Computer Science Canada

Advice on Laptop
Author:  josh [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Advice on Laptop
Hey, my computer has really been giving me a hard time lately. I would like to buy a new laptop, however I am not sure if it is worth buying one now becuase next year I will be going to university.

Two questions:
1. I found this laptop in the futureshop add this week and I was thinking about getting it because it seems like a pretty good deal, and something that will last me for a few years in university (I am going into engineering so I figure I need something with pretty good specs). Does this look like a laptop that will be good for engineering programs/a good uni laptop in general.

2. Vista....is it really worth waiting for it, or is it just giong to be so buggy at the begingin, that it would be better to wait a while after it comes out and then get it?

EDIT: I just noticed that the vista won't be an issue, becuase they are offering a free upgrade to it when vista comes out.

Another question inatead:

For $300 more is it worth it to get the same laptop, but with a 120 GB HD, 2 GB RAM, and a Centrino Core 2 Duo processor instead of the Core Duo Processor?

Thanks
Author:  Naveg [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Looks good except for the graphics card - if you plan to do any gaming or video editting the intel GMA just won't cut it. As for upgrades, 120 GB is personal preference if you think you'll use it. You can never have too much RAM, especially with Vista around the corner I'd say go for 2 GB. The performance advantage of the Core 2 Duo over the Core Duo is negligible for most users.

My advice: see how much it would be to upgrade to 2 GB RAM after buying. If it would be 150 or more, go for the 300 dollar upgrade and get the Core 2 and 120 GB hd as well.
Author:  josh [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I don't really plan on using it for gaming (I have an Xbox for that) but I do like to do some photoshop work, but given the large amount of RAM, I think it would still be fine for this even with the medeocre graphics card.

Will the graphics on it be able to support the new graphics features in vista though? Like 3-D windows and the new UI?
Author:  Windsurfer [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
I recently bought a Dell Inspiron 640m (aka e1405) and i'm VERY happy with it. It has a 5 hour battery life (upgradable to 8 hours), core duo that can be upgraded to core 2 duo, an awesome wireless card, 14 inch wide screen, gig of ram, 80 gig hard drive.
All for only 900. I'm very pleased.
Author:  bugzpodder [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:29 am ]
Post subject: 
the santa rosa platform seems really tasty... core 2 duo with a 800 mhz frontside bus.
Author:  Silent Avenger [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hey josh, what is your planned budget because if we know that we can help you find the best laptop for your price range.
Author:  josh [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was looking to spend around 1000 - 1300 dollars proboly, see I was gunna go cheaper, but I was thinkink that if I am already going to spend money on a laptop, I may as well spend a little bit more and get something that is good and won't get outdated very fast.

I am in grade 12 now and I want it to last till at least second year, and I am want to go into engineering (most likely at waterloo).

So something that is fairly portable but doesn't need to be ultra compact.

Thanks
Author:  wtd [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
General advice: wait as long as you can to buy. In all likelihood, machines will only get faster, more powerful, and cheaper with time.
Author:  Naveg [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
wtd wrote:
General advice: wait as long as you can to buy. In all likelihood, machines will only get faster, more powerful, and cheaper with time.


Generally good advice, but the fact of the matter is that computer are ALWAYS getting better, so a few months after you buy you'll get that feeling of "i should have waited" regardless.

If you want it and will use it productively now, then go for it. If you're getting it in preparation for something in the future and don't really need it until then, wait as long as possible.
Author:  Silent Avenger [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well I 'd say listen to wtd's advise and wait as long as you can to get it. So I'd say getting the laptop a month or 2 before you go to university and that way you'll have the most up to date laptop and with the extra time before university you'll be able to familiarize with the laptop and set all the settings that you want on the laptop. I found an Alienware laptop that starts off in your price range which you might want to check out. here's the link: http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Area-51_m5550/area-51m_overview.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-AREA51M5550-R3&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT
Alienware is probably the best company to get a computer from but the one downside is that they're a little pricey. Another recommendation would be a media centre laptop from HP. One such as this: http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=666965&affixedcode=WW would probably meet your needs quite well. Also if you just can't wait to get a laptop there's something in future shop that's on sale and it's $1299.99 but worth every penny in my opinion it's a Toshiba laptop here's the link: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10080304&catid=22497

You also said that you were debating over getting vista or not and you don't have to worry about it with the Alienware and Toshiba laptops since tthe Alienware one comes with a free upgrade to windows vista when you get windows xp media centre or windows xp professional and the Toshiba laptop is Vista ready.
Author:  md [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Even two weeks before university is good, getting to know a laptop doesn't take very long at all.

If your looking to get a god laptop cheap, lenovo sells refurbished laptops fairly cheaply; they may not be the latest and greatest but they are good and really cheap. Thinkpads are really teh best laptops your llikely to be able to buy too.

Oh, and if your getting a laptop make sure it has really good battery life. If yoru going to be using it plugged in all the time then really just getting a cheaper and more powerful desktop is probably a better option.
Author:  josh [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for all the advice Very Happy.

The thing is I think I might be able to wait, and I would much rather wait, but my computer is rather....unpredictable. I can go for a few weeks with it working fine (like right now) and then I get these periods of major frustartion and problems, random blue screens, hard drive crashed and was totally destroyed, slowness, overall acting funny (I have done reformats and stuff as well).

Oh and silent avenger, that Toshiba laptop was the exact one I was looking at and nearly bought it. I am just worried that the graphics on it won't be capable of running the aero interface on vista.
Author:  TokenHerbz [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
waddup

ima get abnortgwe viv of eran for my cxomp
Author:  md [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:43 am ]
Post subject: 
josh wrote:
Thanks for all the advice Very Happy.

The thing is I think I might be able to wait, and I would much rather wait, but my computer is rather....unpredictable. I can go for a few weeks with it working fine (like right now) and then I get these periods of major frustartion and problems, random blue screens, hard drive crashed and was totally destroyed, slowness, overall acting funny (I have done reformats and stuff as well).

Oh and silent avenger, that Toshiba laptop was the exact one I was looking at and nearly bought it. I am just worried that the graphics on it won't be capable of running the aero interface on vista.


The solution there is not to run aero Razz Linux with Beryl as your window manager does everything aero does and more. Oh, and it requires way less in the way of hardware. Did I mention linux runs most windows games with a little emulation? Oh, and it's free Wink
Author:  Mazer [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:38 am ]
Post subject: 
TokenHerbz wrote:
waddup

ima get abnortgwe viv of eran for my cxomp

Kid, what the fuck are you thinking? Shape up already.
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
For a while I was thinking about Linux and I tried messing around with Ubuntu for a bit, however I am just not sure I really need to. I mean, windows, as much as it is a pain and not very good sometimes, does everything I really need it to, and it is much simpler knowing that most programs will work well with it.

And btw, games aren't an issue for me as I rarely if ever play any PC games.

I would really like to get a mac, but I am just worried that I might have compatability issues if I need to use any specialized software in an engineering program.
Author:  Andy [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
macs can run windows too you know
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
I know that now, but since most likley, It would be running mathematics/design applications, would there be to much of a decrease in performance running windows on a mac that it would make the software run to slow?

Also, how easy is it to get a mac set up with a dual boot with windows?
Author:  BenLi [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
i think the one you're looking at is pretty good. However, you can do better with that kind of money. While toshiba is rated pretty good for reliability, i would go dell. My dad just got a dell inspiron 6400 (aka e1505) with 2 ghz on core 2 duo, with 2GB RAM, and 80GB HD, all with a 256 mb ATI card. Not bad for 1100 USD? Plus dell has all kinds of sales and offers all the time
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
THe only thing with dell is that I have heard concerns over their quality controll, and frankly I don't want to dish out 1000 dollars for a comptuer that will have issues.
Author:  BenLi [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have never seen a dell that has had problems, and I know a lot of people that have dells. Everybody complains about their desktops being overpriced, and thats true, but laptops are generally good quality. You said you heard about questions concerning quality control? Where from?
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
From people that I have talked to, as well I also read some posts on this site stating the same that I found when I was searching through old posts on laptop advice.
Author:  md [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
BenLi wrote:
I have never seen a dell that has had problems, and I know a lot of people that have dells. Everybody complains about their desktops being overpriced, and thats true, but laptops are generally good quality. You said you heard about questions concerning quality control? Where from?


I have a dell, the keyboard doesn't work. I know of other people who have had similar bad experiences with dell.
Author:  wtd [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would never buy a Dell product that had moving parts which encounter regular wear.

I would buy monitors from them, but beyond that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that quality of anything they sell.
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
wtd wrote:
I would never buy a Dell product that had moving parts which encounter regular wear.

I would buy monitors from them, but beyond that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that quality of anything they sell.


My feelings exactly, and that is pretty much waht I have heard. I also have friends with dell laptops, and they encoutner many problems with them.
Author:  Windsurfer [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
HAHA how ironic. My new Dell Laptop is broken. The left channel on the headphone port has blown.
Although, i think that has nothing to do with Dell quality... i found out that the soundboard that I had it hooked up to was pumping a significant amount of power TO the computer :S
Author:  wtd [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tehnically nothing in Dell's machines is made by Dell, so I guess nothing that could go wrong with it would be Dell's fault?

Wink
Author:  Windsurfer [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Choice of product?
Author:  josh [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Does anyone here have windows installed on a mac? and if so, how have you noticed it affecting the performance of your mac software and overall computer performance?
Author:  wtd [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
josh wrote:
Does anyone here have windows installed on a mac? and if so, how have you noticed it affecting the performance of your mac software and overall computer performance?


It does not affect Mac OS X in the slightest. When Windows is booted, it is a regular Windows machine. There's no emulation involved. Nor does this interfere with the use of Mac OS X when that OS is booted.

Note: this applies to Intel-based Macs running Windows via BootCamp or other dual-booting scheme. On PPC-based Macs, emulation of Windows is required. You may also run Windows via parallels or other virtualization software from within Mac OS X.
Author:  josh [ Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
What about this laptop: link
It is the first configuration shown, the as5100-5830

I just saw it today in the store and it souds like it had good specs.

Is acer a good brand? And am I going to regret gettting an AMD processor for a laptop?
Author:  Dan [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Personaly i love my alineware, but i bougth it befor the dell take over so i am not shure how the quality has gone. I know there techsuport has gone down hill (or rather outsorced to india).

I whould not buy a mac laptop just becues it can run windows, that whould be rather counter productive.

To the above post, i have only hured bad things about acer. But i have also only hured bad things about dell laptops as well. It may not be a bad idea to wait for vista to come out if you do not have to buy right away. That way you whould not have to buy an upgrade. Tho you could allways just install linux and avoid the mess allthougther.
Author:  wtd [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:36 am ]
Post subject: 
Hacker Dan wrote:
I whould not buy a mac laptop just becues it can run windows, that whould be rather counter productive.


Lots of people would, though. It provides a really nice option that you can't get anywhere else.
Author:  Dan [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:45 am ]
Post subject: 
wtd wrote:
Hacker Dan wrote:
I whould not buy a mac laptop just becues it can run windows, that whould be rather counter productive.


Lots of people would, though. It provides a really nice option that you can't get anywhere else.


Or every where elses........
Author:  wtd [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Where else can you buy a laptop that will run (legally) Mac OS X and Windows (XP or Vista)?
Author:  TokenHerbz [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
meh, illeagaly is just as good.
Author:  rdrake [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
TokenHerbz wrote:
meh, illeagaly is just as good.
When you illeagaly pirate software, you are not supporting the developers. When one is a developer in the future, they will feel the pains caused by pirating.
Author:  josh [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hacker Dan wrote:
To the above post, i have only hured bad things about acer. But i have also only hured bad things about dell laptops as well. It may not be a bad idea to wait for vista to come out if you do not have to buy right away. That way you whould not have to buy an upgrade. Tho you could allways just install linux and avoid the mess allthougther.


Most companies are now offering free Vista upgrades so I wouldn't have to pay for one.

I am a little worried that the acer sounds a little to good to be true.
Author:  Dan [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
wtd wrote:
Where else can you buy a laptop that will run (legally) Mac OS X and Windows (XP or Vista)?


A better question is why whould you whont to run windows legealy or other wise. Also in my option Mac OS is just unix + kde with some intresting software so in that case the awnswer whould be every modern PC.

Also if you buy Mac OS and hack it or emulate it on windows it is legal...since you own a copy...
Author:  wtd [ Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hacker Dan wrote:
Also if you buy Mac OS and hack it or emulate it on windows it is legal...since you own a copy...


No, it actually isn't.

The Mac OS X license specifically limits it to Apple-branded hardware.

Of course, there is some question about whether that clause would hold up in court under challenge, but it'd cost an awful lot to challenge it.
Author:  md [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Similarly it's questionable if the windows licencing agreement would hold up in court (most licencing agreements actually; since it's well known no one reads them).

In apples case however there are specific hardware/software ties to apple hardware. Breaking those ties would violate the DCMA in the united states, though should be legal in Canada.
Author:  wtd [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:47 am ]
Post subject: 
I think it's sufficient to say that unless you can afford to personally challenge the license, it's probably best to assume it's law.

It might be a little different if *everyone* were doing it.

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