Need a laptop - is this any good?

seems alright but would guess you need more software for it to do ppt. word excel etc.

all laptops are okay now but Vista is abit odd had real trouble getting my head around it.
 
1G of memory will be fine.

The Core Duo processors work like 2 chips in one box. Most software can't use both processors at once, so your applications will only be capable of running as fast as the speed of one of the processor cores. If you're not playing games or doing fancy graphics, it won't matter as much as getting a decent amount of memory, which you have.

This machine looks like good value to me, and it seems to have some good reviews on Amazon too.
 
traveller said:
I've already got the disks for word etc.
Just confused over speed/memory
Click to expand...

It'll be fine for all the basic stuff but it depends what you mean by the 'occasional game'.......


If it's running something like AOE then yes, no problem.....if you're into the latest 3d shooter , no, it'll struggle, it's got shared graphics memory and the 3d acceleration won't be up to much.

To get something that will play the latest hottest 3d games properly though, you're probably looking at well over 6-700 notes, and that's a lot of fuel ;)

I've got a HP Easynote with similar spec to that and it's fine- and for that price, you can't go too far wrong :)

PS if you intend to hook it up to external speakers, one thing I don't like about mine that this model also has is the speaker inputs/outputs on the front edge there.....I'd really prefer them on the sides or back so they're not getting in the way when something's plugged in....it's a minor point but a real irritation when I've got mine set up on the desk :(

PPS I also dislike Vista.....XP is still the best IMO (certainly better supported at the moment) and you may be able to pick up a bargain if you find a machine with XP loaded :)
 
Just noticed it's got Norton installed on it. :mad:

If you do get it, seriously, the very first thing to do will be to get rid of Norton and replace it with a decent AV/Security suite/progs that don't hog resources, crash the machine and that aren't incompatible with a lot of other progs :)
 
Tobermory Womble said:
The Core Duo processors work like 2 chips in one box. Most software can't use both processors at once, so your applications will only be capable of running as fast as the speed of one of the processor cores.
Click to expand...

Windows is a kernel-threaded OS, so if any process uses multiple threads they can both be scheduled at the same time. Any even half-baked app will start threads for work away from the main effort of handling the windows on the screen.

There's going to be 100's of threads on even a simple config to run services and interrupt handling so the additional cpu will make things work far more smoothly.
 
ianf said:
Windows is a kernel-threaded OS, so if any process uses multiple threads they can both be scheduled at the same time. Any even half-baked app will start threads for work away from the main effort of handling the windows on the screen.

There's going to be 100's of threads on even a simple config to run services and interrupt handling so the additional cpu will make things work far more smoothly.
Click to expand...

For all the non-geeks, please ignore this bit...

As you say, it depends on the program. My experience over the last 4 years with a dual processor Xeon system on Win 2k, is that there are a lot of day-to-day applications that just don't make use of the extra power and only work on one processor. That's often very useful as you still have a chance of killing rogue processes when something reaches for the sky and tries to grab all the resources, and I'm still a fan.

My new dual-core work laptop hasn't arrived yet, so I can't comment on how well threading works on one of those.
 
ianf said:
Windows is a kernel-threaded OS, so if any process uses multiple threads they can both be scheduled at the same time. Any even half-baked app will start threads for work away from the main effort of handling the windows on the screen.

There's going to be 100's of threads on even a simple config to run services and interrupt handling so the additional cpu will make things work far more smoothly.
Click to expand...

traveller said:
I now use AVG, CCleaner, Adaware and Spybot.
Good advice :thumb2
Click to expand...

Tobermory Womble said:
My experience over the last 4 years with a dual processor Xeon system on Win 2k, is that there are a lot of day-to-day applications that just don't make use of the extra power and only work on one processor. That's often very useful as you still have a chance of killing rogue processes when something reaches for the sky and tries to grab all the resources, and I'm still a fan.

My new dual-core work laptop hasn't arrived yet, so I can't comment on how well threading works on one of those.
Click to expand...

Fanum said:
If it's running something like AOE then yes, no problem.....if you're into the latest 3d shooter , no, it'll struggle, it's got shared graphics memory and the 3d acceleration won't be up to much.

To get something that will play the latest hottest 3d games properly though, you're probably looking at well over 6-700 notes, and that's a lot of fuel ;)

PPS I also dislike Vista.....XP is still the best IMO (certainly better supported at the moment) and you may be able to pick up a bargain if you find a machine with XP loaded :)
Click to expand...

Fanum said:
Just noticed it's got Norton installed on it. :mad:

If you do get it, seriously, the very first thing to do will be to get rid of Norton and replace it with a decent AV/Security suite/progs that don't hog resources, crash the machine and that aren't incompatible with a lot of other progs :)
Click to expand...

Hears - "blada blada blada blada..."
Thinks - go to the Apple Store and then find something else to worry about.
 
Just a tip

I never, ever bother with extended warranties on my electrical purchases but I would recommend you look for a good 3 yr warranty when you purchase a laptop. You will almost certainly make a claim of some sort, usually to do with the screen, within the 3 yrs.
 
Thinks - go to the Apple Store and then find something else to worry about
Click to expand...

yep, another 400 quid will get you a mac and then you can worry about how to pay for it.:augie
 
motomartin said:
so says the man that couldn't get on t'web for 6 mths cos he had an apple :mmmm

:dabone
Click to expand...

You're not really getting the hang of this IT/web thing are you - apple don't make the phone lines to my house. More's the pity, they would almost certainly work flawlessly...:rolleyes:
 
redcastle said:
yep, another 400 quid will get you a mac and then you can worry about how to pay for it.:augie
Click to expand...

Hmm - £400. So let's see. No antivirus nonsense to pay for/worry about, no ugrading, no fear that the chips will mets in 3 months like a Dell, so no insurance to pay for, a machine that works right every time and will do you for 4-5 years to worries. Hmmm.

It's like buying a BM. Waste of money -get a used Varadero.
 
Simple

I went all round the houses deciding on a decent laptop and believe I did the right thing in the end.
Go on Ebay and get yourself a top spec brand new Dell Inspiration 6400, loaded with windows XP, they're fantastic.

Or try and sift through this bollox:D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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