[JMT74]

Ok, So what type of Video Card should I look out for? I was for the heck of it building one on the Dell website and when I came across Video Card they gave me 2 options. The 1st option was Included in the original price. It is a Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD. The 2nd option which is a $100 more is a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4430. I take it your gonna tell me you would drop $100 more for the 2nd Option. lol

[casper0191]

Well why don't you try on going to the malling then see what can you buy with your budget. You'll never know you might change your mind if you saw them personally.

[JohnWill]

Well, I'd check the detailed specifications, and if the video card uses shared main memory, I'd move on. For the one you stated, I'd be seriously considering the extra cost option.

Obviously, if you're just going to use this for web browsing and word processing, the shared memory probably won't be an issue. However, if you plan on doing any heavier graphics applications or playing any games, you'll really miss the better graphics WAY more than an extra couple of gigabytes of memory.

[jls242424]

Originally Posted by JMT74

Ok, So what type of Video Card should I look out for? I was for the heck of it building one on the Dell website and when I came across Video Card they gave me 2 options. The 1st option was Included in the original price. It is a Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD. The 2nd option which is a $100 more is a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4430. I take it your gonna tell me you would drop $100 more for the 2nd Option. lol

"With the release of AMD's latest budget graphics card, the Radeon HD 4770, the GPU giant is bringing a lot of technology to the table. The card sports the world's first 40nm GPU (beating out CPUs to a new process technology for the first time), GDDR5 memory, and 640 stream processors, all for under $100.
http://tinyurl.com/cnbpwk

[JMT74]

Alright so what brand does everyone prefer? Dell, HP, Sony Vaio, Acer,Gateway etc.... I am just curious what everyone has and their experiences with their particular manufacturer/model. Thanks.

[casper0191]

Well dell is one of top the line but I didn't have that brand yet. Sony is kind a cool if they are Laptops or a mobile type computer. Acer is kind enough to stand for a while but not recommended. Gateway no comments yets still reviewing it and I might start saving to get one.

[JohnWill]

So far I've had good luck with my HP multimedia luggable (17" screen, 2 hard drivers, big!), and my wife and daughter both have Toshiba machines that are nice, but a bit on the expensive side.

I also have a small Averatec laptop that I've had for years, other than upgrading the memory and hard disk for bigger sizes, it's served me well. It's been on more airplanes and in more hotels than I can count, and keeps running 100%. The only issue I had was the lid plastic finally cracked around the hinge and I had to use JB-Weld to fix the lid. but it's still hitting on all eight cylinders.

[JMT74]

So I take it you would go with an HP over a DELL?

[DebraZito]

Hi JMT,

I suggest you to keep eye on few good deal sites that can save your money and you can get good deal for your laptop.

here is a staples link for you if admin dont count me spaming as I am putting one link for it

http://www.staples.com/office/suppli...oductId=267184

here you can check rebate details and can get discount...Go for techbargains, dealtaker, cheapdeals101, dealnews to see laptops with good bargains....

[JohnWill]

Tons of laptop deals on these sites every day.


Deal News

Tech Bargains

More Stuff 4 Less

[JohnWill]

I've merged the two threads on the same topic, please don't start multiple threads.

[JMT74]

There are so many deals out there. I am lost at what is the best deal or what I want for that matter lol. I am pretty much set that I don't want a 17" laptop. I like the 16:9 widescreen models the best I think. lol I can't make up my mind. One more thing alot of these laptops have a standard processor speed of 2.0ghz. Will I really notice much of a difference from 2.0 compared to a let's say 2.4ghz processor? Thanks.

[JohnWill]

Not enough to get excited about. If you go for a dual-core model, you get that much more throughput. Also, the faster the clock, the faster the battery depletes.

[aka Brett]

Originally Posted by JMT74

There are so many deals out there. I am lost at what is the best deal or what I want for that matter lol. I am pretty much set that I don't want a 17" laptop. I like the 16:9 widescreen models the best I think. lol I can't make up my mind. One more thing alot of these laptops have a standard processor speed of 2.0ghz. Will I really notice much of a difference from 2.0 compared to a let's say 2.4ghz processor? Thanks.

With a laptop you want one that has a processor that has the notebook in mind..with being energy efficient.
There are a couple reasons for this..an energy efficient processor doesnt run as hot...and as john will stated battery life is better.
heat and laptop equals dead laptop.
Set your budget for the machine...expect a life of about 3 years...
some of the IBMs early dells and some toshibas never seem to die.
times change...so just expect about 3 years out of one.
Be sure you buy one with a synaptics touchpad...the alps touchpads ok and thats it.
you want one that comes with the disks as so you do not have to fight for them later,as the recovery partition doesnt always work.
a widescreen 15 is about right...14 isnt bad if it is widescreen.
most units are widescreen now.
An important note to is what John will is saying about the graphic card.
if you can get one with a dedicated card this will be a big benefit
you can replace a card..but you cant replace the onboard shared card.[major work and bucks} a large perecnet of dead laptop are because of the death of the shared card

[JMT74]

Well I just priced out a DELL Inspiron taking into consideration what you all have been telling me and here is what I come up with. Let me know if you think this is a good deal or not. Thanks.
Inspiron 15
Date & Time: May 03,2009 10:24 PM CST

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Inspiron 15 Qty 1
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32 Bit Unit Price $909.00
Limited Time – Free upgrade to Widescreen 15.6” WLED display!
Limited Time Offer!

Catalog Number: 29 DNCAZA1

INSPIRON 15 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)

Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32 Bit

System Color Jet Black

Memory 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz

LCD Panel Bright, glossy widescreen 15.6 WLED display (1366x768)

Video Card 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330

Hard Drive 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0

Combo or DVD+RW Drive 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)

Sound Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled

Wireless Networking Cards Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini-Card

Integrated Web Cam Integrated 1.3 MP Webcam

Productivity Microsoft Works

Software - Antivirus McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days

Battery Options 9-cell battery

Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service

Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year

Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested

Entertainment and Editing Software WildTangent Games

PROCESSOR LABELS Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor

OS LABELS Windows Vista™ Premium

Dell Remote Access Dell Remote Access, free basic service

Sub total:$909.00 with coupon code QX934B1BM47BS? it is $225 off so it would cost $684+$29 for shipping= $713.