Seeking advice on laptops

[Der Cute]

If you could swing it, get the 3rd choice - newer processor, faster overall hardware....
The reason I say it is this: People use pcs/lappys for over 2 years. And with lappy's, you can't change internal hardware without pulling teeth from chickens. It's not bloody easy.
Invest as much as you can to up the hardware as far as possible - it gives you a longer use lifespan of the lappy.

Choice 2 over 1, for sure;
The FSB is 800 - which is OK - remember the parts have to talk to each other - but the RAM is FASTER speed than the AMD was.

And yes, the intel IS a dual core, for choice 2.

But if you could swing it, get #3.

Cutenoob

[technical.angel]

You're all good on the printer!

EDIT: Just make sure you get the 64bit drivers!

[lupo pazzesco]

On the ETA, it looks pretty good. We'll have to wait for Broom's opinion of the processor. I still need to learn about processors. I should start doing that now!

My only suggestion is that since you are moving to 64bit, check your printer drivers (or tell me what kind of printer you have..), or expect to get a new one.

I have a HP Deskjet F4280, and I think it should work with wondows 7...though I'm thinking of just keeping it hooked up with my old laptop, (which is pretty much a pseudo desktop, or will be once i get the new lappy). I don't know yet if I'm upgrading the new laptop to windows 7 yet, I want to wait and see what it's like when I get the new laptop.

[technical.angel]

On the ETA, it looks pretty good. We'll have to wait for Broom's opinion of the processor. I still need to learn about processors. I should start doing that now!

My only suggestion is that since you are moving to 64bit, check your printer drivers (or tell me what kind of printer you have..), or expect to get a new one.

Oh, and just so you don't fall into the same hole Irv fell into, this does not have a built in modem.

I doubt you're using dial up, but just in case...

[Broomjockey]

If those are your two options, take the Intel. The AMD one doesn't mention any kind of graphics processor, and that's going to be far more important to you than the processor, and to get similar power from the AMD processor, you'd need to get the Athelon, meaning it'd be only $45 cheaper to start with, and then any other changes you make.

[lupo pazzesco]

Well, there are two that I'm looking at customizing, one has the intel, one starts with an AMD sempron M100, but can be upgraded to either an AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor M320
or an AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile Processor M520

given I don't know which batch of alphabet soup is better, here are links to the two available for customizing.

Option 1

Choice 2

I'm leaning more towards choice 2, but again, the processors are tripping me up... I feel kinda dumb again, but I'd rather ask stupid questions and be sure, than order and pay for something exorbitant that won't help me.


ETA: Or, I just had a friend IM me this linky to a Toshiba at another computer store I didn't make it to. It looks like it has everything I'm looking for.

Thoughts, opinions, etc? Sorry if I seem so freakin co-dependent on y'all. I just know that technology and computers are not my strong point, so I look to those more knowledgeable for help.

[Broomjockey]

Looks like it's dual core, but it's a crappy processor. I would recommend against a machine with that in it.

[technical.angel]

Looks like it is.

[lupo pazzesco]

I think I may just customize a Toshiba and get it over with, shopping in stores is proving...crappy, for lack of a better word. So, question then.

I see a toshiba that's customizable on their site, and it comes with an intel pentium processor t4400. I was told dual core is better, but...is that a dual core?? I think I can get everything else easily figured out, it's the processor bit that's going to throw me.

[Eric the Grey]

As someone with no experience with gateways specifically, based on each one, I'd recommend going with the AMD choice. The processor's slower, but it has a graphics card, which will probably be more useful in the long term than an extra 130MHz.

I would agree with Broom here, since IIRC, there was talk about you needing the additional graphics card as opposed to an on-board one.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about Gateways...



Eric the Grey

[Chrismor]

I also swear by my Toshiba. I got it in '08, and while I did pay a fairly high price for it, I cannot fault it in any way (actually, I can, as it is a 17" beast, and as such is heavy to move about too much, but that was my choice, not a bad design.)

Only problem I had with it is that the display bezel cracked, then chipped, but it was a cheap fix (and will almost certainly not happen in normal use.)

As you said though, what you can afford to pay is important, and while some people may have had problems with a particular manufacturer, your mileage may vary.

C.

[Marszenka]

Dells are good IF, (and this is a big IF), you buy it from a store and not online. Their customer service is notorious. If you buy it from a store you can physically visit and talk with personnel who speak English, which makes life soooo much easier. My newest Dell has crashed once every two months regular as clockwork since I bought it, and dealing with the overseas phone centers is such a hassle I just keep restoring it to factory status. It's easier than sitting around for two hours playing phone tag.

[Der Cute]

Well, both are gateways, and I agree with Pedersen.

But out of the 2 - I like # 2 better. It has a faster system bus (think comms between hardware pieces) and an Intel processor - although you wanted a removable vid card.

Keep looking. Check newegg.com out, frys.com, hp.com, toshiba.com and keep an eye on fatwallet.com (for hot deals).

Cutenoob

[Pedersen]

My last experiences with Gateway were not good ones, though they were several years ago. Even still, I would not buy Gateway personally. Some companies just don't have good reputations, and Gateway is one of them, at least for me.

HP? Decent. Toshiba? Decent. Gateway? I'd not go for it.

[Broomjockey]

As someone with no experience with gateways specifically, based on each one, I'd recommend going with the AMD choice. The processor's slower, but it has a graphics card, which will probably be more useful in the long term than an extra 130MHz.