| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| frank_black_francis |
Posted - 02/21/2005 : 15:03:16
I am planning on buying a laptop before going into grad school in the fall.....
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about a good buy.....I have absolutely no idea....
I need something that is all around good (for school and home)....will likely be my main computer and can only spend a maximum of 1500$ (Canadian) or $1200 (US) ...
I was planning on going to Future Shop (Best Buy) ...since I was told that it probably the best place to go, but I dont wanna be duped by someone who wants to get commission....
however, I need something that I could use for about 5 years....
does anyone out there have any advice on the subject / or can give me some model names they think would be good?
I am really worried about this. |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 00:45:59
Thanks mun chien. Right. Ok. Armed with lots of knowledge of laptops, I can now go find one to buy with out being ripped off!!
Please support the petition for a Carter USM DVD. Download, print and sign a petition form from http://ambernet.no-ip.org/petition.doc |
| mun chien andalusia |
Posted - 03/02/2005 : 14:30:12
pentium M stands for "mobile" i think. an average low cost laptop will be fine for you for normal use that doesn't include hardcore gaming or video editing. some acer models start from as low as 750 euros and since a 60gb hd and 512mb of ram is now standard it should me more than enough for the next 3 years. it's true that laptops are more expensive to upgrade mainly because they require their specific parts while you can find generic or chinese low cost hardware for a desctop but 1)you will hardly need any upgrade for a new laptop in the next 2 years 2)you can have almost everything in usb nowadays so no need for extra parts 3)you can always use the pcmcia ports for minor add ons like card readers and such .
if i were you i would go for a "desktop replacement" laptop which means it will have more power, more connectivity features like firewire and multiple usb ports and probably a floppy drive but it will weigh more and the battery will not hold for more than an hour or so. notebooks are lighter slimer and have cooler designs but you'll never know when u are going to need just that extra feature.
said that i'm typing this from a pentium 1 mmx compaq armada 7730 laptop that hasn't even got a cd rom but's still good for internet and office use. so much for the laptops being useless after a year. this one is a 1997 model.
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
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| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 03/01/2005 : 17:29:40
Also, I keep seeing all these lap tops saying Intel Pentium M...is that any todifferent to 4?
Sorry for all the Qs!
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| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 03/01/2005 : 16:39:51
Hmm. Well if itll save me having to lug a tv up to london, may be worth it.
Also, talking to my boyfriend about it and he was saying that the problem with lap tops is the fact that to actually upgrade you need to have parts which are specific to the brand of lap top you have? whats the deal with this?
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| El Barto |
Posted - 03/01/2005 : 14:54:18
I forgot how big TV tuners are in Europe (for some reason it's more common to have it built in). Sure, 17" would be fine...I've sat about 8-10 feet away from my 19" to watch episodes of The OC no problem. Most "dorm room friendly" sized TVs are around 15"-19" anyway. Keep in mind that TV on a monitor will look different than TV on a TV screen, because with a monitor, you're basicly taking a low resolution video and blowing it up to a high resolution display, thus stretching the image a bit (plus the colors and motion are different on a monitor vs TV). It's still watchable, though.
I guess I just wasn't made for these times. |
| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 03/01/2005 : 13:19:27
oh cool, so it would get me through university then. Thanks you for all the help guys. ill go check out some lap tops on line.
Jim - I have seen quite a few with built-in tuners, but am curious to how good this would be for actual viewing, i mean, would i be able to put like a 17inch screen the other side of the room and be able to watch it, or would i have to crouch over it?
I am totally computer clueless...
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| El Barto |
Posted - 03/01/2005 : 02:07:36
quote:
Originally posted by GypsyDeath
But is not possible to upgrade them? Like you can computers?
That's funny, I thought laptops were computers...heh. You can upgrade the RAM, hard drives, and optical drives in a laptop just as you could a desktop, it's just generally more expensive. Most people don't upgrade their desktop outside of the above mentioned upgrades, because after a certain point, it would generally just cost less for a new system.
If you're looking for something that'll last, get a Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 based system with 512MB RAM and as much hard drive space as you need. Average lifespan of all computers is 3 years before you look to upgrade, but that's really all dependant on what you'll be using it for. You can get external TV tuners (for example, ATI TV Wonder USB) so that you can watch TV on the laptop. I've only seen a small number with built-in tuners, and those you're looking at around $3000 USD for. An external can be had for $100 USD.
I guess I just wasn't made for these times. |
| floop |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 16:33:58
bottom line: most people use their personal computers for email, internet, music, and some minor office tasks.. you can do that with any computer.. it all depends on what you're going to use it for, but gypsy, i'm sure any laptop you buy now will get you through school.
it's not going to kill you if your computer can't stream 15 gay porno channels or crunch a zillion numbers.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| webdog |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 16:19:15
Regarding laptops, I purchased a Sony Vaio laptop back in November. It was a Pentium 4 model, 2.8 mhz processor with 512 mb of ram. It came with a 60gb hard drive. It was $1199 plus tax. After using it about six hours, it was freezing up on start up.
I called their customer service, because it has a 1 year limited warranty and they were very professional on the phone. They sent me boxes (FedEx overnight) to mail the laptop in for repairs. I got the boxes the next day and mailed it back. I got the laptop back in just over a week, which I didn't think was too bad. They paid all of the shipping and covered all labor & parts. They were great to deal with.
And also I didn't buy the extended warranty. I figured if something was going to crap out, I could probably fix it or just send it in if it happened under 1 year.
It ended up that the memory stick reader was staying on all of the time and caused it to not start up, so it was replaced by Sony.
 |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 05:52:43
I mean, the cheaper one with a DVD recorder drive and a wireless PCMCIA card, very useful to steal internet access from stupid neighbours.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 05:32:40
It isn't easy or cheap to upgrade them. But I don't want to have the same argument again with Tony.
If I was in your situation, I'ld buy the cheaper one. You know, if you want to use it for stuff like Office or watching TV or Messenger, the cheaper one is OK for you.
If you need something more powerful in some years, then buy the cheaper one again.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 05:19:44
But is not possible to upgrade them? Like you can computers?
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| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 04:35:05
That's the price you have to pay for decent public financed TV. I can't help you on this one, Mel.
Anyway, if you buy a laptop now, it'll be shit in less than 2 years.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 04:19:39
Well in england, if you own a TV, you have to pay an anuual fee, this contributes to our public owned BBC channels, where as the rest of the channels are funded for by commercial advertisements. You get hunted down if you dont have a tv license.
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| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 04:16:23
What's a TV license?
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| GypsyDeath |
Posted - 02/28/2005 : 03:51:03
I am also looking at lap tops at the moment.
I have had some offers from universities, and i was thinking of getting a lap top because it would mean i would not have to leave it at uni during holidays and the like, plus i can take it to bars or where ever that has free wireless access, which most do right now.
But ive heard that they are not easy to upgrade, and in 18 months , or maybe less, its gonna be shit compared to the sort of laptops which are around?
I want one which is gonna last me for 3 years while im at uni - i wont have the money to buy a new one.
Im going to be doing mostly word and documents like t hat, but would like the ability to burn cds/dvds, and soemthing with a lot of storage.
Preferably id be looking for at LEAST 512ram and about 80 storage wise.
Ive seen a few lap tops where you can watch and record tv ? Any one shed more light on this subject, cos this would be ghood as it would mean i wouldnt have to get a tv...but would i still need to get a TV license?
Obviously id like it to be very mobile and light too.
any help be greatly appreiciated!
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| darwin |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 15:10:26
quote:
Originally posted by floop
what do you need dual processors for? honestly? the only thing i would ever need that for is if i was doing some hardcore graphics/animation work.. although i think some laptops have dual processors now.
for the average person (and for what fbf is looking for) laptops are more than enough
A dual processor means that my models might finish running in two days rather than in three days (or some big difference depending on how big the model is, it's a big time saver for me). I don't think any Apple portables have dual processors, but maybe some PCs do.
A laptop is great for most people, but they are more expensive, easier to steal, and easier to break. |
| floop |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 15:02:47
what do you need dual processors for? honestly? the only thing i would ever need that for is if i was doing some hardcore graphics/animation work.. although i think some laptops have dual processors now.
for the average person (and for what fbf is looking for) laptops are more than enough
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| darwin |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 14:52:27
quote:
Originally posted by floop
what can you do on your desktop that i can't do on my laptop?
Run multiple iterations of a 10,000 generation genetic algorithm. Does your laptop have dual processors?
For "light" users laptops are fine  |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 07:29:53
quote:
Originally posted by whoreatthedoor
I have 5 regular porn channels too.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three
Keep talking.
Pure Reason Revolution |
| tobafett |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 06:03:31
get an iBook...you'll dig it. and we can help you with techsupport (cheaply, too!) |
| frank_black_francis |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 03:56:31
quote:
Originally posted by floop
what can you do on your desktop that i can't do on my laptop?
Ahhhh! The age old question.... |
| floop |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:59:57
so you're saying if you live with LBF's mother, laptop's are the right choice?
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:57:34
I don't know what I'm saying, Tony. I lost the point some posts ago.
Laptops suck, that's the point.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:56:07
I never watch the porn channels. Very boring.
I should direct some movies to resuscitate the genre.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:55:41
How can Tony be such a bad liar?
Tell me how this story ends
Before the fires go cold |
| floop |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:55:11
so what you're saying is, if you live with your mother it's good to have a desktop?
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:54:04
Ooohhh..... Poor lovely Tony...
I have to leave my desktop on 24 hours a day because my mother doesn't know how to turn it on.
PS: It doesn't mean that my mother wants to watch the gay porn channel, no no.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:51:30
5? For what, why do you need all that?
I thought that I knew you my friend...
Tell me how this story ends
Before the fires go cold |
| floop |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:51:02
i would never look at porn. because that would be immoral. and exploitative towards women.
but if i wanted to, i'm sure my laptop would be up to the test.
quite up to it
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:49:10
It's funny.
I have 5 regular porn channels too.
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| floop |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:48:17
good question
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:47:27
Xavier, for what do you want to have a 24 hours gay porn channel???
Tell me how this story ends
Before the fires go cold |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:45:15
It sounds alike, but not. I have another one:
Because you're illegally decoding private TV channels, including a 24 hours gay porn channel?
The violet, the lily and the pink but those I refused all three |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 01:43:26
quote:
Originally posted by floop
eMule cue? you lost me. is that some kind of porn thing?
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee!
That's my first laugh in the morning...even I know what's emule Floop!
Tell me how this story ends
Before the fires go cold |
