Thank you.
Yes I'm only looking at:
- Core 2 Duo
- 1Gb RAM
- 80Gb hard drive
- 128 or 258Mb graphics card
- XP
- Widescreen that is 15-17 inches
- CD writer and DVD player
- Wi-fi
- 9 cell battery
- Under £700
Still unsure of which brand to pick - so many different opinions...
Annoyingly Dell only come with Vista & they say the lower specs won't work so a machine that start at <600 ends up being closer to £900 when done.
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<hr> but always chose one with a larger cache if offered (16Mb).<hr></blockquote> What's cache?
20
ria
21
ria
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>but they're probably replacing 2 X 512 MB (rather than 1 X 1GB) for the 2 GB<hr></blockquote> Yep that's it.
How important is the graphics card being more than 128? I found an older Dell model with great specs in my pricerange and only 6 cell battery seems to be the only bad things about it...
23
chengdude
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Annoyingly Dell only come with Vista & they say the lower specs won't work<hr></blockquote>
Sounds like a good way to get you to spend more, doesn't it? Clever Dell. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence out there that Vista runs even with built-in graphics (Intel 950 GMA), so don't buy into the sales pitch. Of course, the more you add (RAM & graphics card), the better your 'Vista Experience' (TM) will be, but I'll never know because I won't be using it until I absolutely have to. Vista is also takes a sizable chunk out of your hard drive, so if you plan on Vista, get as big and fast a drive as your budget allows.
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<hr>What's cache?<hr></blockquote>
Lan was speaking about cache on the hard drive, which is basically another measure of the HD's performance...the bigger the cache, the faster the drive will be able to access the stuff stored on it. For speed junkies/power users, it can be pretty important, but I'd just look at a large size spinning at least at 5400. Stay away from 4200 drives.
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<hr>How important is the graphics card being more than 128?<hr></blockquote>
Not too important...128MB is fine, if it is indeed 128MB of dedicated RAM. These days you read a lot about 'turbocache' and hypermemory', which basically means manufactures can make it sound much better by quoting a number twice the size of the actual physical memory...the other half is pulled from the system. So just make sure if it says 128 that it's actually 128 dedicated RAM and not 64 dedicated + 64 'hypermemory' or what have you. Same for 256, just double the preceding numbers. Anyway, there are other factors affecting graphics card performance, but again, something with at least 128MB dedicated RAM is just fine for all-around use.
As for a battery...that depends on how much you're going to use your machine out and about. If the thing is going to sit on the desk most of the time, batter capacity isn't a priority as it'll be plugged in.
The last thing I'd consider is a DVD writer On most machines you're stuck with what you buy unless you're good at taking apart computers, so if you can, upgrade the CD/DVD combo to a DVD writer. One DVD holds about 6 CDs' worth of stuff...much more efficient (and it'll still burn a CD if you want).
24
ria
Thank you you've been fab!
I still don't know what to get. Every time I almost make up my mind I read something that puts me off! Like this anti-Dell post...
What bout this laptop? - haven't heard of the brand but it got some award from a geek mag & channel 5 geek mag...
At this rate I'll just get a bloody Mac just because I can't pick from the others...
25
chengdude
Don't really know what to tell you...
Dell takes hits because their consumer models haven't been updated in an eon and because you just can't build zillions of computers for McDonald's prices and expect perfection. Gateway has been around for a long time...they started off as the anti-Dell: good value + good customer service. They got beaten. Now they are coming back quietly and apparently have some very decent products. Yours looks OK...why not go play with it?
In the end, I suppose it's all about striking a balance...reading pro reviews, yes, reading peoples' stories, definitely, and then trying it out...can you live with the screen and the resolution? How does the keyboard feel when you type...does it sag when you press keys in the corners or the middle? Are your hands comfortable when using it? How does the plastic/metal feel? Does it creak when you pick it up...twist it...or lift it by a corner? Can you press on the lid and make ripples on the screen? Do the hinges feel/look solid? Does the fan make a lot of noise? Is it easy to access the upgradeable bits (RAM & hard drive)? Warranty? In the end, you do get what you pay for because margins are rock-bottom...from materials to components, there's nothing manufacturers don't consider when designing/building these things. Your Gateway looks pretty good, seems nicely designed, good price...but is missing a graphics card...and you can guess why (hint: "Let's build a laptop for under 500 Pounds").
26
idahoslim
I just bought a new Dell E1505.
Upgraded hard drive, video graphics card, N wireless card, Vista home premium. Next to best Core 2 duo processor.
Opted to not get the superbrite screen. I hate that reflectivity.
Nice notebook. Good sound and screen size. Too big and heavy to travel with though.
27
idahoslim
By the way, I don't like how Dell partitions +/- 20% of their hard drives for a recovery sector. Buy a large hard drive.
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