Considering Laptop

[Crumb]

I've been looking for a laptop and the two things I'm primary looking for are graphics (with HD output) (for running flight simulator) and affordability.

So I found this one: ASUS F7 Series F7KR-X1 NoteBook (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16834220230)

With the intention of upgrading it to 4 GB of RAM.

Any reason I shouldn't get it?

[viscousmemories]

Looks like a good deal to me, but I don't know anything about the Asus brand. I would personally favor a Dell, and you can get the Dell Inspiron 1721 w/ identical stats for the same price. Also, are you sure the Asus machine can handle 4gb of RAM? The Dell does, but I couldn't find the specs on the Asus.

[Crumb]

I assumed it would handle 4 GB because all the other 64 bit processor's can, but I suppose it depends on the motherboard. I can't find a listing for the max memory it could hold. I would want to before I buy it. I have had Asus motherboards in a desktop computer before and it was a good performer until my bad power supply fried it.

I checked out the similar dells and none of them had as good of a graphics card as that (i.e. less memory on the card) I don't know enough about graphics cards to judge beyond that. I will check out that Inspiron.

[Crumb]

Ok, maybe I will go with the Dell. Thanks for the tip I hadn't checked out the Inspiron yet.

Now I don't know if I should get a glossy or anti-glare screen... :chin:

[viscousmemories]

I was wondering about that myself...

[Ensign Steve]

anti-glare all the way. Glossy screens are teh suck!

Srsly, you guys. Even on your desktop you have to totally rearrange the seating and lighting motif in your office room in order to get the benefit of it. And on a laptop presumably you're going to move around with it a lot, so it will never work. I promise.

[seebs]

MHO:
1. I loathe Dell. Some of their stuff is quite good; some of it is awful. You can never tell in advance.
2. On the PC end, I am a ThinkPad advocate; I understand the quality has mostly stayed where it was.
3. Get a Mac.

Oh, and Steve's quite right: Absolutely do not get a glossy screen. Anti-glare is the correct choice.

[viscousmemories]

The only other laptop I've had a fair amount of experience with is the Compaq Armada, and it has served me very well. Unfortunately I have always thought HP computers were of the deveel, and now that they're the same company I don't know what to think.

[Julie]

LOL I have a HP laptop with the glossy screen. My Moms Dell has the non-glossy screen. You couldn't pay me to have the non-glossy screen.

I got the HP because it was cheap and I could do it in 5 easy payments from the home shopping network.


I must say I'm very impressed with it. It needs more memory, but thats easy enough to do. Plus I got a nifty base with it that had a built in slot for an additional hard drive...it's a great mulit media centre now.

[seebs]

I liked the look of the glossy screen until I saw one with light behind me.

[inland wave]

Crumbles,
We have Gateway, HP, IBM, and Dells throughout our home and office at work. It would be the DELL hands down on my personal choice of computers. Roxie has an Inspiron and it is a great machine. Graphics, doesn't have any problems with movies and she loves playing WOW on it, plus any pictures she takes and downloads look great! She takes it with her everywhere and she is pretty hard on it. My Dell Lattitudes personal and work are great machines. The one I use for work gets lots of miles on it and I have never had a problem with it. I don't know anything about MAC's, never used one because they were never compatible to other computer systems until a couple of years ago.

[Crumb]

I don't want a Mac. I went ahead and ordered the Dell. (I know to avoid Gateway and Compaq) My gf has had a Dell for years and it is a pretty good machine. It was not an Inspiron though.

Thanks for all the advice, taken or ignored. :)

It will soon be in the mail! :hyper:

[beyelzu]

crumb, way not to go the evil mac darkside

[viscousmemories]

Dude, you should've gotten a mac.

Dell is a good second choice, though. Congratulations!

[beyelzu]

shut up evil vm

[Crumb]

I'm not cool enough for a Mac.

[inland wave]

You are to Cool for a Mac!!!
You are going to love it, congrats!

[Crumb]

I sure have you fooled. :giggles:

:thankee:

[Chris Porter]

I'm not cool enough for a Mac.

I've got 5 Macs, and I'm the antithesis of cool. I'm the dictionary picture of not-cool-in-any-way-no-sir-no-way-no-how.

So it seems to me, one doesn't have to be cool to have a Mac or two. Or five.

[Caligulette]

I'm not cool enough for a Mac.

I've got 5 Macs, and I'm the antithesis of cool. I'm the dictionary picture of not-cool-in-any-way-no-sir-no-way-no-how.

So it seems to me, one doesn't have to be cool to have a Mac or two. Or five.
My first computer was an Apple II with external hard-drive and floppy discs. Then a Mac Book and now this infernal iBook. I feel most uncool.

[D. Scarlatti]

I know to avoid ... Compaq.

:glare:

[Crumb]

I've seen too many Compaq computer disasters. Sorry, DS.

The bastards haven't shipped my computer yet. :mutter:

[freemonkey]

I went to the Apple store yesterday and fell in love with a MacBook Pro.

I can't have it, though. :sadnana:

[viscousmemories]

I fall in love with everything in the Apple store every time I walk in there. Same goes for the Apple section at Fry's. I don't even have a job much less money to spend on gadgets, but I still go drool every chance I get. If I could have any one thing from the Apple store, though, I'd get that 30" cinema display. :larrow: hint for secret santa

[Potato]

Which shipper does Dell use?

Hope you get it before Thanksgiving slams the industry. I worked last peak season at this one place last year and I'm surprised anyone received anything on time.

[freemonkey]

If I could have any one thing from the Apple store, though, I'd get that 30" cinema display. :larrow: hint for secret santa

:homdrool:

I thought I'd be in love with the new iMacs, too, but I was told they only come with glossy screens. Huge disappointment. For once I am no longer sad that I got mine just before they introduced the new ones.

[Zehava]

Which shipper does Dell use?

Hope you get it before Thanksgiving slams the industry. I worked last peak season at this one place last year and I'm surprised anyone received anything on time.

DHL I believe, at least that's what I remember a lot of the parts we get from Dell being shipped by. Could also be FedEx.

[Zehava]

If I could have any one thing from the Apple store, though, I'd get that 30" cinema display. :larrow: hint for secret santa

:homdrool:

I thought I'd be in love with the new iMacs, too, but I was told they only come with glossy screens. Huge disappointment. For once I am no longer sad that I got mine just before they introduced the new ones.

Yes, glossy screens only for the new iMacs, that won't stop me though. I really want one of the 24" ones.

[Crumb]

I dunno about the shipper all it says is "Shipping Method: 3-5 Business Days"

:waiting:

[Ensign Steve]

There's an Apple section at Fry's? :vapours:

I do covet the 30" cinema display, but only on an intellectual level. In reality I would spend much less money on the same size off-brand monitor, or the same amount of money on a larger one.

[Zehava]

There's an Apple section at Fry's? :vapours:

I do covet the 30" cinema display, but only on an intellectual level. In reality I would spend much less money on the same size off-brand monitor, or the same amount of money on a larger one.

Our local Fry's is an authorized Apple reseller and apparently has a Apple section, can't say as I've seen it though, it's been a while since I was in the store.

And yes the cinema displays are beautiful, but as with all things Apple you are paying a premium for them. 30" though just seems a big for my tastes.

[viscousmemories]

Good point, Steve. I'd just as soon get this:

Samsung 30" widescreen - $1299 (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Monitors/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0970148)

...as this:

Apple 30" cinema display - $1799 (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=B0137FD9&fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/displays&nplm=M9179LL/A)

[Ensign Steve]

Is it down to 1800? When I was looking at it, it was $2400. :chin:

[Crumb]

Est. Delivery Date 11/21/2007 - 11/23/2007 :excited:

[Crumb]

The laptop has arrived and I am posting from it. However I can't seem to get it on my wireless network. I am posting from a neighbors network right now.

My gf's computer is connected to the network, but my new one cannot. She has xp and I have Vista. Could that be it? :brooding:

[Ensign Steve]

You'd expect it to be the other way around. :giggle:

What's the problem. Can your computer find the network, but just not connect? Or can it not find it at all? Is the network advertised? Is it secured? Details!

ETA: Oh wait! I read that backward. Yeah, that could definitely be it.

[viscousmemories]

Congrats, Crumb! I'm jealous.

...of the new Dell, not the not being able to get on the wireless network. :shiftier:

[Crumb]

The network is completely unsecure right now. I can see it with excellent strength, but when I try and connect it tells me that it doesn't respond. I think I may need to update my router firmware but I am struggling with that right now.

[viscousmemories]

I'm sorry, that's annoying. Good luck!

[inland wave]

Crumb, when my laptop acts up like that, I disconnect the main computer from the router for about a minute. Then I reconnect and the connection comes through. Weird, but it seems to work.

[Dingfod]

Cycle the power on your wireless router while the laptop is still on, the router should recognize the laptop when it reboots.

[Crumb]

I reset the router a couple of times. From my research I think I need to update the router. I tried with the new computer though and I couldn't even make an Ethernet connection with the router. So I will use my gf's computer tonight to do the firmware upgrade and then see is that fixes the problem.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Smilin]

What type of wireless router are you using?

[Crumb]

I'm using the Westell 327W router/DSL modem that I got from Verizon for their DSL service.

[Crumb]

The firmware upgrade did the trick! :w00t:

* Crumb 's geek quotient just went up a notch. :geek:

[inland wave]

Cool, enjoy your new toy!!

[Crumb]

:thankee:

Putting all the cool stuff that I want on it.