Discussion
Lad and Lasses
I have come to the point where I am going to buy a Laptop, it will mostly be a go between home and work and therefore doesn't require large amounts of battery life, although if it did it would be nice. A large screen and dedicated graphics card are requirements as it would be used for DVD play back, mobile cad work and DV Recordings from a yet to be bought videocamera are stuff it must be able to handle. It will be used for writing DVD's from the camera, I suppose I need to find out which DVD format will be accepted from my Pioneer DVD at home. If anyone has any suggestions of any makes I should stay clear off I would be greatful. My gut instinct at the moment is to get a big name brand either Dell, Hp, Tosh or Sony (I think these are more looks that actual performance?)
Cheers A.
I have come to the point where I am going to buy a Laptop, it will mostly be a go between home and work and therefore doesn't require large amounts of battery life, although if it did it would be nice. A large screen and dedicated graphics card are requirements as it would be used for DVD play back, mobile cad work and DV Recordings from a yet to be bought videocamera are stuff it must be able to handle. It will be used for writing DVD's from the camera, I suppose I need to find out which DVD format will be accepted from my Pioneer DVD at home. If anyone has any suggestions of any makes I should stay clear off I would be greatful. My gut instinct at the moment is to get a big name brand either Dell, Hp, Tosh or Sony (I think these are more looks that actual performance?)
Cheers A.
Hi
We have just bought Dell Inspiron 5150s very quick, have all the features you want (if you spec them that way) and they are very good value.
They are pretty hefty but I don't really consider that a problem.
Cad work and rendering for movies will use a lot of processor and memory so make sure you get something with decent bits!
Oh and the screen running at 1600x1200 is excellent.
D.
We have just bought Dell Inspiron 5150s very quick, have all the features you want (if you spec them that way) and they are very good value.
They are pretty hefty but I don't really consider that a problem.
Cad work and rendering for movies will use a lot of processor and memory so make sure you get something with decent bits!
Oh and the screen running at 1600x1200 is excellent.
D.
Go out and buy the camcorder that you need/want.
Then when you know you've got a particular interface for the laptop, this will make it easier for you to narrow down which laptop the interfaces provided.
If you're doing video, the more ram and hard disk space the better. Processor next, most modern laptops will play dvd format files and discs with a drive. Processing the video is going to be the biggest strain on the system and the possibility of a dedicated card (possibly pcmcia, if they do one, i'm not sure), would be a idea.
Then when you know you've got a particular interface for the laptop, this will make it easier for you to narrow down which laptop the interfaces provided.
If you're doing video, the more ram and hard disk space the better. Processor next, most modern laptops will play dvd format files and discs with a drive. Processing the video is going to be the biggest strain on the system and the possibility of a dedicated card (possibly pcmcia, if they do one, i'm not sure), would be a idea.
annodomini2 said:
....
Then when you know you've got a particular interface for the laptop, this will make it easier for you to narrow down which laptop the interfaces provided.
.....
AFAIK every (digital) camcorder uses firewire (i-link in sony speak) and only the most budget of laptops should not have it.
ADL, I have an iBook (mac), and it is great for basic video editing out of the box. Just depends upon what else you want to do, and how much you have to spend.
Sparks
The spek levels of laptops now have exceeded even my desktop AMD 1800+ with 512DDR and 128 Nvidia. So I will be looking at the same memory and graphics card. Either a 64mb video or 128Ati 9000 card. It will mostlikely be a sony camcorder so sony laptop would look good. I looked at a 60Gig HD this should be ok I think!!!
I would advise getting the largest disk you can or get yourself a machine with two firewire ports and an external hard drive. Video eats disk space. Plenty of RAM is also a good idea, although I run iMovie at home in 256Mb.
If you get a Sony camera, I don't think (although not sure) that getting a Sony laptop gives you anything over any other brand.
Also budget for some decent editing software if going wintel, as the 'free' one isn't that great (so i've heard).
Sparks
If you get a Sony camera, I don't think (although not sure) that getting a Sony laptop gives you anything over any other brand.
Also budget for some decent editing software if going wintel, as the 'free' one isn't that great (so i've heard).
Sparks
I recommend two places :
Here, EuroPC, they do new, refurbs and end of line stock, quite good discounts, all with 3yr warranties.
www.e-inbusiness-affiliate.com/u/europc/b.asp?id=1363
or Dell direct.
www.dell.co.uk
If you go to the homepage and select the lowest menu item on the right hand side, Dell Outlet. Which has periodic excellent deals on new laptops and so on.
PS
Here, EuroPC, they do new, refurbs and end of line stock, quite good discounts, all with 3yr warranties.
www.e-inbusiness-affiliate.com/u/europc/b.asp?id=1363
or Dell direct.
www.dell.co.uk
If you go to the homepage and select the lowest menu item on the right hand side, Dell Outlet. Which has periodic excellent deals on new laptops and so on.
PS One thing to think about is the new Centrino chip set for Windows laptops. Ok, so they arent as fast at between 1.2Ghz and 1.8Ghz.... but they are built for battery life and I recently got one for the wife. She's getting well over 4 hours on one charge!!! And the laptop weights just over 3Kgs. Very impressive and well worth the slight price difference and slightly lower performance....
I mean, how many people really need a 3Ghz laptop to type out an email on the train?
I mean, how many people really need a 3Ghz laptop to type out an email on the train?
pbrettle said:
I mean, how many people really need a 3Ghz laptop to type out an email on the train?
Not many . . . which is why yesterday I bought the Whoozette an 18 month old remanufactured Toshiba Portege 2000 for £800. 1.1kg, 2 hour charge on the titchy main battery, up to 7 hours with the addon battery, and built-in wi-fi.
The current, virtually identical model costs twice as much,
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