Laptop Help!

[the_only_turek_fan]

I am looking at purchasing the following laptop. I have not gotten a computer for a long time now and I don't know the terminology anymore.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN

Processor Type Intel Centrino Duo T2050
Screen Size 15.4"
RAM (Preloaded / Maximum) 1024MB DDR RAM (Exp. To 4GB)
Hard Drive 100GB 5400RPM
Optical Drives DVD Super-Multi Drive
Graphics 128MB (Shared) Intel GMA 950
Average Battery Life Up to 3.5 Hours
Product Weight 2.8 kg
Audio Type Realtek 861 Software Sound 16-Bit Stereo
Battery Type 6-Cell Lithium-Ion
Cache 32KB L1, 2MB L2
Fax/Modem 56K V.92
I/O Ports 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x S-Video Out
Included In Box AC Adaptor, Power Cord, Restore CD
Network Card 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11ABG Wireless
Other Software See The Features Section
PC Card Slots 1 Type II, CardBus, Express Card
Pointing Device Touchpad
Preloaded Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home
Processor Speed 1.6GHz
Product Dimensions 36.00(W) x 3.68(H) x 26.70(D) cm
Removable Storage None
Screen Type XGA
Speakers Built-In Stereo Speakers
System Bus 533MHz
Warranty 1 Year Parts & Labour

The laptop costs $999.99

I will also get the 3 year product service plan from Future Shop along with the laptop. That is 280 dollars give or take a few bucks.

Is this worth the price?

[STeeLy]

Looking at it, this is worth the price, no doubt...

What are you mainly using this laptop for? Because if you don't do any sort of graphics or games and just office work or browsing the web... then you the duo core may be of absolutely no use to you.

None the less... absolutely great price for something like that...

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Looking at it, this is worth the price, no doubt...

What are you mainly using this laptop for? Because if you don't do any sort of graphics or games and just office work or browsing the web... then you the duo core may be of absolutely no use to you.

None the less... absolutely great price for something like that...

I need the laptop for 3 things.

1) Calgarypuck/Email
2) Microsoft Office stuff
3) Watching DVDs

I don't want the thing to be incapable of doing anything in under a year. I understand that these things are advancing right away. With that said, I would still like this thing to be fully functional for about 2 years.

[HelloHockeyFans]

You are a freaking Electrical Engineer Sunil!! What do you mean, you don't know the terminology anymore!!?!

[Regehr 2.0]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

I need the laptop for 3 things.

1) Calgarypuck/Email
2) Microsoft Office stuff
3) Watching DVDs

I don't want the thing to be incapable of doing anything in under a year. I understand that these things are advancing right away. With that said, I would still like this thing to be fully functional for about 2 years.

I definitely think it's a great laptop for the price (under $1000)

You'll be able to do all those things for sure. And I'm pretty sure it'll still be good enough in 2 years... I bought a laptop 2 years ago and it still runs everything I need to (and the one you're looking at is way better of course).

The specs on the thing look pretty good. The Core Duo processor is good if you're multitasking (running a lot of things at the same time). And it has 1GB of RAM and a large hard drive which is great. The only thing that I'm not too fond of is the video card. It's an integrated Intel video card with shared memory and might not be good enough to play the newer games at higher quality settings. Other than that a nice machine

[chockfullofgoodness]

Man, I can't believe how cheap computers are these days. I paid 500 more for mine about 4 years ago, and it doesn't have nearly the bells and whistles as that one.

[kermitology]

I got my laptop last week. Similar processor/setup except I upgraded pretty much everything. I'd compare with some of the stuff on Dell just to check. Some of the Inspirion computers are pretty well set-up. I went with the XPS M1210 and I'm absolutely loving the thing to death. In fact I'm using it right now sitting in my car waiting for my girlfriend to get off work and pilfering some poor suckers unsecured network! Go wireless!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Doesn't Dell always have these crazy online sales all the time?

[Red]

Isn't 1.6 Ghz a little slow though? Aren't most new processors at 3K plus?
Or is the Dual Core making up that much of a difference?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Red

Isn't 1.6 Ghz a little slow though? Aren't most new processors at 3K plus?
Or is the Dual Core making up that much of a difference?

Duo means there is two of them, so its actually 3.2 Ghz.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Azure

Duo means there is two of them, so its actually 3.2 Ghz.

not effectively though.

It really only helps when you run lots of programs. Doesn't mean you get 2x the power when running one program.

[Andrew]

sunil, that laptop is a good deal. I been looking at laptops too recently and considered that one. I looked teh HP one as well, the HP one is a bit smaller but you pay a bit more. With laptops my opinion a faster harddrive is important because for the average user thats what you would notice, the load times. Laptop HDs are alot slower than desktops.... but with faster HDs you sacrifice battery length


p.s. give me a msg one day!

[Vulcan]

Here's a Dell comparable.

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topi...HS1&l=en&s=dhs

[Andrew]

read your credit card policy. Some of them double the warranty on laptops. Credit card insurance is pretty good in my experience. I wouldn't bother with future shop extended warranties.

Future shop extended warranties are rip off in my opinion. two expensive. I only bought one in my whole life. Because I knew the printer would break because i use it so much. I had broken 3 in 3 years. Surely enough it did. Overcharge though on most items.

But it took like 3 months for them replace the thing. By that time i had already bought a new printer. They ended up giving me a store credit at future shop. I had to hassle them for this, call the head office etc.

[I_H8_Crawford]

I'll post here too - I am starting to look for a notebook as well, but one thing that I really want is the eraserhead- trackpoint type mouse, not the touchpad... any other company besides Lenovo that offers that mouse? Does Dell??

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

but one thing that I really want is the eraserhead- trackpoint type mouse, not the touchpad... any other company besides Lenovo that offers that mouse? Does Dell??

The Dell Latitude laptops we get into work here have both touchpad and the eraser head.

[Nufy]

Eraser Head = laptop Clitoris in my office........

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Andrew

not effectively though.

It really only helps when you run lots of programs. Doesn't mean you get 2x the power when running one program.

Thats a limitation in the programing/OS. I've seen my core duo cores both running at 50% instead of 1 at 100% numerous times.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Andrew

not effectively though.

It really only helps when you run lots of programs. Doesn't mean you get 2x the power when running one program.

Never said that.

Far as I know the rating should be at 3.2 Ghz.

My computer has dual processors, each that run at 3.2 Ghz, and I'm pretty sure they don't add up to run at 6.4 Ghz.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Azure

Never said that.

Far as I know the rating should be at 3.2 Ghz.

My computer has dual processors, each that run at 3.2 Ghz, and I'm pretty sure they don't add up to run at 6.4 Ghz.

You've lost me. This is what was said:

Originally Posted by Azure

Quote:

Duo means there is two of them, so its actually 3.2 Ghz.

So that implies to me that you just went 1.6 x 2. You don't/can't add them together. It is better thought of as a highway that goes 100km/h, then you add another lane. The speed limit isn't 200, it can just handle more traffic (or programs) at 100km/h before bogging down.