Laptop Advice

Hanuman · 11-16-2010, 05:07 PM

In the $600 or less price range what are some good value options?

Terisse · 11-16-2010, 05:16 PM

If you're up for the technical shit-storm that comes with it, I say build your own. Check a few sites, (I don't feel like naming the obvious) compare pricing and capability and make sure it's compatible. Outside of that, I'd need to do a bit more research than I have the time for right now. Call me when I'm actually not about ready to go see a movie. Maybe tomorrowish or Thursday. I'll have some okay suggestions by then.

Eltargrim · 11-16-2010, 11:16 PM

Laptop. Not really build-your-own. Not nearly as viable as building a desktop.

Personally, I love my eeePC 900, and will upgrade to a new model as soon as I can afford it. All <$600, and available from NCIX, located in lovely BC!

Fifthfiend · 11-17-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lev

In the $600 or less price range what are some good value options?

Every laptop you get for around 600 dollars is gonna be about the same as every other laptop you're gonna get for around six hundred dollars.

The Dell Studio line has generally struck me as having somewhat better than average build quality.

Professor Smarmiarty · 11-17-2010, 05:35 AM

Suitcase full of heroin. Same size, better result.

Eltargrim · 11-17-2010, 08:09 AM

The man raises a valid point.

Hanuman · 11-17-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eltargrim

Laptop. Not really build-your-own. Not nearly as viable as building a desktop.

Personally, I love my eeePC 900, and will upgrade to a new model as soon as I can afford it. All <$600, and available from NCIX, located in lovely BC!

Are you in BC?

Also, I like the models but I can't find a 900 model? Please explain?

Eltargrim · 11-17-2010, 09:53 PM

The 900 was the big thing 2 years ago, when I got mine. I'd personally go for something 10xx or 12xx now. The 10/12 refers to the diagonal screen size, while the xx just indicates which model. They make too bloody many. Look for one with an Atom processor and Ion graphics, and see if you can get a copy of Windows 7 that isn't the starter; you can add that in after if you need to.

I have family in Vancouver, but sadly, I live in Winterpeg. I'd love to move out West and get a job at UBC, though; that'd be rad.

synkr0nized · 11-17-2010, 10:43 PM

If you're looking for battery life and portability, definitely keep your eyes on netbooks. Most are under 400 dollars, and many are ~200 (U.S. dollars, for what it's worth).

Don't expect to do much beyond email, most Internet surfing, and "work", though.

Generally speaking, from what you can see browsing ads and sites like Newegg or Amazon and manufacturers' own stores, Fifth has it right -- most laptops are more or less the same in this price range, the differences more stemming from who's backing it and how it looks.

Moving up into more performance laptops nets you more variation in things like which i-core processor family is available, dedicated graphics card options, and screen resolutions. At around 600, though, you'll mostly be looking at Core 2 Duos or i3s with integrated Intel graphics and that 1366x768 res.**

** These machines aren't "bad"; it's a matter of what it is to be used for vs. what another machine may do better.

additional edit for below: I had taken that line out, as Win7 Starter is only on netbooks [to my knowledge] but where I had written that line gave the impression that it was on other laptops. In any case, yes, not a fan of 7 Starter at all.

Eltargrim · 11-17-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synkr0nized

Oh, and a true OS -- Windows 7 Starter is a joke (sure, it's functional, but it's just silly).

Windows 7 Starter makes you restart to change the Ion from power-saving mode to actual use mode, thus negating the awesome of Ion. Windows 7 Starter is very silly.

11-16-2010, 05:07 PM	#1
Hanuman Love Is Strength Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vancouver/BC/Canada Posts: 1,135	Laptop Advice In the $600 or less price range what are some good value options?

11-16-2010, 05:16 PM	#2
Terisse Drive that into you! Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54	If you're up for the technical shit-storm that comes with it, I say build your own. Check a few sites, (I don't feel like naming the obvious) compare pricing and capability and make sure it's compatible. Outside of that, I'd need to do a bit more research than I have the time for right now. Call me when I'm actually not about ready to go see a movie. Maybe tomorrowish or Thursday. I'll have some okay suggestions by then. __________________ "My name is David, by the way. Um, hi. I once saw a man�s kidney grow tentacles, tear itself out of a ragged hole in his back and go slapping across my kitchen floor."

11-16-2010, 11:16 PM	#3
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	Laptop. Not really build-your-own. Not nearly as viable as building a desktop. Personally, I love my eeePC 900, and will upgrade to a new model as soon as I can afford it. All <$600, and available from NCIX, located in lovely BC! __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

11-17-2010, 08:09 AM	#6
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	The man raises a valid point. __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

11-17-2010, 09:53 PM	#8
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	The 900 was the big thing 2 years ago, when I got mine. I'd personally go for something 10xx or 12xx now. The 10/12 refers to the diagonal screen size, while the xx just indicates which model. They make too bloody many. Look for one with an Atom processor and Ion graphics, and see if you can get a copy of Windows 7 that isn't the starter; you can add that in after if you need to. I have family in Vancouver, but sadly, I live in Winterpeg. I'd love to move out West and get a job at UBC, though; that'd be rad. __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

11-17-2010, 05:35 AM	#5
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	Suitcase full of heroin. Same size, better result.

11-17-2010, 10:43 PM	#9
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	I have a smartphone, so a netbook seems stupid to me. If you're looking for battery life and portability, definitely keep your eyes on netbooks. Most are under 400 dollars, and many are ~200 (U.S. dollars, for what it's worth). Don't expect to do much beyond email, most Internet surfing, and "work", though. Generally speaking, from what you can see browsing ads and sites like Newegg or Amazon and manufacturers' own stores, Fifth has it right -- most laptops are more or less the same in this price range, the differences more stemming from who's backing it and how it looks. Moving up into more performance laptops nets you more variation in things like which i-core processor family is available, dedicated graphics card options, and screen resolutions. At around 600, though, you'll mostly be looking at Core 2 Duos or i3s with integrated Intel graphics and that 1366x768 res. These machines aren't "bad"; it's a matter of what it is to be used for vs. what another machine may do better. additional edit for below: I had taken that line out, as Win7 Starter is only on netbooks [to my knowledge] but where I had written that line gave the impression that it was on other laptops. In any case, yes, not a fan of 7 Starter at all. __________________ Find love. Last edited by synkr0nized; 11-17-2010 at 10:49 PM.