New computer

[Jarlaxle]

OK, I'm finally in a position to replace my elderly PC...I'm planning on getting a laptop. Unfortunately, I know jack squat about computers. I don't need anything elaborate...just the basics: Web, email, some video streaming, maybe occasional music downloads. I'm not an online gamer at all.

Will the cheap ($200-300) laptops I have seen work for me?

[Gob]

They should be more than useful, considering the box you told us about which you get by on at present.

Give us a few links to check?

[Joe Guy]

In my opinion, you need to spend at least $700.00 to get a decent computer - unless all you ever do is post on a BBS and check email.

Acer, HP & Dell are good brands to consider.

If you don't want to spend much, you don't want to pay for an Apple laptop, but they are rated as one of the best quality computers overall that you can get for your money.

[Jarlaxle]

In my opinion, you need to spend at least $700.00 to get a decent computer - unless all you ever do is post on a BBS and check email

That's easily 90% of what I do...occasional YouTube (which works fine on a PC--not my antique--slower than any new laptop I've seen), but that's about it.

If you don't want to spend much, you don't want to pay for an Apple laptop, but they are rated as one of the best quality computers overall that you can get for your money.

Apple is definitely out...my sister's ran her close to $2200 and is nowhere near top of the line. (My brother's, a high-end gamer's machine with close to three times the computing power of her Apple, cost him about $1750.) I don't deny they're good, but they're not THAT good.

What about Samsung?

[Scooter]

When you say $200 I assume you're talking about a netbook - it's what I use to travel, works perfectly fine for the basics, BUT operating systems and other programs will continue to eat up more memory and processor time as they are "improved". It's probably worth the extra few hundred bucks to get a full-fledged laptop that will be powerful enough for you to grow your usage over time.

Don't be afraid to look at refurbished models - you can save several hundred dollars without sacrificing quality at all, and it still comes with fully warranty.

[Crackpot]

The entry level Apple laptops are 1K and will do everything you want and more. (well you might want to buy a mouse) Still you could go cheaper with a windows machine for about half the price. The nice thing about apples is you can't fuck them up unless you're really trying. Refurbished models may well be the way to go.

[thestoat]

For simple requirements it might be worth looking at eBay ...

[Joe Guy]

What about Samsung?

I'm looking at a recent copy of Consumer reports and Samsung has a $500.00 laptop with a high rating that is "recommended." It also has a 15.6 inch screen, which is a very good size. The model is Samsung RV511-AO1.

[Rick]

Don't be fooled you must spend $1200 o $1500...

[loCAtek]

Wow, a laptop. I'll have truly 'arrived' if I can ever get a laptop.

[thestoat]

I am often asked which computer someone should buy, and it really does depend on usage. You do NOT have to spend over $1000 to get something to browse the web, download emails and perform the occasional music download. Head over to a large shop and try one of their cheap computers - ask for it to be connected to the internet and then try to watch a youtube video. You'd be hard pressed to find one that cannot, these days. A VERY cheap one will have a poor, small screen - you need to determine if you can live with that. Maybe the best course of action is

1. Grab a PC mag that is currently reviewing cheap laptops
2. Look at their winner and try it (or similar) in local PC shop

It will almost certainly do everything you have listed as needing

Remember, with a laptop, you can usually upgrade memory and hard disk, but rarely anything else. If it is slow - dump Windoze and go Linux

[Guinevere]

I always buy refurbs -- had a Compaq laptop that lasted 4+ years, and I'm currently using a refurbed Dell laptop that is in its 5th year. It's getting old and slow and buggy, plus the battery is dead so its not longer portable (and I'm not willing to spend the $$ to make it portable) so I also have a (refurbed) Dell netbook I use for email and internet. It doesn't work so well for word processing and I do a lot of writing, so I wouldn't like it as my only machine, but it is helping extend the life of the old laptop. I haven't priced machines in a bit -- my netbook probably ran a tad under $200, for a full fledged laptop you should be able to find something decent for under $500.

[Jarlaxle]

I spent a few hours online checking out laptops yesterday, and now I am even more confused that I was before I looked.

Processor speed: I know I want at least 2GHz single-core, or 1.5GHz dual-core for video streaming. (Some cheapies only have a 1.0-1.3GHz single-core)
Bus speed: Huh?
Cache: what do I need? I have seen as low as 1MB...what do I need to be practical?
RAM: Everything I see seems to have at least 1.5GB.
USB ports: Most have 3, all I saw have at least 2...even 2 sounds fine to me. The only thing I expect to need would be my trackball.
Screen: I think I want an LED screen (LCD's are power hogs), but size isn't all that important. (My desktop uses an old 12" CRT monitor.)

[quaddriver]

I spent a few hours online checking out laptops yesterday, and now I am even more confused that I was before I looked.

Processor speed: I know I want at least 2GHz single-core, or 1.5GHz dual-core for video streaming. (Some cheapies only have a 1.0-1.3GHz single-core) Is this like a warp core?
Bus speed: Huh? about 35mph, but never go above 55mph
Cache: what do I need? I have seen as low as 1MB...what do I need to be practical? Everyone wants more cache than they have
RAM: Everything I see seems to have at least 1.5GB. Ram? I didnt think you were a dodge fan
USB ports: Most have 3, all I saw have at least 2...even 2 sounds fine to me. The only thing I expect to need would be my trackball. Some sort of new fighting league?
Screen: I think I want an LED screen (LCD's are power hogs), but size isn't all that important. (My desktop uses an old 12" CRT monitor.)

they are all LCD, but some are backlit with leds instead of 'other means'

goto best buy, dig out between $300-400 and pick up a compaq (HP) or HP. I just got a G72, then picked up a compaq which is a G72 without the webcam built in.

battery life is stellar - 4+ hours so far.

get a chill pad.

[Rick]

$2000 or better...

[Joe Guy]

Processor, cache & bus speed are what make your computer work either fast or slow. The higher the number, the faster it works - and likely the more you pay. If you're only surfing the internet and watching Youtube, even the cheapest laptop you buy nowadays will do that.

It's good to have at least two USB ports and most of them do.

I always buy more than I think I will need because I figure it will be useful longer - but that's just me. Buy one of the cheapest Dells or HP computers and you'll have enough for what you do. A local radio computer geek recommends Asus laptops.

[Gob]

A quick search on the US e-bay site;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Acer-15-6-Aspire-AS ... 3f0b3b6658


http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hp-g6-1a30us-Du ... 2311e84d4a


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Toshiba-Satelli ... 27bc4aaa4b

That last one, I paid nearly $600 Au for one very similar for Hatch last Xmas.

[loCAtek]

OMG did it finally get there!?

[dales]

I used to have a friend (back in the last century) who went dumpster-diving for components behind tech places. He claimed that he could assemble a working laptop from just the suff that he found discarded.

I believe now all the discards are shredded and shipped to the PRC.

[Jarlaxle]

OK, what is the difference between a Netbook and a laptop?