Cpl Ledanek 247 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Just curious, looking to get my bro a laptop, still...long research. He can use email but thats about it. ON, EMAIL, OFF...some surfing. Now, he's big on music and movies, he dabbles in vinyl scratching/mixing/turntable something. Now the specs I should be looking for his profile, are they the same for windows or macs? Meaning, of course the highes proc his money could buy. What about memory, how big? 512 or 1G? what about video 64 or 128 or are there 256 already? HD, 60 or 80 counting on him to archive some music. if we go windows, what specs should he get if we go mac, what specs? Thanks to all specially if there are mac ppl in here Cpl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firefly2442 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Personally, I've dealt with a lot of apple laptops because my high school had them. I've repaired a lot of ibooks. The newer versions are better but I still don't really like Apple products. The design just seems kind of cheap. Apple's whole deal is to get you to buy their product and then upgrade next year. This is not going to be a system that is going to last. So IMO, I would go with a Windows setup, heck you could even go to linux if all he's going to do is email and surf the web. You will pay less for windows for faster hardware. Some people love Apple stuff but not me. Just my 2 cents. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter 0 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I'm with Firefly on this one. Stick with the PC based laptop, not the Apple. The software is cheaper and more plentiful, and like FF said, you have OS options. Apple just doesn't give you enough options, IMO. And then to turn around and have to upgrade next year? It wqould just ###### y'all off. I say stick with the PC based laptops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cpl Ledanek 247 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 What spec should I get him? I saw a 17" within his budget (compaq??) but not sure with 64mb PCI-EXPRESS video card (ATI) Laptop to me is another religion. I know he wants to watch DVD movies with and play his music. Since there is a 90% chance he will burn music to play with his car CD deck, DVD and CD burner is a must. I told him just buy an external DVD BURNER if he want/needs to burn. memory? 512 at least? thanks for all the replies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Giampi 39 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I'm really fond of Laptop and I would never go back to buy a not laptop PC I've already had 4 laptops so here what I suggest: - the microprocessor speed is not so important. More important is the achitecture of the uP and here I would stay 100% on AMD Athlon XP. If you can afford it why not Athlon 64 so you are ready for the next 64bit uP generation? - Memory: I believe at this time 512Mb are enough but take care it's not made by 256+256 otherways yoo have no possiblity to increase it in the future. - HD: 60GB is good, better if 5400 RPM (actually not so common) - DVD +/- burner is a must but at this time they are very common - graphic card: this makes the main difference on PC. Of course it has not to be shared memory type but dedicated. Good video card are ATI Mobility Radeon or GeForce 5600 or 5700. 64MB are enough but I saw also 128Mb on some laptops - if your brother likes music don't underrate the speakers system. Toshiba has great speakers as well as Compaq - and lastly remember to ask the seller to show you the PC switch on to evaluate the brightness of the screen. It's very very important These are my suggestions but feel free to ask me whatever you like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cpl Ledanek 247 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 Thx Giwex, I'm dizzy with overload info, but those were the info that I was looking for. I'm going to cut/paste and print this info. As soon as my brother comes with the hardcash, we're off and running. Toshiba and Compaq did impress me with its Harman speakers (some models). Some came with 17" wide screen which makes great viewing. I will ask about that brightness. Last question (yeah right)... off the shelf (BestBuy/CompUsa/Circuit City) or semi-custom via Dell? With Dell, I could take advantage of my 10% groupwork-discount. and goes thru a burn in process (I think). Vs off shelf which I have doubts if it has been burned in. thanks again Cpl USA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firefly2442 0 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I would go straight to the manufacturer that way if something goes wrong you don't have to deal with best-buy and their sometimes "iffy" return policies. Again, just my opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter 0 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Go with Dell. You can't go wrong with their laptops. Or their servers for that matter. Well, now that you mention it, their high-end to mid range PC's aren't bad either. Okay, okay, okay. You can't go worng with Dell. If I were going laptop, and when I get ready to get mine, that is what I am going to get. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cpl Ledanek 247 Posted January 29, 2005 Author Share Posted January 29, 2005 just a quote: Inspiron 9200 Qty 1 Intel® Pentium® M 755 Processor (2GHz/400MHz FSB), Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Unit Price $2,117.00 Dell EPP/FSS Customers: Save - $300 off the Dell Inspiron 9200! Inspiron 9200 Intel® Pentium® M 755 Processor (2GHz/400MHz FSB) Microsoft® Windows® XP Home 17" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen XGA+ Display 128MB ATI's™ Mobility Radeon™ 9700<<<<< any good??? FREE Upgrade! 512MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz 2 Dimm 60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive 24X CD-RW/DVD Combination Drive with Sonic RecordNow No Wireless Card Included<<<<should we go ahead and add??? 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery Dell EPP and FSS Customers: Free ground shipping and Handling on select Inspiron systems over $899. -$45.00 Receive 6% off systems priced $1600 and up with 1/2 yr At-Home service -$109.02 Subtotal $1,707.98 tax $106.75 TOTAL: $1,817.00 Anything else I'm missing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter 0 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 That is an excellent choice for laptop graphics. Just don't go Linux with it. I'd wait on the wireless card unless you have a wireless network. Otherwise it just uses resources. What does it have for sound? You didn't list that. Also, if you can afford it, instead of the wireless card, see if they will give you a GB of RAM, if not, see what it would cost to upgrade to GB. Will really help with video, watching movies, and games. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dannik 43 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 What does it have for sound? You didn't list that.← The Inspiron 9200 is equipped with Stereo Sound (supported via AC97 audio) and a powerful subwoofer. It includes the Dell Media ExperienceTM . They also offer the usual external USB sound cards, but it's cheaper to add those in yourself later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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