What laptop specs are sufficient for I need to do?

MesBoogie

Senior member
Jan 5, 2001
205
0
0
I'm in the market for a laptop.

I'm a college teacher and do quite a bit of consulting for companies. I need a laptop that will allow me flexibility in offering powerpoint presentations at companies: some have nice projection systems; others have at least an rca jack on a tv. I also need to be able to connect to our schools network which I think is running on Win2000. I also have a home peer-to-peer network running Win98SE.

These presentations will be graphic intensive but will not require audio. What I'm looking for is some baseline specs when I go shopping.

I want to keep the cost as low as possible but still get the job done. My budget allows a max of about $1500 at this point. If this won't cut it, I'd consider saving up. I can't imagine not being able to handle this for under $1500 though.

I'd also appreciate some links to some comparison sites for vendors (ala computershopper.com, mysimon.com, and pricegrabber.com) as well as some review sites (ala epinions.com).

Thanks very much!







 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Graphics intensive? I would recommend a TFT screen (though you probably won't be using these for the presentations themselves) and at leat 8 MB of memory. The popular mobile chipsets, Savage IX, ATI Rage Pro, and Geforce Go would perform adequately (Savage being the cheapest option) for this function. Most laptops that come with 8MB of video memory will have an Svideo out port (and an adapter cable for RCA or Svideo inputs). I bought a nice used Compaq off of the FS/T forums for just over a thousand that had these features plus a DVD and 256MB of ram. Plus, it still had some of the factory warranty left. If you do not want to take a chance there (there is the TROLL factor), then I would suggest a Toshiba model as they seem to have the best bang for buck prices.
 

MesBoogie

Senior member
Jan 5, 2001
205
0
0
8MB for video. Got it. SVideo (or RCA) out.

What is the minimum processor/speed I should get? How about minimum RAM and hard drive? Should I get one with a 10/100 lan connection already or purchase a card?

Thanks for the help thus far.

I've been checking the Dell site out. I may go that route. I just need to get a good handle on the specs first.

-mesboogie
 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
If the laptop has 10/100 built in, then that would free up a pccard slot for something else. I would say minimum 128 RAM, realistically I would put in 256. New notebooks come with 700 Mhz processors, which would do.

Try this Toshiba

or

this Compaq
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,955
1,575
126
The video card is almost irrelevant since PowerPoint is a 2D application, not a 3D application. However, I would still agree with getting an 8 MB card, but if you find a good one without it, don't automatically exclude it. You DO need a VGA port and an S-video port though. Dunno how many presentation oriented laptops have a composite video output jack though.

I would recommend a Celeron 650 with a fair amount of harddrive space and with CD-ROM of course. Built-in 10/100 would be a bonus, but not 100% necessary. 192-256 MB RAM. Good Li battery. Make sure you're fine with the pointing device.
 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
The relevance of the video cards is this: almost all of the 8MB ones come with TV out, but it is harder to find one with 2-4MB that does. Also, many of the 2-4MB models use system ram and IMO, the graphics on those suck altogether. And quite a few of the 8Mb models are well within his budget (see my examples).

Good point on the pointer BTW :D, but if you do not like the type you can always buy an optical for 18 bucks and plug it in the back.

Also good point on the battery, I did not even think of that :eek:

BTW, I haven't seen many composite out laptops recently either, which is why most of them come with an adapter with both Svideo and rca inputs in case the TV you are using is RCA/Coax only. However the Toshiba I listed above shows a composite TV output.
 

vegetation

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
4,270
2
0
Definitely find one with a built in 10/100 NIC. PCMCIA NICs are a pain and reduce battery life. Plus that extra PCMCIA port can be useful for CompactFlash adapters for digital camera storage that you might want to pop in for editing, or perhaps a wireless NIC (more of a future expansion idea though)

TFT screen is mandatory these days. If you asked me five years ago then I might suggest the HPA, but not anymore. If money is that much of an issue, downgrade to 100MHz less and you'll surely recoup the cost.

If battery life is important, consider a model that has the option of using one of the drive bay's for an extra battery.

That being said, I personally like the Dell models myself.

 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,955
1,575
126


<< Definitely find one with a built in 10/100 NIC. PCMCIA NICs are a pain and reduce battery life. Plus that extra PCMCIA port can be useful for CompactFlash adapters for digital camera storage that you might want to pop in for editing, or perhaps a wireless NIC (more of a future expansion idea though) >>

You are correct although I will point out that I use all of the above without built-in 10/100. I would have preferred 10/100 built-in, but my best choice at the time didn't include it, and I've found having only 2 slots for all these devices not a problem. Specifically, I don't generally have both the 10/100 NIC and the wireless NIC installed at the same time, and 90% of the time I don't have the CF PCMCIA (or SmartMedia PCMCIA) card installed. However, it does show that it's almost mandatory to have 2 PCMCIA slots, unless you're going for ultraportability.

That brings another point. My 7.6 lb Sceptre 69002 (aka Dell Inspiron 5000) brick is damn heavy. It's got everything but the kitchen sink, but it ain't as portable as something like the Sceptre 7300 which has an extra base that has the extra stuff like CD-ROM, etc. At 4 lbs lighter, one is much more likely to carry it around in one's briefcase. On the other hand, it's harder to find something of that size with the full complement of video outputs.

Anyways, my friend seems to like his Dell Inspiron 8000 which may suit your needs.


<< The relevance of the video cards is this: almost all of the 8MB ones come with TV out, but it is harder to find one with 2-4MB that does. >>

True in most cases.