Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Del Boy on 15 October 2009, 18:44:09

Title: Laptops
Post by: Del Boy on 15 October 2009, 18:44:09
Want to get my son a new laptop for christmas, must be a high spec 4gb ram and a good sized HDD around the £500 mark musn't be Acer as his as gone big style down hill at only 2 years old and he does look after his stuff too anyone have any good reccomendations?
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: KillerWatt on 15 October 2009, 18:46:30
4GB of RAM is a complete waste unless he intends to be running a 64bit OS, as well as 64bit applications.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 18:48:14
i do keep saying avoid acer ::)

3G is max worthwhile on 32bit windows.  4g not worthwhile on any ver of windows, due to the way 64 bit consumes more ram anyway.


if its for general lappy use, Intel 965 or better chipset with core2 duo >2ghz.  other spec depends on exact usage
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 15 October 2009, 18:48:29
personally my choice would be HP or Toshiba..
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 18:49:29
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personally my choice would be HP or Toshiba..
yup, possible dell, seeing as they seem to have fixed their reliability issues
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: Del Boy on 15 October 2009, 18:58:19
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personally my choice would be HP or Toshiba..
yup, possible dell, seeing as they seem to have fixed their reliability issues

Yeah, was looking at a HP one earlier for £579 seemed nice when does Windows 7 come out?
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: KillerWatt on 15 October 2009, 19:01:50
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when does Windows 7 come out?
The OEM's already have it, Joe Public can buy the retail version from next thursday onwards.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: waspy on 15 October 2009, 19:07:04
I have a Toshiba & it's very good :)
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 19:17:28
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when does Windows 7 come out?
The OEM's already have it, Joe Public can buy the retail version from next thursday onwards.
OEMs not allowed to sell laptops with Win7 until its released 23rd...
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 19:19:03
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personally my choice would be HP or Toshiba..
yup, possible dell, seeing as they seem to have fixed their reliability issues

Yeah, was looking at a HP one earlier for £579 seemed nice when does Windows 7 come out?
I have an HP one - HP Compaq 6720s - has GAY turquiose LEDs, and no rather HDD LED  >:(

Other than that, can't fault it for my needs...
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: KillerWatt on 15 October 2009, 19:23:09
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when does Windows 7 come out?
The OEM's already have it, Joe Public can buy the retail version from next thursday onwards.
OEMs not allowed to sell laptops with Win7 until its released 23rd...
Who said anything about selling?
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 19:28:08
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when does Windows 7 come out?
The OEM's already have it, Joe Public can buy the retail version from next thursday onwards.
OEMs not allowed to sell laptops with Win7 until its released 23rd...
Who said anything about selling?
Nobody - I was just clarifying the point.  Everyone (OEMs, retailers, Integrators) have had it for a while...
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 15 October 2009, 19:35:03
A point to note, if he is to playing a lot of games, then consider the graphics.

If gaming then look for one with purpose built in graphics rather then just software controlled (games get jerky)
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2009, 19:38:32
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A point to note, if he is to playing a lot of games, then consider the graphics.

If gaming then look for one with purpose built in graphics rather then just software controlled (games get jerky)
No laptop is good for games, so if you want games, get an Xbox ;)
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: BigAl on 16 October 2009, 00:41:02
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Want to get my son a new laptop for christmas, must be a high spec 4gb ram and a good sized HDD around the £500 mark musn't be Acer as his as gone big style down hill at only 2 years old and he does look after his stuff too anyone have any good reccomendations?
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5070736/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/2|cat_14418968|Laptops+and+mini+laptops|14419039/Trail/searchtext%3ESAMSUNG.htm
 has had good reviews and is one pence shy of your price

Oops: forgot to add i would wait until Windows 7 is out and models are available with it installed, rather than buy with a "free upgrade" voucher, which in most cases is'nt free
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: mantahatch on 16 October 2009, 12:21:06
Personally I would not buy a dell, I have one for work and the BIOS is so unstable it is rubbish, all I was trying to do was re install windows and the bios wont let me, even with the correct password.  >:(
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: feeutfo on 16 October 2009, 12:40:44
do they do a cool one, or are they all the same heat wise?
 I cant stand the heat laptops kick out.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2009, 14:00:45
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Personally I would not buy a dell, I have one for work and the BIOS is so unstable it is rubbish, all I was trying to do was re install windows and the bios wont let me, even with the correct password.  >:(
Thats a configuration issue, rather than a Dell problem.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2009, 14:02:21
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do they do a cool one, or are they all the same heat wise?
 I cant stand the heat laptops kick out.
Most newer ones based on Core2 chips/Centrino 2 are much cooler running.  That said, my HP, the power drivers for the LCD inverter are obviously right in the bottom of the panel, which has a weird hinge arrangement, meaning the bottom of the screen burns your legs
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: Del Boy on 17 October 2009, 15:41:22
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do they do a cool one, or are they all the same heat wise?
 I cant stand the heat laptops kick out.
Most newer ones based on Core2 chips/Centrino 2 are much cooler running.  That said, my HP, the power drivers for the LCD inverter are obviously right in the bottom of the panel, which has a weird hinge arrangement, meaning the bottom of the screen burns your legs
The acer runs stupidly hot.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: tunnie on 17 October 2009, 15:46:11
don't think i ever found a laptop that runs at a temp thats its acutally usable on my lap. Within 2 hours it gets too hot.

Latest Macbook's run fairly cool though.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: KillerWatt on 17 October 2009, 17:07:10
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Personally I would not buy a dell, I have one for work and the BIOS is so unstable it is rubbish, all I was trying to do was re install windows and the bios wont let me, even with the correct password.  >:(
Thats a configuration issue, rather than a Dell problem.
Agreed.

Set the BIOS up properly and you won't have a problem.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: KillerWatt on 17 October 2009, 17:08:12
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don't think i ever found a laptop that runs at a temp thats its acutally usable on my lap. Within 2 hours it gets too hot.
That's what happens when you block the vents at the bottom by placing it directly on your legs.
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2009, 17:51:45
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don't think i ever found a laptop that runs at a temp thats its acutally usable on my lap. Within 2 hours it gets too hot.

Latest Macbook's run fairly cool though.
Most modern ones aren't too bad. Mine would be fine if the bloody thing had normal hinges...
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: tunnie on 17 October 2009, 20:47:02
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don't think i ever found a laptop that runs at a temp thats its acutally usable on my lap. Within 2 hours it gets too hot.

Latest Macbook's run fairly cool though.
Most modern ones aren't too bad. Mine would be fine if the bloody thing had normal hinges...

Part of the problems on earlier laptops i had were that the fans drew in cool air from underneath, and my lap would block that  ;D

These days desktops do me!
Title: Re: Laptops
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 17 October 2009, 21:15:15
I've used Toshibas for the last 12 years with no problems at all. My oldest lad has just got back from Afghanistan and apart from some wear on the outsie of the case (soldiers eh  ;)) its working well.

Dont forget, buy cheap, buy twice .............