Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
02-27-2009, 02:34 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: N.E. MO
Posts: 1,749
|
Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
Well, looks like I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and buy a new laptop.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=328904 Just lookin for opinions on a few things to look for. First my current HP DV1000 has served me pretty good and I really like the 14.1 screen size, so I'm thinkin I'd like to stay with the small size if possible. (I use it for GPS navigation quite alot and it fit's on my vehicle stand I built) Budget is kinda undetermined I guess since I'm broke right now anyway. I may get desperate and talk to my banker though....Hahaha Questions; Good brands? Can XP still be had on new computers, or is Vista better/worse? (I heard alot of bad stories on Vista when it first came out) I see most of the specs today make mine look small everywhere. (originally 60gb hd, 4200 rpm, 2gb max memory...) Now it has a 7200 rpm 60gb hd, since the original died last year. What specs should I look for for a "faster" computer? Mine was pretty satisfactory before it began to die... But it never hurts to upgrade! Things I'd like to have; 14.1 screen (or similar) XP (familiar with it...LOL) Ability to burn CD and DVD's. A few USB ports. About all I can think of right off hand. Those are probably all pretty standard things nowdays anyway. Any opinions, ideas, suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
__________________
72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey |
02-27-2009, 12:58 PM | #2 |
Tonawanda 454
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Liquid Sunshine State
Posts: 2,755
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
First, look at the laptop descriptions. Most new laptops come with Vista and a 14" or larger LCD. If it is labeled as a netbook, it may have XP or linux, but also a 9" LCD... also be careful not to confuse "notebook" with "netbook". Laptop is a general term, Notebook or Tablet is the normal laptops, netbook is the small low power/low speed laptops.
Second, Vista is still a pain but for the preconfigured laptops, it should work fine, just make sure you get at least 2GB of memory. Windows 7 is on the horizon and I have been suggesting people keep an eye out for the release date as Windows 7 is so much better and faster than Vista. Third, even a $500 laptop will be better than your dv1000. For cheaper models, take a look at this: Newegg laptops The cheapest is $450 and has these specs:
This is compared to the Netbooks at newegg The cheapest is $299 but also with lower specs:
__________________
91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. ------------------- Last edited by screwballl; 02-27-2009 at 12:59 PM. |
02-28-2009, 12:55 AM | #3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: N.E. MO
Posts: 1,749
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
Quote:
I just seen one of the Netbooks at Wally world tonight. I didn't even notice there was no disc drive. Guess that puts those out of the running. Just curious though, with no disc drive how do you get more software on them? Do ya have to buy an external disc drive? Couple other items to ad to my want list; Media card reader (needs to support XD and SD cards at least. My camera uses XD, everything else uses SD or micro SD) Built in bluetooth capability would be nice. I have a USB Bluetooth gizmo though, so it wouldn't be absolutely necessary. I looked at a 15.4 screen size at radio shack while I was there gettin thermal paste. That's not a bad size. I can live with that. LOL DVD Super Multi or DVD±R/RW Is there a difference in these? Processor GHz (Bigger number is better?) Bloatware removal (Seein this alot on Vista systems. Is this somethin I can do or do I have to have it done?) 2Gb minimum for Vista (is this gonna have to be upgraded as time goes on? I know it helped my DV when I installed an additional 1Gb after the first year or more) Expansion port (My DV has one of these but I've never used it. Good to have or just excess for most of us? What's it actually used for anyway? LOL) Serial bus card slot (Again my DV has one. It usually has the remote stored in there, but I bought a 2 port USB card for it awhile back since one of my USB ports got destroyed. Wouldn't mind havin the slot on the next computer since I already have the 2 USB card.) Power cord (Off the wall question here. Are most of 'em interchangable as long as the connector is the same? My main concern here is that I have a power cord for my DV that plugs directly into a cigarette lighter so I don't have to use an inverter. makes it alot more handy for GPS navigation. Is there a name for the different plug in styles so I could compare without seein them in person? [Online])
__________________
72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey |
|
02-28-2009, 01:27 AM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: N.E. MO
Posts: 1,749
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
Found these in the cheap catagory... LOL
Differences I've noted. AMD CPU vs Intel Pentium dual core 3gb on the HP, 2Gb Toshiba (Both max at 4Gb) HP has bluetooth and lists XD card capable. Toshiba doesnt. HP 101 key keyboard compatiable Toshiba 86 key (important?) I'm really leanin toward the HP... Still lookin though! Hahaha HPdv6810 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834147935 Brand HP Series Pavilion Model dv6810us Part# KN828UA#ABA General Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium CPU Type AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 2.0G Screen 15.4" WXGA Memory Size 3GB DDR2 Hard Disk 160GB Optical Drive DVD Super Multi Communication Modem, LAN and WLAN Card slot 1 x Express Card Dimensions 14.05" x 10.12" x 1.00-1.56" Weight 6.06 lbs. CPU CPU Type AMD Turion 64 X2 CPU Speed TL-60(2.00GHz) CPU L2 Cache 2 x 512KB Display Screen Size 15.4" Hard Drive HDD 160GB HD RPM 5400rpm Memory Memory Slots 2 x DIMM Memory 3GB Max Memory Supported 4GB Optical Drive Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi Optical Drive Interface Integrated Optical Drive Spec LightScribe Super Multi DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support Communications Modem 56K LAN 10/100Mbps WLAN 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Bluetooth Yes Ports Card Slot 1 x ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34) USB 3 IEEE 1394 1 Video Port 1 x VGA, 1 x S-Video TV-out Other port 1 x Consumer IR Port Replicator 1 x notebook expansion port 3 Audio Ports 2 headphone-out 1 microphone-in Audio Audio Integrated Sound card Speaker Internal Altec Lansing Speaker Input Device Touchpad Yes Keyboard 101-key compatible Supplemental Drive Card Reader 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards Power AC Adapter 65-watt AC adapter Battery 6-cell lithium ion Physical spec Dimensions 14.05" x 10.12" x 1.00-1.56" Weight 6.06 lbs. Manufacturer Warranty Parts 90 days limited Labor 90 days limited TOSHIBA Satellite L305-S5921 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114611 Brand TOSHIBA Series Satellite Model L305-S5921 Part# PSLB8U-079025 General Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium CPU Type Intel Pentium dual-core T3400(2.16GHz) Screen 15.4" WXGA Memory Size 2GB DDR2 Hard Disk 160GB Optical Drive DVD Super Multi Communication Modem, LAN and WLAN Card slot 1 x Express Card CPU CPU Type Intel Pentium dual-core CPU Speed T3400(2.16GHz) CPU FSB 667MHz CPU L2 Cache 1MB Chipset Chipset Intel GL40 Display Screen Size 15.4" Wide Screen Support Yes LCD Features TruBrite technology Display Type Wide XGA Resolution 1280 x 800 Operating Systems Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium Graphics GPU/VPU Intel GMA 4500M Video Memory 128MB-830MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory Graphic Type Integrated Card Hard Drive HDD 160GB HD RPM 5400rpm HD Interface SATA Memory Memory Slots 2 x SO-DIMM Memory Speed DDR2 800 Memory 2GB Max Memory Supported 4GB Optical Drive Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi Optical Drive Interface Integrated Optical Drive Spec DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive supporting 11 formats Maximum speed and compatibility: CD-ROM (24x), CD-R (24x), CD-RW (24x), DVD-ROM (8x), DVD-R (Single Layer, (8x)), DVD-R (Double Layer, (6x)), DVD-RW (6x), DVD+R (Single Layer, (8x)), DVD+R (Double Layer, (6x)), DVD+RW (8x), DVDRAM (5x) Communications Modem 56K LAN 10/100Mbps WLAN Atheros 802.11 b/g wireless-LAN Ports Card Slot 1 x ExpressCard slot (ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54) USB 3 Video Port 1 x VGA Audio Ports 1 x Microphone jack; 1 x Headphone jack Audio Audio Sound volume control dial Speaker Built-in stereo speakers Input Device Touchpad Toshiba TouchPad Keyboard 86 key US keyboard Supplemental Drive Card Reader 4-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, MultiMedia Card [shared slots] Power AC Adapter 75W (19V x 3.95A) 100-240V AC Adapter Battery 4000mAh (6 cell) Lithium Ion battery pack Physical spec Dimensions 14.3" x 10.6" x 1.33-1.51" Weight Starting at 5.49 lbs.
__________________
72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey |
02-28-2009, 10:51 AM | #5 | ||||||||||
Tonawanda 454
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Liquid Sunshine State
Posts: 2,755
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
Quote:
Yes they require an external disc drive of some sort. Quote:
Quote:
My preference is around 15" or larger LCD for laptops. DVD super multi and DVD +/- R/RW are pretty much the same. this is standard on most laptops nowadays and only differs by name, not by functionality. Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. ------------------- Last edited by screwballl; 02-28-2009 at 10:55 AM. |
||||||||||
02-27-2009, 03:40 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: oklahoma
Posts: 10,670
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
I just bought a new laptop from newegg. It is a lenovo 3000 n 500. It comes with vista buisness but also comes with xp pro disc and a drivers disc if you want to downgrade it. I have had it for about two weeks now and still have the vista buisness on it. I found it will run most of my old programs. Which is my word processor which is microsoft works 4, a windows 95 program. I have only found one program that didnt run and that was a game, doom for windows 95 because it is a dos program. So if you get one like mine you can play with vista and if you dont like it you can wipe it and install the xp pro provided. The only thing that I would do differently on mine is buy one with more memmory or buy a 2gb dimm for it to upgrade if you keep vista. Other than that I am very pleased with it. Now this is just a basic laptop and not for recent high end games or graphics intensive applications.
This is the one I got and that is my review. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834146527 There are other lenovos but this one was the cheapest. I also got the 2 year accident protection for another $125. So my total for it was $630 shipped. Just an idea and suggestion. I also wrote this with that laptop. |
02-27-2009, 10:03 PM | #7 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
I highly recommend Dell and bought a laptop from them 2 years ago. Being military, I went through the AAFES website and got a military discount.
__________________
1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... |
03-01-2009, 09:25 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lewisville, Nc
Posts: 10,236
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218040476937
this is the one i jus tbought and i am very happy with it as to the vista i come to like vista 64 bit Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology Model: A305-S6916 # Warranty Terms - Parts 1 year limited # Warranty Terms - Labor 1 year limited # Product Height 1.5" # Product Width 14.3" # Product Weight 6 lbs. # Product Depth 10.5" # Processor Brand Intel® # Processor Platform Intel® Centrino® # Processor Intel® Core™2 Duo Mobile # Processor Speed 2.0GHz # Display Type WXGA TFT-LCD widescreen with TruBrite technology (1280 x 800) # Screen Size 15.4" # System Bus 800MHz # Cache Memory 2MB on die Level 2 # System Memory (RAM) 4GB # Type of Memory (RAM) PC6400 DDR2 SDRAM # Hard Drive Type Serial ATA (5400 rpm) # Hard Drive Size 320GB # Optical Drive Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW # Optical Drive Speeds 6x DVD+R DL; 6x DVD-R DL; 8x8x8 DVD+RW; 8x6x8 DVD-RW; 5x DVD-RAM; 24x16x24 CD-RW # Direct-Disc Labeling Yes # Digital Media Reader or Slots Yes, digital media card reader # Graphics ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3650 # Video Memory 512MB (dedicated); up to 2302MB total available graphics memory # Personal Video Recorder (PVR) No # TV Tuner No # MPEG Yes # Built-in Webcam Yes # Modem 56 Kbps* *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps. # Networking Built-in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) # Wireless Networking Wireless-A+B+G+N # Bluetooth-Enabled No # S-Video Outputs 1 # Additional Audio/Video Connectors HDMI # Audio Harman/Kardon # Speakers Built-in # PCMCIA Slots 1 ExpressCard/34/54 # USB 2.0 Ports 3 # IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports 1 # Parallel Ports None # Serial Ports None # Game Ports None # Laptop Weight Standard (more than 5.5 lbs.) # Battery Type Lithium-ion # Pointing Device Touchpad # Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1 # Included Software Toshiba DVD Player, Disc Creator, PowerCinema; Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5; Adobe Acrobat Reader and more # ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
__________________
David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube Last edited by truckdude239; 03-01-2009 at 09:26 AM. |
03-01-2009, 12:30 PM | #9 |
Member of the longbed union.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Killeen, Tx
Posts: 2,158
|
Re: Purchasing a new laptop. What to look for?
Of the 2 that you listed I would go with the JP, and like it was said ealier if you use Vista you have to have atleast 2GB and that's only if you do basic stuff on it. I wouldn't get any less the a 3GB, but 4GB is way better as it allows you to more things at once. I wouldn't get no less then a 2.0gb processer. I have a solider that has that same toshiba. He's had it for about 8 months now and it's freezing up on him all the time when doing basic programs. He doesn't have a lot of stuff on it, but the memory is only 2GB. I built my Dell and it has a 2.0 GB dual core. 4GB ram 160 GB HDD. Mine is a $1600 laptop that I paid $1100 for, and it's set up for gaming which I dont play. More for muiltitasking. and it's HI Def. Dell use's a lot of their parts from many companys, I've used dell for the last 5 years. Most all military desktop and laptops are Dell. Look into building one for what you want. I'm sure you can get a really good one for about $500.
__________________
Paul 88 GMC Crew Cab dually, 454/T400 64 LWB 400 HP 350/350T Bagged, under construction! Sold most of it! 92 S10 Iron Duke 5 speed, 5/7 drop for now. soon to be bagged. Sold http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...59#post4637759 |
Bookmarks |
|
|