Laptops / Notebooks

QUOTE (spinningtom @ Jun 29 2005, 04:04 PM)

I have a toshiba satellite, awesome units One of the nicer looking laptops. and yes they are VERY quiet...although the cd drive can get a little noisy, but it all in the setting (speed etc) 10/10 from me

yes this is what im using right now
we had problems in the begining but we re-loaded window XP and its working good so far. apart from that i got no complaints and it is VERY quiet. but i thought all laptops were quiet??

my mates got some swanky toshiba satalite hes trying to sell me for 1200$.....

good buy? has wireless card dvd burner etc in it

what about ghz and ram sizes?
that what i would judge it on too
harvey norman is/was having a sale on toshiba satellite laptops. maybe cross reference the price and other info against those...... im assuming swanky as in not too old

Do you really have a need for Windows?

Unless you want games (which you wouldnt use a lappy for anyway) and want to deal with all the dramas you get with windows why not go for an alternative?

If you want to do any sort of production (video or sound) then dont go Windows, just see what every live act you have seen has sitting on the table out the front.

I'm thinking about buying a notebook as well, but all i want it for is as an alternative to the desktop. Wouldn't bother with a DVD burner if it has 802.11g wireless, and i'm seriously considering the Dell models.

They are cheap, widescreen TFT screen, with 802.11 wireless, etc for around $1500. How does their $250 for an extra 2 years back-to-base support compare with other manufacturers though (but they collect & return it).

Anyone actually bought one of those OfficeWorks $995 laptops advertised on TV last week? Had a Centrino processor IIRC, with CD-RW/DVD reader combo drive & 15" screen. Looked pretty decent at that price.

mines 1.6 centrino (battery 4hrs, last longer than pentium)
512/40gig/dvd-cdrw/802.11 wireless....
very light, thin and portable..awesome!
when i was looking for mine, i was thinking of a powerbook, but double the price, so i settled for the toshiba, never been happier!

Centrino should be enough to easily run final scratch... especially with 512 ram

I like TPG's Centrino notebooks - 15.4" widescreen, 1Gb RAM, Centrino, 8x DVD WRITER, 60Gb hard drive, 64mb graphics, wireless, all for just $1598 - thats very cheap! Even cheaper than Dell - u'd pay about $500 more for all that from them.

http://www.tpg.com.au/online/intel_noteboo...0f49c47588f6a2e

This post has been edited by jjcoolaus on Jun 30 2005, 09:19 AM

Looks pretty reasonable..

I'm really hoping to get back and get a lappy and final scratch..

whilst saving for a holiday around the globe.. fuck I hate being a consumer!

QUOTE (Captain Vicks @ Jun 30 2005, 08:22 AM)

Centrino should be enough to easily run final scratch... especially with 512 ram

FYI: i'm running a Centrino 1.4 with 756mb ram (dell inspiron 8600) and FS 1.5.
Performance wise she runs fine, although i have learnt to have another XP install just for my audio stuff, I also had issues with usb connectivity, some form of driver issue i believe which automagically went away as soon as i plugged in a PCMCIA usb card.

this thread has taken off, keep it goin guys


JJ the only thing about

http://www.tpg.com.au/online/intel_noteboo...0f49c47588f6a2e

is that it only has 40G Hard Drive, i really want 60G
but i agree its a good price

I recently purchased this little baby;

HP Pavilion

She came with a Digital TV tuner.

Description doesn't mention it, but she also has bluetooth capability.

I love her more than sex in a spa!

....Well, almost as much!

for the HARDCORE serious buyers who want premium products

www.pioneercomputers.com.au

Their dreambooks are insane. Their technolgy is endless, provided you have cash.

They even have notebooks with FACE RECOGNITION SECURITY which operates based on the users facial characteristics, so if someone steals it, its useless.

QUOTE (Walshy @ Jun 30 2005, 09:38 AM)

this thread has taken off, keep it goin guys  JJ the only thing about http://www.tpg.com.au/online/intel_noteboo...0f49c47588f6a2e is that it only has 40G Hard Drive, i really want 60G but i agree its a good price

No - i'm talking about the one on the right - $1598 one has a 60Gb hard drive with 1GB RAM! (special offer ATM)

The one on the left that ur looking at is only 40gb, with only 512mb RAM. Half the ram & 20 gb less ain't worth saving $100.

For $1598 with 1Gb RAM i'd be on to it today, if i had the money. Unfortunately i've decided i'd better wait for my tax return first, rather than dip into a managed investment account & pay the capital gains tax this financial year.

This post has been edited by jjcoolaus on Jun 30 2005, 10:46 AM

ive found a couple of cracker deals for Acer TravelMate's

too good to pass IMO

watch this space

not being sure if Acer have lifted their game, but the performance of their lappys 3-5 years ago was woeful.

i highly recommend LG. it is fairly new brand in terms of laptops but i did some research (found a low rate of returns, price etc) and bought one which for the last 10 months has been great. they come with a whole lot of features, have good build quality and comparatively light weight for a competitive price. previously i have had two Toshibas and they were both good. i like the tecra and satellite models out at the moment.

when looking for a laptop you need to think about what is important for you. for me it is:
1. portability - battery life + weight (all Dell's seem to be heavy imo)
2. screen quality – resolution, clarity and brightness
3. build quality - not too flimsy as the idea is to cart it around everywhere + easy on the eye (Toshiba, HP and Sony's are good)
4. power - centrino processor for good battery life and power plus wireless, ram etc
5. features - s-video out for presentations, card readers etc

most laptops will have 4 and 5 within a similar price range but 1 to 3 will differ greatly!

would recommend taking up an extended warranty. the nature of all laptop producers is they cram as many features and the latest in for little price and thus problems do occur across all models.

here's the specs on the one im thinking of getting

MODEL: Acer TravelMate 4152LMi BGH * * . Intel Centrino mobile technology * . Long Life Lithium Ion battery up to 5 hours life * . Intel integrated graphics with up to 128MB VRAM * . Integrated audio twin speakers * . Built-in 56Kpbs international fax/modem + 10/100 LAN + 802.11b/g Wi-Fi LAN * . Built-in full size keyboard with four easy-launch buttons * . Built-in touchpad pointing device * . Fast Infra-red Firewire S-Video ports * . Four USB 2.0 ports * . Weight: 2.84KG * * OPERATING SYSTEM: MS WIN XP HOME * * CPU: Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73GHz 2MB cache 533MHz FSB) * * SCREEN: 15 Active colour screen with XGA Resolution (1024 x 768) * * MEMORY: 512MB PC4200 DDR2-SDRAM * * MEMORY 2: none. * * HARD DRIVE: 80 GB EIDE hard drive * * OPTICAL DRIVE: DVD+/-RW Dual Layer drive * * PC CARD: 1 type II slot * * WARRANTY: 1 year Pickup and Return Service

comments or feedback

>discuss

[Im stuck with the next problem now of sussing out which Audio Card i should purchase for my custom build.

Ive been recommended this one....Sound Blaster 2.....any thoughts ?????

QUOTE (ProfessaB @ Jun 30 2005, 02:31 PM)

[Im stuck with the next problem now of sussing out which Audio Card i should purchase for my custom build. Ive been recommended this one....Sound Blaster 2.....any thoughts ?????

had forgotten about this component - too much other stuff to think about

im not really needing a top end sound card as i dont do music prod. like you, its more for storing a mp3 files and the like, standard audio is probably fine for me

QUOTE (Mayday @ Jun 30 2005, 06:56 AM)

Do you really have a need for Windows? If you want to do any sort of production (video or sound)  then dont go Windows, just see what every live act you have seen has sitting on the table out the front.

hey! don't bother

no-one's going to listen til they've tried one out.. otherwise it's going to degenerate into a flame war [again!;)]
i went in to look at the 17" the other day.. mmm..
powerbook build quality is so nice man..



having said that, my bro's got a toshiba portege A100 which he's pretty happy with..

This post has been edited by t23 on Jun 30 2005, 05:58 PM

also:

i'd wait till the move to intel before buying a new powerbook [unless you REALLY need one ].. i think they'll run cooler and with better battery life plus being at the start of a new cycle of hardware [G4 tech is old and being phased out].. still that's at least a year and half away..

This post has been edited by t23 on Jun 30 2005, 07:21 PM

QUOTE (Walshy @ Jun 30 2005, 02:29 PM)

here's the specs on the one im thinking of getting MODEL: Acer TravelMate 4152LMi BGH *  * . Intel Centrino mobile technology * . Long Life Lithium Ion battery up to 5 hours life * . Intel integrated graphics with up to 128MB VRAM * . Integrated audio  twin speakers * . Built-in 56Kpbs international fax/modem + 10/100 LAN + 802.11b/g Wi-Fi LAN * . Built-in full size keyboard with four easy-launch buttons * . Built-in touchpad pointing device * . Fast Infra-red  Firewire  S-Video ports * . Four USB 2.0 ports * . Weight: 2.84KG *  * OPERATING SYSTEM: MS WIN XP HOME *  * CPU: Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73GHz  2MB cache  533MHz FSB)  *  * SCREEN: 15  Active colour screen with XGA Resolution (1024 x 768) *  * MEMORY: 512MB PC4200 DDR2-SDRAM *  * MEMORY 2: none. *  * HARD DRIVE: 80 GB EIDE hard drive *  * OPTICAL DRIVE: DVD+/-RW Dual Layer drive *  * PC CARD: 1 type II slot *  * WARRANTY: 1 year Pickup and Return Service >discuss

i am buying this later today

decision has been given the green light by my IT ninja backers, the graphics card is the only weakness - so no games for me not really into that kinda stuff anyways

This post has been edited by Walshy on Jul 1 2005, 10:23 AM

What are you paying for it Walshy, if you don't mind telling us?

QUOTE (t23 @ Jun 30 2005, 07:50 PM)

also: i'd wait till the move to intel before buying a new powerbook [unless you REALLY need one ].. i think they'll run cooler and with better battery life plus being at the start of a new cycle of hardware [G4 tech is old and being phased out].. still that's at least a year and half away..

Apple are still bringing out PowerPC product, and there is a new 90nm powerbook chip out soon, they say the G4 Lappy will be 1.7GHz (??)

PowerPC are great chips but run too damn hot. Thats why they are used in 7 of the worlds top 10 supercomputers. Now Apple users can only bag windows users on how shit the OS is not the CPU like they use to be able to

QUOTE (Walshy @ Jun 30 2005, 02:29 PM)

here's the specs on the one im thinking of getting MODEL: Acer TravelMate 4152LMi BGH * * . Intel Centrino mobile technology * . Long Life Lithium Ion battery up to 5 hours life * . Intel integrated graphics with up to 128MB VRAM * . Integrated audio twin speakers * . Built-in 56Kpbs international fax/modem + 10/100 LAN + 802.11b/g Wi-Fi LAN * . Built-in full size keyboard with four easy-launch buttons * . Built-in touchpad pointing device * . Fast Infra-red Firewire S-Video ports * . Four USB 2.0 ports * . Weight: 2.84KG * * OPERATING SYSTEM: MS WIN XP HOME * * CPU: Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73GHz 2MB cache 533MHz FSB) * * SCREEN: 15 Active colour screen with XGA Resolution (1024 x 768) * * MEMORY: 512MB PC4200 DDR2-SDRAM * * MEMORY 2: none. * * HARD DRIVE: 80 GB EIDE hard drive * * OPTICAL DRIVE: DVD+/-RW Dual Layer drive * * PC CARD: 1 type II slot * * WARRANTY: 1 year Pickup and Return Service comments or feedback >discuss

Upgrade to 1gb ram.
Upgrade to gb LAN.
Upgrade to XP Pro.

But thats just me, depends what kinda apps you'll be running.

I would seriously look at getting an extended warranty to say 3 years, laptops

QUOTE (jjcoolaus @ Jul 1 2005, 10:36 AM)

What are you paying for it Walshy, if you don't mind telling us?

$1813

QUOTE (sakvee @ Jul 1 2005, 12:23 PM)

Upgrade to 1gb ram. Upgrade to gb LAN. Upgrade to XP Pro. But thats just me, depends what kinda apps you'll be running. I would seriously look at getting an extended warranty to say 3 years, laptops

all good advice, but on a budget my man

Yep, fair call. Can easily enough upgrade down the track if the need arises.

*puts hands up*

1Gb RAM - Check

I looooooove having a gig of RAM, although I dont run anything that really warrants it, it's always good to have it there.

Kinda like people who buy a Ferrari, but have never taken it over 200km/h...

1 GB? n00bs!!!

haha

Go eat an Apple, Mac-boy

QUOTE (LovelyDrift @ Jul 1 2005, 12:57 PM)

Kinda like people who buy a Ferrari, but have never taken it over 200km/h...

thats why im cool with a 80G

QUOTE (sakvee @ Jul 1 2005, 12:23 PM)

I would seriously look at getting an extended warranty to say 3 years, laptops

i agree. extended warranty is a must. but go through the original manufacturer for the warranty instead of some yum cha united electrical extended warranty (imho). just seen some people dicked around with the yum cha varieties.

most stock HDD's in notebooks are only 4200rpm. id go for atleast a 5400rpm but if you have the bikkies go for the new 7200rpm ones. you wont regret it.

as for brands, toshiba's are probably the best ones ive ever used/sold. the good ones last 5-6 years easy.

like anything you get what you pay for. but for gods sake dont buy one that's around the 1k mark. THEY ARE POO and you'll be lucky if they last for the entire warranty period. i don't know how people can sleep at night selling such junk. once again IMHO.

G'luck

QUOTE (LovelyDrift @ Jul 1 2005, 12:57 PM)

*puts hands up* 1Gb RAM - Check I looooooove having a gig of RAM, although I dont run anything that really warrants it, it's always good to have it there. Kinda like people who buy a Ferrari, but have never taken it over 200km/h...

I've got a Gig on my Dell Latitude D600. And it still isn't enough. If you have relational databases, reporting tools like Cognos, web brokers, application servers and VMware all running at the same time you can break the 1GB barrier just by booting the laptop.

iTunes / Soulseek / Awasu all running in the background for entertainment purposes doesn't help either.