Posted on 10/24/2009 5:44:39 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
Windows 7 has spawned a new breed of inexpensive laptops at retailers like Best Buy and Frys.
At many stores on Thursday, Best Buy refreshed almost its entire stock of laptops: all running Windows 7 and all sporting new model numbers.
Frys--a megastore electronics retailer with locations throughout California, Arizona, and Texas--also refreshed many of its laptops with new Windows 7 models.
One of the most inexpensive Windows 7 arrivals is the Gateway model EC1410U. This tiny laptop is distinctly Netbook-like in appearance but uses a more powerful Celeron M ULV 743 processor (1.3GHz, 1MB cache) than the Atom-chip fare found in Netbooks.
In addition to the Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit version, other features include 2GB of memory and a 250GB hard disk drive.
Small Gateway laptop comes in a Netbook-like package but uses a more powerful Celeron processor than the Atom chip found in Netbooks--and it's cheap at $399
Many seductive Windows 7 newcomers are categorized as "ultrathins."
These slim designs are typically discernibly bigger than Netbooks (though, as evidenced by the Gateway above, it's now always clear-cut) and pack more processor horsepower.
The Toshiba Satellite T-135 (model: T135-S1309), which falls into this category, is priced at $549 at Best Buy and comes with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 32-bit operating system, a 13.3-inch display, a dual-core power-efficient Pentium processor, 3GB of memory, a 320GB hard disk drive (5400RPM), and built-in Web cam.
The HP dm3 (model: dm3-1035dx), also an ultrathin and also priced at $549, packs 3GB of memory like the Toshiba but that's where the similarity ends.
The HP uses a 7200RPM 320GB hard disk drive (as opposed to the 5400RPM drive on the Toshiba), comes with the Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit version (compared with the Toshiba's 32-bit version), an AMD Athlon Neo X2 dual-core processor (versus Intel Pentium on the Toshiba), and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics (unlike the Toshiba's Intel integrated graphics).
$549 Toshiba T135 weighs less than 4 pounds and boasts a dual-core processor and 320GB hard disk
$349: Gateway LT2030U Atom chip-based Netbook
Gateway is also offering a bona fide Netbook. The $349 LT2030U houses an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of memory, a 250GB hard disk drive, and--typical of many Atom-based designs--a 10.1-inch screen.
It weighs in at 3 pounds with Microsoft's light-duty Windows 7 Starter Edition--which doesn't support native DVD playback, multi-monitors, nor the Aero user interface.
$499: 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron laptop with 2.16GHz dual-core processor and optical drive
Not to be outdone, Dell is also offering a new inexpensive Windows 7 Inspiron model (I1545-4203JB) with a 15.6-inch screen and a 2.16GHz Intel Pentium dual-core processor T4300 processor.
It comes with 3GB of memory, DVD-RW/CD-RW drive, a 250GB hard disk drive, and the Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit OS.
At $449, Toshiba is also debuting an inexpensive 15.6-incher (L505D-S5983) with a dual-core AMD processor and ATI Radeon 4100 graphics.
It also includes a 320GB hard disk drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW drive, 3GB of memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium.
Frys was selling many of the same, or similar, low-cost models as Best Buy but also included some new high-powered Windows 7 laptops too, such as the HP dv7-3080.
This 17-inch model comes with a quad-core Core i7 720QM processor, an Nvidia GT 230 graphics chip, a 500GB hard disk drive, and Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit. It is priced at $1,449 at Frys.
I guess you’re right, it must come with the territory. Software problems or formatting, not as big as a deal as hardware failures imho. I haven’t had a lot of problems with software since increasing the security, and we are definitely careful about where we visit on the net. Just the hardware. I tell ya, the best invention ever were ALL the windows for dummies books. They make me smile..and helped me learn how to clean up a ton of messes back in the day, clear back to my 486dx/250. :-)
Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I still don’t own a notebook and could happily do without one. There’s a teen here with other ideas, however. :(
A computer, to me, belongs on the desk where I go for breaks from the stuff I do the rest of the day. When they can put the whole enchilada in my ear, I’ll carry it around!
That's correct. You can't do an overwrite upgrade from XP to Win 7. You have to back up your data and settings to an external media or location. (Make sure you have all of your serial #'s, keys, etc. for your various programs.) Then run the Win 7 disc - it will reformat the drive and install. Next you reinstall your programs, then restore your data.
2. Can (1) W7 disk be used on (2) XP computers?
No. You can probably complete the installs on both but the activation will get you flagged.
My first PC had an 8Mhz 8086 processor, a 20Mb hard drive and two 5 1/4” floppy drives. It was an Amstrad which came with Dr. DOS (not Microsoft DOS) and the Gem Desktop. The video was CGA and displayed 640x200 pixels in 16 colors. It had 512Kb of RAM.
I quickly did away with the GUI, installed MS-DOS 3.2 instead of Dr. DOS, and learned how to use DOS commands. I knew nothing about computers, but doing this, and being willing to take chances, gave me a great home-grown education. I’ve been hooked ever since. Your 486dx/250 was a screamer by comparison...
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
I have a FReeper friend whose 5-y.o. Dell runs hot. He rarely boots because the sudden fan cutoff requires a long cooling-off period. That’s with leaving off one side of the case with a portable home fan blowing into it.
It’s a great laptop to have in your lap on a cold winter day, LOL. I wonder if any of these old Dells have actually melted down?
I’ve nursed it along to get a new machine after the release of Win 7. Looks like I’ve almost made it. I’m sure there will be some screaming holiday deals in the next 6 weeks.
He could probably replace the fans that don’t work anymore. There are places that sell those parts.
I ordered a refurbed HP Pavilion Slim-Line a couple of months ago. It failed at start-up. I spent a week with the same maddening phone-based tech support (pleasant folks but I could only understand every 3rd word or so of their extremely heavily-accented English), and paid for a set of resource discs (didn’t come with the refurb).
After those didn’t help they finally sent me a pre-paid box to ship it back. They kept it for 6 weeks waiting for a back-ordered motherboard. Received the refurbed refurb a couple of days ago. Started it up and yep, the same problem I sent it back for in the first place. In this case, it appeared that part way through installing the 59 Windows updates a file (or files) got corrupted and the thing became a brick.
Finally got through to a case manager who is sending me a new, upgraded Pavilion (w/Windows 7) at no charge. A (hopefully) happy ending, but JEEZ what an ordeal.
Oops, what I wrote about is a desktop.
Inspiron? Like I’d know the diff, heh.
I see little value in a desktop computer that you can’t drag along with you.
As long as I'm pestering with questions....waddya think of those "all in one" desktops? I'm a bit leery, because it the monitor goes, the whole thing's junk.....but the theory of a towerless PC seems pretty nifty - would be almost portable.
iMac owner here . . . and as you say, I find it functions as a "luggable" computer.I was tempted by the 24" version, but I held back from the extra $$ - and feel the decision was justified precisely by the lugability of the 20" version. I find myself taking it with me on pleasure trips. Which would argue for a laptop - except for the fact that my trips aren't that frequent and I spend time at the desk . . .
bttt
DRM overhead and hardware disabling is still there big time.
How hot is hot? You can download a number of Mother Board (MB) monitors that will read the sensor and display the temp. It will also display your power supply voltages and CPU and memory voltages.
High temps mean either a bad heat sink. (which you've apparently addressed) Bad connections; CPU lock tight? RAM fully locked in? Connector on your MB fully inserted?
Or, low voltages (from your power supply) which of course means higher currents. If you can get a reading of your voltages (you can even do this in the BIOS screen on most PC's) then compare them to normal voltages (should be able to download spec) you might find that a part of your main power supply is bad.
Have you tried a new power supply?
A bad power supply might also cause your memory and HD to go bad.
Thanks for the tips.
It’s possible the power supply does have some issues.
At this point, it’s time for a new machine.
BTT
Reseat everything .....this rubs off any oxidation
ALSO-—Check power supply for capacitors with white goo coming out of them. (Means they are blown.)
You must carefully open power supply up. Don’t lose the 4 tiny outside screws that hold it together
Blow any dust out of power supply with a straw even....also can clean dust out with an old toothbrush
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