Laptop Suggestion

[Toasted1]

I am going to need a laptop for basic browsing while recovering from surgery and I am looking for suggestions. My home system is a Intel 6750 with 4GB of RAM which is about 18 months old so I am looking to get as close to those specs speed wise as possible in something portable and trying to stay around $500 price range if possible.

Sorry I do not really follow processors or pc hardware in general anymore so I really do not know what else to ask for. Just looking to see if there are any better options out there for around $500 rather than just jumping on the weekly BB or Dell laptop special.

[MOT]

any idea on the specs of your existing laptop?

[Toasted1]

I don't have one now I just want something comparable to the speed on my desktop or at least as close as possible.

[MOT]

sorry bro, mis read. what are the specs on your home system?

[GearGuy2001]

HP makes good laptops imo

[brynm]

They're also supposed to have top notch customer service, and Compaq = HP too.

[pl8er]

This is totally IMO but HP = do not want. MOT has laptops and gives a crunk discount (I haven't used one and can't speak from personal experience). Mostly I use Dell as I have a corporate discount.

Your requirements are not super high. A 2.66 dual core and 4gb of ram seems a tad overkill on a laptop used for browsing though.

Personally, if you are not doing anything that uses high performance. I would think about a netbook. These use low power, low performance processors with smaller screens that cost very little. You can get them from 249 up to around 399 and usually have atom processors windows xp, vista or Ubuntu. They have smaller screens (8", 10" 13")

[pl8er]

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-10?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~laptop-inspiron-10_anav_1~~

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=772&name=Netbooks&Tpk=netbook

[Toasted1]

This is totally IMO but HP = do not want. MOT has laptops and gives a crunk discount (I haven't used one and can't speak from personal experience). Mostly I use Dell as I have a corporate discount.

Your requirements are not super high. A 2.66 dual core and 4gb of ram seems a tad overkill on a laptop used for browsing though.

Personally, if you are not doing anything that uses high performance. I would think about a netbook. These use low power, low performance processors with smaller screens that cost very little. You can get them from 249 up to around 399 and usually have atom processors windows xp, vista or Ubuntu. They have smaller screens (8", 10" 13")

I was actually thinking of these since my last post. How limited are they though. I do have word, thunderbird, ff (with 10+ browsers), putty and one note open pretty much 99% of the time.

Not sure if it would cause issues as I do often do a bit more than just browsing.. Plus that Dell one is $399 where I can get a real laptop for $499 but obviously it has a lot of added weight.

[brynm]

My mother in law has one of these:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10118783&catid=

It's a complete POS in my opinion, do you want a CD/DVD drive? Most netbooks don't have them, would make it a PITA to install anything you can't download.

[GearGuy2001]

MOT is a good guy but to build a laptop you can compete in price with a HP, Dell, etc.

If you build a laptop on newegg it would cost you $500 for something that is junk, yet if you buy a HP for the same price you get a dual core with 4GB of ram and a 160GB HDD

[Sex Cells]

What are you having surgery for?

MOT, holler at me about a laptop. I'm going to be wanting one soon; want to see what you have to offer, whats your site?

lol, i have no clue how to use the simi colon

[Spider Monkey]

MOT, holler at me about a laptop. I'm going to be wanting one soon; want to see what you have to offer, whats your site?


Peep at his sig son.

[Sex Cells]

i has to turn them on

[Sex Cells]

or just look at his profile

[Sex Cells]

ah, fascinating.

[pl8er]

I was actually thinking of these since my last post. How limited are they though. I do have word, thunderbird, ff (with 10+ browsers), putty and one note open pretty much 99% of the time.

Not sure if it would cause issues as I do often do a bit more than just browsing.. Plus that Dell one is $399 where I can get a real laptop for $499 but obviously it has a lot of added weight.

Nothing you listed would cause these any problems. You are right, you can get a full laptop for about 500. The real benefit to a netbook is portability and battery life (some lasting close to 8 hours on a single charge). Graphics would be "okay" on these, not fantastic. It is true that many do not come with CD. I download almost everything and use USB for everything else, so it would not impact me at all.

If netbook isn't your cup of tea, I'll search some medium priced laptops for you.

[Toasted1]

What are you having surgery for?


My arm, I will probably be in the hospital about a week and sitting on my couch for close to two months so I am looking for something to fuck around with rather than having to go upstairs and sit at the desk.

I also own a home business so I need to check email about hourly, figure getting a laptop + a nice bed and breakfast table I can plant my ass on the couch and handle business.

Nothing you listed would cause these any problems. You are right, you can get a full laptop for about 500. The real benefit to a netbook is portability and battery life (some lasting close to 8 hours on a single charge). Graphics would be "okay" on these, not fantastic. It is true that many do not come with CD. I download almost everything and use USB for everything else, so it would not impact me at all.

If netbook isn't your cup of tea, I'll search some medium priced laptops for you.

No a netbook seems like that I need. I am wondering how the tiny keypad would be after a while though. I have laptops but never use them because I hate not having a full size keyboard.

With chunky fingers I am wondering if this will be an issue, I will be typing 100% with one arm. I also prefer a trackball (Like on my thinkpads) as compared to the touchpads.. doubt any netbooks offer that though.

[GearGuy2001]

Nothing you listed would cause these any problems. You are right, you can get a full laptop for about 500. The real benefit to a netbook is portability and battery life (some lasting close to 8 hours on a single charge). Graphics would be "okay" on these, not fantastic. It is true that many do not come with CD. I download almost everything and use USB for everything else, so it would not impact me at all.

If netbook isn't your cup of tea, I'll search some medium priced laptops for you.

One of my friends put osx on his msi wind and sold it for a bunch of money lol

[Sex Cells]

I want a 13"

but i would like to be able to have a docking bay so i can hook it upto a 36" and have a fullsize keyboard/mouse

[GearGuy2001]

Yeah my HP 14.3" is to big, I want to get a netbook for like a 11-12" screen.

Sony makes one that is hot, but its expensive :crap:

[pl8er]

My arm, I will probably be in the hospital about a week and sitting on my couch for close to two months so I am looking for something to fuck around with rather than having to go upstairs and sit at the desk.

I also own a home business so I need to check email about hourly, figure getting a laptop + a nice bed and breakfast table I can plant my ass on the couch and handle business.



No a netbook seems like that I need. I am wondering how the tiny keypad would be after a while though. I have laptops but never use them because I hate not having a full size keyboard.

With chunky fingers I am wondering if this will be an issue, I will be typing 100% with one arm. I also prefer a trackball (Like on my thinkpads) as compared to the touchpads.. doubt any netbooks offer that though.


Your problems with the unit could be easily fixed with usb peripherals. USB keyboard and mouse both just plugged into it.

[Toasted1]

Well I have a wireless keyboard/mouse combo I suppose I could plug it in, run the vga from the netbook to the TV and have a 52" computer that would be FTW!

I have an old HTPC but it is godly slow and was used mostly for media before I got a PS3.

[pl8er]

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39029450,49297248,00.htm

Bit older but might give you some name brand ideas..

And yeah, keyboard mouse combo would work very well. Not sure how the graphics would run on that big a screen.

[Toasted1]

Well after some browsing I am pretty set on this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220504

Can anyone see any issues I may have with it.. 9 hour battery life is the man factor in that decision so I can take it with me for a weekend without having to keep plugging it in.

[pl8er]

excellent choice! EEE pretty much rules the netbook segment IMO.

[MOT]

Well after some browsing I am pretty set on this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220504

Can anyone see any issues I may have with it.. 9 hour battery life is the man factor in that decision so I can take it with me for a weekend without having to keep plugging it in.

I like it. I was going to recommend something similar.

[MOT]

What are you having surgery for?

MOT, holler at me about a laptop. I'm going to be wanting one soon; want to see what you have to offer, whats your site?

lol, i have no clue how to use the simi colon

u still need info? pm me

[IDSkot]

Personally, I like IBM's.
They're expensive as a bitch. But, if you get refurbished laptops, they're a lot cheaper. They are also easy to repair. IBM's whole motto is function over form. So they're really basic looking laptops... but they're durable as hell, and can take a beating. I had one, and it was a champ. I think next laptop I'm getting is gunna be a refurbed IBM again.

[MOT]

im an Acer and Sony fan myself

[Sex Cells]

u still need info? pm me

dont PM me unless you can beat newegg prices!!!!11!1

[Echo42987]

Acers are pretty good in that price range. Got one through work and for browsing around it works just fine!

[MOT]

dont PM me unless you can beat newegg prices!!!!11!1

depends on the product.

[Toasted1]

Ok, still debating :laugh:

Found this Infopad from IBM: http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=9481197&SourceID=k3787

and still considering this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220504

I like IBM better due to having laptops from them over the years and never really having any problems however the IBM lasts about 5 hours on a charge and the other lasts about 9. The both use the Atom processor but the IBM is 1.60ghz where the Asus is 1.66 which I doubt will show much different.. Screens are about the same size with the IBM being about 25px shorter.

[MOT]

i'd go w/ the one w/ 9 hrs then.

[pl8er]

Both are pretty good machines.

Personally, I'd still go with the Eee due to feedback I've heard/read. Honestly, you will be happy with either.

[hustlemanlv]

try tosibas factory direct web site

[hustlemanlv]

or try a net book on computer geeks www.geeks.com