Once again I need Laptop info. HELP

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LandfillLumber

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Low on the ram for a 64bit OS -- The celeron has a larger lv2 cache will give a slight performance boost over the amd. They are basically both entry level single core laptop mobile cpus. Long as you don't plan on doing any heavy work or running a lot of multiple apps you should be fine with either.
 
Both these are low on memory. I'm amazed that anyone is selling machines with only 2 gb anymore. If your budget can only get you a 2gb machine, make sure it has open memory slots so you can add more later.
 
soligen said:
Both these are low on memory. I'm amazed that anyone is selling machines with only 2 gb anymore.
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Well most people don't know better is the problem. Sales figure they will be back in a few months and they will be selling them some overpriced ram.
 
How much memory do I really need for surfing the net,doing a little photo editing,and building my web site with the provided software from the hosting site.Thanks everyone for the input,Victor
 
LandfillLumber said:
How much memory do I really need for surfing the net,doing a little photo editing,and building my web site with the provided software from the hosting site.Thanks everyone for the input,Victor
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I've been building systems for over a decade. These days my minimum ram spec is 4 Gigs. In the end though it always comes down need vs want. Just like tools ;) I'd love to have a nice new full size lathe.. but do I really 'need' a 3k+ rig to do what I need to.. no ;) If someone says 'spec me a build' first thing I ask is what 'exactly' do you want to do with your system.

There is also a big difference between a laptop and a desktop with pricing. Laptops are always more expensive with less power than a desktop. You're paying for the convenience of being able to carry your system around.

So a $400 laptop budget you're not really going to get that much. Same with a pre-build desktop in that price range. However, you would get more power and updatability with the desktop.
 
For surfing the web , doing email and simple photo editing you don't need lots RAM or allot of processing power , a 486 machine can do all of those things . If your running CAD programs and creating Photoshop images you need as much power and RAM as you can get . You have to decide what you want to spend and what your willing to do and not do with your machine .
You have already said you are not very computer savy so I doubt you will be crunching lots of numbers in Photoshop or playing WOW with the graphics turned up all the way . Either of the two machines you are looking at are more then powerful enough to do what you want to do . I have a full blown gaming set up in my livingroom and a equal set up in my shop for running CAD and Photoshop in my shop but spend most of my online time on a little Dell Inspiron laptop with a 1.8 gig processor and 1 gig of RAM . With it I play WOW , edit photos with Irfanview , surf the net and email . Saying you NEED an minimum of 4 gigs of RAM and a Intel i7 processor to do these things is like saying you NEED a Hummer to go down the corner to buy a pack of gum .
Save your money Victor , get a machine at a price that your comfortable with . It will do everything YOU want it to do .
Oh and by the way , my little Dell cost me around $150 between cost of the machine and a couple of upgrades .
 
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I've had my own computer consulting business for 30 years. Toshiba used to make really nice laptops...I had 3 of them. But they have fallen on evil days. I have had more problems with Toshiba lately than even with HP...Which is AWFUL. The ones I've had the least problems with in the last year are Acer, Dell, Gateway, and Lenovo.

And for heaven's sake stay away from HP/Compaq. The company has cut prices by cutting the quality of components. And you can't just buy a new cd-rom or display for a laptop like you can with a desktop. I've had two HPs dead out of the box in the last six months. Their quality control stinks. It used to be that HP printers were the best you could get (I still have an old laserjet that is at least ten years old and works like new) but today...go Epson or Lenovo or Canon for a printer.

Windows 7 doesn't like to run in less than 2 gb RAM. It sort of walks.....
 
I'm in an hp focus group and rest assured they get an earful from members in regards to quality & customer service. I haven't bought an hp printer in ages as well. Been using canon -- though having lot of printer head issues with those.


sbwertz said:
And for heaven's sake stay away from HP/Compaq. The company has cut prices by cutting the quality of components. And you can't just buy a new cd-rom or display for a laptop like you can with a desktop. I've had two HPs dead out of the box in the last six months. Their quality control stinks. It used to be that HP printers were the best you could get (I still have an old laserjet that is at least ten years old and works like new) but today...go Epson or Lenovo or Canon for a printer.
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Victor:
Both of these machines are good and very nearly the same. It comes down to which you like better. Toshiba makes a very good machine. Dell is equally good and IMHO, the best customer service in the industry.

We use only Dells. Partially because they are "modular" and drives, two batteries for extended run time, etc fits our needs better than any other.

I have managed companies with "fleet" Toshiba laptops. They were excellent, just not as well configured to meet our needs.

Either of the two you posted should serve you equally well. Don't "take your eye off the ball" by overemphasizing minor differences in specifications. Bang on both and see which you prefer.
 
LandfillLumber said:
How much memory do I really need for surfing the net,doing a little photo editing,and building my web site with the provided software from the hosting site.Thanks everyone for the input,Victor
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2 gig might be enough. On windows XP I'd say you are fine but newer software wants more. As I said, just make sure you have an open slot to upgrade to 4gb if you decide in a couple months things are too slow. It usually doesn't really cost any more to add memory afterward as long as you don't have to replace the old memory (thats why you want a open memory slot).

If you decide to upgrade later, I'd be happy to help you with it.
 
Okay guys from what I can tell the Dell is capable of 6 GB but has only one slot for memory.The Tosiba has a 4 GB max capacity and has two slots for memory.I looked at memory for the Dell and can buy a 4 GB stick for $40-60 so I think I will go with the dell and upgrade the memory if need be later down the road.What do you guys think of that?I have read bad things about the celleron processor.Thanks a tom for the info. everyone,Victor
 
For your light duty needs should be fine.. slow, but will do the job. I use 700 Megs to 1.4 gigs of ram just on my browser.


LandfillLumber said:
Okay guys from what I can tell the Dell is capable of 6 GB but has only one slot for memory.The Tosiba has a 4 GB max capacity and has two slots for memory.I looked at memory for the Dell and can buy a 4 GB stick for $40-60 so I think I will go with the dell and upgrade the memory if need be later down the road.What do you guys think of that?I have read bad things about the celleron processor.Thanks a tom for the info. everyone,Victor
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computer

Victor I think the toesbia is your better bet. You can add another 2GB in memory if you need it later. You can't with the Dell.


Dennis
Pine lumber:bananen_smilies104::RockOn::bananen_smilies035:
 
Deep dark secret (well, not that deep)--Just about all laptops (Mac, Acer, Dell, HP, Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo, whatever) are designed and manufactured by just a couple of companies based out of Taiwan--Quanta, and I forget the others. These Taiwanese companies contract with mainland (Shanghai) manufacturers to make & assemble.

Don't go by brand name. At your price point, all brands are the same. Go by features available. And treat your computer as a disposable item. Be sure to backup frequently. When your laptop breaks (and it will, in 2-5 years. Your battery will die in about 3 years, and your cooling fan is probably next), just buy a new laptop. Sorry to be a pessimist, but if you have low expectations, you can only be pleasantly surprised!

Best,

hdtran
 
I would also go with the Toshiba. More memory is best. Kind of like the car engine. Bigger is better. with the new OS; being memory hogs, can't believe people are still able to sell machines with 2 gig memory. Guess that keeps the market open for memory.
 
So the Dell will not take more memory?it says it will take 6 GB,but it does not say it has an open slop for memory like the Toshiba does???Can I take out the 2 GB stick in the Dell and replace with a 4 GB stick easy enough???Thanks,Victor
 
No matter which one you buy get a laptop cooling pad. The main enemy of a laptop is heat and most manufacturers have the vents on the sides and the bottom so when you have it on your laptop they can overheat rapidly which kills most laptops. I bought a 2 fan pad that plugs into a usb port and works like a charm and is quiet. Mine is a Compaq that is known for heat issues and I had to replace the main board but with the pad it runs quite a bit cooler and faster.
 
I just happened across this ad

http://www.frys.com/product/6598763

I have 2 Acer laptops, and I have put many of them into client sites. I haven't had any problems with any of them. Mine are almost 3 years old and get 8-10 hours use every day. Neither of them has had a problem of any kind.

I've had my own computer consulting business for 30 years, and have been very impressed with both the laptops and desktops from Acer.

My dad is 93 and he has an Acer desktop that he has had for about 4 or 5 years. It has been super reliable for him. He doesn't have long distance service on his telephone and depends on Skype for all his long distance service so he needed a system that was solid and reliable. It has never been down a day.
 
"Magic Jack" works well for LD as well. I use it for a business line. Course if you want it on 24/7 computer needs to be on. That's no big issue for me though as I've always run my comps 24/7.



sbwertz said:
I just happened across this ad

He doesn't have long distance service on his telephone and depends on Skype for all his long distance service so he needed a system that was solid and reliable. It has never been down a day.
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