buying a laptop

[CountyMounty]

Ok for any of you tech guru's out there. I am looking to buy a new laptop and I cant keep up to date with the new technologies. It used to be pretty simple the bigger the processor Ghz and the Memory MB the better but now it isn't as simple. I would like to spend around $1000, I do not need anything too powerful just something middle range I think. It will be used for word documents, map software, and a little gaming (America's Army mostly). So far I am leaning toward an HP or Dell because I like customizing my own. I guess my biggest question at this point is AMD or Intel processor and with these new dual core processors is it better to get a smaller duo core (like a 1.6 or 1.73) or a larger single core (2.0 or 2.2). I will get atleast 1GB of RAM and can upgrade if I need to.



Also what has anyone got for a laptop mount in the ST.

 

[Casey B]

1k will give you a nice selection of laptops. The speed of the dual core can be looked at just like a single cpu, the faster the better. AMD has always been my choice and AMD based products are generally cheaper. Even though you can customize the product, it is still proprietary.

 

[TomT]

I've been using AMD for years but hear the new Intel dual cores are really kick ass. I would just go for the best deal possible. Not sure how well either a Dell or HP will last bouncing around in the Trac though. For that I would get a Panasonic Tough book. They will set you back at least 2 grand though.

The best mounts are the swivel kind.

 

[TomT]

Toshiba's are also pretty nice. Circuit City has a sweet deal right now on this dual core model. You might check it out.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

One suggestion. A laptop RARELY has a removable video card. So get the most you can when you buy it. Like ensure it will support 3-D games. For example, more than half of the laptops will not play any of the Call of Duty games...

 

[Mike Wilson]

My niece just got this one for Christmas...

Is it any good? (As I am somewhat Computer Illiterate, and running on a

Windows '93 Operating System with 24k/56k modified Dial-Up)!!!



Opinions, Please! :

 

[Sean M 2]

Also windows Vista is coming out at the end of January, so you may want to wait till then if you want the most up to date operating system available. Although, early versions are sure to have a few bugs. If it were me I'd wait to get Vista.

 

[CountyMounty]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I will probably go with an AMD so that gives me more money to put toward other features. TomT we have toughbooks in the cruisers for work and they certainly are the best as far as durability but I do not think they are as good in other areas. I certainly cant spend $2000 on one. I could possible get them at a discount through the department maybe I will check on that. CoastieJoe I have a friend who was so excited to get the new Call of Duty game only to find that he could not play it on his home computer or laptop. I will make sure I get some type of graphics card atleast 128mb.

As far as Vista is concerned right now all the current offers include free upgrades to Vista when it comes out. I will probably get the upgrade but not install it for awhile until I see how it works.



So a 1.6ghz dual core or a 2.0ghz Turion they are about the same price right now?

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Tracnblack, regarding the Everex, I would stick with the HP, Toshiba or Dell name brand, but that's just me. Maybe drop down to a discount Acer, Gateway or Compaq if a really good deal came along.



Sure, many will say most all use the same parts inside, but it's service after the sale that makes the difference.



I will be shopping for a new laptop for my wife, for her college courses. It will replace her Pentium II laptop (anchient, but working just fine), and when I do, I will be looking hard at Intel, duo core, Dell laptops, with the 6 cell batteries.



Firedog, the XPS systems from Dell are great if you can afford them. Wanting to play "CoD3" on a laptop is a tall order, graphics wise. You need a good mobo/chipset and need to make sure the vid chipset isn't using shared memory for it's memory.



TJR

 

[Mike Wilson]

TJR,

Thanks for the reply. She will just be using it for basic homework assignments

and some basic dsl surfing (for same). She's in 9'th grade, and they just told

the students down here in Middle Tennessee that they will be required to have a

laptop/home computer with minimum system requirements for admission into the 10th

grade, this ('07-'08) school year! And I thought it rough when they required my

parents to purchase a Texas Instruments Calculus Calculator back in 1979!!!

(Total cost I think, about $25.00!) Now, they are requiring these students to have

a $500-$900 laptop!!!:huh:

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Trac, for her, it probably won't be bad. All things considered though, if it only comes down to $200 more for a Dell, HP or a Toshiba, then go with that, over a lesser named brand like Linova or Everex, Systemax, etc. Even if you get dropped down a little in memory (say from 1GB down to 512MB). You can always pick up extra memory when prices drop, and the extra spent on the more elite brand usually is spread across better service, better parts, better testing, higher volume sales (which means better shakeout), etc.



TJR

 

[Nelson Atwell]

I bought a nicely loaded Dell 640m a few months ago for around $800

 

[Dale Carlson]

firedog,



I bought my wife an AMD dual-core Acer for Christmas, and she's very happy with it. I compared features with customized Dell's and Gateway's, and the Acer always came out cheaper. A selling point for me was what members here had to say about Acer's and their tech support - that, and RichardL said that their tech support was located in Texas.



One note about Vista: Most computers on the shelf right now are at least "Vista Capable", and many of those are also "Vista Premium Ready." The model description should tell you which (or both). The difference? To get the premium Vista graphics experience, your machine needs to have some pretty good hardware. Vista will run on lesser quality or older hardware, like maybe on the computer you have now, but the graphics will be more like Windows XP.

 

[jbluther]

I'm sure all brands are pretty good, or they'd go out of business. However, I've used my Gateway laptop here everyday for 3+ years. Hauled it to night school for 2 of those years. Never a problem. The battery is just now starting to wear out. The screen is still perfect. The plastic is a little beat up, but everything is functional. Gateway has impressed me.



Good luck and have fun!

 

[Ryan Roberson]

Glad to see someone has had good luck with a gateway, mine has shot a power cord and a hard drive all within the last month, and its used mostly at home, rarely carried.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

I have a Gateway with Centrino 1.7 I need to upgrade the ram to 1G though as 512 is too slow to help it run Photoshop and Illustrator. If I had to buy another laptop it would have to be a Mac for all the graphics I do.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

When it comes to the "reliability" scale, my personal observation and bias is as follows:



(on a descending scale)





Autos:

Honda -> Toyota -> Ford -> Chevrolet -> Chrysler -> Hundai





Computers:

Dell -> Toshiba -> HP -> Compaq -> Gateway -> eMachines





I guess that would make Gateway the "Chrysler" of computers.



TJR

 

[Fred]

Can you get a Gateway with a Hemi processor?



sorry.