NationStates Jolt Archive

Im looking for a laptop for college, but the search is not going well. I've got $1500, and i need a laptop that has the processing power to be able to run AIM, FireFox, Realplayer, and Limewire at the same time. As far as memory goes, its not the most important thing on the list. I've also debated between a regular PC, or a macbook. If anyone can help with a reccomendation or some personal experiences, I would greatly appreciate it.

Im looking for a laptop for college, but the search is not going well. I've got $1500, and i need a laptop that has the processing power to be able to run AIM, FireFox, Realplayer, and Limewire at the same time. As far as memory goes, its not the most important thing on the list.

You got your priorities reversed. Memory (ram, not harddisk space) is far more important than processing power for running those programs simultaneously.

Build a PC. If you buy a laptop, wipe the drive and install an OS yourself.

Dude, you're gonna get a dell. :)

Look in the Dell Outlet. They have excellent offers on unshipped computers, computerswith cosmetic blemishes and refurbs. *nod*

What the Alma Mater said. You need lots of memory to do all that.

I've had Dells, Compaqs, and Gateways. The Dell had a keyboard problem, but otherwise ok. The Compaq was fine but I wanted to run games and edit pictures. Hence the current Gateway MX6450.

Prices are coming down -- you should be able to find a decent laptop from just about any manufacturer. I'd look for one that they designate a gaming machine as it's likely to have the processing power and memory you're looking for.

[Edit: the Dell laptop with the keyboard problem was an Inspiron and I belive they don't make it anymore. I've found other Dell products to be just fine, though.]

Im looking for a laptop for college, but the search is not going well. I've got $1500, and i need a laptop that has the processing power to be able to run AIM, FireFox, Realplayer, and Limewire at the same time. As far as memory goes, its not the most important thing on the list. I've also debated between a regular PC, or a macbook. If anyone can help with a reccomendation or some personal experiences, I would greatly appreciate it.
You have $1500 and you can't find a computer to run trinkets?

There you go.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=computer_store&landing=computers&category=notebooks/compaq_presario/ready_to_ship&subcat1=rts&catLevel=4&product_code=EZ755UA%23ABA
1 Gb RAM before onboard card calculation
Core Duo Processor
Digital media reader
80GB harddrive

overkill

You got your priorities reversed. Memory (ram, not harddisk space) is far more important than processing power for running those programs simultaneously.
I think he ment HDD by memory ... common problem

Anyways with what you have listed just about any laptop will do the job ... as been recomended make sure you have plenty of memory MINIMUM of 512 but I would go to a gig if I were you

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m1210?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~section=specs#tabtop

and you would still have some $$ to upgrade.

You have $1500 and you can't find a computer to run trinkets?

There you go.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=computer_store&landing=computers&category=notebooks/compaq_presario/ready_to_ship&subcat1=rts&catLevel=4&product_code=EZ755UA%23ABA
1 Gb RAM before onboard card calculation
Core Duo Processor
Digital media reader
80GB harddrive

overkill
Agreed

Also like this one
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?series_name=dv8000z_series&catLevel=3&category=notebooks/hp_pavilion/dv8000_series&storeName=computer_store

Friend just got one feels nice to use

Dell hmmmm nah...not unless you want to deal with script jockeys when some thing goes wrong...

Until IBM flogged off their PC division to the Chinese I'd have gone for a Stinkpad...

ah well...the wheels of capitalism continue to turn...

LOL and what company does NOT use script flunkies?

Computer owner: "Hi, my computer will not turn on. I've checked that the plug is in firmly in the back of the CPU, and in the wall socket. I made sure the wall socket was working by plugging in my night light. I've plugged the computer back in, and it just doesn't do anything when I push the power button."

CUSTCARE001: Have you checked to make sure your computer is plugged in?


Computer owner: ......

LOL and what company does NOT use script flunkies?

Computer owner: "Hi, my computer will not turn on. I've checked that the plug is in firmly in the back of the CPU, and in the wall socket. I made sure the wall socket was working by plugging in my night light. I've plugged the computer back in, and it just doesn't do anything when I push the power button."

CUSTCARE001: Have you checked to make sure your computer is plugged in?


Computer owner: ......

true. I used to do tech support, hubby still does. You would not believe the stupidity that comes in the queue.......

there is a reason the first tech you talk to asks those questions, it's not to annoy you, it's to weed out the idiots.

LOL and what company does NOT use script flunkies?

Computer owner: "Hi, my computer will not turn on. I've checked that the plug is in firmly in the back of the CPU, and in the wall socket. I made sure the wall socket was working by plugging in my night light. I've plugged the computer back in, and it just doesn't do anything when I push the power button."

CUSTCARE001: Have you checked to make sure your computer is plugged in?


Computer owner: ......

IBM GS, Vodafone TS, Samsung ECC, BMC, Symantec, F-Secure, HP, EMC, Microcrap....off the top of my head...but I do admit that I was calling as a tier 1 company....so I had TAC's (Tech Account Managers) I could yell at.

There is scripting and then there is scripting...getting a fault logged on the Service Desk does involve some scripting...Name, Address, A/C number etc...but once you get to the higher (2nd/3rd n even 4th line) scripting goes out of the window...

Sadly though you are right...too many companies are tied up with scripting...and my worst experience was with Dell when I calle don behalf of a private user who had been sent a dodgy printer (part of a bundle deal with a laptop). I've been in ITC support for about 15 odd years so can tell if a printer is functional or not. I do not need a script flunkey(like it!) to tell me that I need to re-install the drivers!!

I was sent around the mulberry bush so many times I thought my head was going to spin off my shoulders! LOL

Eventually it was resolved...I have had other dealing with Dell of a corporate nature where I have been sent dodgy servers and once again...scripty mulberry bush (not India this time but Ireland)...lots of fun to be had...not...it hit my project deadlines pretty badly.

I will admit though that I am not sure what I would do if I was faced with your example (plug in the PC etc)....My private user Dell issue came close to hat though.

One thing that does make life easier is if you know how to do a bit of social engineering or psych...those skills do help....but it took a good 10 years for me to get to the level where I can bitch to the CEO of IBM for example.

One of the reasons we have this crazy madness of off shoring and scripting is two fold - economic and legal.

Economic - Some wise ass MBA's straight out of Uni and Biz School perform an analysis on a support unit (because we are a 'cost centre' and not a 'profit centre') and realise that there are savings to be made in pure financial terms by off shoring the function to say India.

The legal side is that by keeping to the script it reduces the risk of litigation by unhappy customers.

Well the long term impact is negative customer perception because the level of support is lowered and the language use riles some (the Dell guy 'Hi! My name is Brian!....bollocks! your name is Aasif! grrrr) and of course the pain of trying to explain the issue goes out of the window. It is not because the Indians are crap...they are not. I have worked with many Indians and when given their head are as capable as anyone else.

The problem is that the companies are so pissed scared of anything going wrong that they will not allow the support staff to be flexible. And yes...there is a significant language issue.

/sorry about the rant...! LOL