Looking for a new computer

classicman · 11-23-2011, 04:30 PM

A friend is looking for some guidance... Here is what I got from her.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Quote:

I basically just need a reliable, portable laptop for basic internet surfing...but more importantly...for a ton of word processing and file saving (I have a TON of pdf files from journals and stuff). I love Windows 7 and Google Chrome, other than that, I am up for whatever!

regular.joe · 11-23-2011, 05:16 PM

I'm in the Apple camp. With the warranty, I've had the battery replaced, two hard drives replaced and a couple of check ups in the last three years no questions asked. It runs everything. I'm a happy camper. I now own an iMac, a thirteen inch macbook for the wife and my 15 inch. (heh).

SamIam · 11-23-2011, 05:27 PM

I like C/Net's Reviews as a starting point.

Bullitt · 11-23-2011, 05:30 PM

My 4 year old Toshiba still runs like a champ.

zippyt · 11-23-2011, 05:33 PM

Sams club , HP , get as Much Processer , memory , Video , and hd as you can afford
new egg generly has good prices to

think in the $700 ish range , yes you can go cheper and LOTS More expencive , but $700ish is a decent range and will generly last for 5-10 years befor it is Soo out of date that its time to make a quantum leap

just my opinion , im shure it will be picked apart by the Puter Wizzes on here

classicman · 11-23-2011, 05:41 PM

Thanks guys. Lookin for more specifics. Oh and the $5- 600 range was just added in as some more. I dunno anything about laptops. I hate the ones I've used so far.
But I know some people love 'em and thats what she is looking for so ...

zippyt · 11-23-2011, 05:46 PM

Sony Vios are suposed to be Pretty good from what i hear

infinite monkey · 11-23-2011, 05:46 PM

Yeah, you need very specific information about what a laptop should or shouldn't have and such.

I'm not a laptopper eitiher (probably never used one enough to get used to it) and I wouldn't have a clue about what levels of each hardware thingys are best, nominal, or worst.

SamIam · 11-23-2011, 08:43 PM

I love laptops, and I've been saving my pennies to buy myself one sometime around Christmas. Once I have my new laptop, the crummy e-machine PC I now use is going to spend most of its time stored under my desk.

For specifics, I am currently lusting after the Toshiba Portege R835 with a price starting around $749 - $799. Your friend might like its custom Toshiba software utilities: ReelTime displays recent documents and Web pages in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen, and Bulletin Board combines photos and notes in a single work space.

The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and the size is 13 inch.

Lots of other info on different configurations, various specs, etc. can be found here.

ZenGum · 11-24-2011, 03:16 AM

For the stated purposes, your friend needs a big hard drive, but only average processor speed and RAM.

Hard drive and RAM are pretty straightforward, more is better. It is good to have RAM with upgradable capacity which gives you an option for improving your machine as it ages.

This site http://www.cpubenchmark.net/index.php assesses CPUs. Nerds all around the world log their new systems onto it to see how fast they can go. The site runs them through some standard tests and records and shares the results. It has over 1,200 CPUs rated, most of them obsolete, but all current ones are there.

It is worth studying the list before you visit a shop to get an idea of the level of detail of information you would need. Most mass-market stores (well, here, anyway) will just write "Intel core i3" and expect you to be impressed.

Turns out the choices are more like

Quote:

CPU Name

Intel Core i3 330M @ 2.13GHz
Intel Core i3 330UM @ 1.20GHz
Intel Core i3 350M @ 2.27GHz
Intel Core i3 370M @ 2.40GHz
Intel Core i3 380M @ 2.53GHz
Intel Core i3 380UM @ 1.33GHz
Intel Core i3 390M @ 2.67GHz
Intel Core i3 530 @ 2.93GHz
Intel Core i3 540 @ 3.07GHz
Intel Core i3 550 @ 3.20GHz
Intel Core i3 560 @ 3.33GHz
Intel Core i3-2100 @ 3.10GHz
Intel Core i3-2100T @ 2.50GHz
Intel Core i3-2105 @ 3.10GHz
Intel Core i3-2120 @ 3.30GHz
Intel Core i3-2120T @ 2.60GHz
Intel Core i3-2125 @ 3.30GHz
Intel Core i3-2130 @ 3.40GHz
Intel Core i3-2310M @ 2.10GHz
Intel Core i3-2330M @ 2.20GHz
Intel Core i3-2357M @ 1.30GHz
Intel Core i3-2367M @ 1.40GHz

The processing speed scores for these models vary from 1650 to 4478, around 2.5 times faster.

Your friend doesn't need a really wizz-bang processor. An i3 or maybe an i5 would probably be suitable. An i7 would be overkill.

GunMaster357 · 11-25-2011, 05:16 AM

I bought a Samsung R780 last year and I'm very happy with it. Enough power for work (programming - C#, SQL Server, etc. ) and fun (even games).

Mine is as follows:

Core i5-460M@2.66GHz
4GB DDR3
500 MB Hard Disk (SATA II)
nVidia GeForce GT 330M with 1GB
Screen 17,3" HD
Double Layer DVD

4 USB 2.0 sockets (1 doubling as eSata)
VGA
HDMI
Ethernet 1Gb/s
WiFi 802.11 n/b.g
Card Slot 4-in-1 (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)

Price at that time was around 820 €. I got it through a special offer at 720 €.

Bullitt · 11-26-2011, 02:11 PM

newegg.com and tigerdirect.com both have some great deals on laptops right now. Many well within your price range and more than enough specs for the kind of use it is destined for. Check them out

jimhelm · 11-26-2011, 03:36 PM

I like my Vaio, but I don't like the keyboard. It doubles letters all the time on me. I have not been able to figure out how to make the keys less sensitive. Other than that, it's slick as owl shit and for only $635 a year ago.

wolf · 11-27-2011, 04:22 PM

She just missed a QVC TSV of a really nice looking Dell.

I've gotten my last three computers from them (over a period of about 10 years, one of them is a netbook and wasn't intended to replace an older computer, but to be more convenient for travelling.

Beest · 11-29-2011, 12:03 PM

I've had a hand in 5 or 6 laptop purchases over the last few years.

Mantras have been ( with some advice from the cellar and other places)
-go low, unless you need gaming or some other high eprformance application, buy the cheapest laptop that's good enough they don't last more than a few years anyway
-lowest priced brands that are not cheap crap are Dell and HP. generally HP are cheaper unless you snag a deal. Nearly all the laptops have been HP's, I think Monsters is a Dell because she wanted it yestreday and there was a good deal at Best Buy.

I think the last two were sub $500, and plenty decent.

11-23-2011, 05:16 PM	#2
regular.joe Старый сержант Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NC, dreaming of large Russian women. Posts: 1,464	I'm in the Apple camp. With the warranty, I've had the battery replaced, two hard drives replaced and a couple of check ups in the last three years no questions asked. It runs everything. I'm a happy camper. I now own an iMac, a thirteen inch macbook for the wife and my 15 inch. (heh). __________________ Birth, wealth, and position are valueless during wartime. Man is only judged by his character --Soldier's Testament. Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature. - Marcus Aurelius.

11-23-2011, 05:30 PM	#4
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	My 4 year old Toshiba still runs like a champ. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

11-23-2011, 05:33 PM	#5
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	Sams club , HP , get as Much Processer , memory , Video , and hd as you can afford new egg generly has good prices to think in the $700 ish range , yes you can go cheper and LOTS More expencive , but $700ish is a decent range and will generly last for 5-10 years befor it is Soo out of date that its time to make a quantum leap just my opinion , im shure it will be picked apart by the Puter Wizzes on here __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

11-23-2011, 05:41 PM	#6
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Thanks guys. Lookin for more specifics. Oh and the $5- 600 range was just added in as some more. I dunno anything about laptops. I hate the ones I've used so far. But I know some people love 'em and thats what she is looking for so ... __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-23-2011, 05:46 PM	#7
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	Sony Vios are suposed to be Pretty good from what i hear __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

11-23-2011, 05:27 PM	#3
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I like C/Net's Reviews as a starting point.

11-23-2011, 05:46 PM	#8
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Yeah, you need very specific information about what a laptop should or shouldn't have and such. I'm not a laptopper eitiher (probably never used one enough to get used to it) and I wouldn't have a clue about what levels of each hardware thingys are best, nominal, or worst.

11-23-2011, 08:43 PM	#9
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I love laptops, and I've been saving my pennies to buy myself one sometime around Christmas. Once I have my new laptop, the crummy e-machine PC I now use is going to spend most of its time stored under my desk. For specifics, I am currently lusting after the Toshiba Portege R835 with a price starting around $749 - $799. Your friend might like its custom Toshiba software utilities: ReelTime displays recent documents and Web pages in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen, and Bulletin Board combines photos and notes in a single work space. The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and the size is 13 inch. Lots of other info on different configurations, various specs, etc. can be found here.

11-25-2011, 05:16 AM	#11
GunMaster357 Professor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brest (FRANCE) Posts: 1,837	I bought a Samsung R780 last year and I'm very happy with it. Enough power for work (programming - C#, SQL Server, etc. ) and fun (even games). Mine is as follows: Core i5-460M@2.66GHz 4GB DDR3 500 MB Hard Disk (SATA II) nVidia GeForce GT 330M with 1GB Screen 17,3" HD Double Layer DVD 4 USB 2.0 sockets (1 doubling as eSata) VGA HDMI Ethernet 1Gb/s WiFi 802.11 n/b.g Card Slot 4-in-1 (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC) Price at that time was around 820 €. I got it through a special offer at 720 €. __________________ "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." - Ambrose Bierce

11-26-2011, 02:11 PM	#12
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	newegg.com and tigerdirect.com both have some great deals on laptops right now. Many well within your price range and more than enough specs for the kind of use it is destined for. Check them out __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

11-26-2011, 03:36 PM	#13
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	I like my Vaio, but I don't like the keyboard. It doubles letters all the time on me. I have not been able to figure out how to make the keys less sensitive. Other than that, it's slick as owl shit and for only $635 a year ago. __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

11-27-2011, 04:22 PM	#14
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	She just missed a QVC TSV of a really nice looking Dell. I've gotten my last three computers from them (over a period of about 10 years, one of them is a netbook and wasn't intended to replace an older computer, but to be more convenient for travelling. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-29-2011, 12:03 PM	#15
Beest Adapt and Survive Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, Mi Posts: 957	I've had a hand in 5 or 6 laptop purchases over the last few years. Mantras have been ( with some advice from the cellar and other places) -go low, unless you need gaming or some other high eprformance application, buy the cheapest laptop that's good enough they don't last more than a few years anyway -lowest priced brands that are not cheap crap are Dell and HP. generally HP are cheaper unless you snag a deal. Nearly all the laptops have been HP's, I think Monsters is a Dell because she wanted it yestreday and there was a good deal at Best Buy. I think the last two were sub $500, and plenty decent.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)