View Full Version : What do you look for when choosing a new laptop?
What is it that you look for in a laptop when choosing a new one?
This is purely to settle an argument ;)
This is purely to settle an argument ;)
The argument being...? And how will this settle it ?
The argument being...? And how will this settle it ?
It's more a of a differ in opinion between one of my partner's friends and myself about laptops.
So where's the options for:
- price
- brand
- bundles
- availability
- trust in the retailer
- convenience of purchase
Shabbychic
07-Mar-11, 16:57
I look for all the options above...well maybe not colour....and also chordie's options. I don't think you could buy a laptop on one single factor.
John Little
07-Mar-11, 16:59
You can - if it says 'Macbook Pro' on it.
I look for all the options above...well maybe not colour....and also chordie's options. I don't think you could buy a laptop on one single factor.
Aye i do the same. With the laptop i bought 5 months ago i wanted all of the options i have listed. I only wanted colour as i really wanted a white one. That is if i could get a good one in white. Lucky for me i found a good one at a good price in white. Took a couple of days of online searching though to find it.
...i wanted all of the options i have listed. I only wanted colour...
Sounds like the argument you needed to settle was with yourself.
Shabbychic
07-Mar-11, 17:17
@chordie.....every time I see your avatar, this clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ-aRwEbp5I&feature=related) always comes to mind.:D
I know Marty isn't actually in that clip, but my real name is Abby Normal.
RAM everytime, I cant use anything under 3GB as its far too slow and I get very annoyed.
C3....:-)
orkneycadian
07-Mar-11, 18:22
You can - if it says 'Macbook Pro' on it.
Canny John, that could be construed as a recommendation!
John Little
07-Mar-11, 18:24
Canny John, that could be construed as a recommendation!
Life is not the same!
It works.
Laptop as it should be.
George Brims
07-Mar-11, 18:29
You can - if it says 'Macbook Pro' on it.
Not for rme, since the term "Mac" means "Won't run the software I use most". They are bonnie wee toys though.
John Little
07-Mar-11, 18:32
I think your software is going to be a tad esoteric George. It does everything I want it to though :)
What is it that you look for in a laptop when choosing a new one?
This is purely to settle an argument ;)
You missed out battery life on the poll.
If your not playing games on ure laptop and just surfing and doing abit word and so on any laptop will do that job but for me i would want a laptop that had good battery life on it
RAM everytime, I cant use anything under 3GB as its far too slow and I get very annoyed.
C3....:-)
I'm exactly the same. My personal laptop(We have so many atm in the house, my partners hobby) has 4gb with the capacity to go to 8gb if i wished.
Thankfully i do have alot of patience with slow machines. They get there eventually so i just leave them to do a task and come back later ;)
redeyedtreefrog
07-Mar-11, 20:54
It's only really the CPU and the screen that's important, all the other aspects can be changed after purchase.
The Music Monster
07-Mar-11, 21:19
I just look for the word "Toshiba"! I've had 2 now and been pleased with both of them in performance and price!
I just look for the word "Toshiba"! I've had 2 now and been pleased with both of them in performance and price!
Funny you say that, I would have wholeheartedly agreed until a few months ago. Not so sure now, one of the lappy's I have here is a Tosh' and on Windys 7...........the biggest pile of cack I've seen since a 286 Tulip. In fact the 286 Tulip would be far better, slightly less portable I agree, but better in my mind.
I voted fer RAM n' OS.
Although I wasn't impressed at first, I think MS peaked with XP closely followed by 3.11. Everything else is pooh. Pooh, pooh, pooh!
Anyway, the problem with yer argument is what is the lappy t'be used fer?!!
Not for rme, since the term "Mac" means "Won't run the software I use most". They are bonnie wee toys though.
But you also have the option to install Windows either in Dual Boot (which I have never tried as I don't see the point) or using programs like Fusion, Parallels or VirtualBox you can install one or more verions of Windows which run in a Mac window.
So if you REALLY have to run a program that is Windows only....
My Mac laptop is the ideal tool to use in multiple locations - it has a location manager that actually works perfectly, unlike any of the Windows alternatives I've tried.
Can drop down into Unix if required.
Stable: it only gets rebooted when required by some system updates. Normally just close and open the lid: instantaneous.
etc
etc
lady penelope
07-Mar-11, 22:18
I have a pink laptop, don't even know the make of it, I decided the colour to stop my 13 year old knicking it, I believe it has good spec, but it switches on, works & does what it's supposed to.
Okay colour is unimportant, though I'd avoid white or gun metal lest someone mistake me for a Mac owner.
Operating system is as unimportant. I'll install what I want later, I generally buy without one to avoid the £150-£250 'Windows tax' and I've no idea what the markup on Macs is but I suspect it's more. BTW you're allowed to claim that back/return the CDs and get a refund if they won't let you buy without.
Beyond that it's a weighted consideration of the specifications, quality, price and how modable/easy to replace parts it is.
Operating system is as unimportant. I'll install what I want later,
Thats what i think though if its already got the one i want on then its saves me the job.
Bobinovich
08-Mar-11, 00:47
I'm with RedEyedTreeFrog i.e. CPU & screen size, as hopefully there'll be no need to change them after, and I have to recommend plenty to customers in my day to day work.
Then:
Decent memory, hard drive, & other general specifications etc.
Availability of webcam, Bluetooth & card reader if they're likely to be needed, to save having to use external plug in options in the future.
Preferably a removable plate where the fan intake is on the base - this makes it easier to remove the regular build-up of dust & lint between the fan and the heatsink, a frequent cause of laptop overheating.
A good solid power connector - many of todays models have pitiful power plugs & sockets which often wear loose with use.
So, many things to consider if you want the best from your laptop!
George Brims
08-Mar-11, 01:41
I think your software is going to be a tad esoteric George. It does everything I want it to though :)
Well it's not esoteric but it's very expensive (not that I pay for it myself!). You can run it on a Mac in one of those PC simulator things, but I hear a lot of grumbling from those who do. Slow and twtchy by all acounts.
annemarie482
08-Mar-11, 08:59
price v's GB size for me.
How easy it is to slip under my coat and make for the door.
I think you people needing 3-8GB of RAM for decent performance probably have pretty bloated installs or are really avid gamers, though I suspect the former.
I can run Windows installs with an average 84-102 initial memory footprint and my Linux initial footprints are less than that. Then you have things like DSL (Damn Small Linux) and Puppy Linux which I've ran on ancient IBM thinkpads with less than 32MB and still been able to play standard videos and if you don't want a GUI you can run home servers (NAS, Media server etc) with less than that.
That's not to say more memory isn't a good thing, I've just always been a fan of optimising what I have.
I think you people needing 3-8GB of RAM for decent performance probably have pretty bloated installs or are really avid gamers, though I suspect the former.
I can run Windows installs with an average 84-102 initial memory footprint and my Linux initial footprints are less than that. Then you have things like DSL (Damn Small Linux) and Puppy Linux which I've ran on ancient IBM thinkpads with less than 32MB and still been able to play standard videos and if you don't want a GUI you can run home servers (NAS, Media server etc) with less than that.
That's not to say more memory isn't a good thing, I've just always been a fan of optimising what I have.
Ah but remember linux is a purely command based operating system whereas windows is much more user friendly and does not require knowledge of programming to use.
Linux is good as it uses so little ram but its not ideal for everyone.
Me i voted for colour!!! I hate them old mono screens :lol:
Ah but remember linux is a purely command based operating system whereas windows is much more user friendly and does not require knowledge of programming to use.
Linux is good as it uses so little ram but its not ideal for everyone.
I think you may be getting current Linux mixed up with early 90s Linux or Unix. Either that or Microsofts excellent marketing and PR has reached you. It would be like saying Windows still looks like this (http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/_MSW1.GIF) BTW Mac OSX is based on Unix/BSD. You'd be surprised what runs Linux actually.
Review
I'd argue these reviews are biased in favour of WIndows but I've tried to select sources everyone would know, instead of my own preferred ones.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/oct/27/ubuntu-koala-windows7-review
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/11/ubuntu_10_10_review/
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/361162/windows-7-vs-ubuntu-10-04-final-scores
Steven Fry on Linux, Open Source and Free Software etc
http://www.stephenfry.com/2008/02/01/deliver-us-from-microsoft/
http://www.gnu.org/fry/ (video) when he says free he means free-as-in-speech, though a good chunk of free and open source software is free-as-in-beer also.
Video
This is a video of some needless desktop eye candy but it might server as example, I'd check out the related videos also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvfRpmqKRbs
Ubuntu Marketing Materal
Ubuntu is one version/flavour of Linux
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/features
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/why-use-ubuntu
(http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/why-use-ubuntu)
Admittedly Linux servers shouldn't run GUIs (but they can if you want) and Microsoft now give people the option not to install a GUI on a server also, but Linux has had desktops and GUIs for quite for some time.
EDIT: I run Debian (http://www.debian.org/) BTW, but if anyone is interest I'd recommend taking a look at Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/), Fedora (http://fedoraproject.org/) and Linux Mint (http://www.linuxmint.com/) they're all versions of Linux that are easy to use. Mint or Ubuntu are probably your best starting point. There are lots of Linux distributions available, some specialised to certain environments and needs and even each distribution has variations, such as Ubuntu which has different versions for older hardware or netbooks etc.
I think you may be getting current Linux mixed up with early 90s Linux or Unix. Either that or Microsofts excellent marketing and PR has reached you. It would be like saying Windows still looks like this (http://img.zdnet.com/techDirectory/_MSW1.GIF) BTW Mac OSX is based on Unix/BSD. You'd be surprised what runs Linux actually.
Review
I'd argue these reviews are biased in favour of WIndows but I've tried to select sources everyone would know, instead of my own preferred ones.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/oct/27/ubuntu-koala-windows7-review
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/11/ubuntu_10_10_review/
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/361162/windows-7-vs-ubuntu-10-04-final-scores
Steven Fry on Linux, Open Source and Free Software etc
http://www.stephenfry.com/2008/02/01/deliver-us-from-microsoft/
http://www.gnu.org/fry/ (video) when he says free he means free-as-in-speech, though a good chunk of free and open source software is free-as-in-beer also.
Video
This is a video of some needless desktop eye candy but it might server as example, I'd check out the related videos also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvfRpmqKRbs
Ubuntu Marketing Materal
Ubuntu is one version/flavour of Linux
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/features
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/why-use-ubuntu
(http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/why-use-ubuntu)
Admittedly Linux servers shouldn't run GUIs (but they can if you want) and Microsoft now give people the option not to install a GUI on a server also, but Linux has had desktops and GUIs for quite for some time.
EDIT: I run Debian (http://www.debian.org/) BTW, but if anyone is interest I'd recommend taking a look at Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/), Fedora (http://fedoraproject.org/) and Linux Mint (http://www.linuxmint.com/) they're all versions of Linux that are easy to use. Mint or Ubuntu are probably your best starting point. There are lots of Linux distributions available, some specialised to certain environments and needs and even each distribution has variations, such as Ubuntu which has different versions for older hardware or netbooks etc.
Ah i see my mistake. I'm running windows 7 currently and i think sometime i will try out linux. It was the thought of the anti user friendly system that was putting me of.
The Music Monster
09-Mar-11, 20:32
Funny you say that, I would have wholeheartedly agreed until a few months ago. Not so sure now, one of the lappy's I have here is a Tosh' and on Windys 7...........the biggest pile of cack I've seen since a 286 Tulip. In fact the 286 Tulip would be far better, slightly less portable I agree, but better in my mind.
Haha! I know what you mean... It took me a while to adjust to the Windows 7 thing on this laptop, but I had an Acer before and it was painful slow and fairly primitive - then again that was some time ago now although it only seems like yesterday - I think I'm living in denial about my age!!!!
Bit too technical for me, this thread.
Haha! I know what you mean... It took me a while to adjust to the Windows 7 thing on this laptop, but I had an Acer before and it was painful slow and fairly primitive - then again that was some time ago now although it only seems like yesterday - I think I'm living in denial about my age!!!!
Adjusting to it isn't the problem, it's just an unstable bitch of a thing. And for my requirements it doesn't do anything more than XP, less in fact.
I am looking at reverting to XP but apparently I need to sort drivers out which can be problematic.
I would look again at a linux setup but I'm not sure it allows me access to programs I need without emulation which seems pointless in a way.
Bobinovich
10-Mar-11, 11:39
LOL can totally relate - bought a lovely i7 based Win7 system last year but am still using my trusty XP system 95%+ of the time!
I bought a purple one from Tesco last week.
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