Re: Laptop for graphics, writing and fun

["CL T" <straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Avoid HP.

They have had huge problems with their laptops over this last year.

Just a recommend? You will get some deep discounts on laptops if you shop
Dell Outlet or Lenovo Outlet. very nice deals to be had there.

Also, if you're not using a 64-bit OS, don't bother with memory over 4mb.
There are laptops that will go higher.

Definitely go with a dedicated graphics machine if you're going to do
anything that could get heavy. I've actually gone with a beefy laptop option
for home and a Netbook for mobile...I shopped around and got great deals on
both (Walmart has the Acer Aspire One Netbook for $349 out the door - but
get a bigger battery).

And, when all else fails, I have my WinMo phone and use Live Mesh to
synchronize all of my machines in real time (you can also log onto your
other computers regardless of most firewalls...heheh).


-Collin Turner
Tech Writer, Screencaster, Writer
www.collinturner.com



On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:51 AM, McLauchlan, Kevin <
Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com> wrote:

>
>
> Well now.
>
> You folks have given me some stuff to consider, and perhaps changed the
> weight that I would have assigned to aspects that I was already
> considering.
>
> Hmm.
>
> The last time I was lookin' - many years ago, the reputation of HP was
> quite tarnished. Now they look to have been rehabilitated to one of the
> higher-rated options. A nicely outfitted laptop from them would come in
> around two grand and should fill the bill for several years (that
> includes a Blu-Ray-capable drive built in, 4GB memory, 7600rpm internal
> hard drive, etc.). For now, the outward design is attractive, too.
>
> Macbook Pro 15.4-inch is certainly attractive (both in appearance and in
> function). They appear to use older processors, but to have superior
> engineering in other aspects, so they still get very good (claimed)
> work-time out of the battery. I like that dual video processor notion
> (like an 8-cylinder engine that can run on 4 cylinders when the extra
> power is not needed) and the LED backlight (which helps make the
> battery-life claims more believable). Bootcamp takes care of
> Windoze-only apps, or I could (later perhaps) spring for Parallels or
> VMWare if rebooting got tiresome.
>
> On the other hand, I'm getting the impression (perhaps not justified)
> that Apple has skewed the HW and software toward heavy users of iTunes,
> iMovies, and other purchased-from-Apple content.  My Googling is
> inconclusive about whether Apple has a Blu-Ray drive option (it seems to
> keep surfacing as a rumor that never pans out). Does the SuperDrive
> include Blu-Ray capability? Any of you Mac users want to clarify,
> please?
> I note that Blu-Ray DVD versions of movies are gradually taking over
> shelf-space at the local rental stores, so this could become a concern.
>
> Not that Blu-Ray is a big deal in terms of a work computer, but a guy
> has to relax, too.
>
>
> On the third hand, this would be a private machine for working from home
> (I normally work at the employer's office using their supplied Windows
> XP-Pro 64 desktop machine) or while traveling, and for recreation... for
> _me_... so having a Mac instead of a Windows laptop (that she's
> accustomed to) would lessen the likelihood of Dear Wife taking over the
> new pride-and-joy.
>
> Decisions, decisions.
>
>
> DELL Laptop descriptions refer to Core 2 Duo, but don't mention Centrino
> 2.
> What does one want in a laptop for the best blend of power versus
> battery life?
>
> My understanding is that Centrino 2 combines the processor and other
> elements to optimize portable performance, so Core 2 Duo is just the
> processor flavor (covering a line of speeds), but not necessarily
> integrated as thoroughly as when it's Centrino-ized.   What am I missing
> here, when I try to comparison-shop DELL laptop offerings against HP
> laptop offerings?  I feel that I'm just one or two smidgens of
> information short of being able to make a confident choice. Not that
> there's a rush, but we have to start somewhere.
>
>  - Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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