Tough one

[2233]

Who has a laptop? What brand, what processor etc are you running?

[peterp]

Do you want to buy one ?

Really good laptops start at $4500
Really nice laptops about $3500
Nice laptops about $2000 to $2500
okay laptops about $1200 to $1600
Just a laptop around $900 to $1000

But what do you want the laptop for, or do you want a mobile desktop ??

Do you want long battery life or will you have it plugged into mains most of the time.

Laptops usually have smaller screens and larger battery life, mobile desktops on the other hand have large screens and low battery life.

Do you want processing power ? do you want it for graphics or do you want it just for the internet ?

Start at the top and you will get CORE 2 DUO then down to CORE DUO, these are usually associated with laptops.

Then you get Pentiums,  these type of processors are usually associated with low battery life but they do have power and usually can't be used on your lap as they get too hot.

Then there's celeron, the poor mans laptop then down to AMD, I personally wouldn't buy one, they are usually in the cheaper range.

Don't forget ram, at least a gigabyte if you want some grunt, you will at least need 512 megabyte whatever you decide to get, and don't forget the size of the hard drive, 40 gigabyte for the bottom range up to 120 gigabyte for the top of the range, in some cases even larger.

CONFUSED !

I recommend that you at least buy a brand name like TOSHIBA, HEWLETT PACKARD or SONY VAIO.

Personally I hate laptops, they are the most stolen item ask your local Police they will confirm this fact, whenever I need one I usually buy one because I'm going away for a couple of weeks then when I get back I can't wait to sell it, they are not a pleasant computer to use if you have access to a desktop, they are at least a generation behind desktops and very underpowered in comparison.

Best places to shop: Harvey Norman (they will give you a discount if you ask) Harris Technology or even Office Works have specials from time to time.

Be careful buying second hand, if you do buy second hand the things to look out for are: Instruction Books, Original installation CD's, Parts like Power supplies missing, the lack of these items should arouse suspicions, it could be stolen.

Peterp

[2233]

I am thinking about buying this machine (I only use the net, I dont play games etc)

ASUS PRO31JC

15.4" screen

8 in 1 card reader

1gb ram ddr2 677

core 2 duo 1.6ghz processor

120GB harddrive 5400rpm....(what ever that means? Is that where the cam power band stops:+ )

nvidia ge force GO 7300 graphics card(Idependent) 128mb

bluetooth

web cam 1.3mp

tv tuner

intel pro wirless 802.11a/b/g

firewire

vga output

3 x usb 2.0

svideo

cd burner/player dual layer bla bla

bag

wireless mouse

Vist premium......................I know what you said in one of your previous posts...............

Not a bad list off the top of my head !

$1650

Suggestions or comments?

[peterp]

It's not a TOSHIBA, HEWLETT PACKARD or SONY VAIO, these brands I would give 100% approval, ASUS would get about 95% approval, but then you wouldn't get everything you are getting for the price in a TOSHIBA, HEWLETT PACKARD or SONY VAIO.

ASUS make good desktop components ie: motherboards, video cards, cases and DVD's, I use these components on a regular basis. They don't make hard drives and in a lot of situations DVD's are rebadged as are a lot of computer components, I don't think there is a manufacturer out there who can afford to make every component, especially if it has to work well and compete with the open market.

5400rpm is the rotation speed of the hard drive, this is normal for a laptop, 120GB is a nice size for storage.

web cam 1.3mp, Great built in allthough not very powerful.

tv tuner, usually useless unless you can plug in to a house antenna system, they need a good signal, you will rarely use it once the novelty wears off.

The rest is standard exept for the fact that they are throwing in a bag.

Peterp

[Brett_T]

I brought a Asus approx 10 months ago, and it has been ok to use, and now it turns itself off at random,plugged into the mains!! I have been told the power supply is stuffed, and it is more to fix it than it is to replace it, so it is in its bag tucked away in the spare room!! Sometimes it works fine for hours, other times it just turns off, when you are in the middle of something important!! Any thoughts Peter??

[nassi]

Brett, I'm no expert and I'm sure Peter will will be of more help. But a few years ago I had a Dell which suffered similar symptoms. The cooling fan for the processor had died. The fans are cheap and not to hard to replace.
Just a thought.
nassi

[peterp]

Or at least I think he is.

Over heating is usually associated with a Pentium chip, especially in a laptop, the only way to run cool was to purchase the mobile chip versions which ran cooler but didn't have the same power, but they were compensated with extra on chip cache.

The last generation before Core 2 Duo had quite a problem with over heating even in desktops.

Core 2 Duo being new technology runs cool but as time goes on they will pump more voltage into them to get them to run faster, hence the problem of over heating with the last of the generation of P4's, they were running at maximum voltage.

Yes I would look at the fan, at the very least get the fan and heat sink cleaned, they get covered with dust over time. ;]

Peterp

[shelby_mustro]

Originally posted by Brett_T
I brought a Asus approx 10 months ago, and it has been ok to use, and now it turns itself off at random,plugged into the mains!! I have been told the power supply is stuffed, and it is more to fix it than it is to replace it, so it is in its bag tucked away in the spare room!! Sometimes it works fine for hours, other times it just turns off, when you are in the middle of something important!! Any thoughts Peter??

Brett I am with peterp & nassi on this one, as I own a Asus laptop/desktop computer as well and it would all ways over heat due to the fan vents been clogged by to much dust build up in the fan!!
Thanks Ryan

[shelby_mustro]

peterp
While I am at it about the fan!!  
When I pulled mine out of the computer to clean it the other day I accidentally bent one of the little needles that connects into the mother board while reinstalling it back on the computer (I only found this out because I had a black screen when I turned the computer back on) would you be able to tell me at all if my computer is stuffed or would I just buy a new fan?
Thanks Ryan

[peterp]

I realise that what I have said is near mission impossible but it can sometimes be done.

I actually bent one of the pins on a CPU once, after about 1 hour with the biggest magnifying glass and a gem razor blade I managed to straighten it, quite a chore.

If that fails I would definately buy a new fan.

I'm not much help on that one, I guess its try it and see.

Peterp :o

[Brett_T]

Whats the easiest way to clean the "sink" , it certainly sounds as if the fan is running, take it apart and have look around?? and hope i dont have bits left over when i put it back together..

[peterp]

I don't service laptops, too many things can go wrong, I usually send them to someone who specialises in that area.

Desktops are not a problem at least with them you usually don't need special tools or service manuals to dismantle them.

Maybe an aerosol can of compressed air might do the trick, I do know the laptop technicians value such a tool.

Peterp