Laptop vs Laptop - DPChallenge Forums

10/16/2008 10:47:30 AM · #26

i am looking for something with lots of memory, a good chunk of RAM, an operating system that will cooperate( i might just deal with Vista, but ive never used it before), a good size screen(i dont know what size that is yet) marked at a moderatly low price. does that help?

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

10/16/2008 10:50:33 AM · #27

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

So long as everyone's definition of 'lots', 'good chunk', 'good sized' and 'moderately low' are the same - yes.

Check out the acer's. Acer's not writing me any commission checks, but I think you will find something you are looking for there at a much lower cost than some of the big brands.

Olympus 12-45mm /f4.0 Pro

10/16/2008 11:04:25 AM · #28

i didnt want to be specific with numbers cause they might not line up with any laptops. i think im gonna focus on the HP Pavillion unless its too small. thanks though

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

10/16/2008 11:09:31 AM · #29

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
i am looking for something with lots of memory, a good chunk of RAM, an operating system that will cooperate( i might just deal with Vista, but ive never used it before), a good size screen(i dont know what size that is yet) marked at a moderatly low price. does that help?

So long as everyone's definition of 'lots', 'good chunk', 'good sized' and 'moderately low' are the same - yes.

Check out the acer's. Acer's not writing me any commission checks, but I think you will find something you are looking for there at a much lower cost than some of the big brands.

I agree with

violinist123 on this. When family and friends ask about laptops these days, I tell them Acer as well. It's what I'll buy when I need a new one. Their prices are best and they seem to lack the odd quirks that so many other brands have. (Dells have funny battery & cooling issues; Compaqs breakdown; Toshiba are trouble-prone; Fujitsu are way too expensive; the list goes on.)

Even if you have to go out and buy another 1GB RAM memory stick, it's only about $30 and very easy to install. My laptop runs Vista with 1.5 GB of RAM just fine. As for HD, even 80GB is pretty good. Backup files to DVD or an external HD for storage, instead of leaving them to sit on the laptop forever.

And for that matter, Vista works just fine - all the anti-Vista hype is silly. I run it on two computers and have no issues whatsoever. It's like XP with some fancier graphics.

Screen size - 14.1/15" is pretty standard. Anything larger becomes a real pain in the butt to lug around. Anything smaller gets too small to work on easily.

$400 - $500 is about the best price you're going to find (I've been looking lately).

jjusa

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/16/2008 11:25:11 AM · #30

I have a Toshiba and it doesn't run hot at all...

10/16/2008 11:25:40 AM · #31

Originally posted by OdysseyF22:

Screen size - 14.1/15" is pretty standard. Anything larger becomes a real pain in the butt to lug around. Anything smaller gets too small to work on easily.

$400 - $500 is about the best price you're going to find (I've been looking lately).

ok thanks. ill go do more research and see what i can find. thanks:)

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/16/2008 11:30:49 AM · #32

Wow the Acer Aspire looks pretty good. im not sure why i didnt see it before.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

10/16/2008 11:39:17 AM · #33

Wife has 15.4" Tosh, seems fine, running XP Home.

I have a 17" Acer Aspire. Not too heavy to carry around. Upped RAM to 2Gbs when I bought it, it runs Vista Home Premium without any problems. It handles PS CS3 and Lightroom 2 without any problems. Really sharp and bright screen, and runs pretty cool with good battery life. Cost Â£500, but probably cheaper now.

Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM

10/16/2008 11:40:54 AM · #34

Well im off. Ill let you all know which one i get, IF i get it today. Talk to you all later

3DsArcher

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

10/16/2008 11:44:38 AM · #35

I remember a previous thread on this topic. I just tryed to find it but it is eluding me at the moment. I have a compaq & based on my personal experiances with it, I would reccommend not going with compaq & I'm sure that in that previous thread, Toshiba laptops were viewed somewhat negatively too. The company I work for uses Acer. We don't seem to have any problems with them at all.

dd1989

Fujifilm x100

10/16/2008 11:51:11 AM · #36

HP are very good, and if you google "hp discount codes" you can get 15% + some more off!

I got my step dad a really nice, dual core HP, 2gb, huge HD, for Â£340!

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/16/2008 05:59:02 PM · #37

Kirbic and OP- Since you (

Kirbic) brought them up, I strongly endorse the Thinkpad series. The Thinkpad stories are legendary. They routinely have very high discounts as well- that being said, I ordered my T61P shortly after it came out and had some troubles on the shipdate. My girlfriend also had some delays on her order on the standard T61 almost a year after I had received mine. So... system= awesome ordering/shipping process=headache, but once you get it you'll love it. Really the business class of any manufacturer is better (though they come at a cost). They typically have a higher quality case and are built for being lugged around by boneheaded employees, so they are perfectly suited (and in many cases over-engineered) for any normal person on the go. For all laptop users out there- I'd recommend checking out Tom Bihn's bags- incredible workmanship and quality materials. Back to the OP though... MAKE SURE YOU TEST OUT THE KEYBOARDS AND TRACKPADS! Each manufacturer varies immensely in these categories, and the feel of both is crucial to your happiness and efficiency when using the product, so make sure you try them out if you can for each manufacturer.
ETA: D'OH! Somehow missed that she had already left to buy it.... oh well.

Message edited by author 2008-10-16 21:59:31.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/16/2008 07:00:50 PM · #38

ok well i got the Compaq. Just to let you all know.

Prash

Nikon D90

10/16/2008 07:13:37 PM · #39

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
ok i checked out the Acer. Doesn't look like what im looking for unfortuantly. thanks for the suggestion though

Which part isn't what you are looking for? They have a variety of models. The only difference between laptops these days is the sticker on them denoting a brand and support agreements. All the guts are commodity parts.

That is true.. but not always. Most of the guts are common components... not all. Like I said, the display adapter and the physical screen elements are different with HP pavilion laptops... one big reason I went for HP and sent an inspiron back. Try it in a store for contrast if you dont believe me. Toshiba had something comparable for displays. But it boils down to what one weighs as important.. for me display was important as I spend 3-4 hours daily on this notebook for imaging related work.

Message edited by author 2008-10-16 23:14:23.

Prash

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/16/2008 07:14:02 PM · #40

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

ok well i got the Compaq. Just to let you all know.

Congrats! Just so you know, Compaq and HP are one family now;-)

10/16/2008 08:24:31 PM · #41

ugh the only thing really bugginh me so far is how stubborn the computer is when i upload music. it organizes it in weird ways depending on the cd

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/16/2008 08:56:33 PM · #42

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:

ugh the only thing really bugginh me so far is how stubborn the computer is when i upload music. it organizes it in weird ways depending on the cd

iTunes works good for keeping music files under control. You can get the windows version of it on line.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

10/16/2008 08:59:20 PM · #43

i actually hace iTunes, but didn't think of putting it on the laptop as well as my normal computer. can i just copy all my songs to put on my laptop, or is that impossible

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

10/16/2008 09:02:35 PM · #44

There is a way to move the entire library at one time if you have iTunes in both computers.

Jessi

Mamiya 645Pro TL

Mamiya 80mm f/2.8

10/16/2008 09:10:33 PM · #45

Originally posted by Prash:

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
ok i checked out the Acer. Doesn't look like what im looking for unfortuantly. thanks for the suggestion though

Which part isn't what you are looking for? They have a variety of models. The only difference between laptops these days is the sticker on them denoting a brand and support agreements. All the guts are commodity parts.

That is true.. but not always. Most of the guts are common components... not all. Like I said, the display adapter and the physical screen elements are different with HP pavilion laptops... one big reason I went for HP and sent an inspiron back.

*clip*

Inspirons are evil. I had one once. No more. It died a violent death after a long and agonizing sickness.

MattO

Nikon D4

10/16/2008 09:52:45 PM · #46

Originally posted by JesiLynR:

Originally posted by Prash:

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by JDubsgirl:
ok i checked out the Acer. Doesn't look like what im looking for unfortuantly. thanks for the suggestion though

Which part isn't what you are looking for? They have a variety of models. The only difference between laptops these days is the sticker on them denoting a brand and support agreements. All the guts are commodity parts.

That is true.. but not always. Most of the guts are common components... not all. Like I said, the display adapter and the physical screen elements are different with HP pavilion laptops... one big reason I went for HP and sent an inspiron back.

*clip*

Inspirons are evil. I had one once. No more. It died a violent death after a long and agonizing sickness.

And I have an Inspiron thats lived in the harshest enviroment I can think of, from 110 degree heat to 30 degree weather, it runs 10-17 hours a day, and is already 4.5 years old and the only casualty is the battery, which isnt an issue as I dont use it anyway. I think you can buy a bad anything. its just the number of bad ones are the ones always brought to light.

For what its worth, I have a dell Inspiron, an Acer Aspire, and my son and mom both have Compaq's that are a couple years old. My brother and his son have had several and the only Lemon was an HP, that he bought while in the service, and before the warrenty was up had been to HP for major fixes more times then I can remember. It was a true POS.

Matt

Tajhad

Canon EOS R

Canon RF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM

10/17/2008 03:54:38 AM · #47

I have been following this thread with interest - because I too am looking to upgrade.
Just to comment on my past experience I'll put my 2 cents worth in. Writing this I am using a HP Compaq nx6120. I have had it over 3 years and has never missed a beat. Did I get a "good" one or is it the brand ? - I don't know. I had a toshiba at work - wasn't overly reliable but I didn't like the keyboard feel/ layout etc. The new laptops coming into work are all Dell - work ok - but nobody likes them - again to do with the keyboard feel/ layout etc. So I think the comment about trying the feel and layout of them is important. With a laptop you are stuck with it - unlike a desktop where you can experiment with different keyboards/mice.
As far as screen size is concerned - I would prefer to go bigger. I am using a 15 inch screen but would like to go 17 inch. The weight/size aspect is not really an issue for me but I would like the bigger view for photo editoring. I was even considering going to Mac's but the 17" is worth about $4000 (Australian). HP produces a 17" for about $2800. Quite a price difference - but my concern is the quality of the screen. I am unsure of the quality of these screens. Because laptops haven't really gone into this size screen as yet - would it be the same quality as my present 15" one (I have the higher quality screen in my 15" - not the standard one)? I am yet to answer this question - but I certainly couldn't go back to a 14" (or worse still - a 13") screen.
As far as reliability - my personal experience with my present HP has been a good one.

Message edited by author 2008-10-17 07:57:11.

Yomi

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR

10/17/2008 04:08:11 AM · #48

In May I bought me a new laptop. I needed one for school to take and do homework on, ect. My wife had one we got her for her work a year before. I always swore I'd never get a laptop, that I was sufficient with my desktop. I thought that the power was unmatched to a desktop, I didn't think they could compete.

So when I was looking around I ended up getting a Sager 9262... Holy crap how far laptops have become. I haven't touched my desktop since I got my hands on it. So much more faster than my desktop, plus I have 4gb of ram, I'm thinking of getting another 4 for it as well.

Congrats on your laptop. I didn't know how great they were... I was a stubborn one, lol.

Tajhad the screen on mine is amazing! I can view my pics at 1920 X 1200. I haven't had any problems with it at all.