Author Topic: I need help picking a laptop (Read 19637 times)

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #25 on:** November 29, 2011, 01:56:18 PM »

Oops.

I got an email from Best Buy today saying that my computer was actually NOT in stock after all and there had been a computer glitch. Therefore my order was cancelled. The good news is that they were professional and apologetic about it and are sending me a $50 gift card for my trouble.

The bad news is that I have to now go find another laptop to order

appleHater · « **Reply #26 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:07:26 PM »

I really suggest getting a quad core processor, not so much for now but to future proof it (at least as much as can be done) with the except of minecraft which can't use multiple cores, there aren't many applications coming out now-a-days that doesn't run better on a quad core, and with new applications coming out every day that use more and more processing power there's no downside considering you can get an AMD quad core for the same or less than an intel i3 dual core. obviously don't overspend to get it but if you have two comparable laptops, and one has a quad core processor (especially an AMD

) go with that one. SomeKittens list of questions is also extremely relevant

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #27 on:** November 30, 2011, 11:42:50 AM »

Quote from: appleHater on November 29, 2011, 10:07:26 PM

I really suggest getting a quad core processor...considering you can get an AMD quad core for the same or less than an intel i3 dual core.

I'd love to get a quad-core AMD, but the only ones I've found in my price range are in refurbished computers which you and Schaef both said to avoid. The good news is that the extra $50 gift card from Best Buy has increased my price range to $450 (but only at Best Buy). Find me a quad-core AMD there for that price that isn't refurbished, and I'll probably buy it

Quote from: appleHater on November 29, 2011, 10:07:26 PM

SomeKittens list of questions is also extremely relevant

The big 3 for my family is:
Moderate internet (Flash games, YouTube)
Word Processing
Watching video

SomeKittens · « **Reply #28 on:** November 30, 2011, 02:17:44 PM »

You won't need quad-core for those simple tasks.

appleHater · « **Reply #29 on:** November 30, 2011, 04:06:49 PM »

Quote from: SomeKittens on November 30, 2011, 02:17:44 PM

You won't need quad-core for those simple tasks.

most people buy computers for long term.......

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #30 on:** November 30, 2011, 09:56:31 PM »

Quote from: SomeKittens on November 30, 2011, 02:17:44 PM

You won't need quad-core for those simple tasks.

Which is why I'm in the market on the bottom end of the price range.

Quote from: appleHater on November 30, 2011, 04:06:49 PM

most people buy computers for long term.......

Which is also true of me, and why I'm trying to get the biggest bang for my buck. Still haven't found a new quad-core for $450 though

appleHater · « **Reply #31 on:** November 30, 2011, 11:11:23 PM »

For the $450 price point, i think this is your best option.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #32 on:** December 01, 2011, 11:00:05 AM »

Quote from: appleHater on November 30, 2011, 11:11:23 PM

For the $450 price point, i think this is your best option.

Thanks, but that is NOT a 17inch monitor which is one of my requirements.

appleHater · « **Reply #33 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:02:33 PM »

only one of your listed laptops has a 17 inch screen and is also not used. That one is 500 dollars, and not from best buy where you have your gift card. There's a reason for that. Your chances of finding a non refurbished laptop with a 17" screen that isn't from several years ago are pretty much nil. You have a choice to make. Money, or screen.

Scratch that. The chances are non existent. I just checked every major seller, new egg, best buy, all brand sites, those kinds of things, and you can't get a 17" screen

This Intel based
and
This AMD based

are the closest you are going to get however as you notice they are both $450 and not available at best buy where you have your gift card. You're asking something that is pretty well impossible.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #34 on:** December 01, 2011, 04:40:18 PM »

Quote from: appleHater on December 01, 2011, 12:02:33 PM

Scratch that. The chances are non existent. I just checked every major seller, new egg, best buy, all brand sites, those kinds of things, and you can't get a 17" screen

What about this one? It seems to me that this one (which is at Best Buy) is cheaper and at least as good as the Acer you just pointed to.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #35 on:** December 01, 2011, 06:06:36 PM »

I'm still not sure I understand your insistence on a 17" screen. If you want God to bless you, then don't put limitations on His blessings. That's like God opening the door for a fully equipped Ford Explorer, but you said no because you really wanted a Range Rover.

LordZardeck · « **Reply #36 on:** December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 01, 2011, 04:40:18 PM

Quote from: appleHater on December 01, 2011, 12:02:33 PM
Scratch that. The chances are non existent. I just checked every major seller, new egg, best buy, all brand sites, those kinds of things, and you can't get a 17" screen
What about this one? It seems to me that this one (which is at Best Buy) is cheaper and at least as good as the Acer you just pointed to.

I personally dislike HP products as a whole, but for the price it seems like a decent deal. Basically, unless you are going to be working with some intensive applications, such as the Professional Adobe products, or gaming, any intel-i series processor, or AMD phenom II processor will work for you. Now that all modern laptops are 64bit, the potential power in a processor is much greater than before, making old dual-cores much more powerful. I personally have an old Athlon I used to run at 32 bit. Now that I installed Windows 7 64 bit, it beats even a Phenom processor ran at 32 bit. Also, most modern laptops come with enough graphic power to watch videos, even through an hdmi output. While the on paper specs may not be that great, they actually work better in real life than they look on paper.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #37 on:** December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM »

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM

While the on paper specs may not be that great, they actually work better in real life than they look on paper.

We'll call those Tebow Processors.

LordZardeck · « **Reply #38 on:** December 01, 2011, 07:15:14 PM »

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM
While the on paper specs may not be that great, they actually work better in real life than they look on paper.

We'll call those Tebow Processors.

Tebow?

appleHater · « **Reply #39 on:** December 01, 2011, 07:37:38 PM »

If they were Tebow Specs, then the processors would actually be absolutely terrible at their job but would fantastic at being RAM. (Cause Tebow is a QB who can't throw a football to save his life, but can run like a running back. Thus making him useless at his job but exactly at a job other members of the team are doing.) And eventually the Hard Drive (I guess that's the metaphor I'll use for defense) will no longer be able to keep the problems away and the processor will come crashing down to earth.

SomeKittens · « **Reply #40 on:** December 01, 2011, 07:59:55 PM »

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:15:14 PM

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM
Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM
While the on paper specs may not be that great, they actually work better in real life than they look on paper.

We'll call those Tebow Processors.

Tebow?

Tim Tebow's one of the most underrated players of this season.

LordZardeck · « **Reply #41 on:** December 01, 2011, 08:00:17 PM »

Ahh. See that's why I didn't get the reference. I don't follow football.

SomeKittens · « **Reply #42 on:** December 01, 2011, 08:38:15 PM »

I don't either, but everyone else in my suite won't shut up about their fantasy teams...

appleHater · « **Reply #43 on:** December 01, 2011, 08:39:57 PM »

Quote from: SomeKittens on December 01, 2011, 07:59:55 PM

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:15:14 PM
Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM
Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM
While the on paper specs may not be that great, they actually work better in real life than they look on paper.

We'll call those Tebow Processors.

Tebow?
Tim Tebow's one of the most underrated players of this season.

If you were being sarcastic #isedwhatyoudidthere if not then I lol in your general direction

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #44 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:16:18 PM »

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 06:06:36 PM

I'm still not sure I understand your insistence on a 17" screen. If you want God to bless you, then don't put limitations on His blessings.

I'm not trying to limit his blessings, but since one of the main things that we do with our laptop is watch video, and since it usually (but not always) stays in one place, it just makes sense to go with the larger size screen. If God dropped an absolutely phenomenal deal in my lap (ie. quad-core processor, more than 4MB RAM, dedicated graphics card, 7200 speed HD, and 15" monitor) then I would take it because EVERYTHING else on it is a step up from what I'm looking for (except the monitor). But it would basically take something like that to outweigh the benefit that I'm expecting from a monitor that is 23% larger.

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM

I personally dislike HP products as a whole

Do you like Acer more? I heard their service was absolutely terrible. Why don't you like HP? Who do you like?

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM

We'll call those Tebow Processors.

That was funny. I don't get what the big deal is about Tebow (other than his outspoken witness for Jesus, which I appreciate). It's not like this is the first time the NFL has had a quarterback who was better at running than passing (ie. Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, etc.)

LordZardeck · « **Reply #45 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:25:38 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 01, 2011, 10:16:18 PM

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 07:05:57 PM
I personally dislike HP products as a whole
Do you like Acer more? I heard their service was absolutely terrible. Why don't you like HP? Who do you like?

Quite honestly I think Acer, HP, and Dell are all low-quality. I much prefer Toshiba and my personal favorite, and the one I will only buy from any more, Lenovo.

appleHater · « **Reply #46 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:26:52 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 01, 2011, 10:16:18 PM

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 01, 2011, 07:09:04 PM
We'll call those Tebow Processors.
That was funny. I don't get what the big deal is about Tebow (other than his outspoken witness for Jesus, which I appreciate). It's not like this is the first time the NFL has had a quarterback who was better at running than passing (ie. Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, etc.)

McNabb wasn't worshipped as a god for doing absolutely nothing. Vick didn't stand by and watch his teammate get tormented for no reason, and letting it affect the team in the process.

McNabb Culpepper and Cunningham can all complete passes. Theres a difference between being a better runner, and just not being able to pass, letting the defense win games for you AND STILL GETTING WORSHIPPED AS A FRANCHISE QB.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #47 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:39:31 PM »

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 10:25:38 PM

Quite honestly I think Acer, HP, and Dell are all low-quality. I much prefer Toshiba and my personal favorite, and the one I will only buy from any more, Lenovo.

This is good input, I hadn't really heard much from anyone else about brands making a difference. Do others out there agree with Zardeck, or would you rank the brands differently?

appleHater · « **Reply #48 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:42:02 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 01, 2011, 10:39:31 PM

Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 10:25:38 PM
Quite honestly I think Acer, HP, and Dell are all low-quality. I much prefer Toshiba and my personal favorite, and the one I will only buy from any more, Lenovo.
This is good input, I hadn't really heard much from anyone else about brands making a difference. Do others out there agree with Zardeck, or would you rank the brands differently?

Completely agree with his evaluation of dell

Disagree with the other two

LordZardeck · « **Reply #49 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:47:25 PM »

Quote from: appleHater on December 01, 2011, 10:42:02 PM

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 01, 2011, 10:39:31 PM
Quote from: LordZardeck on December 01, 2011, 10:25:38 PM
Quite honestly I think Acer, HP, and Dell are all low-quality. I much prefer Toshiba and my personal favorite, and the one I will only buy from any more, Lenovo.
This is good input, I hadn't really heard much from anyone else about brands making a difference. Do others out there agree with Zardeck, or would you rank the brands differently?

Completely agree with his evaluation of dell

Disagree with the other two

I'm not saying everything they make is pure junk. But I would never trust my money with them personally. Also, I'd have to order them in order of most dislike to least dislike:

HP
Acer
Dell
Asus

The only reason Dell isn't at the top of the dislike list is because I mostly use their enterprise hardware. While I still would prefer Lenovo, the enterprise hardware seems to at least pass the bare minimum.

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Author Topic: I need help picking a laptop (Read 19637 times)

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