So I'm thinking of buying a new laptop, since my current one is starting to give me some trouble, and I want to plan out stuff before it's too late. Unfortunately, computer technology advances on a timescale of days and weeks (translation: way too quickly), but it doesn't hurt to plan.

So I made the following list of characteristics of laptops, trying to organize how I can go about choosing stuff. I also made some guesses as to what I think I want in my laptop; the ones that I have preferences on are listed after the item.

+ screen size
+ screen type (normal, widescreen, touch-tablet)
+ key arrangement: preferably similar to my current layout, but I'm flexible
+ battery life: as long as possible, obviously
+ battery capacity: as long as possible, obviously, but flexible
+ RAM: preferably at least 512 MB (I have 256 MB on my current one)
+ HD space: preferably at least 40 GB; 80 GB would be nice
+ CD/DVD drive: preferably at least CD-writing and DVD playing (DVD-writing nice but optional)
+ diskette drives: 3.5" would be nice, and I seriously doubt anyone still makes 5.25" drives
+ ethernet plug: strongly preferable
+ wireless device: most definitely
+ sound card: obviously I need a decent one, but I have no clue what "standard" cards are and what good ones are and stuff like that (I'm merely a user)
+ graphics card: again, something decent (e.g. can run stuff like Cave Story, Age of Empires, and maybe a few older 3D games), but nothing too fancy
+ weight: lighter would be nice, but it's okay
+ size: I've seen this really really tiny laptop once, and I was pretty impressed, but size isn't too big of a deal unless the laptop's unreasonably large
+ operating system: sadly, I'm only familiar with Windows OSes, so I'd prefer XP Home or Professional
+ USB ports: at least 2 needed, but at least 4 preferable
+ LPT parallel port (or whatever you call it): so I can connect to my older but still very functional printers
+ firewire: well, I only found out about this a few months ago so I don't really have a preference about this. My friend did have a firewire-connected external HD, so I'm wondering if external HDs usually use firewire...

EDIT
+ processor type/speed: umm, 1.5 GHz or better, I guess? I really don't know much about what's standard here these days, nor do I know what the different types/brands are nor what things like "Pentium M" mean. And should I lump processor type and processor speed into the same variable or are they really distinct?

1. Am I missing any important characteristics?
2. Anyone have suggestions as to what kinds laptops probably have what I'm looking for? (I'm rather flexible on "comes-with" software.)
3. Got any brands or models to recommend or avoid?
4. Any other comments and suggestions?

Edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on June 29, 2006 at 12:16:19.

Edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on June 29, 2006 at 14:21:30.

Whatever you do.. DON'T get a Gateway.

If I remember right, HP is supposed to be a good brand. (Hewellet Packard.)

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I have one . Get a microsoft xp labtop thier awesome. If possible in your favorite color.

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Actualy I went to e-bay a couple times and I put down labtop. And a bunch of those computers popped up with pictures and prices and next to it said labtop. It worked with yahoo too. Maybe even google?So your wrong it goes both ways.Ahahahah I'm right so I win!

Actually, you're terribly wrong. When someone says they have an "XP Laptop" that just means it's a laptop that has Microsoft Windows XP installed. Microsoft does NOT make computers, they only make software, and certain accessories, like computer mice. Companies like Gatway, Dell, Apple Alienware, and Hewlett Packard make computers.

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Thought IBM stopped making personal computers and stuck to businesses only.

Oh well.

And Tron. Dude. You're coming off as either young or not very intelligent here. Please learn what computers are before you make uninformed posts about them.

Well, I'm not horribly computer-savvy, but I have a Toshiba laptop, and I've been quite happy with it, for the most part.

-Ri

Edited by Rioni Riishu on July 3, 2006 at 1:04:17.

Waaah! No fair two against one. Why do people always pick on the blonde people? Is it cause were hot and your jealous of our looks? Anyways I kinda understand. This post the computer I'm on is a microsoft xp. But ontop the moniter theres a word that says emachines. So I guess thats this type of computer.

Tron, we don't give a rat's butt what color your hair is. We wouldn't even know if you didn't run around talking about it all the time. And nobody cares how you perceive yourself to look, either.

Hair color doesn't dictate stupidity. (Although you're presently adding to the bad rap blondes get.)

Anyway, back on topic, I guess another thing to think about when shopping for a laptop is what you're primarily going to use it for. Artwork? (That's me.) Gaming? Downloading? Of course, I can't offer a whole lot of help, but it's still something to be aware of.

-Ri

Toshiba's tech support could use some work thouhg, Apple's needs alot of work in that department too, Hp, I have had more freezeups with that than my dell and gateway combined, Gateway, is HELL in a rectangle, Dell, well average, Alienware is ugly as sin, but it works fine. simple enough.

Had a friend whose alienware blew up on him.

Was not worth the money for him.

Edit-- Dear Tron. Stop talking about things not revalent(sp) to the topic. No love, me.

Edited by Kia_Purity on July 3, 2006 at 20:13:25.

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Yeah, Alienware seems like crap, no offense. I've only heard bad things about them. Same with Gateway.

I have a new Dell desktop, and it's the only computer since my Tandy that hasn't had any terrible side-effects. Look, it even types on its own:

Hello Glenn Magus Harvey.

Computational work, internet, music, non-hardcore gaming (i.e. games that were generally made before 2000, if not earlier). It's gonna be a combination work/school and personal/entertainment computer.



A LAN party is HARDLY a representative sample of ANY population, apart from hardcore gamers.



It literally exploded? Whoh, that's bad.



Yeah, and they're cheaper too. But I prefer the portability of a laptop for now, and I'll probably get myself a desktop for home use later anyway.



????? What do you mean "it types on its own"? Or is your sarcasm light on?

I'm guessing some type of talk and type software.

As for the main reason of your thread, you never mentioned the most important feature of all. Price range. I'm gonna go ahead and guess the cheaper the better? Then skip all those brands and just go to www.newegg.com and do some research of your own. My mom wanted a new cheapo laptop to do mostly just surfing so I got her a 1.5 GHz CPU Acer laptop for $495. If she decides the 256 MB of RAM is too slow I plan to upgrade it to 1 GB for around $100. If you need more storage you can probably find a good deal on an external hard drive. The screen size is kind of small but the bigger the screen the bigger and heavier the laptop (not to mention the more the drain on your battery). So, rather than blindly take someone's brand recommendation since that's basically just playing favorites, you could do some research at the site by looking at specs, reading reviews and making your own decision. That's my 2 cents on the topic.

Thinking about it some more, Laptops seem like a horrible idea for gaming since they do pack so much heat and it's not being cooled fast enough. Hell, my brother could have set my mom's laptop on fire... it was 90c =/

So. Desktop a go go for gaming!

Are you sure it was 90C? That's almost Boiling.

I'm really hoping it wasn't on your brother's lap, kia. That could burn right through some clothing.

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