Laptop review sub-forum?

Tom Dunne

With all the requests for info on purchasing laptops, do people think we could do with a sub-forum purely for laptop reviews?

Feelgood

Might be a good idea alright Tom, though there are a million laptop comparison websites out there. Possibly a sticky that links to them?.

Sherifu

I support this product and/or service.

Spud83

No

+1

Good Idea. Need to be a charter stating what information is to be provided to classify it as a review. Maybe a questionaire thing regarding spec, and then things like what you think the laptop is suitable for (email/Music/Video/Photo Editing/Programming/Mobility).

BanzaiBk

No

Excellent idea. +1

Overheal

Atari Jaguar

It could just be handled with a sticky really. Its not like the Laptop forum is over-trafficked or anything.

Tom Dunne

No

Feelgood wrote: »

Might be a good idea alright Tom, though there are a million laptop comparison websites out there. Possibly a sticky that links to them?.

I could certainly put the info into a sticky, send it on to me. But I like the idea of Irish slanted information, from people who have actually used the laptops hands-on, rather than some hack who is being paid by the word, with a brown envelope from SmallMan Laptops Inc.

Overheal wrote: »

It could just be handled with a sticky really. Its not like the Laptop forum is over-trafficked or anything.

Over-trafficked is not the issue, repetition is. Plus, it could build up a decent database of laptops.

AlmightyCushion

No

I was thinking about something like this a while ago but the problem is there has only really been a handful of reviews in the laptops forum so far. Still though it may be a build it and they will come style thing.

*Edits poll to add eleventy-billion yes votes*

art

No

Think it is a good idea, though not if it just amounts to 300 pages of reviews of shades of Dell Vostros!!

There's three laptops I could currently write comments on but I'd also be very interested in reading other's comments on laptops available to the irish market (particularly "ultra mobile" ones this time) so all in all I'd look forward to seeing something like that here.

(Edit) Perhaps if a structure for the review was agreed upon here before the forum was started then it would help people structure (and hence write) reviews and hence help get the forum populated. e.g. Off the top of the head suggestion, each review contains just four sections 1) What I like about this laptop; 2) What I don't like about this laptop; 3) What I think people should also know about this laptop 4) If this laptop were to disappear tomorrow would I accept the same one in replacement?

AlmightyCushion

No

art wrote: »

Think it is a good idea, though not if it just amounts to 300 pages of reviews of shades of Dell Vostros!!

Going by the eeepc thread we'd probably have a tonne of reviews for it.

Spipov

No

the best thing would have been a sub forum with every manufacturer as a thread. and if possible , to have a template someone could fill in for the review to make it more standardised, something like they have on forum.notebookreview.com

AlmightyCushion

No

Spipov wrote: »

the best thing would have been a sub forum with every manufacturer as a thread.

I would disagree with that. A single thread per manufacturer will just get messy in the end and it will be useless to find any information in it. People will enevitably ask questions about the review. That will just make things messier. One thread per review would be the best way to go. This way would also make it easier for the reviewer to update the review.

Spipov wrote: »

and if possible , to have a template someone could fill in for the review to make it more standardised, something like they have on forum.notebookreview.com

A template could easily be done even if it's only something simple. Definitely something we should have though.

extra-ordinary_

Tom Dunne wrote: »

...But I like the idea of Irish slanted information, from people who have actually used the laptops hands-on...

That's an interesting point, but when it comes to the use of a laptop what's an Irish slant? There are already at least two major laptop review sites on the net, where any member can put up a review of using a laptop.
I just can't see what exactly would be uniquely Irish - maybe the prices! Or possibly available suppliers, or the purchasing process, but any other examples?

dulpit

Atari Jaguar

I say no, due to the fact that the main laptop forum will become more or less dead, the vast majority of posts here are people talking/reviewing/critiquing specific laptops...

AlmightyCushion

No

I don't think the main forum would become dead. We get a lot of threads here recommending laptops, helping to fix something that's gone wrong with a laptop and also about new products (eeepc thread, macbook air thread). These threads would all stay here (at least this is what I think tom is on about) but when someone does buy a laptop they could write a review for the sub forum. The main discussions on the laptops would stay here but the user reviews would go in the sub forum.

It could be quite helpful to people who are buying a new laptop but don't know what to choose. They could take a read of some of the reviews and see what appeals to them.

maradona10

No

I agree with Almighty Cushion, I think it would be very helpful

Deliverance XXV

No

I think this could really be a step forward for Boards. This can only be beneficial. I will definitely give my support for this. +1
I could throw a good few laptop reviews in too.

And who knows? Maybe in 6 months time, if the laptop sub-forum is popular enough, other forums could get them also. Imagine the Building and Upgrading forum having a sub-forum dedicated to reviews about computer components and so on. The benefits for computer beginners would be massive.

Voodu Child

No

Seems like a good idea, it's certainly worth a shot.

AlmightyCushion

No

King Nothing wrote: »

And who knows? Maybe in 6 months time, if the laptop sub-forum is popular enough, other forums could get them also. Imagine the Building and Upgrading forum having a sub-forum dedicated to reviews about computer components and so on. The benefits for computer beginners would be massive.

Considering some of the kit they have I'm surprised they haven't already. Those guys have some serious computers, it makes me wish I wasn't broke.

Jonathan

No

Ah Tom. This is a blatent rip off of solitaryman's poll

Tom Dunne

No

jmccrohan wrote: »

Ah Tom. This is a blatent rip off of solitaryman's poll

What's that? Where is it?

Srsly, I didn't see it. The idea came from another thread.

Jonathan

No

Tom Dunne wrote: »

What's that? Where is it?

Srsly, I didn't see it. The idea came from another thread.

Haha yea.. I was talking about this thread/poll

Tom Dunne

No

jmccrohan wrote: »

Haha yea.. I was talking about this thread/poll

That would be the one I replied to. Doh!