What should I look for in a new laptop? What would be a good processor to get?
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M$12 Answers
Let's start with the basic ones... screen size. For browsing net and doing stuffs like documents and the like, a 12" screen is okay, but for gaming, it's a whole different story. Start looking for laptops with 14" up screen.
Second, video card... Typical laptops rely on on-board support for graphics and can still run pretty well, but you will not be able to play some new games such as NFS Shift even if you'll lower down the settings. Look for laptops with dedicated video card. The minimum graphics card you could look for will be 512mb.
The least expensive you can get for your laptop is ATI 4650 mobility graphics card but if you have money to spare, then go for the laptop with Nvidia 9800 card. If you want a high end card, go for Nvidia GTX 260m and 280m or higher.
Now, RAM. Typical laptops nowadays have at least 1gb of memory. Applications such as MS Office will run pretty great with this but games won't as well as other apps such as Photoshop. Games eats up your RAM. Try running example NFS Shift (again, lol) and look at the amount of ram it takes up. You can go for 2gb RAM but if you want better performance (a multiple tabs for your browser too and of course good gaming experience ^^) look for a 4gb or higher RAM.
Next of course CPU... an Intel Core 2 Duo will run pretty great. This must be your processor. But if you want to have the best, you can get a quad core. I'm not sure though with other brand of CPU. If you'll look for other brands, make sure at least they could run like the Core 2 Duo or better than that.
Next is battery life. You must consider this if you're going to use your laptop on the go. An ordinary laptop will last up to 3 hours... choose the ones with 6-cell battery. These can last up to 6 hours without needing to plug it and with normal settings (brightness and sound volume).
If you want to customize your laptop; choose your hardware, your specs, go at this site: http://www.sagernotebook.com/category.php Sager offers great gaming laptops that you can even customize your self. ^^ You can go from budget to expensive ones depending on your prepared budget.
You can also check out other laptops you want then you can upgrade the parts later on if you can't purchase a highend laptop right away.
So there, I guess these are the types you must consider. I actually have an idea on these things because I recently bought a laptop. :)
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M$Sony - VAIO Laptop VGN-NW235F/W at Best Buy. $399.
Just about any laptop will do. 320GB+ hard drive and 4GB of Ram, webcam, etc... will take care of all your needs for next year. Only $399 at Best Buy and has Windows 7 Prem...
Has 64 bit - no 4GB Ram limits. Expands to 8GB.
Has Web Cam, you might like it.
Has DVD drive if you like movies, the battery last 4 hours which is nice.
Has a good video card for gaming. (no, not everyone needs dual Radeon SLI's SuperMax 1000 jjfksanjjjwqerwqdf for one game)
For Office, I have swtiched to Google apps, never looked back. Microsoft is trying that route out as well with 2010 soon. Don't be fooled into spending a lot of extra money on software you wont use much of.
This is just me, but I wouldnt do the AMD or Celeron processors, mainly for the fact I use Virtual Machines. This Processor is a T4300, a very nice processor. Has 2 cores and is 64bit, can't go wrong. It will do everything you need it to do.
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M$
The Sony Vaio Vgn-nw235fw looks pretty cool and it's a good buy at that price.
http://feverishtrends.blogspot.com/2009/11/vgn-nw235fw-pictures.html
Thanks for the nice answer! That does look like a great laptop, but I'm not sure how I feel about getting a Sony. What do you think of Sony laptops compared to other, bigger brand names like HP, Dell, and Toshiba?
Thanks @philipy, I haven't heard many good things about them but it seems Mahaloians have much better things to say about them! Do you own a Sony Vaio?
@matt1... I own a Sony Vaio desktop. I'd be happy with a Vaio laptop if the price was right. As people are implying here, apart from being good PCs they are oriented towards enjoying media as well. They usually come with the right ports and software to interface with audio-visual equipment, like camcorders and such.
I would never buy a Sony. Their motto seems to be "Do as much evil as you can!"
Looks like a great laptop for the price. I was surprised you could get a Vaio so cheap.
@matt1... Sony is a also a big brand name. Vaios are good laptops, generally more "stylish" than most, and tend to have a lot of media friendly features. They tend to be a bit more expensive as well.
Yes, I have both a Sony and IBM. I have to use an IBM for work because of the fingerprint reader. After using it most of the day I switch back to the Sony and complain about the IBM's 13" dull screen and little speakers. The VAIO I mentioned has a 15.5" wide screen and sounds great. I do all my video editing on it as well.
I've included a link to an Acer laptop that I purchased for a customer of mine recently. It has excellent WiFi support, 4 GB of memory, and a 320 GB hard drive. It comes preloaded with Windows 7. Acer does install a bit of bloatware on it, but most of that is easily removed/uninstalled.
The other link is to a Netbook. I have this one myself, and love it. As long as you don't need a DVD drive in your laptop, it has got everything you could want in it. It is also an Acer. But it has got 2 GB memory, a 250GB hard drive, runs Windows 7 beautifully. I added the 2 GB of RAM from a 1 GB stick, but Amazon will give that suggestion anyway, so its easy to buy. It has a full size keyboard and a nice screen. It weight very little, so if you need something truly portable, this is the one to get. The battery lasts about 5-6 hours too. great little computer if you don't mind giving up the optical drive!
The one from newegg.com runs about $550 plus shipping, the netbook run $350 plus shipping. With the Holidays coming up, you might be able to get a better deal than that. Good luck!
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M$There is no perfect laptop, there's just the perfect laptop for you.
What budget do you have ? For office, music, movies and some games you are fine with a intel core2duo, with 3-4 Gb ram and a decent videocard.
I currently gave a toshiba satelite L300A with dual core, 4 gb ram and I'm very happy with it. I bought it with ~450 euros, but I think it's cheaper now.
Of course, if you have more money to spend you can buy something more ... but for you a core2duo will be perfect.
Hope this helped...
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M$1: Operating system
2: CPU
3: RAM
4: Video card
5: Ports
6: Screen size
7: Integrated wireless
8: Integrated Bluetooth
9: Track pad
10: Battery life
Information obtain from http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=250
Hi, you do not have to look far the right notebook. The Macbook Pro would be the best suitable laptop for you to buy. You can choose from the 13inch to the 17inch, price from $1199 to $2499.
If you do not prefer the Macbook Pro here is the link of the top ten laptops for 2009 http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5409
Reasons to buy the Macbook Pro
1. The cost for a Macbook Pro 13-inch model starts at only $1199
2.The Macbook Pro 13-inch model battery life is very reliable and stable. The battery will last about three years before you can replace it.
3.Improved LED-backlit display
4.SD card slot
5.Memory 2GB, 1066MHz DDR2
5.Chipset Nvidia MCP79
6.Graphics Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
7.Multi-Touch trackpad
8.Mac OS X Snow Leopard
9. Compatible with Windows
10.Aluminum illuminated keyboard
11.MacBook Pro ports accommodate "iPod, iPhone, digital camera, and external hard drive ready"
12. Latest wifi technology 802.11n wireless
13.Burns dvd very fast
14.Advance graphics
15.Incredibly fast graphics processing
Information obtain from
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/graphics.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/why-mac.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-summer/4505-3121_7-33676744.html
http://gizmodo.com/5287179/macbook-pro-2009-review
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=250
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/graphics.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/why-mac.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-summer/4505-3121_7-336767...
http://gizmodo.com/5287179/macbook-pro-2009-review
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5409
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M$
I should have specified this but I am looking for a PC, not a Mac. But the list you included of things to look for is great! I'll definitely be using that in my research.
Although you stated a laptop i would still recommend a iMac ,Mac Mini and a Mac Pro if money is not the issue
You can view all three at this link
http://www.apple.com/mac/
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M$Recommended Make = HP Compaq (Sony is too costly for the same specifications).
Processor = Intel Core2Duo (2.8 to 3.2 GHz)
Screen Size = 17" (at least). A wide 19" will do best if you consider games, but will be too big to carry. A 14" will be too small and strains eyes when you play games. It does not have a big difference in price from a 17".
System Bus = 800MHz
Cache Memory = 2MB x 2
System Memory (RAM) = 4GB
Type of Memory (RAM) = DDR2
Hard Drive TypeS= ATA (5400 rpm)
Computer Hard Drive Size = 500GB
Sound Card = Inbuilt
Graphics Card = Graphics Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
Speakers = Inbuilt
Operating System = Windows XP Service Pack-2 (I did not like Vista myself)
Software = MS Office, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome,
That's all you need to meet your requirements. I suggest you should not go for unwanted additives as that will only increase the price of the machine (when you want it only for certain general tasks).
Here is a good news for you. You can order for your custom made laptops from Dell on internet. Just visit Dell's site, choose your specifications, see the price changing instantly on your picks and place the order that suits you. They will deliver it to your home. Isn't that great! I don't think any other company gives you this facility.
Hope that helps you. Thanks
www.dell.com
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M$
Hi Matt! Thanks for marking it helpful.
Here are the differences between a DDR2 and DDR3 RAM:
DDR2
* Operate at 330MHz to 800MHz.
* operates at 1.8V
* 4 internal banks used
* based on “T branches” conventional topology
* (OCD) off-chip driver calibration
* can not deal with termination impedance
* popular in industry.
* No Thermal Sensor
* Slower than DDR3
* Has 2 notches
DDR3
* Operate at 800MHz to 1666 MHz. This will reduce read and write time to just half of the DDR2 memory.
* operates at 1.5V
* 8 internal banks used
* initialization process uses new Mode Registers (MRS) are re-engineered for quicker configuration of the memory system.
* based on “Fly-by” topology
* Self calibration with automatic leveling circuit
* can deal with termination impedances
* It will take time to be as mainstream memory
* Optional Thermal sensor
* Much faster than DDR3
* Has 3 notches
Hope that helps. Thanks
This is helpful, thanks! Do you know the difference between DDR2 and DDR3?
You want atleast 8gb ram for Vista, if you don't mind spending that extra buck, atleast 16gb. Because, Vista itself needs 4gb ram to run.
You want to have atleast a built in Nvidia or ATI video card.
Toshiba Satellite's tend to be good computers.
Toshiba Satellite
Model: M505-S4990-T
Processor =Intel® Core™2 Duo
Processor Speed = 2.2GHz
= Battery Type6-cell lithium-ion
Display Type = Widescreen HD TruBrite LED-backlit TFT-LCD touch screen (1366 x 768)
Screen Size (Measured Diagonally) = 14"
System Bus = 800MHz
Cache Memory = 2MB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM) = 4GB
Type of Memory (RAM) = DDR2
Hard Drive TypeS= ATA (5400 rpm)
Computer Hard Drive Size = 500GB
Optical Drive = Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Optical Drive Speeds = Drive speeds not specified
Direct-Disc Labeling = Yes
Digital Media Reader or Slots = Yes, digital media card readerGraphicsIntel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHDTV
Tuner = No
MPEG = Yes
Built-in Webcam = Yes
Modem = 56 Kbps*
*Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps.Networking10/100 Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Networking = Wireless-B+G+N
Bluetooth-Enabled = No
S-Video Outputs = 2
Speakers = Internal
USB 2.0 Ports = 2
IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports = 1
Parallel Ports = 1
Game Ports = None
Laptop Weight =Ultraportable (5.5 lbs. or less)
Battery Life = Not available
Pointing Device =Touchpad
HDMI Output = Yes
Blu-ray Player = No
Operating System Platform = WindowsOperating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Included Software = Microsoft Works 9; Windows Media Player; Adobe Acrobat Reader and more
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Touch+Screen+Satellite+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+Duo+Processor+-+Black/9614909.p?id=1218131341142&skuId=9614909&st=satellite&cp=2&lp=1
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M$Check this Laptop for plain works at office and a bit gaming..
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=High+performance&series_name=dv6tqe_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/High_performance/dv6tqe_series
check this for play but not that much....
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+Duo+Processor+-+Black/Blue/9568112.p?id=1218125777703&skuId=9568112
and this can do the job....
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-summer/4505-3121_7-33676744.html
Have fun...^_^
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M$
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M$Also, browse around the coupons/deals site out there like techbargains.net or fatwallet.com. They normally have great deals on laptops.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
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M$
The dedicated video card is absolutely right. It's all very well to say that one is going to play games only occasionally, but many won't play at all unless you meet the graphics requirements. Sure you need plenty of memory and a decent cpu for anything, but most notebooks have them. The place you will get burned is on the video, if you want to play games at all.
Wow, this is a really great answer. I had the Intel Core 2 Duo in mind when I asked this question because I heard someone mention it as a great processor. Thanks for laying out an explaining the things I need to look for.
Yup! That's actually one of the things I checked when I'm looking for a laptop a a few weeks back. :)
Anyway, what types of games do you usually play? You can also depend that in the laptop you're going to buy.