chargirlgenius (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chargirlgenius) wrote2009-06-25 04:02 pm
chargirlgenius) wrote2009-06-25 04:02 pm
Entry tags:
Laptop help.
I’m in the market for a new laptop, for work and for play. It’ll be my personal laptop (purchased by me), but it has to perform well enough to handle being a work laptop twice a week as well. I get a bit of a deal on Dell systems from work, so I’ve been looking in that directions. Don’t know exactly what kind of discount yet.
All of the cheaper, home-use Dells have glossy screens, and after using the glossy on the Vaio, I’ve realized that I hate it. I’d like to be able to work outside or at the kitchen table, and glare is a big problem there.
We don’t do a lot of heavy gaming, really, Jeff just plays a lot of Mafia Wars and the like, but that’s about it. I don’t game at all. I know myself and don’t want to get addicted. :-D
Some video editing capabilities would be nice, but it doesn’t have to be high end. We’re talking home movies stuff.
I tend to have lots of windows open at once. Our current laptop acts like a dinosaur in that regard, though it’s only a couple of years old. I’m thinking I want 4GB of RAM. What kind of performance difference am I going to see between, say, 2.26GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB, and 2.53GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB? If I’m not gaming, does that matter more, or memory matter more?
Can you tell I’m a computer moron?
Integrated mobile wireless with Verizon is a nice-to-have, but not necessary. If it’s not included, I’ll probably just tether my crackberry to it.
I won’t be carrying it back and forth to work, but I don’t want a brick either. Can’t afford a Macbook Air. :-D I want a decent sized screen, though I’ll eventually get a second monitor and dock it. Needs to be able to dock. Can all laptops dock?
So, recommendations? I'm open to Mac, but price is a consideration. I’ve been leaning towards a Dell Latitude E6500, with XP instead of Vista, upgraded to 4GB RAM, and the Verizon built-in Mobile Broadband (they have a rebate so it’s free).
ETA: For that matter, is Vista really that bad?
All of the cheaper, home-use Dells have glossy screens, and after using the glossy on the Vaio, I’ve realized that I hate it. I’d like to be able to work outside or at the kitchen table, and glare is a big problem there.
We don’t do a lot of heavy gaming, really, Jeff just plays a lot of Mafia Wars and the like, but that’s about it. I don’t game at all. I know myself and don’t want to get addicted. :-D
Some video editing capabilities would be nice, but it doesn’t have to be high end. We’re talking home movies stuff.
I tend to have lots of windows open at once. Our current laptop acts like a dinosaur in that regard, though it’s only a couple of years old. I’m thinking I want 4GB of RAM. What kind of performance difference am I going to see between, say, 2.26GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB, and 2.53GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB? If I’m not gaming, does that matter more, or memory matter more?
Can you tell I’m a computer moron?
Integrated mobile wireless with Verizon is a nice-to-have, but not necessary. If it’s not included, I’ll probably just tether my crackberry to it.
I won’t be carrying it back and forth to work, but I don’t want a brick either. Can’t afford a Macbook Air. :-D I want a decent sized screen, though I’ll eventually get a second monitor and dock it. Needs to be able to dock. Can all laptops dock?
So, recommendations? I'm open to Mac, but price is a consideration. I’ve been leaning towards a Dell Latitude E6500, with XP instead of Vista, upgraded to 4GB RAM, and the Verizon built-in Mobile Broadband (they have a rebate so it’s free).
ETA: For that matter, is Vista really that bad?
no subject
Screen size: with a laptop if that’s how you are primarily using it then bigger is better. If you don’t have to really travel with it, go as big as you can. You never hear anyone complain that their screen is too big.
Memory (RAM): Don’t worry about the little details of the specs. With your level/what you are doing, just consider the big number 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, etc.
Processor: This will make the most difference on your application speed. I have not looked at the details of laptops chipsets recently, but go as big/fast as you can within your budget.
Video card: This is where you can save some $. If you don’t do any gaming (or light gaming), then you don’t need anything major. Just the standard on-board video will work (and save some $). Power gamers can drop some serious coin do get the right card.
Docking station: Don’t worry about it. Unless you are going to be connecting to and un-connecting to a set of peripherals (extra monitor, printer, other?) a lot (1/day) I would not worry about it. Most things you have to plug into your laptop are easy with USB ports. You can always start without one and see how things work and then if you decide it’s not worth the hassle then buy one later.
Good luck.
no subject