Hi guys. First post here. A great board. So share the knowledge! I'll try to describe what I'm looking for as best I can. Very limited tech. know-how though.
Looking for a system around the $1200 mark, give or take $100. Want either 15" or 15.4" screen. I'll use it for desktop replacement at work, which is one reason for screensize. I typically have several windows open at once (14 open right now), and like to be able to compare sheets or docs side by side. Main thing I use it for is web use, mostly searching for info., and also store alot of pictues (no video though). May start using it as a presentation tool also, but just using the screen, no projector, so the screen size is a given at 15 or 15.4". Open to suggestions on resolution, but don't want to spend much extra for better than the standard. Also want reasonable weight. I'll be carrying it back and forth from home to work 3-4 times/wk, and just an occasional airplane flight, so don't want an anchor. Maybe 6 to 6.5 lbs., so 17" is out of the question.
Not up on processors, but seems I should go with the Athalon or Turion, given that Vista is due out this year. I guess the Dual Core would be ideal for me, with all the windows I keep open. But don't want to wait more than a month or so to buy one, and don't want to pay the premium price they're getting for Dual Core now. Leaning towards the Turion 64 ML-34, 1.8Ghz with 1MG L2. Isn't that a 533 bus speed?
Other things I want to include:
512MG/1dimm
At least 60Gig/5400rpm. Preferably 80gig due to picture storage
wireless card, of course, with Bluetooth so I can use cell phone to connect
card reader, or at least SD
MS Office
CD-RW/DVD player (don't see the advantage in DVD-RW with memory so cheap these days)
Good battery life (3 hrs?)
At least 2 yrs warranty, preferably at home
Norton or siniliar for protection
Should I go with XP Home or Pro or MultiMedia Center? Leaning to MultiMedia.
Plenty of ports for connectivity
Undecided on the graphics card. I don't do games at all, but would like smooth play of any videos on-line or home videos. Will standard integrated graphics (Integrated 900) do that?
Also wondered if anyone uses the TV tuner card. Does that look just like normal TV? Does it pick up anywhere, or dependent on good signal just like a home TV with an antennae? Sounds like a neat option in order to have TV at work (only for weather events like hurricanes, big news stories, etc. I watch very little TV).
Beyond the details, which brand? I'll stay away from Sony (accs. seem very overpriced, and the unit itself too, and haven't heard great things about their cust service. Dell is probably out due to my experience with them with my desktop purchase (but the 6000 is a heck of a good deal... tempting me). Hearing good things about Acer. And I know you guys here like IBM/Lenovo. But right now I'm leaning towards the HP. Either 4000 or 5000. They have a rep. for great customer service. Being pretty non-technical, I need the support. So that's a big consideration for me.
Last question, should I buy direct from the mfg., or look at BestBuy, Walmart, CircuitCity, or other on-line vendors for the best deal? So far, I've only looked at the mfg web sites. I had just about decided to buy the HP5000, but they dropped some of the deals on Feb. 1, and not quite as attractive now. So may wait till March 1 to see what kind of deals they offer then. But I don't want to wait much past that time. I need to buy something pretty soon! And still open to suggestion, for sure. Any help much appreciated.
Sorry for the long 1st post, but figure the more info. I offer, the more advice you guys can offer.
JB
Looking for a system around the $1200 mark, give or take $100. Want either 15" or 15.4" screen. I'll use it for desktop replacement at work, which is one reason for screensize. I typically have several windows open at once (14 open right now), and like to be able to compare sheets or docs side by side. Main thing I use it for is web use, mostly searching for info., and also store alot of pictues (no video though). May start using it as a presentation tool also, but just using the screen, no projector, so the screen size is a given at 15 or 15.4". Open to suggestions on resolution, but don't want to spend much extra for better than the standard. Also want reasonable weight. I'll be carrying it back and forth from home to work 3-4 times/wk, and just an occasional airplane flight, so don't want an anchor. Maybe 6 to 6.5 lbs., so 17" is out of the question.
Not up on processors, but seems I should go with the Athalon or Turion, given that Vista is due out this year. I guess the Dual Core would be ideal for me, with all the windows I keep open. But don't want to wait more than a month or so to buy one, and don't want to pay the premium price they're getting for Dual Core now. Leaning towards the Turion 64 ML-34, 1.8Ghz with 1MG L2. Isn't that a 533 bus speed?
Other things I want to include:
512MG/1dimm
At least 60Gig/5400rpm. Preferably 80gig due to picture storage
wireless card, of course, with Bluetooth so I can use cell phone to connect
card reader, or at least SD
MS Office
CD-RW/DVD player (don't see the advantage in DVD-RW with memory so cheap these days)
Good battery life (3 hrs?)
At least 2 yrs warranty, preferably at home
Norton or siniliar for protection
Should I go with XP Home or Pro or MultiMedia Center? Leaning to MultiMedia.
Plenty of ports for connectivity
Undecided on the graphics card. I don't do games at all, but would like smooth play of any videos on-line or home videos. Will standard integrated graphics (Integrated 900) do that?
Also wondered if anyone uses the TV tuner card. Does that look just like normal TV? Does it pick up anywhere, or dependent on good signal just like a home TV with an antennae? Sounds like a neat option in order to have TV at work (only for weather events like hurricanes, big news stories, etc. I watch very little TV).
Beyond the details, which brand? I'll stay away from Sony (accs. seem very overpriced, and the unit itself too, and haven't heard great things about their cust service. Dell is probably out due to my experience with them with my desktop purchase (but the 6000 is a heck of a good deal... tempting me). Hearing good things about Acer. And I know you guys here like IBM/Lenovo. But right now I'm leaning towards the HP. Either 4000 or 5000. They have a rep. for great customer service. Being pretty non-technical, I need the support. So that's a big consideration for me.
Last question, should I buy direct from the mfg., or look at BestBuy, Walmart, CircuitCity, or other on-line vendors for the best deal? So far, I've only looked at the mfg web sites. I had just about decided to buy the HP5000, but they dropped some of the deals on Feb. 1, and not quite as attractive now. So may wait till March 1 to see what kind of deals they offer then. But I don't want to wait much past that time. I need to buy something pretty soon! And still open to suggestion, for sure. Any help much appreciated.
Sorry for the long 1st post, but figure the more info. I offer, the more advice you guys can offer.
JB
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