Need to buy a new laptop computer... Help please ;-)

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<em>You may get tired of carrying a 17incher around</em>



I *cannot* believe that ten left that one alone.... kudos!



GITOC. Macbook. 'nuff said.



OR the iMac...it hardly takes up any space on my desk at all. I have a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, so no cords either. This thing is absolutely amazing. AND I bought MS Office Suite for Mac. All documents convert effortlessly. Oh, did I mention...no viruses ?



<img src="http://images.macworld.com/images/legacy/2007/08/images/content/imac_400t.jpg" alt="" />



Yup, that's the entire thing. Skinny minny. 17" screen means you don't have to plug into t.v....but you can if you want !
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1232805111]<em>You may get tired of carrying a 17incher around</em>



I *cannot* believe that ten left that one alone.... kudos!



GITOC. Macbook. 'nuff said.



OR the iMac...it hardly takes up any space on my desk at all. I have a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, so no cords either. This thing is absolutely amazing. AND I bought MS Office Suite for Mac. All documents convert effortlessly. Oh, did I mention...no viruses ?



<img src="http://images.macworld.com/images/legacy/2007/08/images/content/imac_400t.jpg" alt="" />



Yup, that's the entire thing. Skinny minny. 17" screen means you don't have to plug into t.v....but you can if you want !</blockquote>


Trooper, I found my MS suite running under OS X very slow when starting...do you expereince the same?
 
[quote author="Girl In the OC" date=1232768067]I went to Costco yesterday, and they had some really nice HP's that I may be happy with. They all had Vista though... and I have never even once heard anyone who liked Vista. It was mentioned that Vista is going away this summer, and Microsoft will have a new operating system???



Anyone know anything about it???</blockquote>




As long as XP drivers are avail for the laptop, you could always ask someone to install XP over it for you. Plenty of old XP licenses and bootlegs laying about.



Lower-priced laptops vary in performance by a LOT. How you can judge this is to reboot the laptop and count how many seconds it takes to shut down Vista, then reboot and log in to a usable state. Check the HDD light. If it's still on solid, it means it's still loading stuff. The "reboot time" on a new laptop is one good indicator to use for its performance.



I had to work on 2 laptops last night, one was a $400 Compaq and another $600 Acre. Both had 2 GBs of RAM and the Acre had slightly faster CPU. Yet the more expensive Acre laptop had way better performance. When the Acre laptop was already booted into Vista and good to go, the Compaq was still pushing its hamster in the wheel. So in this case you do get what you paid for, though I like the screen on the Compaq better.



Sony VAIO and MacBook are both good choices. But if the prices are a bit high, you could get a Dell. Dell laptops are not the best quality, but they do have very good warranty and on-site service plan. Buy the laptop with at least 2 GBs of RAM.
 
[quote author="momopi" date=1232850548]always ask someone to install XP over it for you. Plenty of old XP licenses and bootlegs laying about.



Lower-priced laptops vary in performance by a LOT. How you can judge this is to reboot the laptop and count how many seconds it takes to shut down Vista, then reboot and log in to a usable state. Check the HDD light. If it's still on solid, it means it's still loading stuff. The "reboot time" on a new laptop is one good indicator to use for its performance.



I had to work on 2 laptops last night, one was a $400 Compaq and another $600 Acre. Both had 2 GBs of RAM and the Acre had slightly faster CPU. Yet the more expensive Acre laptop had way better performance. When the Acre laptop was already booted into Vista and good to go, the Compaq was still pushing its hamster in the wheel. So in this case you do get what you paid for, though I like the screen on the Compaq better.



Sony VAIO and MacBook are both good choices. But if the prices are a bit high, you could get a Dell. Dell laptops are not the best quality, but they do have very good warranty and on-site service plan. Buy the laptop with at least 2 GBs of RAM.</blockquote>


Eh, I disagree with your advice on the test. The problem is different manufacturers put a lot of crap on their systems. If one is loaded with norton and american online trial software, and the other one isn't, it could be completely the sofware thats slowing things down.



Unless you want to try your reboot test in 'safe mode' ;-)
 
Can I still use my Microsoft Office for XP disks that I bought back in 2003/2004 to install on a new Vista notebook, or do I have to buy/upgrade new software?
 
[quote author="fumbling" date=1234149991]Can I still use my Microsoft Office for XP disks that I bought back in 2003/2004 to install on a new Vista notebook, or do I have to buy/upgrade new software?</blockquote>
I have Office 2003 on Vista, no issues.
 
Forgot about this thread... but last week Best Buy had two Compaq laptops for sub $400.



An Intel Core Duo with 2GB, 160GB HD, 15.6 16:9 screen with 10-key style keyboard for $349

Another one with 3GB/250GB HD for $399



Man... laptops are so cheap now... netbooks have forced down pricing of the "real" notebooks (kind of like foreclosures).
 
[quote author="Girl In the OC" date=1232768067]I went to Costco yesterday, and they had some really nice HP's that I may be happy with. They all had Vista though... and I have never even once heard anyone who liked Vista. It was mentioned that Vista is going away this summer, and Microsoft will have a new operating system???



Anyone know anything about it???</blockquote>
Vista is fine now, provided that you are using it on a machine that meets it's requirement. Windows 7 is in the process of beta testing, but after the hammering Vista took after a rushed release... I wouldn't look for it anytime soon. The new Intel 45nm "Clarksfield" chips are scheduled to be released to manufacturers towards the end of this year, so they might wait until they have ample test time with those before letting Windows 7 out of the gate.



Personally, I'm going to buy a <a href="http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=Entertainment+powerhouse&series_name=HDX18t_series">HP HDX 18t</a>:

<blockquote>? Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)

? Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q9100 (2.26 GHz, 12mb cache)

? 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) - For 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics

? 250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

? 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT

? 18.4" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)

? Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer

? Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)

? Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth

? 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

</blockquote>


It'll meet every business requirement and allow me to take my entertainment with me on the road as I travel this year. Windows 7 will only make it better, and by the time the new Intel chips come out my wife will be loooking for a new lappy anyway.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1234919725]Oscar:



That's no longer a laptop... that's a desktop on your lap!



Will that even fit in your trashcan?</blockquote>
Just barely ;)



In December of 2006, I bought a "bleeding edge" desktop system and spent ~$4k with the 24" monitor included. Now, less than two years later, I can't upgrade the video card without upgrading the MoBo, processor, RAM, and switching to the 64-bit version of Vista. To be clear, there is *nothing* wrong with my desktop system... right now. But something is gonna break before it hits it's 3rd anniversary and I will be stuck paying for the upgrades out of pocket. At any rate, I have learned my lesson; I bought the most advanced I could afford and added the 3-year accidental damage protection, full replacement no matter what happens, plan. Sometime in December 2011, I'm going to leave it on top of a rental car as I pull out of my driveway and smile as it slides off and smashes into the pavement.



Ooops! :red:



Hopefully, HP will have plenty of replacement parts in stock but, if not, I will be happy to accept whatever is then-current and comparable. Do you think they will be making Q9100's in 3 years?
 
A quick pic of my new laptop taken with my cell and transferred via bluetooth. Woot!
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[quote author="Oscar" date=1235720775]A quick pic of my new laptop taken with my cell and transferred via bluetooth. Woot!</blockquote>


Haha... I see the by products of the Hennessey Challenger...
 
Oscar...



That laptop looks awesome!



I would just have to wonder the same thing others have mentioned... would I really want to be carrying that large of a laptop around with me, and in my line of work... I would need to. If I didn't need to take it places with me... I would totally go with something like yours!



But, for my parents... I am recommending a laptop like yours, just since they tend to stick with a purchase for a lot longer, they won't be carrying it around (will be their primary home computer) and I know they will love the larger screen size.
 
[quote author="Girl In the OC" date=1235728371]Oscar...



That laptop looks awesome!



I would just have to wonder the same thing others have mentioned... would I really want to be carrying that large of a laptop around with me, and in my line of work... I would need to. If I didn't need to take it places with me... I would totally go with something like yours!



But, for my parents... I am recommending a laptop like yours, just since they tend to stick with a purchase for a lot longer, they won't be carrying it around (will be their primary home computer) and I know they will love the larger screen size.</blockquote>


The one sitting next to it is a Dell B120 with a standard def 14.1" screen. I'm not gonna lie and say the HDX18 is light weight, but it isn't as heavy as I thought it was going to be either. The main difference is that this is much wider... about 3.25" wider than the Dell. The metal touchpad takes some getting used to but I love the full sized keyboard with 10-key pad. So far though, the fingerprint reader has been the most fun. and they do have a smaller 16" that shares most of the guts and all of the interface options.



Thanks for making me go shopping!
 
[quote author="Girl In the OC" date=1235728371]Oscar...



That laptop looks awesome!



I would just have to wonder the same thing others have mentioned... would I really want to be carrying that large of a laptop around with me, and in my line of work... I would need to. If I didn't need to take it places with me... I would totally go with something like yours!



But, for my parents... I am recommending a laptop like yours, just since they tend to stick with a purchase for a lot longer, they won't be carrying it around (will be their primary home computer) and I know they will love the larger screen size.</blockquote>


For a guy, a 9 pound laptop is no big deal. I carry around a 9.2 pound 17" Gateway P-7811 FX with no problem.
 
Ok, so this is what I am considering. Comments? Suggestions? Must haves/not important?



Thanks! :cheese:







HP Pavilion Laptop with Intel? Centrino? 2 Processor Technology

Model: dv7-1285dx

SKU: 9166323



Warranty Terms - Parts1 year limited

Warranty Terms - Labor1 year limited

Product Height 1.7"

Product Width 15.6"

Product Weight 7.6 lbs.

Product Depth 11.2"

Processor Brand Intel?

Processor Platform Intel? Centrino? 2

Processor Intel? Core?2 Duo Mobile

Processor Speed 2.4GHz

Display Type WXGA high-definition widescreen with BrightView technology (1440 x 900)

Screen Size 17"

System Bus 1066MHz

Cache Memory 3MB on die Level 2

System Memory (RAM) 6GB

System Memory (RAM) Expandable To8GB

Type of Memory (RAM) DDR2

Hard Drive Type Serial ATA (5400 rpm)

Hard Drive Size 500GB

Optical Drive Double-layer DVD?RW/CD-RW

Optical Drive Speeds Drive speeds not specified

Direct-Disc Labeling Yes

Digital Media Reader or Slots Yes, digital media card reader

Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

Video Memory 512MB (dedicated); up to 2558MB 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 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

Wireless Networking Wireless-A+B+G+N

Bluetooth-Enabled No

S-Video Outputs None

Additional Audio/Video Connectors 1 HDMI

Audio SRS Premium Sound

Speakers Built-in stereo and subwoofer

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 with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad

Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

Included Software HP MediaSmart; Microsoft Works; muvee Reveal; Cyberlink DVD Suite; Adobe Acrobat Reader and moreIncluded

Accessories HP mobile remote

ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
 
You don't mention your intended usage, but that is a relatively powerful machine. A 2.4 GHz dual core processor will keep most people happy, and 500GB is plenty of room for a laptop hard drive. The videocard (Geforce 9600GT) is decent for a laptop (most cheap laptops have integrated Intel video chipsets) and would enable you to play most games and acceptable speeds. (If the means anything to you) The lack of bluetooth wireless may or may not bother you. If you need a Blue Ray drive, you can always pick up a Blue Ray reader than burns DVDs for around $100 on Ebay.



Though a 7.6 pound machine wouldn't bother me, it might bother you. As Serious Weapon pointed out, unlike him I am not a feminized male and no one will ever confuse me for a woman.



Really, if the weight is no problem, then it looks like a nice machine.



What kind of price are you getting on it?
 
Best Buy has it for $1,199.99



Basically, I'm going to use it for half work/half play.



For work, I am in outside sales... so the size is both a positive and negative. Positives are: a larger screen is soooo much better when working in spreadsheets (which I do a lot) and for client presentations it will show well when a projector is not an option during presentations and power points. Negatives: size for taking it on appts and weight.



I apprciate the 10 key, and like that it has tons of storage.



I REALLY like the 6GB RAM!
 
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