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Request for Information on Laptops (Vanity)
FreeRepulbic ^ | 4-8-07 | johniegrad

Posted on 04/08/2007 6:28:05 AM PDT by johniegrad

My wife wants a new laptop computer for her birthday which is April 13th. She intends to use it primarily for work purposes and for continuing her education online. She works as a nursing director for surgery and anesthesia in a 400 bed medical center and has responsibilties for seven to eight figure budgets, scheduling for about 150 RNs, facilities planning, management-union negotiations, and performance evaluations among other things.

From an education standpoing, she is working on a business degree to augment her RN and may be considering a master's type program unless I can talk her out of it.

I am asking for Freeper assistance in selecting the manufacturer, hardware, OS, and whatever add-ons people might think useful. I would also like to take into account reliability, customer support, and ease of use. While I have owned and used computers since 1983, I don't consider myself technically savvy and do not want her to have to acquire additional training to use the thing.

I haven't shopped computers in about seven or eight years and time constraints due to my own schedule make this task seem formidable. Therefore, I am planting my lazy ass in this chair and asking for your assistance.

The old bat will be 45 this year but she has been sturdy and reliable. She probably deserves something nice. I had considered buying her a new ironing board but she wanted a 'puter so here I am. I hope she doesn't use it for online dating.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: computers; vanity
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To: Syncro

Yep - you a techi! I was inspired!
While I was at it I found out how to keep my screen bright when on battery - before it was so dark it was barely readable.


141 posted on 04/08/2007 2:50:20 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Non-Sequitur

I called Dell for a laptop and the only way to get XP was on a very expensive laptop. Over 2 grand. But they did try to sell me the XP Pro software for like 300 bucks. So I shopped around and found one at PC Mall down the street.


142 posted on 04/08/2007 2:56:13 PM PDT by US_MilitaryRules (Time to eradicated islambs and mooselimbs! GO PTSC)
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To: billorites

Kaypros did rock! 300 baud modem built in. I had a lot of fun with mine.


143 posted on 04/08/2007 3:13:27 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: bvw

I have a 20. It needs a memory upgrade but has been very loyal. I do like it.


144 posted on 04/08/2007 3:14:14 PM PDT by carton253 (Not enough space to express how I truly feel.)
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To: carton253

Does the 20 handle the modern media players well? Streaming video?


145 posted on 04/08/2007 3:17:05 PM PDT by bvw
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To: bvw

Yes, it streams video really well. I also have a DVD player and have no problems watching a movie. Picture quality is exceptional.


146 posted on 04/08/2007 3:25:05 PM PDT by carton253 (Not enough space to express how I truly feel.)
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To: carton253

Wow. I’ve had Toshiba, Dell, Acer laptops, and even a Panasonic Toughbook from ‘97 that still runs. Yet the IBM Thinkpads outclass them all.


147 posted on 04/08/2007 5:36:34 PM PDT by bvw
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To: Klutz Dohanger
How dishonest of you.

You’ve been here long enough to know when something is in italics it is being quoted to be commented upon. Yet you connect the part I italicized to the part I wrote with an ellipsis, as If I wrote both.

You are flying the Georgia flag, but you sure aren’t acting like a southerner.

148 posted on 04/08/2007 5:54:47 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: carton253
I bought an off lease, three year old T30 Thinkpad off Ebay a while back that runs great! Solid machine, the website has easy updates that keep it current. Saved lots of money on a nice laptop.
149 posted on 04/08/2007 5:55:24 PM PDT by Paperpusher
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To: johniegrad
I would like to add that I'm going into my third year with a Sony Vaio laptop.

No problems other than the wierd stuff you run into with Windows.

It's a 1GB machine with a 60 GB HD and I use it extensively for photo editing.

Very nice display and I've carried it in my backpack across several continents. Got to have a good external mouse though. All laptop touch pads stink.

150 posted on 04/08/2007 6:38:45 PM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: johniegrad
"...she is working on a business degree to augment her RN and may be considering a master's type program unless I can talk her out of it."

From my experience as an allied health professional, child and family therapist, MSNs rule the world.

151 posted on 04/08/2007 6:41:48 PM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: PAR35

*sheesh*

I was merely pointing out if you’re going to reference exploding laptops, then you should point out that other companies have had similar recalls.


152 posted on 04/08/2007 7:07:44 PM PDT by Klutz Dohanger
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To: johniegrad
RAM - 2 gigabytes/USB ports - 4/Battery - 8 cell/Processor - Core2Duo T5500 to T7200 by Intel/Warranty - 2 year - buy it!!

Johnnie, you've got a good start. You didn't mention a hard drive. The faster a hard drive spins, the faster your machine will be. State of the art now is 7200rpm, but those are still kind of pricey (but falling fast). You may be able to upgrade your machine to a 7200rpm drive for not so much money. If you are not going to be storing a lot of music and video files, I would opt for a drive with fewer GB and faster speed. So keep an eye on that. A cheaper machine may have an older, slower drive. Don't settle for anything slower that 5400rpm.

You probably don't need to worry about docking stations.

They are useful if you have a lot of peripheral hardware devices that are used a lot and that are cumbersome to hook up to the computer every time you want to use them, or if you have some hardware incompatibilities such as a printer that has an old serial cable that newer laptops don't have a port for, but a docking station does. But most printers have USB cables now, which can be plugged into the laptop as fast as you can put the laptop into a docking station. Or better yet, get a printer with built-in WiFi and simply print from wherever in the house you are using the laptop without ever having to hook it up. The only other hardware that you would likely be attaching is a USB mouse, which again can be hooked up in a second. And people that have wireless mouses love them.

I've never been a big fan of extended warranties. I figure that if they are so anxious to sell you one of those, they must be making good money on them. I've had good luck taking the risk and saving the money. But then, I can do a lot of simple repairs on my own.

Re 8-cell batteries: most laptops come with a cheaper battery. I've saved money by buying a higher capacity battery on the internet and keeping the battery that came with the computer as a backup (you do need a backup). If you buy the higher capacity battery from the retailer you buy the computer from, in most cases you will be charged a lot more for it. This principle does not apply to RAM for reasons that I won't go into. It is better the buy the extra RAM and have it installed as part of the original computer purchase.

153 posted on 04/08/2007 8:42:59 PM PDT by B.Bumbleberry
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To: BikerJoe

If I have MB problems with my Dell inside of 4 yrs, they replace it free.
After that I’ll buy a board on Ebay and do it my self.


154 posted on 04/08/2007 9:21:08 PM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get.)
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To: johniegrad

bump


155 posted on 04/08/2007 10:12:31 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: johniegrad
Cooter, how much RAM would you suggest?

1GB minimum. Maybe 2GB for Vista.

156 posted on 04/09/2007 8:55:36 AM PDT by Cooter
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To: johniegrad

I know three people that have Acer’s for over two years without a hitch.

They just recently started selling them in Circuit City and Best Buy along with other name brands so they must have reached a level of legitimacy.

Other than that, I can’t help you much. We all pretty much look at laptops as a two year run and then replace because the faster and newer technology is worth more than just hanging onto the current one and waiting for it to break down.


157 posted on 04/10/2007 5:55:23 PM PDT by Misplaced Texan (I hate toll roads.)
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To: Misplaced Texan

Thank you.


158 posted on 04/10/2007 6:04:08 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: Petronski
Buy as much ram as you can.

There, that oughta do it! :O)

Sorry, it's like 5am. I've got nothing... :O)

159 posted on 04/11/2007 2:26:58 AM PDT by jdm
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