Computer people, what do I need in a laptop?UPDATE post 10

[Blondy876]

I need to get a laptop for work. I need one that will do word processing, photo storage and editing, music downloads, cd burning, internet (it will need to be networked) and graphics (like microsoft picture it!).

My dh doesn't want me to order one until he talks to his companies computer guy, but it's taking forever. In plain english, what should I get in a laptop. I don't even know where to start. Thanks!!!

 

[mtblujeans]

 

[Pop Daddy]

just get one and see what happens

 

[Goofy4]

Google turned up this UK site: http://laptopmag.com/Tools/Guide/Notebooks/index.htm. It will get you started.

 

[bicker]

I think the most common mistake computer buyers make is that they buy computers based on what they believe they need now; that's off-the-mark on two accounts: (1) Unanticipated needs, and (2) Future needs. So what often happens is that buyers end up (1) Disappointed by how much they find out they want to do that they either cannot do or cannot do with adequate performance, and (2) Disappointed by how quickly they find their computer becomes obsolute, unable to run the software and do the things that they end up wanting it to do next year, the year after, etc.

If you're buying a computer to use for the next year, then you probably cannot go that far off-target. If, instead, you're looking to purchase a laptop to use for the next few years, then you really want to think long and hard, look as far ahead as you can, make your guesses very liberal, figuring you'll end up wanting to do a lot of things that perhaps right now you don't think you'll end up wanting to do.

For me, right now, a typical multimedia laptop should have the following minimal specs:

Dual-core, 1.83 or 2 GHz processor
Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition (not just "Home Edition")
17" wide-screen XGA, or better yet XGA+ or SXGA or UXGA -- the better the video, the better the video, eh?
2GB RAM memory
100GB Hard Disk; 200GB would be better -- you may be thinking photos and such now, but in a year or so you may be thinking video
DVD burner -- same reason

 

[SillyMe]

I just asked someone this question last night. I would love to hear the advice.

 

[Swimnoid]

Are you self employed? Otherwise will your business pay for it? They should have somebody that can help pick one out too.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

What's the budget?

 

[dcentity2000]

For me, a good screen resolution is a must, along with decent battery life.

Additionally, it must not have any superfluous glowing colourful bits and bobs all over it because quite simply it's not a landing strip.



Rich::

 

[Blondy876]

I know some people would lecture me about going with Dell but I have always been very pleased with them. This is what I got:

Inspiron E1705

Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2250 (1.73GHz/533MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)

LCD Panel 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display

Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz

Video Card Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Hard Drive 100GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005

Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0

Combo/DVD+RW Drives 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability

Sound Options Integrated Audio

Wireless Networking Cards Dell Draft N Internal Wireless, Netgear Draft N wireless router,Bluetooth

Office Software (not included in Windows XP) Microsoft Office Small Business Ed.- Basic plus PowerPoint and Publisher

Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) McAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Firewall, Spyware Removal, 36-months

Future Operating Systems Windows Vista™ Capable

Dell Digital Entertainment Deluxe Entertainment Pack - Starter plus a total Music and Photo package

Dell Wireless 1500 internal PCIe card and Netgear WNR834B router based on draft 802.11n. 802.11a/b/g compatible. 270 Mbps peak data rate. Dell Wireless 355 internal module based on Bluetooth 2.0 with 3 Mbps Enhanced Data Rate.

NETGEAR 54 Mbps Firewall Wireless Router & McAfee Wireless Security


It should arrive in a couple of weeks and then I'll let you know if I did OK or not. Thanks for all the advice. Oh it cost just under $1900 in case anyone was wondering what the budget was.