PDA

View Full Version : The "I want your opinions on these laptops" thread :D



Kernel Sanders
July 30th, 2006, 06:36 PM
**Laptop 1** (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d620?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&adv=nbkadv2)

**Laptop 2* (http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1834554655.115428080 2@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdihfeehmecflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&sku=609546&page=Product&fm=2&sm=0&tm=3)

I'm going back to university in September to study law, so I want something reasonably high spec, something that will run Windows XP, something that will also run Ubuntu when i'm ready, something that I can dual boot with that will give Ubuntu and Windows plenty of space each, and something that will be trouble free hardware wise, and last for a good few years.

What do you guys think? Do you have any better suggestions?

Cheers! :)

John :)

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 06:48 PM
Ew! Sony! Pleh! Go Dell. I didn't even need to look at the system specs to tell you that the Dell will be a better machine. Sony's machines used to come back to us all the time when I worked at Circuit City. They are fancy toys, and little more. Dells work great with Linux in my experience.

Ares Drake
July 30th, 2006, 06:52 PM
How much are you willing to spend? In case it's in your price range, I would go for a notebook with a core 2 duo chip, or at least core duo if you can't wait another month for core 2 duo to come out.

Be sure to check www.tuxmobile.org and www.linux-on-laptops.com as well for compatibility.


Ew! Sony! Pleh! Go Dell. I didn't even need to look at the system specs to tell you that the Dell will be a better machine. Sony's machines used to come back to us all the time when I worked at Circuit City. They are fancy toys, and little more. Dells work great with Linux in my experience.

Well, Dell just isn't any better:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32550
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/dellpost.html?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=192887&ex=Dude-Dell-freaking-blew


I'd go for somthing like this instead: http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1834554655.115428080 2@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdihfeehmecflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=2&sm=0&tm=3&sku=757881&category_oid=-28739

BigDave708
July 30th, 2006, 06:56 PM
**Laptop 1** (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d620?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&adv=nbkadv2)

The Good


It's got a faster processor than Laptop 2.
It's cheaper.


The Bad


It's got an NVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M for graphics - it sometimes doesn't play nice with Ubuntu.
It's made by Dell.


The Ugly


It's made by Dell and therefore might explode.



**Laptop 2* (http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1834554655.115428080 2@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdihfeehmecflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&sku=609546&page=Product&fm=2&sm=0&tm=3)

The Good


OK, I can't find a good point about it over the Dell (apart from the fact it won't explode) . . .


The Bad


It's got a slower processor (you won't notice a huge difference because both laptops have 1GB of RAM)
It only has XP Home and Microsoft Works on it (Microsoft Office is better - or use OpenOffice of course).


The Ugly


It costs 193 quid more.



Overall, I am actually scared because I am tempted to say go for the Dell instead . . .

mips
July 30th, 2006, 07:08 PM
Look at IBM/Lenovo, damn good laptops.

You could probably get a discount as well, just ask IBM/Lenovo UK or your University.

http://www-5.ibm.com/uk/news/ondemandcommunity/tech_discounts.html

mips
July 30th, 2006, 07:10 PM
Overall, I am actually scared because I am tempted to say go for the Dell instead . . .

lol, never say go for the dell ;)

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 07:12 PM
HP makes a pretty mean laptop these days. I have one from 3 years ago and it's still trucking. Never skips a beat. They are also one of the only manufacturers to offer AMD's Turion line, which is what I plan to use in my next laptop.

mips
July 30th, 2006, 07:15 PM
HP makes a pretty mean laptop these days. I have one from 3 years ago and it's still trucking. Never skips a beat. They are also one of the only manufacturers to offer AMD's Turion line, which is what I plan to use in my next laptop.

When it comes to power consumption the AMD's don't match up to the Intel cpu's, yet.

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 07:18 PM
That's not as much of a big deal as how much power the HDD and LCD take up. I'd say the biggest factor in power consumption is the size of the screen.

BigDave708
July 30th, 2006, 07:41 PM
When it comes to power consumption the AMD's don't match up to the Intel cpu's, yet. [Emphasis added]

They always have been, and probably will be for quite a long time yet. Intel is constantly trying to get smaller and smaller transistors into their CPUs (<90nm) instead of working on thermal efficiency. AMD will be in the lead for quite some time . . .

mips
July 30th, 2006, 07:46 PM
They always have been, and probably will be for quite a long time yet. Intel is constantly trying to get smaller and smaller transistors into their CPUs (<90nm) instead of working on thermal efficiency. AMD will be in the lead for quite some time . . .

AMD Desktop CPUs on the other hand run cooler than the Intel ones.

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 07:47 PM
Here's what blows me away: Why don't they just make processors a little bigger? They could fit so many more transistors on them if they increased the die size by even a centimeter.

Kernel Sanders
July 30th, 2006, 08:19 PM
Cheers for all your help guys! :)

So i'm going with neither, particularly as I like my "nads" intact, rather than blown off by an exploding Dell laptop. :p

So, as per Ares Drake selection, does this seem like an excellent choice? (I forgot to add, any laptop I buy needs to be ultra portable)

**Linkage** (http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0150982325.115428699 8@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdihfeehmecflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&sku=757881&tabIndex=1&page=Product&fm=2&sm=0&tm=3)

Thanks again!

John :)

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 08:22 PM
Cheers for all your help guys! :)

So i'm going with neither, particularly as I like my "nads" intact, rather than blown off by an exploding Dell laptop. :p

So, as per Ares Drake selection, does this seem like an excellent choice? (I forgot to add, any laptop I buy needs to be ultra portable)

**Linkage** (http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0150982325.115428699 8@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladdihfeehmecflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&sku=757881&tabIndex=1&page=Product&fm=2&sm=0&tm=3)

Thanks again!

John :)
If you want any batter life, you're probably going to want to shop for a model with less screen real estate. The screen size also dictates portability. A notebook that size is nearly a DTR (Desktop Replacement). You can get the same resolution on a smaller monitor, so if you can see small stuff pretty well, the smaller the better.

Kernel Sanders
July 30th, 2006, 08:24 PM
If you want any batter life, you're probably going to want to shop for a model with less screen real estate. The screen size also dictates portability. A notebook that size is nearly a DTR (Desktop Replacement). You can get the same resolution on a smaller monitor, so if you can see small stuff pretty well, the smaller the better.

You think a 14.1" widescreen is too big?

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 08:26 PM
You think a 14.1" widescreen is too big?
Woah. How did they fit that numeric keypad in there with that size screen? That keyboard must have tiny keys.
No, that kind of screen is a decent size. I just wonder about usability of the keys at this point. Have you shopped at HP's website? They have a pretty big selection, and won't charge you the middleman fee that Dixon's will.
Oh, and for the record, the last exploding Dell was a long time ago. Quality since then has improved VASTLY.

Kernel Sanders
July 30th, 2006, 09:06 PM
**More indepth info about the HP laptop** (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF06b/21675-38187-38191-38191-38191-12320450-76523673.html?&jumpid=in_r2515_hmc_psg_hho)

Yay or nay? Opinions?

John :)

x64Jimbo
July 30th, 2006, 09:43 PM
That picture shows it without a numeric keypad. Is that the same model? I really like this one. Looks very sleek, and the listed features look pretty solid.

Kernel Sanders
July 30th, 2006, 10:07 PM
That picture shows it without a numeric keypad. Is that the same model? I really like this one. Looks very sleek, and the listed features look pretty solid.

I think my earlier link just had the "generic" picture tbh...

This picture is closer to what it actually looks like. Actually, its probably a photo of it! :p

So thats a yay from you?

What about everyone else?

John :)

BigDave708
July 30th, 2006, 10:14 PM
AMD Desktop CPUs on the other hand run cooler than the Intel ones.

That's what I was trying to say . . . I said that Intel worries about getting the smallest transistor currently possible and therefore the highest CPU speed. They should, however, try to increase the thermal efficiency of their processors.

A smaller transistor inside a CPU means a faster CPU speed. However, smaller transistors generate more heat, and thus the resistance inside the transistor rises, which actually slows down the transistor more than just compromising and having a larger but slower transistor - it's Ohm's Law.


**More indepth info about the HP laptop** (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF06b/21675-38187-38191-38191-38191-12320450-76523673.html?&jumpid=in_r2515_hmc_psg_hho)


I really like this one. Looks very sleek, and the listed features look pretty solid.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l282/bigdave708/tick.gif

It's a better laptop than the other two, IMO.

Ares Drake
July 31st, 2006, 10:36 AM
That's what I was trying to say . . . I said that Intel worries about getting the smallest transistor currently possible and therefore the highest CPU speed. They should, however, try to increase the thermal efficiency of their processors.

Concerning desktop processors, you are right. Intels notebook processors have outperformed AMD's powerwise since Centrino however. And Intel's next generation desktop processors (Core 2 Duo) are based on Centrino, so they use about as much power as AMD desktop cpus, or even a little less.


A smaller transistor inside a CPU means a faster CPU speed. However, smaller transistors generate more heat, and thus the resistance inside the transistor rises, which actually slows down the transistor more than just compromising and having a larger but slower
transistor - it's Ohm's Law.

Well, no! You are right, resistance and so heat as well rise with smaller electric conductors (and with the temperature). However with smaller transistors, the cpu can (usually) operate at a lower voltage. And this influences resistance a lot more in a poisitive way and overcompensates for your loss above.



(I forgot to add, any laptop I buy needs to be ultra portable) You think a 14.1" widescreen is too big?

Well, 14.1" is portable, but no where near ultraportable ( = < 12") I currently own a 15.1" Toshiba and think it is too big. But 14" might be more bearable and a good compromise between full-size keyboard, big (easy to read) screen and portability.

mcduck
July 31st, 2006, 12:38 PM
Concerning desktop processors, you are right. Intels notebook processors have outperformed AMD's powerwise since Centrino however. And Intel's next generation desktop processors (Core 2 Duo) are based on Centrino, so they use about as much power as AMD desktop cpus, or even a little less.
Just somehing I need to make clear: Centrino is not a CPU, or CPU architecture, or actually anything but a marketing name that Intel uses to tell that machine has both Intel CPU and Intel chipset with certain features.

Core and Core 2 CPU's are based on Pentium Mobile, which again is based on Pentium 3. Pentium 4 was a bit of a mistake from Intel, they thought that they could keep on increasing CPU speeds but trying to do that they ended with a power hungry CPU that produces insane amounts of heat. Sometimes even too much to run in a normal case with default cooler at default clock speeds without overheating in heavy use.. So they had to return to cooler P-M and continue development from there..

Ares Drake
August 1st, 2006, 12:33 AM
Just somehing I need to make clear: Centrino is not a CPU, or CPU architecture, or actually anything but a marketing name that Intel uses to tell that machine has both Intel CPU and Intel chipset with certain features.

I know. Just used the term Centrino synonymously with Pentium M for simplicity's sake...
Let's have a poll: How many people have a heared the term "Centrino" compared to "Pentium M" ? :rolleyes: :lol: