASUS. I bought additional 512MB RAM for P2750. So I exceeded the P30K budget, but it’s worth it. If your not brand conscious, well I recommend this model.
ECS
ECS W330D Centrino System
Product image 200 x 200
Current Price
P 29,995.00
Intel® Centrino® Mobile Technology
Intel® Pentium® M
(1.6GHz, 2Mb L2 Cache, 400Mhz FSB)
Intel® 915GM chipset
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900
256Mb DDR333 SODIMM Memory
40Gb Mobile HDD
Combo Drive
14″ Wide-XGA TFT LCD
MDC Fax/Modem V.92 56Kbps
10/100 LAN on board
Intel® PRO Wireless LAN
Built-in 300K camera
Integrated SD/MMC Card reader
Mic-In, Audio Line Out
Touch Pad Synaptics
6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery, 2.55 Kg
E-mail, Internet, Power by Hotkeys
1 x VGA-Out
1 x S-Video Out
1 x Mini-IEEE1394 port
1 x Type II PCMCIA Slot
3 x USB 2.0 Slot
1 x Kensington Lock Slot
Free ECS Laptop Bag
That can’t beat the $100 laptop! Do those offerings have a wind-up battery charger?
GF Go or their equivalent ATI Mobility units would be in the 80,000 peso range. No Go for me.
I still would recommend spending another 10K for an IBM/Lenovo, Acer or HP/Compaq for your warranty piece of mind. And PCX… bad aftersales.
Things are getting very interesting in the local laptop market. Looks like it will be laptops for everyone this christmas… ;)
A laptop isnt worth it without a GeForce 6800 Go in it :)
Atleast from my perspective, I want the equivalent of my home pc in a laptop, then I can work from anywhere! :)