Best laptop to buy?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I would appreciate some advice on what you think is the best laptop on the
market at the moment. My budget is around £1800 and will use it as a teacher
to store files, create worksheets and presentations but also need the
capability to create music CDs and make DVDs from captured footage on a
camcorder. And....is it worth going to a Centrino processor? I presently
have a Vaio PCG NV105, have been very happy with it but I need a more up to
date model.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

No doubt, if you can afford it, one of the IBM thinkpad "T" series (best mix
of capabilities, and durability along with reasonably light weight).


"The Bodster" <stefanbodo@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:LROHc.68$f13.54@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> I would appreciate some advice on what you think is the best laptop on the
> market at the moment. My budget is around £1800 and will use it as a
teacher
> to store files, create worksheets and presentations but also need the
> capability to create music CDs and make DVDs from captured footage on a
> camcorder. And....is it worth going to a Centrino processor? I presently
> have a Vaio PCG NV105, have been very happy with it but I need a more up
to
> date model.
>
>

 

[Hawk]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Check out U-Bid. They have many factory refurbished Sonys at about 1/2
the price for new. And you get the same new computer warranty.

hawk

The Bodster wrote:

> I would appreciate some advice on what you think is the best laptop on the
> market at the moment. My budget is around £1800 and will use it as a teacher
> to store files, create worksheets and presentations but also need the
> capability to create music CDs and make DVDs from captured footage on a
> camcorder. And....is it worth going to a Centrino processor? I presently
> have a Vaio PCG NV105, have been very happy with it but I need a more up to
> date model.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"The Bodster" <stefanbodo@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:LROHc.68$f13.54@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> I would appreciate some advice on what you think is the best laptop on the
> market at the moment. My budget is around £1800 and will use it as a
teacher
> to store files, create worksheets and presentations but also need the
> capability to create music CDs and make DVDs from captured footage on a
> camcorder. And....is it worth going to a Centrino processor? I presently
> have a Vaio PCG NV105, have been very happy with it but I need a more up
to
> date model.

Your need to make DVDs from captured footage will be by far the most taxing
use of your laptop. I assume you will also be capturing footage on the
laptop and doing at least some minimal editing. For even an entry level
video editor today, you will need at least 512 MB memory and the fastest
processor you can get. I will let others weigh in on the relative advantages
of the M processor vs others but keep in mind that Centrino refers to more
than just the processor. You can get peformance equivalent to or better than
Centrino in a package with an M processor but without the Centrino moniker.
You will also need a large fast hard drive - preferably > 60 GB - since you
will be using it at the rate of about 3.6 MB/sec of video. Actually, the
editing space required is much greater since editors typically store both
the captured raw video clips and any rendered video files separately.

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

The Bodster <stefanbodo@ntlworld.com> wrote:
: I would appreciate some advice on what you think is the best laptop on the
: market at the moment. My budget is around ?1800 and will use it as a teacher
: to store files, create worksheets and presentations but also need the
: capability to create music CDs and make DVDs from captured footage on a
: camcorder. And....is it worth going to a Centrino processor? I presently
: have a Vaio PCG NV105, have been very happy with it but I need a more up to
: date model.

Centrino's benefits are lighter weight, longer battery life, and
reduced heat vs. non-Centrino laptops. So if these improvements
aren't important to you, the extra cost of Centrino may not be worth
it. However, if your currently laptop doesn't have wireless (WiFi)
you may want to consider that once you get WiFi (all Centrino laptops
have WiFi wireless built-in), you may use your laptop differently than
you do now. You may like the ability to use your laptop in coffee
shops or other public places, so the lighter weight and longer battery
life may be more important to you than they would be with your current
laptop.

Andrew
--
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
*******************************************************************
----> http/www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
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[Andrew]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

B. Peg <bent_peg@att.nett> wrote:
: Take a music CD and go and listen to the audio from the laptop. My older
: Toshiba sounded far better and had more adjustments (it had a bass and
: treble adjustment) via software than my newer HP.

That presumes that superb sound quality is one of desired features of
a laptop. It isn't for everyone, and it is most likely something for
which you pay extra. So great laptop sound may not be worth the extra
cost for all of us.

Andrew
--
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
*******************************************************************
----> http/www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
*******************************************************************

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Ian S <iws51remove@cox.net> wrote:
: Your need to make DVDs from captured footage will be by far the most taxing
: use of your laptop. I assume you will also be capturing footage on the
: laptop and doing at least some minimal editing. For even an entry level
: video editor today, you will need at least 512 MB memory and the fastest
: processor you can get. I will let others weigh in on the relative advantages
: of the M processor vs others but keep in mind that Centrino refers to more
: than just the processor. You can get peformance equivalent to or better than
: Centrino in a package with an M processor but without the Centrino
: moniker.

At this point, why would you want to? Because Centrino now includes
802.11g compatibility, why else would you want a non-Centrino but
Pentium M-based laptop?

Andrew
--
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
*******************************************************************
----> http/www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
*******************************************************************

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Andrew" <usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com> wrote in message
news:zcasdzcasdfyzcasdhj46802238409@bizaveMYSHOES.com...

> At this point, why would you want to? Because Centrino now includes
> 802.11g compatibility, why else would you want a non-Centrino but
> Pentium M-based laptop?

I don't think you can assume that every Centrino laptop on the shelves today
has the 802.11g compatibility. The O.P. clearly did not understand what the
Centrino moniker meant. I just wanted to make sure he realized that he could
get the Pentium M in a non-Centrino package. That broadens the possible
number of laptops that would suit his purposes and a non Centrino package
might actually be cheaper.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Ian S" <iws51remove@cox.net> wrote in message
news:RDWHc.4040$li.2067@lakeread06...
> "Andrew" <usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com> wrote in message
> news:zcasdzcasdfyzcasdhj46802238409@bizaveMYSHOES.com...
>
> > At this point, why would you want to? Because Centrino now includes
> > 802.11g compatibility, why else would you want a non-Centrino but
> > Pentium M-based laptop?
>
> I don't think you can assume that every Centrino laptop on the shelves
today
> has the 802.11g compatibility. The O.P. clearly did not understand what
the
> Centrino moniker meant. I just wanted to make sure he realized that he
could
> get the Pentium M in a non-Centrino package. That broadens the possible
> number of laptops that would suit his purposes and a non Centrino package
> might actually be cheaper.
>
>

Or get the intel g card later on ebay... much cheaper... also is an intel
802 card that much better?

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Root <root@aol.com> wrote:
: Or get the intel g card later on ebay... much cheaper... also is an intel
: 802 card that much better?

I wouldn't think an Intel 802.11g/b card is any better than another
manufacturer's. That's not the point, though. I'm guessing most
people will want WiFi in a new laptop these days (once they understand
what WiFi is), and you're not going to save any money getting a
non-Intel card. If it has 802.11g, why *wouldn't* you get Centrino
with the Intel card?

Andrew
--
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
*******************************************************************
----> http/www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
*******************************************************************

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Andrew" <usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com> wrote in message
news:zcasdddlarkrdd48843038409@bizaveMYSHOES.com...
> Root <root@aol.com> wrote:
> : Or get the intel g card later on ebay... much cheaper... also is an
intel
> : 802 card that much better?
>
> I wouldn't think an Intel 802.11g/b card is any better than another
> manufacturer's. That's not the point, though. I'm guessing most
> people will want WiFi in a new laptop these days (once they understand
> what WiFi is), and you're not going to save any money getting a
> non-Intel card. If it has 802.11g, why *wouldn't* you get Centrino
> with the Intel card?
>
> Andrew
> --
> ----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
> *******************************************************************
> ----> http/www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
> ----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
> *******************************************************************
>


I got my 802.11b for free after rebate, which I got with no hassle.