laptop help please OR HANDHELD

[RobinGFE]

I need a new computer. Having said this I want to purchase a computer. I have no idea what to buy. I know I want wireless acccess.....(the sitting in the park on the net sounds nice) lol BELEIVE me when I tell you I am clueless about computers. (I am great on computers but lack knowedge of them) Top of the line not needed (but must be new with warranty). Please if anyone can help.




__________________

 

[midLifeCrisis]

Re: laptop help please

Having said this I want to purchase a computer.
...
I know I want wireless acccess.....(the sitting in the park on the net sounds nice)

Dell

But don't go there just yet. The way to buy a computer is to figure out what you want to do on it, THEN decide what you want to buy.

So what do you want to do? Just eMail? Internet? What sort of internet sites do you look at?

What programmes do you run?

Do you want to play games? Store enormous numbers of photos? Will this be your only computer, or will you have a desktop machine at home as well?

 

[Raven_x]

What is your budget? Anyways, if you travel around alot, and you might want something Light and Thin, and these are some of my favourite laptops

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...ceghdgngdgll.0&comm=ST&pfam=Portege&pmod=R100

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...uctId=173185&navigationPath=32009n32160n33009

 

[Keebler Elf]

I second the vote for Dell. I got mine last summer ($1800) and it's been an excellent buy. If you do go Dell, take a trip out to Square One in Mississauga b/c they have a kiosk with all the models on display (I wish I had known about it when I was shopping around).

As for wireless, I'd be careful. Not a lot of areas support it yet.

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

Laptop or for office? If for Park need laptop!

Price is a major factor but I love my Toshiba Satellite 2430, large bright screen, not too heavy and goes wherever I go. I haven't needed wireless since most hotels have Ethernet connections, but easy to add wireless if needed.

I also had an older Toshiba Satellite that went to the Philippines and Thailand with me, connected via dial up and enjoyed great performace for many years.

Both Toshiba and Dell seem to be consistently ranked as the best my many reviews. Dell's laptops tend to me a bit more costly. But I've run Dell PCs at my office for years.

 

[RobinGFE]

THANKS

wow thanks guys I know It is my secondary computer it may hold a few pics for fast uploading or whatever. Mainly for email chat html'ing and business stuff. I surf quite a bit . I don't need anything fancy. I am a student with a morgtage so go easy lol

 

[midLifeCrisis]

Re: THANKS

It is my secondary computer it may hold a few pics for fast uploading or whatever. Mainly for email chat html'ing and business stuff. I surf quite a bit . I don't need anything fancy

Since it's just a back-up "stay-in-touch" machine, Dell's Inspiron 1150 (featured on the first page of their "Home and Home Office" section) with a wireless networking card should suit you just fine.

It's probably a good idea to get the battery upgrade.

Extra hard-drive space ALWAYS sounds extravagant and NEVER gets wasted.

For the software options ... depends on what you already have on your "real" machine.

 

[Cobster]

here ill throw this into the mix


toshiba satellite.

not to sure about the hassle of fixing a dell (if needed)
but a toshiba, you can go back to where you purchased it within 30days if something goes wrong for an exchange and well, there are tons of service centres for toshiba computers in toronto.

add to that, that i have had one since early 1998 and only major problem with it, was the mouse button in the middle of the keyboard, other than that...

nada

 

[Gentle Ben]

I recently bought a Cicero Lap Top(Future Shop Brand) p4 2.4ghz 256mb pc2100ram 30 gig hd, even has a floppy drive (many dont anymore) for $1249.00.
The thing I really like about it is you can plug ps2 or usb mouse or keyboard into it without disabeling the onboard mouse, a freind has a dell and to use an external mouse, you have to disable the on board, which kinda sucks
For the dollar, its a great machine imho

Note, I just realized ,The price was 1149 plus taxes, and it will accept usb and/or ps 2 - mouse and/or keyboard

 

[RobinGFE]

Thanks to all of you I am off to internet surf and mabye shop

 

[soylentknight]

Consider - if you will... one last brand - Apple
1499 list will get you a nice, well made - and - VERY sexy laptop
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/canadastore.woa/72108/wo/F5BzbvnlBJgI2OpCS7130y4uD1E/0.0.7.1.0.5.21.1.1.1.0.0.0.1.0


If you'd like - over coffee - I can show you mine (laptop that is - oh - wait - that doesn't sound much better)

I can also address any of the common imcompatibility/availibility myths associated withe brand as well

Let me know!

 

[Cobster]

apple comps are by far amazing.
i asked my friends who are computer freaks, what they thought Bill Gates' choice of computer was, they said probably Apple or some Linux based system.

But if i had money, i'd definitely switch to Apple.
G5 *drool*

their laptops are, just, WOW.

 

[xarir]

I'll cast my vote in the Apple camp - very sexy machines that are well built, well designed and competitively priced these days.

Regardless of your choice, if you intend to surf in the park, keep in mind that wireless access still isn't really in The Promised Land yet. There are WiFi "hotspots" (also referred to as 802.11) in various areas of Toronto, but it's far from being widespread. If you want true freedom you'll need a cellular solution. And for that, you'll have to choose either Rogers or Bell.

Both can offer you the Sierra wireless card - this is a standard expansion card that will fit into any modern laptop. Alternatively you can use (some) regular cell phones with a data cable. Not all cell phones have data cables so it may be necessary to change your phone.

Bell currently offers higher throughput than Rogers. I believe Bell has a theoretical max of 180 kBps which translates to about 100 - 120 kBps in the real world. (I routinely get speeds in this range.) Rogers on the other hand has (I believe) a theoretical max of 100 kBps which means 60 - 70 kBps in the real world. Rogers is currently experimenting with something they call The Edge which is supposed to increase throughput to 120 kBps. This test is currently taking place in the downtown Vancouver area. I don't know the timeline to expand to other cities. From a throughput perspective, the Bell roadmap looks more promising - by early 2006 they should be in the MBps range via cellular connection. Rogers is lagging in this area.

A Sierra wireless card or a regular cell phone with data cable will require a data package added to your normal cellular package. Data packages charge for the amount of data (IP packets) you exchange - not for the amount of time you take to exchange data. This is a Good Thing as it represents true data usage so you only pay for what you use. Unfortunately there are a limited number of packages to choose from. Typically you either lowball your base package and pay extra when you exchange more data, or you go high and end up not using your quota. There's really no inbetween which is a shame. I suppose this will change over time though.

One other option to keep in mind is a RIM (Blackberry or Blueberry). If all you need is remote email, this is a great device to use. The newer models also function as cellphones which is handy.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I have a new Dell and I don't have to disable the onboard mouse to plug in an external one. I just plug it into the USB port.

A couple other things:

1. Look into how bright the screen image is. With mine, the screen is significantly darker when it is not plugged in than when it is plugged in (I guess a power issue?).

2. If you're a student, look into discounts that your institution might have. I found out after the fact that my institution has a deal with Dell that I could have taken advantage of.

3. Do a search for reviews on the net. I did and that clinched me on my Dell (the only bad thing was that the bottom of it heats up quickly which can be an issue if you're actually going to use it on your lap).

 

[soylentknight]

I fully agree with the price/performance opinions raised here regarding desktops vs laptops. you pay a lot for that portability - not just in $$ but in future possible enhancements/upgrades.
I can't live without My powerbook, but - I'm also lucky enough to be working for a company that supplies them - if I had to fork out of my own pocket - it would be a desktop for sure and live with the lack of portability

btw - got my daughter an iPod mini for her b-day - a pink one - hated to give it to her - what a chic magnet! lol