NEED HELP! Was all set to purchase DD's computer, and then..

[Brier Rose]

they had it had to get all technical on me! I know nothing..zero..about computers. We have the one we want picked out, and Apple ibook, but I need help with some specific components.

It comes with standard memory of 512 MB of DDR333 SDRAM.
then it says I can add :
768 MB DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 256 MB SO-DIMM) for $67.00
16B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 512MB So-DIMM) for $135.00
1.56B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 1GB SO-DIMM) for $450.00

I can't even begin to try and understand this. Will she be OK with what it comes with, do we need to buy somthing more??

Then with the Hard Drive, it comes with 60GB Ultra ATA Drive.
Then it says I can add:
80 GB for $45.00 or 100GB for $135.00

And on the Optical Drive, it comes with 8X Super Drive (DVD+RW/CD-RW)
or I can get the Combo Drive (DVD/CD-RW) and subtract $90.00!

Finally, I think the only simple questions that I have are weather or not to get the 3 year Protection Plan for $183.00, and trying to choose between the 12" and 14". I can handle these two, but I would still like opinions.

Any computer geniuses out here in disland that can help me??
Pretty Please!

 

[Forevryoung]

they had it had to get all technical on me! I know nothing..zero..about computers. We have the one we want picked out, and Apple ibook, but I need help with some specific components.

It comes with standard memory of 512 MB of DDR333 SDRAM.
then it says I can add :
768 MB DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 256 MB SO-DIMM) for $67.00
16B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 512MB So-DIMM) for $135.00
1.56B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 1GB SO-DIMM) for $450.00

I can't even begin to try and understand this. Will she be OK with what it comes with, do we need to buy somthing more??

Then with the Hard Drive, it comes with 60GB Ultra ATA Drive.
Then it says I can add:
80 GB for $45.00 or 100GB for $135.00

And on the Optical Drive, it comes with 8X Super Drive (DVD+RW/CD-RW)
or I can get the Combo Drive (DVD/CD-RW) and subtract $90.00!

Finally, I think the only simple questions that I have are weather or not to get the 3 year Protection Plan for $183.00, and trying to choose between the 12" and 14". I can handle these two, but I would still like opinions.

Any computer geniuses out here in disland that can help me??
Pretty Please!

Ok, I can help (you can pm me if you need more help then the following):
Question #1:
What is she using this computer for???
Question #2:
How old is she?

My opinion:

Upgrade the RAM to as much as you feel comfortable ($ wise). This is the speed of the computer. The higher the number the faster the computer will run.

Get the 80GB Hard Drive for the $45 although if she will be putting lots of music/movies/pictures (high space items) on the laptop then you should get the 100GB or even consider an external hard drive (just for space reasons and they are fairly cheap these days)

Keep the DVD RW/CD RW drive so she has the ability to burn onto DVDs and CDs unless money is an issue then just go with the CD RW drive. She will still be able to watch DVD's even if she cant burn onto them.

Get the 14" and depending on where the laptop is going to be (traveling/school...) get the protection plan. You are better off being safe then sorry... I've had Dell come replace many many parts in my computer for "free" thanks to my "in house service plan".

Enjoy the IBook, I would love to get one.

 

[Brier Rose]

Thank you so much!

She's 13, and she'll be using it for school. We homeschool, and she's doing an online program with virtual homeroom that sort of thing. BUT, she knows nothing about computers either! As soon as the computer gets here, we're having someone come in and teach her (and me) the basics.

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything to me like that. I actually feel more comfortable now that I know what some of that means.LOL

Gotta have it fast! And boy would she have been unhappy if I would have downgraded and not been able to burn cd's.

Thanks again!

 

[LK03]

On Apples you don't have to buy the Protection Plan right away. You get a year and as long as you order the plan the day before the 1 Year Mark you are fine.

Personally I'd add the 768 MB, more power, and if she is going to be using for example, iMovie, iDVD, iChat, Word and more programs, the power will be well worth it.

Hard drive, if she's a HUGE music lover (i.e. 30 GB just for music alone) or making lots of DVDs, and what not a bigger hard drive might be a plus. I knew a guy in college who had 80 GB alone just for movies on his computer.

If your daughter does not plan to ever make movies or burn DVDs then the regular combo drive would be ok. I actually regretted not getting the DVD Burner when I purchased mine last year.

HTH

 

[Brier Rose]

On Apples you don't have to buy the Protection Plan right away. You get a year and as long as you order the plan the day before the 1 Year Mark you are fine.

Personally I'd add the 768 MB, more power, and if she is going to be using for example, iMovie, iDVD, iChat, Word and more programs, the power will be well worth it.

Hard drive, if she's a HUGE music lover (i.e. 30 GB just for music alone) or making lots of DVDs, and what not a bigger hard drive might be a plus. I knew a guy in college who had 80 GB alone just for movies on his computer.

If your daughter does not plan to ever make movies or burn DVDs then the regular combo drive would be ok. I actually regretted not getting the DVD Burner when I purchased mine last year.

HTH

Hmmmm....didn't know that about the protection plan. Wonder if it would be better to put that money into more memory and just buy the plan later.

 

[Dizz(n)ey]

You definitely want to go with the

16B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 512MB So-DIMM) for $135.00


80 GB for $45.00




It's not worth getting the 100 gig hard drive for 90$ more
With the RAM, you want to get the 1GB.....That is a great middle ground for todays apps (2GB being REALLY REALLY high, 512MB being the ABSOLUTE minimum)



Those two upgrades are worth their weight in gold

 

[Brier Rose]

You definitely want to go with the

16B DDR333 SDRAM (512MB built-in & 512MB So-DIMM) for $135.00


80 GB for $45.00




It's not worth getting the 100 gig hard drive for 90$ more
With the RAM, you want to get the 1GB.....That is a great middle ground for todays apps (2GB being REALLY REALLY high, 512MB being the ABSOLUTE minimum)



Those two upgrades are worth their weight in gold

Is there a lot of difference between the 768MB and the 16B?
If I go with the middle choice on the memory for $135.00 is that something that can be added to later if needed?
Thanks

 

[Dizz(n)ey]

RAM is one of the most important parts.
Yes...you will see a significant increase, and its "worth" the price

You can always add RAM.....but the price increase and gain is worth going with the 1GB (not 16B...it should be 1 GGGGGGG(the letter) B (just to clarify)