Which Laptop to Choose??

[OKC Dan]

First, this is for my grandparents who use AOL and look at what people send them. That's about it. They're in their 80's and aren't going to be playing any games or making movies.

My grandparents are using my old P1 90MHz IBM Thinkpad. The modem on it is about gone and there's not really any viable option for replacing it.

Therefore, I'm just getting them a new one (Cheap but functional) Circut City, I know, I know, has two for less than $700 after rebates. One is an HP with an Athlon 2800+, 60GB HD, 256MB, and a 32MB nvidia video card. The other is a Compaq 1.3 GHz Celeron M, 40GB HD, 512MB, and 64MB intel video card. Otherwise they are about the same. Both have XP home, MS Works and a handful of useless software.

Which is the better choice? I know HP technically makes both, I'd never buy either for my home PC, and I can add memory easily if I wanted to. This is for my grandparents but although I hate to say it, I may get it back someday. Which should I choose?

FYI - I'm building myself a DFI NF4 SLI-DR based system for myself, so please don't start a "compaq sucks blah blah flame war"

 

[Matthias99]

The "HP" one would be better (at least if you added another 256MB of RAM to it). The Celeron M isn't real fast, and the Intel onboard video is pretty terrible. At least the NVIDIA-based solution can *run* most games, even if it's not super-fast.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Get the one with the biggest screen and/or smallest resolution. Speed is absolutely not an issue.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you're sure they aren't sneaking in some Half-Life 2, the Celeron will probably run much cooler and quieter since it's an M.

The "intel 64 MB" is really shared-memory motherboard graphics, but with 512 MB of RAM the memory stealing isn't an issue.

Get the one with the biggest screen and/or smallest resolution

good point, a 15" 1024x768 display is the right one for older eyes.

 

[idioth]

Balance 14.1" Laptop, 1.1 GHz AMD Athlon 4

$548. that's the one i ended up buying for my parents. it's more than enough for people who just want to check their email and do some occasional online shopping. battery life is pitiful, but they just wanted something that didn't tie them to the desk in the back room.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If you're sure they aren't sneaking in some Half-Life 2, the Celeron will probably run much cooler and quieter since it's an M.

The "intel 64 MB" is really shared-memory motherboard graphics, but with 512 MB of RAM the memory stealing isn't an issue.

Get the one with the biggest screen and/or smallest resolution

good point, a 15" 1024x768 display is the right one for older eyes.

that's what I have on my desktop LCD, and I wish it were SXGA even at 15". But my aunt has the same monitor, and runs it at 8x6, even though her eyes aren't too bad. You usually sit a little closer to a laptop screen, so I would think this would be pretty much the perfect screen size for the average 'older' person.

If the screens (and prices) are the same, I'd buy the one with more ram.

 

[OKC Dan]

They both have the same screen size.

If you go to www.circuitcity.com you can see them. It's two of the cheapest ones. Both are under $700 after rebates.

The HP looks better but weighs 1lb more and is bigger. The HP has Harmon Kardon speakers, but they sound the same as the compaq.

I'm leaning towards the HP. What type of memory does it take. The ad says nothing.

Thanks
Dan

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: OKC Dan
I'm leaning towards the HP. What type of memory does it take. The ad says nothing.

For RAM, www.Crucial.com memory selector can tell you.

The HP is heavier and noisier, with less RAM. It is faster, but the extra speed is useless to your grandparents.

Other than looks, why are you leaning towards the HP?

 

[OKC Dan]

My wife has a Compaq. Nuff said.

 

[footbal07]

between the two i would definately take the celeron m. it should get much better battery life then the athlon xp and have about the same performance as the 2800. plus it comes with 512megs of ram, which is more then enough for them.

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Celeron M, your grandparents dont need that much power. (powerful Gfx card and processor are uneeded)

 

[tiap]

Here's a cheap email machine and you would probably always get your money back.