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
you might consider going to best buy or somewhere and test driving some Dells and other models to find what you like/don't like... I'm in the market for a new laptop too... but I'm less concerned with performance and more concerned with portability but without going blind.. so 15 inch is probably what I'll go with...
I'll probably go with a vista / ubuntu dual boot machine, but I'd think you'd just want a vista machine to be more compatible with work...
They won't buy you a laptop for work?
no subject
Oh? Really? Crap, I thought that glossy just made it tougher because the reflection was so bad. Will a glossy screen (TruBrite or something) work, and then I can put a glare filter over it?
I definitely want to hit Best Buy and look at stuff. Maybe Jeff and I will field trip it on our date tonight.
Performance wise, my Inm. laptop was fine, though I wasn't running Photoshop and Norton on it. I don't know what they had in the background for security.
I'm actually ok with them not buying me a laptop. That means that I don't have to lug a machine with me back and forth every day. It also means that I won't lose it if I happen to leave. I was kind of hoping that I could just buy the old Dell off of Inm., but CA had somebody to give it to. Wish I'd have checked the specs on that one before I gave it back.
no subject
Glossy is brighter which helps a lot since your setting bright as hell being outdoors.. you can buy a screen shade that would help with either style screen or just try to work under shade.. polarized sunglasses might help too.. I've not used any screen shades before so can't speak to their usefulness.