![]() |
|
|
|
Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
|
Need new laptop, any must have options?
It looks like mine needs a new hard drive and it's just not worth it given the other issues and it's age.
I've been out of the game for a while so what should I look for/avoid? Thanks guys. I'm not a gamer at all but I do watch a fair amount of live sports etc on the computer so good video is nice. I use it for surfing and generic office work. I am thinking something in the $1k +/- $400 range.
__________________
Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
New hard drive is cheap, get some local PC shop to load O/S and software, and away you go, for $200-ish.
__________________
1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
||
![]() |
|
Monkey with a mouse
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,006
|
You know what I'll say and I know what you'll say . . . so I'll keep my mouth shut.
![]() |
||
![]() |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
|
You can do it for a lot less than $200 ish.
Get a new hard drive, plug it in and insert your "rescue" CD and let it load everything again. Loads of descent hard drives for around $75 with shipping. http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=NOTEBOOKS+HARD+DRIVE&i=0&c=&mi=0&m=&srt=t&view=&international= If you really want to make it faster, then get a 7200 rpm drive. http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=NOTEBOOKS+HARD+DRIVE+7200&srt=t&mi=0&m=&view=
__________________
2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
||
![]() |
|
Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
|
Quote:
The battery life has always sucked 45 minutes to an hour. This is with a new battery. It has the Pentium 2 chip and I'm told that although a great performer in it's time it was a hog on batteries. I'm told new models get over three hours! I have had to crack it open and re-solder the power connection at least 15 times and have to be very gentle with it. The optical drive has not worked for a year plus. A replacement is big bucks. Etc... I think it's time..... ![]()
__________________
Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
||
![]() |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
|
Dell or IBM/Lenovo then...
__________________
2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
|
Checkout what COSTCO has and, to voice what Kurt is thinking, swing by an Apple store for a look. It won't kill ya
![]() |
||
![]() |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
|
One nice thing about Costco is that they warranty everything. If you are not happy with it for whatever reason they cover it, and thats hard to beat.
__________________
2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I see, makes sense.
Quote:
__________________
1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
||
![]() |
|
Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
|
I will look at Costco.
I thought Dell had gotten a bad name recently, no? My wife has a Powerbook Pro, loaded to the gills. I concede it's a nice machine but I everything I do is PC. I know...I know... ![]() So should I look for a certain processor? Avoid a certain one? Minimum RAM for Vista? Stuff like that.
__________________
Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
The Sony laptop running Vista came with 1 GB of RAM. It was barely useable and would not open up the MS online Vista help videos...I threw in another 1 GB stick and it runs much better but still a bit slower than my XP IBM. The more RAM the better so make sure the laptop can support more than just 2 GB.
|
||
![]() |
|
Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,541
|
Dell laptop, ordered from the small business site. They allow you to omit all of the free crap most computers come with (Norton, etc), and you can order with XP. Did I mention you can get one with XP?
![]() I'm the official IT guy of my wife's large family, I've spec'd out and ordered 4 Dell laptops in the last two years, along with 5 Dell desktops in the last 5 years. Each has not had a single problem, except for the desktop that their kids managed to kill with viruses. Several of the laptops travel to class with the college aged ones, so they don't lead an easy life.
__________________
‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
||
![]() |
|
I'm not here.
|
![]() I love these. |
||
![]() |
|
Dept store Quartermaster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: I'm right here Tati
Posts: 19,858
|
I'm going to look at the MacBook, there I said it.
![]() My concern is with files for work. I use Office a lot and any compatibility issues will kill me. We'll see.
__________________
Cornpoppin' Pony Soldier |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I don't think Office file incompatibility is a problem, but the Mac and Windows versions of Office are just different enough to be irritating, sometimes. I use Excel many hours a day in Windows, and am used to certain keystroke combos that are not the same in Excel/Mac. I have not checked if macros run the same, that might be something to check.
That said, you can always run Windows on your MacBook using Parallels or Boot Camp, and thus have the familiar Windows environment - I think you can even toggle back and forth if using Parallels.
__________________
1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
||
![]() |
|
Unfair and Unbalanced
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: From the misty mountains to the bayou country
Posts: 9,711
|
Vista can only see 3.3 gigs of ram so as long as you can go to 3 you're fine. I have 2 on a desktop with Vista home prem and have no issues.
__________________
"SARAH'S INSIDE Obama's head!!!! He doesn't know whether to defacate or wind his watch!!!!" ~ Dennis Miller! |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 3,573
|
Try the Dell Factory Outlet. Inspiron 1425, excellent spec's for under $600. Buy the extra warranty and be set for several years to come.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh
__________________
'06 Cayman S '16 Cayenne '08 Audi RS 4 |
||
![]() |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
|
Quote:
__________________
2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I don't know if this helps but I have been using my macbook since they first came out with the intel processor for them in 2006 and have had no problems with it at all. My first Mac and I am very happy with it. Don't have MS Office so can't give you any info on that. I open any MS Office files that come my way with Pages.
__________________
Chris '75 911s Targa |
||
![]() |
|
drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
|
Quote:
Apple is a great deal too. Why? You can run Windows XP on it. I'm running it on mine along with Mac OS 10. What you have, to an extent, are two laptops in one. Problem - they are pricey. The Macbook is the most affordable (and smallest), but can get close to $1K by the time you put in your accessories. What you do have with Apple are very nice screens, easy wireless set up and really nice keyboards. A must have for me is the keyboard: if you want to stick with PC, I'd definitely go Lenovo or Dell. Great keyboards on both. Lastly, a good way to save $$ is to do a google search for "Dell Coupons" or, depending on choice, "Lenovo Coupons." Usually, something will come up for both brand of laptop. I did this a year or so ago, and with the coupon, bought two fully loaded Dell Inspirons for the price of one. Very good machines, btw.
__________________
The Terror of Tiny Town |
||
![]() |
|