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01-17-2013, 08:06 PM
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#1
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 8,281
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Sister wants a Laptop
My sister's old PC is finally in need of a change (AMD 3200+, 6600GT)
I suggested she get a laptop since she often watches TV in another room and walks back and forth to her PC. Now she has a lot of joint pain and so can't walk around.
Looking for a laptop with decent battery life and small size/weight around $500 (i3 or i5).
She really loves the idea of an ultrabook but the low power/speed processors are a real turn off.
Her usage is limited to Youtube HD, Online radio streaming, Flash games on Facebook, 720p or 1080p MKV videos.
I see a lot of Lenovo options which are quite confusing at different model numbers and sizes. Z500 looks good but lower battery life.
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01-18-2013, 08:34 AM
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#3
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Diamond Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,056
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For $500 you can get a decent desktop tower upgrade AND something like a kindle fire HD.
__________________
I am looking for a cheap upgrade to my 3 year old computer.
AT forum member #1: Buy a 3770k
I am looking for a way to get 10 more fps in TF2.
AT forum member #2: Buy a 3770k
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01-18-2013, 10:43 AM
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#4
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 8,281
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How would this compare:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...81360fbbfden02
No Kindle Fire in Canada AFAIK. Tablet is a non-option as she wants to be able to browse traditionally and have flash support and what not
Amazon App store doesnt work here
I am also ok to purchase from USA!
Last edited by BassBomb; 01-18-2013 at 11:00 AM.
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01-18-2013, 01:10 PM
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#5
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Elite Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 35,479
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Since she's not a gamer (except Flash games), I'd go with an intel Pentium / i3 / i5 laptop over an AMD. Even a (sandy bridge) dual-core Pentium is fast enough for her needs.
The best thing to do is go there with her so she can see the screen and try out the keyboard. Both can be pretty bad on under-$800 laptops.
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01-18-2013, 07:51 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 285
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dunno y ur replacing it, but just fyi. use CoreAVC for decoding HD and something light but awsome like Media Player Classic, and you'd be saprized what pc's can actually play HD. my Netbook cant play full HD or bluray, but I have encodes on here ~4gb 1080(sorry i never botherd to look at the bitrates) that actually work on here[without stutter]. Medium settings tho No deinterlacing medium deblocking. i mostly use 720 since its easy. Anything above a Netbook i would imagine would bable to handle HD pritty easy if utilizing CoreAVC or if theres any alternative equivalent these days IDK. Maybe not full bitrate Bluray on every system but definetly encoded HD
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01-18-2013, 08:00 PM
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#7
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 8,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jolancer
dunno y ur replacing it, but just fyi. use CoreAVC for decoding HD and something light but awsome like Media Player Classic, and you'd be saprized what pc's can actually play HD. my Netbook cant play full HD or bluray, but I have encodes on here ~4gb 1080(sorry i never botherd to look at the bitrates) that actually work on here[without stutter]. Medium settings tho No deinterlacing medium deblocking. i mostly use 720 since its easy. Anything above a Netbook i would imagine would bable to handle HD pritty easy if utilizing CoreAVC or if theres any alternative equivalent these days IDK. Maybe not full bitrate Bluray on every system but definetly encoded HD
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Been there, Three PC's in the house 3000+, 3200+ and a P4 3.0Ghz have lasted a long time but they're showing problems and have trouble mostly with streamed HD. Usage goes too high and they slow down and bog down. Even with MPC-HC and such. Her PC is the best of those three and its also loud and uses more electricity.
If an i5 "U" CPU meets her needs that will help the decision making. There are just so many options out there that its like  each day I look for a deal I come up with different solutions.
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01-18-2013, 10:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 850
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A Sandy Bridge or newer Ultrabook ultra low voltage CPU absolutely destroys Pentium 4 era CPUs because they are more efficient in terms of instructions per cycle due to better microarchitecture and more cores. This is despite the low clockspeed.
For your reference, IPS=IPCxclockspeed. Instructions per second equals instructions per cycle times number of cycles. IPC varies according to software, microarchitecture, and core count, and maybe some other factors since I don't know the CPUs THAT well..
The gap is larger if you go with mainstream Sandy or Ivy Bridge CPUs
__________________
SR061| Asrock H77M | 2x2GB G.Skill 1333Mhz NS RAM | PowerSpec TX-606 Case| 500GB 7200RPM Seagate Drive| Antec Eartwatts EA-500 (2006) | Asus DVD Burner | parallell and COM port header | Old Dell Keyboard
The only graphics card my family ever owned came from a PII rig.
Last edited by Torn Mind; 01-18-2013 at 10:17 PM.
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01-18-2013, 11:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveSimmons
Since she's not a gamer (except Flash games), I'd go with an intel Pentium / i3 / i5 laptop over an AMD. Even a (sandy bridge) dual-core Pentium is fast enough for her needs.
The best thing to do is go there with her so she can see the screen and try out the keyboard. Both can be pretty bad on under-$800 laptops.
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Well, one Facebook flash game does choke under a desktop Pentium G620, so a dual core mobile Pentium might not be enough..
A new laptop with a 1080 screen resolution and with the CPUs he wants is out of the question though, so the OP will have to settle for less there.
The ASUS Vivobook is a interesting choice because it comes with a touchscreen, which helps with dealing with Windows 8. Only thing is that it has an 11.6 inch screen.
__________________
SR061| Asrock H77M | 2x2GB G.Skill 1333Mhz NS RAM | PowerSpec TX-606 Case| 500GB 7200RPM Seagate Drive| Antec Eartwatts EA-500 (2006) | Asus DVD Burner | parallell and COM port header | Old Dell Keyboard
The only graphics card my family ever owned came from a PII rig.
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01-19-2013, 12:18 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 107
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If you want a traditional laptop (no Win 8, not ultrabook) that seems like a good model. Does she need the disc drive/bigger screen?
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01-19-2013, 12:25 AM
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#12
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Golden Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,026
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Regular battery?
This one:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...81360fbbfden02
Has a very nice EDIT -not 1080p after all- "IPS" screen and a much better GPU both of which are important.
While this one:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...C-C8junctionCA
Is not IPS but it does have the better Intel CPU.
Personally I'd be tempted to get the IPS machine
...
In this case IPS stands for "In-Plane Switching". The display on the IPS equipped laptop should be much nicer but you might just go down to BB and take a look for yourself.
Last edited by lakedude; 01-19-2013 at 01:03 AM.
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01-19-2013, 12:42 AM
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#13
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 8,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lakedude
Regular battery?
This one:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...81360fbbfden02
Has a very nice 1080p (I believe) "IPS" screen and a much better GPU both of which are important.
While this one:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...C-C8junctionCA
Is only 720p and not IPS but it does have the better Intel CPU.
Personally I'd be tempted to get the 1080p IPS machine
...
In this case IPS stands for "In-Plane Switching". The display on the IPS equipped laptop should be much nicer but you might just go down to BB and take a look for yourself. |
Oh of course I know about IPS. I am not sure it has it though... the specs claim its the generic screen resolution. Might be worth the trip to BB to confirm and compare. The Intel one is lighter weight which she will value more than say a dedicated GPU.
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01-19-2013, 12:45 AM
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#14
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Golden Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,026
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Oh crap, I must have got mixed up, sorry.
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01-19-2013, 12:48 AM
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#15
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Golden Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,026
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OK under "Details" it says:
Quote:
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Despite the focus on incredible sound, viewing certainly doesn't take a backseat. The 15.6-inch HD widescreen display has IPS panels that provide stunning 150°viewing angles, bringing to life detailed, vivid and brighter images from any direction. All wrapped up in a Red Dot Design Award winning body with ripple effect speaker mesh and precision-etched hairline metallic cover.
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Under specs it says "1366 x 768" so it is not 1080p after all...
Wonder where I got that from?
OK that is just weird. Your link does not have a "specs" tab so I must have gone hunting for the specs. My link does have a specs tab??? Wait where the heck did the specs go??? I just coped the 1366 x 768 from the specs tab and now I can't find a specs tab at all????
Last edited by lakedude; 01-19-2013 at 01:05 AM.
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01-19-2013, 01:05 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BassBomb
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That's pretty powerful. An SSD will make it even snappier, but compared to what you have now, it will be a tremendously pleasant transition, barring any hiccups or issues.
Passmark is not always useful or accurate, but when comparing processors with a score of less than 500 to that of 1000 or more, it works as a tool. It also does a fair job comparing processors that is within the same generation within the same company. It's notas good when doing AMD vs Intel
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?...0M+%40+2.50GHz
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?...7U+%40+1.80GHz
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?...+3200%2B&id=67
www.notebookcheck.net is also a useful resource.
__________________
SR061| Asrock H77M | 2x2GB G.Skill 1333Mhz NS RAM | PowerSpec TX-606 Case| 500GB 7200RPM Seagate Drive| Antec Eartwatts EA-500 (2006) | Asus DVD Burner | parallell and COM port header | Old Dell Keyboard
The only graphics card my family ever owned came from a PII rig.
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01-25-2013, 05:05 PM
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#17
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 8,281
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Result:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16834230729
Got for $750 with a price match deal
So far she likes it but she hates Windows 8 and some of the gestures.. she does nto mind the bilingual keyboard
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01-25-2013, 05:12 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Northern Lower Peninsula
Posts: 531
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Do a search for "Start8".
Download the trial.
This puts the interface back to Win7 within Win8.
See if she "likes".
Then pay the $4.99 for the program.
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01-25-2013, 05:18 PM
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#19
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,920
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any e350 laptops still around? that would maximize your battery life, along with super light weight and small size... and since about 9 months ago those chips DO play all HD content that i can throw at it... streaming youtube and netflix hd is not an issue anymore...
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01-25-2013, 07:39 PM
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#20
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Golden Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,026
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Classic Shell is a nice start menu replacement program that is free.
http://www.classicshell.net/
If you are using a touch pad with W8 you might want to disable Edge Swipe.
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01-30-2013, 02:21 PM
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#21
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,839
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__________________
««Heroes Are Ordinary Men»»
««Who Do Extraordinary Things»»
««In Extraordinary Times»»
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01-30-2013, 04:42 PM
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#22
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Lifer
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 21,135
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I have that same laptop, and my only warning is to be careful that it doesn't overheat. It may have a fan in it, but it barely seems to do anything. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbp
Do a search for "Start8".
Download the trial.
This puts the interface back to Win7 within Win8.
See if she "likes".
Then pay the $4.99 for the program.
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Ars Technica has a write-up on Start Menu alternatives for Windows 8, and they found a better alternative than Start8. Well, to be fair, it's only better because it's just as good, but slightly cheaper. 
http://arstechnica.com/information-t...my-start-menu/
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01-30-2013, 11:04 PM
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#23
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aikouka
I have that same laptop, and my only warning is to be careful that it doesn't overheat. It may have a fan in it, but it barely seems to do anything.
Ars Technica has a write-up on Start Menu alternatives for Windows 8, and they found a better alternative than Start8. Well, to be fair, it's only better because it's just as good, but slightly cheaper.
http://arstechnica.com/information-t...my-start-menu/ |
you have that same asus laptop from newegg?
__________________
««Heroes Are Ordinary Men»»
««Who Do Extraordinary Things»»
««In Extraordinary Times»»
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01-31-2013, 06:13 AM
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#25
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 5,977
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RossMAN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Dude8
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looks like he has already pick one up and got a real good price on it:
Quote:
Originally Posted by BassBomb
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__________________
We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us
ASUS p8z77 v, i7 3770k, crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB, XFX HD7970 Black Edition
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