Dell, Toshiba or HP Laptop?

[Skyzoomer]

I've only owned desktop PCs till now and am thinking of buying my first laptop. Want to do

- Web surfing like forums and youtube videos
- Download info for offline reading
- Programming & compiling using Visual C# Express
- Watch DVDs on airplanes
- I don't do gaming.
- I want to spend less than $800 unless there is an overbearing reason to spend more.

1. Do Dell, Toshiba or HP PCs restrict what operating system can be installed? I seem to recall that Dell has their ROM BIOS set to only allow the version of Windows that come with their PCs. I assume that if that is true, it is to get lower prices from Microsoft for the OS installed on their PCs. Reason is that I would like to set the laptop up for a dual boot with Vista and WinXP. My second PC desktop died so I have a legitimate unused copy of WinXP Pro that I can install on the laptop. Will my 32 bit WinXP Pro even work on a 64 bit laptop if that is what I get? Has anyone installed a dual boot Vista and WinXP on their laptop?

2. I want to stay with the Intel line. I assume that the Intel core 2 duo is the processor to get right now but I don't have a clue as to which version to get for the uses I stated above. Is the core 2 duo a 64 bit CPU? If so, does that dictate running Vista and forget trying to setup a dual boot with WinXP Pro?

3. I assume I need to get 2GB or 4GB of ram to have dual channel (no 3GB ram).

4. Is a 5400 rpm hard drive ok for my uses above? I notice that the manufacturers are not listing the hard drive rpm in their ads. Is emailing them the only way to get that info, or is there a web page that has that kind of info?

Any suggestions for specific brand and model laptops to get for under $800 to meet my requirements will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Skyzoomer

 

[Hacp]

Dell got rid of those arcane restrictions a LONG time ago. Right now, HP is probably the worst in terms of aftermarket upgrades. Dell is generally the best I think, so go with dell.

 

[fffblackmage]

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer
1. Do Dell, Toshiba or HP PCs restrict what operating system can be installed? I seem to recall that Dell has their ROM BIOS set to only allow the version of Windows that come with their PCs. I assume that if that is true, it is to get lower prices from Microsoft for the OS installed on their PCs. Reason is that I would like to set the laptop up for a dual boot with Vista and WinXP. My second PC desktop died so I have a legitimate unused copy of WinXP Pro that I can install on the laptop. Will my 32 bit WinXP Pro even work on a 64 bit laptop if that is what I get? Has anyone installed a dual boot Vista and WinXP on their laptop?

Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of windows can be installed on 64-bit hardware. I think all new laptops are now 64-bit. Only some of Intel's Atom processors are 64-bit compatible, I think. I don't think there's any problems with dual booting XP and Vista on laptops. I don't know the details on how to do it though. But google can help you with that.

2. I want to stay with the Intel line. I assume that the Intel core 2 duo is the processor to get right now but I don't have a clue as to which version to get for the uses I stated above. Is the core 2 duo a 64 bit CPU? If so, does that dictate running Vista and forget trying to setup a dual boot with WinXP Pro?

Doesn't really matter which C2D processor you get, but most preferable would be newer models. The T5x00 and T7x00 line are a bit older and the T8x00 are newer. But there are so many different models that it's best to just look them up and see if they're Meron or Penryn. Wiki's list of Core 2 cpus has all the models and will tell you if they're the newer Penryn, or older Merom.

3. I assume I need to get 2GB or 4GB of ram to have dual channel (no 3GB ram).

I think that's correct. Though I'm not actually sure if dual channel works with a 1GB stick and 2GB stick or not. If you can't get a laptop with 2GB or 4GB of ram, you can always upgrade that yourself. RAM is cheap, and upgrading that through Dell/HP/etc are often pricier than doing it yourself.

4. Is a 5400 rpm hard drive ok for my uses above? I notice that the manufacturers are not listing the hard drive rpm in their ads. Is emailing them the only way to get that info, or is there a web page that has that kind of info?

If they don't advertise the speed, it's most likely 5400 rpm. 7200 rpm supposedly has faster response times and slightly better transfer speeds. But the difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm on laptops HDDs aren't as significant as 5400rpm and 7200rpm desktop HDDs.

If you can get a laptop with a large 7200rpm drive, I guess that's good. But you often pay a lot more for the 7200rpm drive and get less capacity at the same time compared to 5400rpm HDDs. So, unless the 7200rpm HDD is a free upgrade, it's most likely not worth it.

If you can get an SSD drive, that's even better (they're fast), but expect less space and higher price.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer

1. Do Dell, Toshiba or HP PCs restrict what operating system can be installed? I seem to recall that Dell has their ROM BIOS set to only allow the version of Windows that come with their PCs.

You can install anything you want on a Dell; it's just that technical support will only deal with the OS originally installed.

4. Is a 5400 rpm hard drive ok for my uses above? I notice that the manufacturers are not listing the hard drive rpm in their ads. Is emailing them the only way to get that info, or is there a web page that has that kind of info?

Yes 5400 rpm should do fine. I Current 5400 models are much better than older ones and you probably wouldn't see any performance difference with a 7200. More importantly for laptops, 7200s run much hotter and consume more power. I wouldn't spend any time researching drive speeds on competitive models; concentrate on the factors that will make a difference to you.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Hacp, fffblackmage and Athena,

Thanks for your very helpful replies. And fff, thanks for the extra time you invested for your reply.
It seems that the order of preference for a laptop is Dell, then Toshiba, then HP. Since Dell's ROM BIOS no longer has restrictions unique to Dell, I'll start researching Dell first.

I'll come back with what I find to get your (and anyone else's) opinion as to suitability for the uses I outlined above.

Thanks!
Skyzoomer

 

[Skyzoomer]

I read one user review that said he made a mistake getting a 17" laptop because it was so heavy it was like carrying his desktop around. It seems that 15" screen laptops weigh about 5.8 lbs while 17" screen laptops weigh about 7.9 lbs (about 2 lbs more). Do you experienced laptop users think getting a 15" screen to have the lighter weight is worth it? (I assume 15" screens also mean longer battery life.)

What do you think about this 15" screen Dell laptop?

Studio 15
Intel® Core? 2 Duo T6400 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit
15.6? High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife? and Camera
8X Slot Load Super Multi (DL DVD+/-R Drive + RAM support)
4GB2 Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
Size: 320GB3 SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini-Card
56 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
Intel® Core? 2 Duo T6400 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty,4 InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis5
Save $199 off this Dell Studio 15!
Free 2nd Business Day Shipping!

Starting Price $878
Instant Savings $199
Subtotal $679

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...aptops_great_deals_4~~

Anyone know if the Studio's "WXGA widescreen with TrueLife technology" has wider viewing angle than the Inspiration's screen?

I watched a youtube review of a Studio 15 laptop and he showed how the entire keyboard flexes up and down a bit when the middle keys are pressed down. Anyone with a Studio 15 that can comment on this issue?

How about a Sony Vaio? Too expensive for what it contains compared to a Dell? Don't know if a Vaio's keyboard also flexes up/down. Will probably have to find one in a store to check it out.

Thanks,
Skyzoomer

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer
Do you experienced laptop users think getting a 15" screen to have the lighter weight is worth it?

People have different needs and priorities -- that's why there are so many options in the marketplace. My personal preference is for mobility so I stay away from heavy machines with bulky large screens. It's one thing if you are going to sit on a couch and seldom take your computer anywhere; it's quite another thing to have to travel with it. I advise you to go to a retail store and look at the units -- pick them up (if you can) and get an idea of what will be best for you. 2 pounds makes a big difference when you add it to the extras and have to lug it around on a business trip. The same is true for a large screen that won't fit on an airplane tray table.

(I assume 15" screens also mean longer battery life.)

What do you think about this 15" screen Dell laptop?

If you are serious about getting a Dell, you want to check out the Outlet. Machines from the Outlet come with the same warranty as new and they frequently have coupon promotions that reduce the prices even more.

 

[fffblackmage]

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer
I read one user review that said he made a mistake getting a 17" laptop because it was so heavy it was like carrying his desktop around. It seems that 15" screen laptops weigh about 5.8 lbs while 17" screen laptops weigh about 7.9 lbs (about 2 lbs more). Do you experienced laptop users think getting a 15" screen to have the lighter weight is worth it? (I assume 15" screens also mean longer battery life.)

As Athena said, it really just depends on what you want. I've seen a fellow classmate haul around his 17" laptop (even to class) without complains just because that's what he wanted for a laptop (large high res screen). However, there are also those, like my aunt, who like small lightweight laptops. She was surprised I got such a large laptop, and it was only a 15" laptop... (i actually wanted 17", but $$$).

It's hard to say if the 15" screen is really going to extend battery life, and if it does, it's probably not anything like an hour longer. The biggest difference might be whether the backlight is LED powered or not. However, I'm not entirely familiar with LED backlights and can't really say much. You could always google for reviews and comparisons.

What do you think about this 15" screen Dell laptop?

Starting Price $878
Instant Savings $199
Subtotal $679

I personally recommend upgrading to a higher resolution screen. I see the Studio 15 laptop has an upgrade from 720p to 1080p for $75, worth it IMO.

Also take Athena's advice on finding better prices.

Anyone know if the Studio's "WXGA widescreen with TrueLife technology" has wider viewing angle than the Inspiration's screen?

Probably not, but I'm assuming the lcd is a TN panel.

BTW, my inspiron 1520's lcd sucks. Washed out-ness, terrible backlight bleed (that's noticeable even on the desktop, not just on a black screen, and particularly bad viewing angles). The newer laptop models might have better screens, but look around for reviews, lots of reviews.

How about a Sony Vaio? Too expensive for what it contains compared to a Dell? Don't know if a Vaio's keyboard also flexes up/down. Will probably have to find one in a store to check it out.

Sony laptops are generally more expensive. But at least they look nice? Actually, I have never owned a Sony Vaio, so I don't really know what other things the Vaio offers other than the higher price.

 

[Rottie]

I would recommand you to try HP or Dell I bought Compaq made by HP and I love it...nice designer cover and nice LED I dont need any fancy stuff I paid for 900 include 5 year in store warranty.
Or you can visit Notebook Reviews

 

[Skyzoomer]

Athena, fffblackimage and rottie,

Thanks for your additional help. I will keep your suggestions in mind as I continue my search. Gotta get some hands on, on some laptops in the stores.

Thanks,
Skyzoomer

 

[Skyzoomer]

Decided to get a Dell Studio 15 from Best Buy for $699.99. This model differs from the Studio 15 models on the Dell web site in that it has the Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processor T6400 but has the 9 cell battery for up to 7.3 hours. The Studio 15 with a T6400 proc on the Dell website has a 6 cell battery. Here's a link to the Best Buy model that I bought:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...&cp=1&id=1218036667529

Looking at the Dell website, the Studio 15 model says "Newly Redesigned!". The one I bought from Best Buy appears to be a newly redesigned model. Reason I think so is that I also played with a Studio 15 laptop at Costco. The keyboard on the one at Costco flexes downward more than the one at Best Buy when I press down in the center of the keyboard. ..... I liked the touch typing feel of the keyboard on the one at Best Buy. Also, the Studio 15 at Costco was selling for $8xx.xx (can't remember the exact price).

Because of the "Newly Redesigned" issue, I decided not to chance buying a refurbished Studio 15 from Dell as I suspect they would probably be of the older design. I played with HP, Toshiba, Viao and Asus laptops and somehow liked the Dell Studio 15 overall feel better. Not to say that any of those other laptops are bad but as some of you inferred, feel is a personal thing.

A web search revealed that a typical airplane tray is about 16.5 x 9.5 inches. The footprint of the Dell Studio 15 is about 14" x 10.75" with the LCD open. Should fit OK (I hope).

Thanks for the help folks,
Skyzoomer

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer
A web search revealed that a typical airplane tray is about 16.5 x 9.5 inches. The footprint of the Dell Studio 15 is about 14" x 10.75" with the LCD open. Should fit OK (I hope). Thanks for the help folks, Skyzoomer

That is, provided the yo-yo in front of you does not recline. I travel with a 14-in lappie, and opening the lid to view the LCD is a problem due to the angle of the seat back. Happy flying and enjoy the new Dell. 🙂

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Skyzoomer
A web search revealed that a typical airplane tray is about 16.5 x 9.5 inches. The footprint of the Dell Studio 15 is about 14" x 10.75" with the LCD open. Should fit OK (I hope). Thanks for the help folks, Skyzoomer

That is, provided the yo-yo in front of you does not recline. I travel with a 14-in lappie, and opening the lid to view the LCD is a problem due to the angle of the seat back. Happy flying and enjoy the new Dell. 🙂

Oooohh, forgot to consider the recline affecting the LCD screen angle. That would cause problems. Might have to end up with the "laptop" in my "lap" on airplanes.. 🙂

Thanks for the encouragement,
Skyzoomer

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Nice choice on that laptop but don't expect 7.3 hours of battery life on it. It will get 7.3 hours in perfectly ideal situations with wifi off and the computer doing absolutely nothing. Claims on laptop battery life are always exagerated.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
Nice choice on that laptop but don't expect 7.3 hours of battery life on it. It will get 7.3 hours in perfectly ideal situations with wifi off and the computer doing absolutely nothing. Claims on laptop battery life are always exagerated.

I was wondering about the 7.3 hours of battery life claim. Seems a bit far fetched to me too. If I can get at least 4 hours battery life, that should be sufficient for 5 hour airplane trips.

Some more info on the Dell Studio 15 (model 1537). It has just about every conceivable port I could want:

1 - HDMI port
1 - eSata/USB2 combo port
3 - USB2 ports
1 - mini-Firewire port
1 - VGA port
1 - Ethernet 10/100/1000 RJ45 port
1 - 8-in-1 memory card reader port
1 - ExpressCard Slot (comes empty with plastic dust shield)
1 - Audio in / Mic jack
2 - Audio out / headphone jacks

I especially wanted the eSata port to connect an external eSata hard drive for backups.
The specifications list for this Studio 15 laptop on the Best Buy website says "IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports = None" and does not mention the eSata port at all which raised some concern. I connected with a Dell "Chat" tech via the Dell website and he confirmed that the Studio 15 (model 1537) that Best Buy sells does come with working eSata and firewire ports. Then about 2 hours later I received a phone call from a different Dell tech who again confirmed that it comes with working eSata and firewire ports. The "Chat" tech said to ignore the Best Buy model number of "S15-158B" and just use the Dell model number on the bottom of the laptop which is "Studio 1537".

I gotta give Dell kudos for great support so far. They went the extra mile to call me even though I was already satisfied with the web "chat" results. Thanks Dell!

Another thing that concerns me now is that Vista's task manager shows CPU useage of 50% to 53% while the laptop is idling. This is how the laptop comes from the factory and I have not loaded anything or even gone online with it yet. Must be the bloatware that Dell puts on their PCs.... or is it normal for Vista to idle with 50% CPU usage?

Thanks,
Skyzoomer

 

[BlueAcolyte]

No, it is not normal to idle at such high percentages. The likely culprit is probably the pre-installed bloatware or indexing (recording the contents of the hard drive). Just leave it like that for a while and if it doesnt go down, perhaps reinstall a fresh copy (need drivers) or uninstall some software.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyteNo, it is not normal to idle at such high percentages. The likely culprit is probably the pre-installed bloatware or indexing (recording the contents of the hard drive). Just leave it like that for a while and if it doesnt go down, perhaps reinstall a fresh copy (need drivers) or uninstall some software.

I see the hard drive led blinking all the time and I wondered why that was happening. Might be indexing that you referred to.

For folks who are running Vista Home Premium with SP1, could you let me know what your CPU useage in Task Manager (ctrl-alt-del) shows?

Thanks,
Skyzoomer

 

[Skyzoomer]

The Dell Webcam Central was causing the CPU usage of 50% to 53%. Rather than remove the software, I unchecked it in msconfig's startup and now my CPU usage 0% to 2% while idling. Much better!

 

[fffblackmage]

lol, a dell webcam needed 50% cpu utilization? wow, just wow.

My Inspiron 1520 doesnt have a webcam, but it still keeps itself busy with hdd activity. Don't know if it still does that now though, I just havent made much use of my laptop lately.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: fffblackmage
lol, a dell webcam needed 50% cpu utilization? wow, just wow.
My Inspiron 1520 doesnt have a webcam, but it still keeps itself busy with hdd activity. Don't know if it still does that now though, I just havent made much use of my laptop lately.

My Studio 15 also keeps itself busy with HDD activity even after I stopped the Dell Webcam Central from starting up. The HDD led keeps flashing about once per second while idling. Don't think it being caused by indexing since I left the laptop plugged in and on all day yesterday to give indexing ample time to finish if that was going on. I'm going to uncheck everything in msconfig startup and see if I can find out which software is doing that. Will let you know if I discover anything.

Thanks,
Skyzoomer

 

[Rottie]

Even the indexing activity turn off....I still look at HDD led blinking all the time...I believe it might be from antivirus program....I dunno.

 

[DellsBells]

I'm really surprised nobody here mentioned to you that Dell has a newly designed Studio model 1555, which I am waiting delivery of BTW. Gone are the ineffective touch sensitive buttons, horrible speakers (the 1555 has newly designed surround sound speakers with a sub-woofer) flex from keyboard is strengthened and other issues addressed by Dell that haunted previous Dell Studio models including the 1537.
P.S. If you wind up ordering one don't forget to at least get it with the Backlit keyboard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Nph6Gc&feature=related

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...19&l=en&ref=lthp&s=dhs

http://www.erodov.com/forums/s...hoto-review/19955.html

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: DellsBellsI'm really surprised nobody here mentioned to you that Dell has a newly designed Studio model 1555, which I am waiting delivery of BTW. Gone are the ineffective touch sensitive buttons, horrible speakers (the 1555 has newly designed surround sound speakers with a sub-woofer) flex from keyboard is strengthened and other issues addressed by Dell that haunted previous Dell Studio models including the 1537.
P.S. If you wind up ordering one don't forget to at least get it with the Backlit keyboard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Nph6Gc&feature=related

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...19&l=en&ref=lthp&s=dhs

http://www.erodov.com/forums/s...hoto-review/19955.html

Very nice and thanks for the links. Enjoyed checking them out. I'm sure you will enjoy your 1555 very much.

So far, I really like the 1537. I think the one I bought is of the "newly redesigned" series which has less keyboard flex than the prior models. The pressure I use to touch type is less than the amount needed to flex the keyboard so the keyboard does not flex at all while I touch type. ..... Fortunately for me, I always use headphones even with my desktop PC so the sound quality of the speakers should not be a factor. ..... One thing I don't like about the 1537 are the media controls in the plate right above the function keys. I have a hard time seeing them so have a problem on which to press. I'm going to make a template in Photoshop and print the icons on semi-permanent labels that I can stick above the controls. Clear plastic tape on the labels before I cut them into strips should protect the labels from getting dirty. That should solve that problem.

Do let us know how you like your 1555 .. 🙂

 

[Hacp]

The problem with dell is that it doesn't offer a 13 inch version of the studio. It reserves that option for the XPS line, which sucks.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: HacpThe problem with dell is that it doesn't offer a 13 inch version of the studio. It reserves that option for the XPS line, which sucks.

Hacp,

You know, I was just looking at the size of my Studio 15 and thinking that a smaller version of it would be nicer for travel. But I do like to use Photoshop which needs a lot of screen real-estate for ease of use. Also, I'm starting to get back into programming and learning Visual C#. The Microsoft Visual C# Express IDE (Integrated Development Environment) also is easier to use with more screen real-estate. So maybe the 15 incher will be worth carrying for my particular usage. It definitely is on the big side for travel though.

Thanks,
Skyzoomer