The Laptops Thread Returns

[Gizmogle]

Coming upto Christmas now and I'm hoping I should have enough to get a nice shiny laptop.

I'm reconsidering things about the MacBook. After my iPod packed in after just eleven months, it made me question Apple products in general. (Plus after using Leopard a little, it was rather confusing, but I'm sure I'd get used to it)

This thead is not for trying to persuade me to buy a Mac or Windows laptop. I just want advice on some laptops that fit my specs and price.

I would prefer a Windows laptop. But the battery life (which is very important) tends to be terrible. I would like a 13" or smaller screen, but the majority of laptops I've seen are bigger than me! (Slight exaggeration maybe)

So yes, I have more of an idea of what I'd like now...
Minumum specs/details...

Memory 1gb
Storage 80-120gb HDD
Processor 1.8-2.0ghz Dual Core
Drives CD-RW, DVD-R
Ports 2 USB, media card reader if possible
Battery 4hrs at the very minimum (very important)
Price £750 max

Thankyou

 

[Beaker]

I got a HP one that does all of the above and plays Rail Simulator and does the all important CAD. and it cost £520 , a HP gubbins

 

[mbonwick]

I'll be honest. I was thinking of getting a laptop, but then I realised it would be cheaper and better for me to build my own desktop.

 

[Gizmogle]

Yes, but I cannot carry a desktop too easily.

 

[paul1609]

It really depends on what you want it for. if its high powered games a windows laptop is best.
For general use I have a macbook pro and wouldnt now change back to windows

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, see, I'm rather crap with Mac OS, but then I've not used it much.
I like Windows cause I know it.

But the cheapest of the current Mac laptops suits my needs almost perfectly, and is the only laptop I've seen with such good battery life.

Good specs, good battery and small!

But then, I don't want to spend £700 on it if I realise that I don't like the Mac OS and would rather have Windows back.

I know I can Boot Camp it, but I don't imagine this being quite the same as running the Windows OS on a Windows laptop... correct me if I'm wrong, but Boot Camp has its faults, right?

 

[Tom]

I know I can Boot Camp it, but I don't imagine this being quite the same as running the Windows OS on a Windows laptop... correct me if I'm wrong, but Boot Camp has its faults, right?

No, Boot camp has not faults, it's more software providers choose not to support it ... :roll: *cough*KRS*cough*

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah...something I didn't know about all this battery life stuff.

Tom says:
os x is optimised
Tom says:
windows isn't
Tom says:
i can get about 3h30 out of windows normally


So I'm now assuming that no matter how hard I look, I can't really get the 4+hrs that I want from any Windows laptop?

 

[me123]

I like Windows cause I know it.

That's the thing; most people know Windows and are therefore reluctant to change. That's probably where a lot of their market comes from.

I'm looking at a mac as well (in the long term future), for studying. I don't really play games so I can get away with that side of things, and Vista is a problem for me; I hate it. Gizmogle, go for the Mac. It's definately the best deal out there just now (that I've seen anyway).

If I do have to get a good old Windows, though, I can downgrade to XP for free (because my Dad works for a company which can let him do that; long story) so at least I won't be stuck with Vista if it doesn't suit me.

 

[Mintona]

I got a Sony Vaio laptop on Sunday, it looks beautiful, and has a great battery life. It has Vista, and I managed to get BVE to work straightaway.

Still can't figure out how to do the damn internet though

But it really is a nice laptop, for £600 I believe from PC World (I didn't actually buy it, was a present from mum)

 

[Gizmogle]

I'm also a hater of Vista.

I completely agree about the sales because people don't like change though.

I've recently been trying Linux Ubuntu out. You don't need to install it, you can just boot it from a CD and try it out. It seems like a really nice OS. But people just stay with what they know...and what comes pre installed on their computer. Although there have been a few laptops I've seen preinstalled with Ubuntu!

Everytime I start to doubt the MacBook, Tom convinces me striaght back into getting it again!

I may not bother with the bigger HDD though and just stick with the £699 80gb one.

Mintona - How long is the battery life exactly?

 

[paul1609]

Ive got leopard on my macbook but ive never felt the need to run windows so ive never actually used boot camp.
Ive got crossover which can run most windows programs in osx.
Think the only program Ive failed to get to run is Simsig but I never got that running on windows either!

 

[Tom]

IThink the only program Ive failed to get to run is Simsig but I never got that running on windows either!

In Crossover, install DCOM95 and DCOM98 in supported programs, then install SimSig Swindon.

 

[Mintona]

Mintona - How long is the battery life exactly?

About 4 1/2 hours.

I can't say I'm too keen on Vista either, but it is the future, as Vienna in 2010 will be very similar, and so I am trying to learn to use it while it is still in early stages. And to be honest, I think I am getting the hang of it quite well!

 

[Tom]

Is that at moderate brightness and what tasks are you performing at the time?

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah, that's not bad! Is that 4 1/2hrs average or max?
Make/model?

I'm just gonna wait till they improve Vista a bit more before I start with it.

 

[Mintona]

Ah, that's not bad! Is that 4 1/2hrs average or max?
Make/model?

I'm just gonna wait till they improve Vista a bit more before I start with it.

That's maximum, I can't get much more than that.

Tom, I did that earlier running Microsoft Powerpoint and Word.

Link: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...-27751&fm=undefined&sm=undefined&tm=undefined

 

[Tom]

I'm just gonna wait till they improve Vista a bit more before I start with it.

Improve? You mean break it a bit more!!

That's maximum, I can't get much more than that.

Tom, I did that earlier running Microsoft Powerpoint and Word.

Nothing too strenuous then

The processor is crap compared to the MacBook though!

 

[Turbostar]

I still got my Dell Inspiron 6400 running smoothly after a year, had no problems with it so far. Has XP Home, one of the last models to have XP before it went over to Vista. 1gb memory, Dual Core 2gHz processor, CD/DVD re-writer, 80gb HD, although I wished I had got a bigger drive. I know Dell are expensive, but then you can tailor your order to meet your needs, & not get something your not going to use. Think when this one goes, or when I get some money, might invest in one of the 'XPS' range laptops.

Mart

 

[Tom]

Think when this one goes, or when I get some money, might invest in one of the 'XPS' range laptops.

May I recommend a MacBook Pro?

Not cheap - but totally amazing machines.

 

[jjedmunds]

You can buy very very good Laptops that will do all you need and far exceed your specs for around £500 on www.ebuyer.co.uk or even www.dabs.com.

Vista is utter pants and I would advise avoiding it until the first serious service pack is released...but in saying that Microsoft is ceasing selling XP as of January so get in quick!

 

[Gizmogle]

How would I go about getting the laptop covered against breakage and theftage?
I know that being the size and age I am, it's likely that someone's gonna try and mug me for it.
I want cover where I can just say it got stolen and I'll get a new one.

I know Apple have the Applecare package, but this is quite expensive isn't it? And also I'm not sure if it covers theft.

If I don't go for the MacBook, then are there any makes that I should stay away from? I've heard bad things about Acer, and also witnessed an Acer keyboard randomly die.

 

[Daniel]

Gizmogle, PC World offered me insurance on the MacBook at £9.99 a month, on a "no quibbles" basis IIRC.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and yes, stay away from Acer.

*stares at Acer laptop in the corner...*

 

[Jordy]

I have an Acer laptop, i've had it for a year now and have had no problems.

 

[Tom]

I know Apple have the Applecare package, but this is quite expensive isn't it? And also I'm not sure if it covers theft.

Applecare is a technical support thing.

 

[Tom B]

I want cover where I can just say it got stolen and I'll get a new one.

I'd have thought it'd be more complex than that - otherwise you could "say it got stolen" and get another one free, with the original sitting on your desk.

 

[Gizmogle]

I'd have thought it'd be more complex than that - otherwise you could "say it got stolen" and get another one free, with the original sitting on your desk.

Yeah, or I could go giving away free MacBooks to people!

If it did get stolen, how would I go about getting a new one? Cause I think it's 40% of laptops are stolen, and the rest broken. I reckon I have quite a high change of being mugged for it. So obviously I don't wanna spend £700+ to just get it stolen after a week.

 

[Tom]

Should really get covered under home contents insurance.

 

[devon_metro]

I have an Acer laptop, i've had it for a year now and have had no problems.

Indeed. Mine is perfectly fine, to put it another way, so is Vista.

 

[matt]

My acer is fine too.