Thread: Laptops???

I like Dell, certainly over Sony (overpriced IMO).

If your going to use it for "storage" get one with a juicy hard drive, fair amount of RAM would be nice say 512MB, 256-384MB maybe acceptable though depending on the cost from Dell. You can upgrade it later, but check on how much it can hold, not only the # of slots but how many slots are filled from Dell. Many laptops I'm familiar with have 2 slots, sometimes they are both open and default memory is soldered onto the motherboard, this is probably not as common nowdays.

We've got the Sony and couldn't be happier. The hard drive is massive and ours even came with a DVD burner.

P.S. If you're looking into DVD burners, get one that uses DVD-R. Ours is DVD+R and I think it's gonna end up being the Beta to DVD-R's VHS.

That is my biggest gripe with Sony. Lets not cooperate with everyone else, lets make our own standard (memory stick instead of flash card) and then charge 3 times as much for it!

Sony CD Burners had problems with some discs for awhile for the same freaking reason, non-standard burning methods.

I haer ya both...Not sure if I should lean towards Sony since the desktop I bought 2 months ago is a VAIO. I no all are compatable but r there ANY reasons 2 think the 2 will dock betta since they r both SONYs'? (I have an HP @work. I transfer alot of info between work-laptop-home. Data b/u work.)

ALBOB..Thanx 4 the input...my dt has a cavernous harddrive too...I could transcribe the bible into 12 language & still would not put a dent into it. Not sure if I need a 120g hd. The SONYs r HOT though. 1 model has a built-in camera for video conferences...pretty cool (not that I video conference..) Not sure if I would burn DVDs...I buy tons of DVDs when they come out at COSTCO or movie store...sounds stupid but I need the case 2 fit on the shelf w/ the others. Thanx for info......

MUDGE..I think I MIGHT b leanin' towards DELL...nice promos & solid systems. My biggest concern is the RAM..I hate when u r online all day & the system starts 2 dog......programs start slow, etc. I do a disc clean-up & reset...p/i/t/ass. I actually used 2 work for SONY in Manhattan...still have friends there & could get 40% off but STILL not sure if that will sway me. Also, u need 2 wait for delivery when u use employee disc. & I WANT IT NOW.... (impatient guy..)Thanx MUDGE & ck out that Muscular Development mag. story I mentioned last night.

Keep the input comin' all....THANX

120GB? Heck for me in a laptop 40-60 would be pretty rockin, my last laptop was 20GB and I didn't really do any damage to it.

As for docking and file sharing, are you talking about when hooked up to an ethernet network? The only Sony laptop at my work has 10mbit built into the dock, kind of slow but for the most part it does its job. Perhaps by now they are all 100mbit, but regardless ethernet is pretty much ethernet, file sharing is file sharing, the OS and brand of the NIC involved are going to play more a role and Dell doesn't put garbage in their laptops.

The deals they have like free RAM upgrades and such are nice, some people wait for free shipping but on a laptop I might go with something else free, like a DVD-R or something. I know thier desktops recently had such a deal.

Thanx..as usual MUDGE..

Talked 2 alot of ppl. 2-nite @work....majority said Dell
I think Dell it is...now maybe I should look @ the wireless internet option???

Dell is pretty much the standard in business these days!

Agreed...Thanx all 4 the input.
Goin' 2 Dell.com

Wireless LAN or actual wireless internet? I am looking at 1 mbit that would cost $200 a month, upgradeable to 10mbit for only $1,000 a month - if this is slow wireless internet then I would not use it unless you are really on the move and such, that stuff usually I think goes for around $59 a month?

If your on the move it may well be worth it, I am not up on modems because I haven't been dialup for a long time but many hotel phone systems are now digital and analog modems will get fried by a digital line.

Lapdances? Oh I'm sorry I read it too fast.

Originally posted by oaktownboy
Lapdances? Oh I'm sorry I read it too fast.

IBM is actually known for making great laptops. May want to check them out as well.

I like IBM also, I basically look at what the laptop itself has that I might want. For me this pretty much means finding out the MMC type (CPU), so I can get it cheap on eBay and then upgrade it, what kind of video card and display size, how do I like the keyboard layout yada yada.

IBM and Dell would be my top two although I also had a Compaq that I liked alot, that was a small and very light P233, sweet little laptop. The Gateway I had came with a 15.1" screen and an MMC2 CPU so I could have thrown a P3 850 in there and frankly thats enough CPU for me, nice video card and built in video capture which at the time was a must for me.

ATi I believe also came out with a standard spec for mobile video now also, so swapping updated video "cards" should be easier nowdays, if and when you can find them on eBay.

Hey guys which 1?
I like the first 1, not that the price makes it the best but it has great features. Whatcha' think?


http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/produc..._notebooks.htm

Pay attention to the resolution since TFT will look crappy if you change it at all, and they offer 3 to choose from.

So which 1 of the 3 do u think? I want it for watchin' DVDs' on roadtrips too.

For me personally WXGA (1280 x 800) or WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050), but its up to you. I would probably go with 1680x1050.

Cool, thanx for the input Dr M., otherwise the 8600 looks pretty good as it comes (w/o tweakin' it any more)?

I couldn't tell what the default hard drive was? They list all that stuff in the detailed spec though and you can customize it. Not sure I'd get into wide screen but for DVDs of course it would be perfect, its going to make for a large laptop though but even my 15.1" was pretty big as well

Storage: Hard drives up to 80GB to meet your storage requirements.

Dr.M ?

Hmm like mudge said I would just look around and look for all the things you want. Also if you find a model you like look for reviews and stuff. I use www.cnet.com to get reviews. I bought an HP pavilion ze5000 about a year ago, that's what I use for most everything except gaming (which I do on my desktop). Its p4 2 ghz, 512 mb ddr ram, 40 gb hd, dvd/cd-rw drive, 15 inch sxga, and also a built in wireless 802.11 b card. My friend has a compaq, and another one has a sony and I like mine better than them both. One thing that I highly suggest you get if you have broadband is a wireless network card and a wireless access point. I can't explain how much I love my wireless network, it's the best tech decision i've ever made next to upgrading from dial-up to bandwidth.

Dr M.- "Doctor MUDGE"....satisfied patient of yours from AS forum
DIDM- I just ditched a HP desktop from my house...hd got cancer but it got sooo slow after a few hrs online even before it got sick. That's why I shyed away from HP. (I have a HP at my business & it dogs after being left on for a few days also. They were both only 2 yrs old)
WIRELESS...LOVE THE SOUND OF THAT... I Love gadgets...BUT, I have NF idea bout that. Don't even no the 1st thang'????? Please elaborate though...

Ahh, I have used Dr.Mudge before on another board (car board), the handle itself was not my creation.

There are 3 wireless standards, 802.11b is the most common but there are cards that will do all three standards. The slower stuff travels farther, and the claim of 54mbit means 27 up and down, so its somewhat missleading. Then cover overhead and you get maybe 11mbit both ways, the further away from your base station and the slower it will be.

- OK but u still need 2 subscribe 2 a special wireless provider correct?
Wonder if there is a way 2 ck the signal strenght in my area? Cell phones SUCK here. I am on the h20 in NY & I often get a Conn, signal...all roaming...in my own back yard!!

Nope, this is home wireless, if you feel like getting a wireless router etc I have seen wireless internet 1mbit up/down for as little as $200 a month, but thats still way outside of cable or DSL.

Oh..OK..Gotcha. No, I don't need home wireless. I need fast service at work but my cable provider wants 2 bang me 4x my home rate just because I am a commercial account
THEM!!!

If I could get multiple IPs I'd go cable @ work but I dont see that happening, we are looking at wireless. 10mbit for $1,000

SUX 4 ME...
Thanx M