Laptop thoughts?
Discussion
No idea what to get me Julie for xmas. She mutters about a laptop.
Doesn't need to be too flash, will probably go a for a wirelss card and widgets on the main PC to do internet things.
Without spending Wedg1e's Wad, (ie I'm a cheapskate and anyway it'll rarely get used), any ideas? Maybe even a tidy used one?
And then what do I need to get it, and the main PC, onto the broadband? Are we talking wireless routers, PASCAL, Fortran and COBOL or what?
Doesn't need to be too flash, will probably go a for a wirelss card and widgets on the main PC to do internet things.
Without spending Wedg1e's Wad, (ie I'm a cheapskate and anyway it'll rarely get used), any ideas? Maybe even a tidy used one?
And then what do I need to get it, and the main PC, onto the broadband? Are we talking wireless routers, PASCAL, Fortran and COBOL or what?
wedg1e said:
No idea what to get me Julie for xmas. She mutters about a laptop.
Doesn't need to be too flash, will probably go a for a wirelss card and widgets on the main PC to do internet things.
Without spending Wedg1e's Wad, (ie I'm a cheapskate and anyway it'll rarely get used), any ideas? Maybe even a tidy used one?
And then what do I need to get it, and the main PC, onto the broadband? Are we talking wireless routers, PASCAL, Fortran and COBOL or what?
Wedg1e,
Pop into PC World and have a look at their Advent range. Cheap but well made!
Or have a look at Dell's website. If your going the EBay have a look for IBM ThinkPads etc
Saying that I do remember saying that Staples are doing the IBM R50's for £399.
Wireless router wise it depends on what broadbean connection you have. Have a look at Linksys routers. About £60 online.
Hi Wedg1e,
There are loads of different options for laptops these days, and it all depends on budget. For example, you could spend well over a grand on a brand new Sony Vaio, or pop into Staples and pick up an IBM for just under 400 quid. Again, all depends on what you want to use it for.
At my place, I run various laptops ranging from a top of the range Sony Vaio, and some lower spec Dells. If you only want something to surf the web with, then something like a second hand Dell C600/C800/C810 would do the trick, and probably cost you around £250 quid from that well known internet auction site. If you want the peace of mind of a warranty too, then pop along to Staples or PC World and pick up something from the bargin range. Apparently they have a Packard Bell on offer at the moment, and whilst I wouldn't really buy one for everyday use due to the build quality and longevity, I'm sure it would suit you just fine as an occasional use laptop. If you want something thats a bit more future proofed, then something like a new Dell Inspiron with a 3 year warranty could be another option, and shouldn't cost more than around 600 quid.
If you want something a bit more powerful with the best screen, think about a new/secondhand Sony Vaio with something called an X-Brite screen. They really cannot be beaten in terms of picture quality. Some of the Toshibas are also using this screen now. Thinking about it, there are simply hundreds of makes and models out there, and it really does depend on what you want to use it for. My fastest laptop runs at 2800Mhz, and my slowest runs at 750Mhz - Both of them run Windows XP and will browse the internet all day long with no problems, but if you want to start editing photos or storing lots of music etc, then you really need a higher spec laptop.
As for broadband, something like this will sort all your problems:-
[url]www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=155&osCsid=b8187f63aad13a5268adeb4a56f37334[/url]
I use one here and its great! With that package, you also get a laptop wireless network card which will solve the problem of needing to find a laptop with the wireless function already built in. You just insert the suplied card and you're away! If you also want to make your desktop PC wireless, you can buy aditional USB wireless adapters quite cheaply. If you find a laptop with the wireless capabilities already built in, then you can also buy the same wireless router without the added card.
Tell you what, let me know some more details about what you want the laptop to do and I will try and find you some examples to suit your needs! Also let me know a rough figure that you want to spend!
Dan.
There are loads of different options for laptops these days, and it all depends on budget. For example, you could spend well over a grand on a brand new Sony Vaio, or pop into Staples and pick up an IBM for just under 400 quid. Again, all depends on what you want to use it for.
At my place, I run various laptops ranging from a top of the range Sony Vaio, and some lower spec Dells. If you only want something to surf the web with, then something like a second hand Dell C600/C800/C810 would do the trick, and probably cost you around £250 quid from that well known internet auction site. If you want the peace of mind of a warranty too, then pop along to Staples or PC World and pick up something from the bargin range. Apparently they have a Packard Bell on offer at the moment, and whilst I wouldn't really buy one for everyday use due to the build quality and longevity, I'm sure it would suit you just fine as an occasional use laptop. If you want something thats a bit more future proofed, then something like a new Dell Inspiron with a 3 year warranty could be another option, and shouldn't cost more than around 600 quid.
If you want something a bit more powerful with the best screen, think about a new/secondhand Sony Vaio with something called an X-Brite screen. They really cannot be beaten in terms of picture quality. Some of the Toshibas are also using this screen now. Thinking about it, there are simply hundreds of makes and models out there, and it really does depend on what you want to use it for. My fastest laptop runs at 2800Mhz, and my slowest runs at 750Mhz - Both of them run Windows XP and will browse the internet all day long with no problems, but if you want to start editing photos or storing lots of music etc, then you really need a higher spec laptop.
As for broadband, something like this will sort all your problems:-
[url]www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=155&osCsid=b8187f63aad13a5268adeb4a56f37334[/url]
I use one here and its great! With that package, you also get a laptop wireless network card which will solve the problem of needing to find a laptop with the wireless function already built in. You just insert the suplied card and you're away! If you also want to make your desktop PC wireless, you can buy aditional USB wireless adapters quite cheaply. If you find a laptop with the wireless capabilities already built in, then you can also buy the same wireless router without the added card.
Tell you what, let me know some more details about what you want the laptop to do and I will try and find you some examples to suit your needs! Also let me know a rough figure that you want to spend!
Dan.
los angeles said:
Avoid Dell. Paid a small ransom got a big headache. Worse still, service department is in Delhi or Outer-Pradesh or some such exotic location.
I bought two Dell laptops around six months ago, both imo excellent, BUT I haven't had need to test their (Indian) after sales yet....
I stick with Dell these days, you get a decent spec for reasonable money. Yes, you could get cheaper, but will it last? I have two Dells now, an old Inspiron 7000 which still gives good service, and an Inspiron 8500, ditto (though this one is flimsier than most Dells, and lasted 6 weeks before being replaced if I remember correctly).
If I were buying one for myself (not through my business) I'd be looking at second hand Dells on eBay.
If I were buying one for myself (not through my business) I'd be looking at second hand Dells on eBay.
Hmmm, food for thought.
I think the plan (such as it is) is mostly for Ju to surf for porn (
) while she's in bed and I'm on the main PC
We have two prehistoric laptops: one's a Pentium 166 and the other a 450! Whilst either of them worked OK for a quick browse, I wouldn't fancy their chances with some pages these days. RAM is also rather restricted (16Mb on the 166!).
One problem that does leap nimbly to mind: we use a video sender system to get the ntl signal to the bedroom from the lounge. Alas my wirelss joystick uses 2.4GHz as its radio link; both that and the microwave oven cause interference on the bedroom tv due to being picked up by the video link. I presume a wireless network would/ could do the same? Not a problem for me (well unplugging the joystick tx/rx all the time is) but Ju is one of those people who has to have hte bloody telly on even if she's not watching it
...
I guess a cabled network could be installed instead.
I'm all for someone else paying the depreciation on equipment and would rather buy a one-year-old ued XYZ of decent spec than a brand-new ABC of questionable durability.
I think the plan (such as it is) is mostly for Ju to surf for porn (
) while she's in bed and I'm on the main PC We have two prehistoric laptops: one's a Pentium 166 and the other a 450! Whilst either of them worked OK for a quick browse, I wouldn't fancy their chances with some pages these days. RAM is also rather restricted (16Mb on the 166!).
One problem that does leap nimbly to mind: we use a video sender system to get the ntl signal to the bedroom from the lounge. Alas my wirelss joystick uses 2.4GHz as its radio link; both that and the microwave oven cause interference on the bedroom tv due to being picked up by the video link. I presume a wireless network would/ could do the same? Not a problem for me (well unplugging the joystick tx/rx all the time is) but Ju is one of those people who has to have hte bloody telly on even if she's not watching it
... I guess a cabled network could be installed instead.
I'm all for someone else paying the depreciation on equipment and would rather buy a one-year-old ued XYZ of decent spec than a brand-new ABC of questionable durability.
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