Computers - help me I'm a numpty!

[Harry Flashman]

Chaps,

My work laptop has tonnes of protections etc on it and I don't want to use it for music downloads etc. Apart from anything else, the company doesn't allow it (Americans, eh?!).

So, I need a laptop. I need it for:

- downloading and storing music to an iPod so latest USB/Firewire capability
- storing and editing photos
- burning CDs and DVD
- audio output to a conventional (Musical Fidelity A3.2) amplifier
- Both conventional and wireless broadband capable (at the moment would just use mates' broadband, eventually get wireless at home)
- all integrated i.e. no clunky off-board CD writers/modems etc.

Not important:
- playing games
- watching movies on it (although basic DVD capability useful, nothing particularly high quality needed except for the machine's DVD writing capability)
- size - casing can be quite big/ugly; the reason I want a laptop is so that I don't have a desktop cluttering up the house; it will be put away between uses.

I know nothing about computers. I'll obviously need a big hard drive, but do I need a particularly quick processor for the above tasks, or can I get by with something not mega-whizzy. No need for a serious graphics card, I assume etc.

So, help me. What sort of spec do I need, and how little can I buy one for. Or, better still, anyone know anyone reliable that I can spec one to and get them to build it (warranty of some sort useful). Or should I just buy a Dell or something? If so, what sort of spec?

Any help appreciated.

I was quite tempted by an iBook, but I get the impression that they are 1) overpriced for what they do and 2) expensive to fix if things go wrong.

Or, leftfield, can I spend less and build an absolutely miniature desktop in a funky case that can sit next to the a/v setup and do all this stuff, and use the (CRT) TV as a monitor? Hmm?

I mean, I found these - the latter one seems quite cheap; but can I do it even more cost effectively by paring a laptop down to the bare necessities for the tasks I want it for?

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?id=3493

http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10281477&pid=5&rstrat=3180

[mechsympathy]

I found Dell were the cheapest. I went through their business side and bought one over the phone as the internet shop will sell you extra warranties that you can't opt out of. It was well under £500. At the moment they have something advertised at £421.

[slinky]

have a look at www.mini-itx.com for ideas and parts on the mini machine for your av setup...

hth,

slinky

[jimothy]

Harry Flashman said:

I was quite tempted by an iBook, but I get the impression that they are 1) overpriced for what they do and 2) expensive to fix if things go wrong.

They're not overpriced for what you get - all macs are relatively 'expensive' because they're highly spec'd. And they're no more expensive to fix than any other laptop.

You will find they're very easy to use - the software just works as you'd expect it to. Out of the box as well, it has a photo management application for digital cameras (which dumps on everything else that comes with cameras of with Windoze), movie capture and editing, DVD burning with menu creation, music writing, iPod integration, ethernet and wireless network built in, USB 2 ports...

Pop into the Apple store in Regent Street if you get a chance, and have a play - they've got loads out to play with. Get one of their guys to show it to you.

After having a powerbook, I'd never go back to a Windows PC.

[Incorrigible]

mechsympathy said:

I found Dell were the cheapest. I went through their business side and bought one over the phone as the internet shop will sell you extra warranties that you can't opt out of. It was well under £500. At the moment they have something advertised at £421.

Hardly going to help with the "connect to the current AV set up" aspect though is it

HF said:

Or, leftfield, can I spend less and build an absolutely miniature desktop in a funky case that can sit next to the a/v setup and do all this stuff, and use the (CRT) TV as a monitor? Hmm?

That's what I'm doing

Even with the laptop you still get trailing wires to the hi-fi, power cables etc

As for spec, sorry I'm of a similar numpty level. I've got an M-delta Audiophile 24/96 soundcard which is about the only bit of the system I can reccomend

It also depends on your AV amp, as a lot of the modern ones have input for your computer video so you can get automatic video switching when you switch to PC/DVD Play station etc

[Ali_D]

mechsympathy said:

I found Dell were the cheapest. I went through their business side and bought one over the phone as the internet shop will sell you extra warranties that you can't opt out of. It was well under £500. At the moment they have something advertised at £421.

You can opt out of the warranties - you get 3 warranty options, you need to pick the one that 'sounds' the most expensive - it is however the standard manufactuers warranty at no cost.

[timtonal]

I can remove the hard disk from my work laptop easily by unscrewing a small panel on the side.

I bought a second hard disk (and a mounting kit though it worked fine without- just a bit harder to remove) and obtained the manufacturer's recovery disk off a friendly Desktop Support person (you may get away with just installing Windows XP as it has many drivers on the CDRom).

Now I swap the disk (power OFF of course!) and I'm away!

It cost me a total of £130 a couple of years ago - much cheaper than buying a new one.

[Harry Flashman]

Thanks chaps - keep suggestions coming. Like the idea of a Mac (especially as this is largely driven by the recent acquisition of an iPod) - but they are so much more expensive; just not sure it's worth it.

[miniandy]

jimothy said:

Harry Flashman said: I was quite tempted by an iBook, but I get the impression that they are 1) overpriced for what they do and 2) expensive to fix if things go wrong. They're not overpriced for what you get - all macs are relatively 'expensive' because they're highly spec'd. And they're no more expensive to fix than any other laptop. You will find they're very easy to use - the software just works as you'd expect it to. Out of the box as well, it has a photo management application for digital cameras (which dumps on everything else that comes with cameras of with Windoze), movie capture and editing, DVD burning with menu creation, music writing, iPod integration, ethernet and wireless network built in, USB 2 ports... Pop into the Apple store in Regent Street if you get a chance, and have a play - they've got loads out to play with. Get one of their guys to show it to you. After having a powerbook, I'd never go back to a Windows PC.

Seconded. I can't praise my iBook enough. Does the job and does it well.

[ZR1cliff]

Harry Flashman said:

Chaps, My work laptop has tonnes of protections etc on it and I don't want to use it for music downloads etc. Apart from anything else, the company doesn't allow it (Americans, eh?!).

I bought a new PC around 3 months ago and got all the Norton Protection i could with it,,yesterday i had a problem with my PC and also recently i had noticed it had slowed down considerably so i rang the BT Broad Band Help line,,they helped me sort out the problem and recomended using "SpyBot" Search and Destroy which i downloaded and ran a check ,it found around 600 virus's??
Ime downloading music from "Limewire" and i think that is the main source of the virus's,should Norton have stopped the virus getting thru??

[grumpy rob]

our company has used a company called Morgan Computers for laptops in the past, they get end of line stuff from Dell/Toshiba and the like can be very good on prices compared to the newer models.

[jimothy]

Harry Flashman said:

Thanks chaps - keep suggestions coming. Like the idea of a Mac (especially as this is largely driven by the recent acquisition of an iPod) - but they are so much more expensive; just not sure it's worth it.

Entry level iBook wades in at £700 - goes up to £1000 if you want the 14" one with a DVD burner. Yes, it is more expensive, but for that you get a dan fine machine, with better software than you'll get on any PC laptop.

I'd recommend the trip to an apple store to try one out - you'll see why people pay more for them.

[MKGriff]

You are going to both like and dislike this suggestion, but an Elonex Artisan multi media PC, costing just under a grand, will enable you to throw away your video and dvd player, so should sit nicely under your TV. It comes with dual TV tuners, so that you can record direct to the hard disk, whilst watching another channel. It will take care of all of your requirements, plus a few toys on top. Comes with an RF keyboard, which will not be a blot on your living room.

>> Edited by MKGriff on Tuesday 19th July 15:58

[Andy M]

Buy the iBook - if you don't like it I'll buy it off you.

I've been a Mac user for just over 3 years now and love the things. Can never see myself going back to Windows.

If you do decide to buy, wait for a couple of weeks - supposedly new iBooks are just round the corner (which will provide you with the option of buying the newer model, or pick up the 'old' model for cheaper).

For what they are they aren't expensive

[Harry Flashman]

MKGriff said:

You are going to both like and dislike this suggestion, but an Elonex Artisan multi media PC, costing just under a grand, will enable you to throw away your video and dvd player, so should sit nicely under your TV. It comes with dual TV tuners, so that you can record direct to the hard disk, whilst watching another channel. It will take care of all of your requirements, plus a few toys on top. Comes with an RF keyboard, which will not be a blot on your living room. >> Edited by MKGriff on Tuesday 19th July 15:58

If I didn't already have DVD player etc, this would actually be a great suggestion! However; £1000 is a bit of a waste to replace stuff I can already do. Hence my quest for the cheapest route for music downloads etc - added bonus of a laptop is that I could use it on the train etc.

[DanL]

ZR1cliff said:

I bought a new PC around 3 months ago and got all the Norton Protection i could with it,,yesterday i had a problem with my PC and also recently i had noticed it had slowed down considerably so i rang the BT Broad Band Help line,,they helped me sort out the problem and recomended using "SpyBot" Search and Destroy which i downloaded and ran a check ,it found around 600 virus's?? Ime downloading music from "Limewire" and i think that is the main source of the virus's,should Norton have stopped the virus getting thru??

Two suggestions (assuming you're not already doing them):

1) Update your virus checker on (at least) a weekly basis. Ensure that "on access" scanning is turned on.

2) Make sure you've got a firewall (Windows XP has one, failing that, Zone Alarm is a good free one).

You're probably doing both these things already, but it's worth checking.

Dan

[malman]

ZR1cliff said:

Harry Flashman said: Chaps, My work laptop has tonnes of protections etc on it and I don't want to use it for music downloads etc. Apart from anything else, the company doesn't allow it (Americans, eh?!). I bought a new PC around 3 months ago and got all the Norton Protection i could with it,,yesterday i had a problem with my PC and also recently i had noticed it had slowed down considerably so i rang the BT Broad Band Help line,,they helped me sort out the problem and recomended using "SpyBot" Search and Destroy which i downloaded and ran a check ,it found around 600 virus's?? Ime downloading music from "Limewire" and i think that is the main source of the virus's,should Norton have stopped the virus getting thru??

Most spyware is not self replicating and doesn't carry a payload so strictly speaking its not a virus and therefore Norton probably opened the door for it and gave it a cup of tea and a biscuit. Hang on it does that for viruses too

Some of the virus checkers have spyware detection in them now but really you need to use spybot or adaware or ....