Laptop recommendations...

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Nufy

I will be using it for work so it will have to run AB and Modicon software.

The compatibility matrix for AB doesn't list macs at all and I am wary about trying something.

The latest accepted version is Win XP SP2 so thats what I wil be looking for.

The only difference between running Windows (XP or Vixta) on a MacBook, vs a Dell/Toshiba/HP/etc is that it's faster. There's no tricks or mirrors involved. Nothing hidden anywhere, no fine print. Seriously.

[Nufy]

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...22504(ME).aspx

Any opinions on the above unit ???

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Nufy

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...22504(ME).aspx

Any opinions on the above unit ???

I don't have anything concrete to back this up; but I'd stay away from Turion chips. I used one in my laptop for about a year; it was almost unusable in Vista and just a bit better in XP. Can't say exactly why but I'd dig up some benchmarks on that chip before getting one.

The 2/1 configuration of the RAM chips prevents the memory from running in dual-channel mode (not sure if that board supports it). You lose some performance there.

The ATI HD3200 chip is barely any better than an integrated Intel graphics chip, and the Intel chip will be much cheaper.

IMO you should be able to find a machine that matches or exceeds the performance of that Acer for cheaper.

[Nufy]

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...24441(ME).aspx

how about this one...

[McG]

on the amd chips...i understand that there may be heat issues with the most recent generation...but that is the only bad thing that i have heard or read about them...of course...heat being what it is...its a bit of a big deal.

regarding the second one, the intel 4200, that's not a bad machine for that price. sure, a person could say, it needs more ram, bigger hdd, etc...but for the price that doesn't look too bad to me. i have a cheapo acer that my kids use and to be honest i like the machine more than my hp that my wife and i use. it just feels more solid.

one observation...and this is probably a biggie for me...it comes with win vista business or xp. i see the upgrade to win 7...which is a necessity btw, but i would definitely make sure that vista business and the related upgrade do what you want. i would not go with the xp at the moment due to the imminent arrival of win 7 and the requirement to start from scratch for an xp to 7 upgrade. now...it is always a good idea to do a clean install if possible...but you will not have that choice with the xp. i would also check to ensure that the win 7 upgrade gives you the version that you need. i am assuming that you want to go to win 7...if not...please ignore!

[McG]

okay...i found a better one than the memory express one. depending upon how you feel about best buy... its a better processor...well you can run down the specs if you like. not a bad machine.

http://http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog..._special_promo

i don't see it posted but this should come with the win 7 upgrade. some of the comments deal with bad partitioning out of the box...but you can deal with that either now or when you get your win 7 upgrade.