Help - want to buy new laptop

jbmcbcy

BUDGET - €750 - €1300

INTENDED USE - internet, making personal videos (occasionally), word processing, photoshoppe, for learning web design and java programming, not into gaming

MOBILITY - not important

WARRANTY - not important

I'm leaning towards ASUS or SONY VAIO but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It is important for me that it is well built.

silvine

Check out the Dell Vostro 1500 or the Acer Gemstone 5920 at laptopsdirect.ie (don't get the model with HD-
DVD though)

dulpit

Sony's would be overpriced if you ask me... (they look great but what you get inside isn't worth the price)

Check out Dell, can't go wrong...

Just price around, see what you can get for your money, generally speaking it'll be a lot cheaper online...


Also: Avoid PC World like the plague...

jbmcbcy

Tnx for your suggestions silvine and dulpit.

What do you think of this:

ASUS G1S B2 - Core 2 Duo T7700 2.4 GHz 15.4" TFT
Dimensions: (WxDxH)13.9 in x 11.2 in x 1.5 in
Weight: 6.8 lbs
Platform Technology: Intel Centrino DuoSystem
Type: Notebook
Built-in Devices: Speaker, wireless LAN antenna, Bluetooth antenna, status OLED display
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 / 2.4 GHz ( Dual-Core )Cache Memory4 MB - L2 cacheRAM3 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz ( 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB )System Flash
Memory: Intel Turbo Memory (1 GB)
Card Reader:4 in 1
Hard Drive: 200 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 7200 rpm
Optical Storage: DVDñRW / DVD-RAM with LightScribe
Technology Display: 15.4" TFT 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ )
Graphics Controller: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT - 256 MB
Audio Output: Sound card
TelecomFax / modem - MDC - 56 KbpsNetworking
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft),
Bluetooth 2.0
Camera : Integrated - 1.3 Megapixel
Input Device: Mouse, keyboard, touchpad
Power: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery: Lithium ionRun Time (Up To)2 hour(s)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Found a similar model in PC World Blanch but only the demo machine left, they were sold out.

I do hear your warning Dulpit...:) (the hubby insisted on seeing the actual machine)

Tom Dunne

Nope, performance will be a bit slow as it has only 1Gig of memory (WTF is Intel Turbo memory?)

AlmightyCushion

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Nope, performance will be a bit slow as it has only 1Gig of memory (WTF is Intel Turbo memory?)

It's got 3GBs of ram, Tom. I'm pretty sure that turbo memory is a memory module based on the motherboard that can be used by vista to store data it needs (kinda like cache), it's just another flavour of readyboost. Given that it's just readyboost but stored on your motherboard then I'd say it's next to useless if you have more than 1GB ram. I'll do some digging on that turbo memory.

On the laptop, it's a pretty good spec. Loads of ram, nice fast processor that will handle anything you throw at it and a pretty good graphics card.

AlmightyCushion

An anandtech article on turboboost. It's esentially rubbish, it provides some slight increase in battery life but nothing major. Ah well, it was a nice idea.

TerrorFirmer

The Asus G1 is a gaming laptop, so unless you're getting a really fantastic deal, you're paying more then you need to for what you want to do.

750 would easily get you a good laptop for your intended uses from a reputable manufacturer..

Voodu Child

You see the Turbo memory option on a fair few of the laptops nowadays, seems to be about a 30quid option on the Dells if i recall. As mentioned already, doesnt seem worth bothering with at all.

From your needs, i'd say look for something with a large (17") high-res screen (great for photoshop), and as fast a processor as you can afford. You'll want plenty of ram for video-editing, but that's something you can put in yourself fairly cheap so i wouldn't worry too much about it.

Your minimum budget should get you a Dell with those specs no problem (Vostro 1700) and if you really want to spend the full budget you'll get plenty of other brands with a grand spec for your needs. There's so much choice out there, and laptops are so cheap these days, that it can be hard to recommend one over another.

jbmcbcy

Thanks a million guys for all your inputs. much appreciated.

Voodoo, I've checked Vostro 1700 and I think I'll go with it... I can have XP on it too.