What should I look for in a laptop? - Page 2

SomeOldGuy · 12-16-2009, 07:40 PM

Doc, here's a review ( http://ryderduncan.com/rydertech/200...15-6-notebook/ ) on the HP one you linked to.

Even though a blog, the guy writes well and tbh gives a decent review, flaws and all.

The specs as listed are quite impressive given the price. Other than video, this one appears to have quite a nice assortment (including wireless N).
The only thing that you may discover is that you need a larger size backpack to carry it around (I had to do that with my last lappy), and the HP is not light (but it's not onerous either).

FWIW, I found a fantastic backpack at Sam's Club (has a nifty side opening for your lappy) and goes thru airline security by merely unzipping it without having to take out the laptop (it's the brand with a cross as a logo... don't remember the name... maybe "Swiss" or something).

Dr.Satan · 12-16-2009, 08:22 PM

cool SOG, thanks for that, helped a lot. I'll look around for that backpack too! I'm thinking, unless I find something else that I absolutely love...this will probably be what I get.

SomeOldGuy · 12-16-2009, 09:13 PM

Here is the backpack:

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=425354

Mooga · 12-17-2009, 04:52 AM

Looks good!
Two small things...
1) Intel Graphics are crap if you want to do any gaming on it. I would recomend a laptop with an ATI or Nvidia card.
2) It doesn't have gigabit Ethernet (not a big deal, but good for the future).

Also, a good thing to keep in mind: As a CS student you will likly have access to MSDNAA. This means that you will have access to Win7 Pro (which you WILL NEED eventually. Using Windows Home can be a real pain in the ass when you know exactly what you need to do.)

What college are you planing to go to?

Dr.Satan · 12-17-2009, 07:58 AM

well, I'm not super concerned about gaming...the closest I would get to that would be maybe hammer but prolly not even that. And what's special about the Ethernet? Like what would I need a gigabyte Ethernet for?

and cool on the MSDNAA, that shit looks sweet...but the school I'm starting at isn't on the list. Right now, I'm just gonna go with AIMS Community College, but after this term or the next...I'm planning on probably moving to somewhere where there is a better school that specializes in CS/CIS so I can get the full experience from what I pay for. Not sure what's the best place to go to yet...but leaning toward something in CA probably.

I also need to do some research on/in the field and figure out if it's going to be a better idea to go for the AAS - CIS degree and just get a shit load of certifications, or if I should do an AS with CIS as my emphasis and transfer to a 4yr. school.

Credge · 12-19-2009, 09:44 PM

I still think you're crazy for running thousands of programs at once.

Dr.Satan · 12-20-2009, 06:11 AM

lol I know I am...and it's probably more like 15 or so at once. Like currently I have going:

mIRC (Qnet: 14 channels/17 Query's and Gamesurge: 20 channels/14 Query's)
6 Steam windows
3 file explorers
Notepad++ (17 files open)
2 mozilla window (1 w/5 tabs the other with 2)
iTunes
my ftp client
SourceSDK
Hammer (3 maps loaded)
BitDefender
and tinyspell

and that's a pretty good day tbh...usually I have a lot more pm's but I've gone thru and deleted a few already since I got home. And a few more programs (like photoshopCS2 and VTFEdit). Also though, not all of those are active, but I do use them all regularly and very rarely close any of them (the ftp client and iTunes are probably the only 2 that ever would go down...and hammer and sdk if I remember b4 I leave). And I probably won't have all of that on my laptop...but you get my point. I'm very bad at closing stuff so it's just best if it can handle me being insane b/c I likely won't change much just b/c it's a laptop.

**squeek.** · 12-25-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Satan

lol I know I am...and it's probably more like 15 or so at once.

I'm very bad at closing stuff so it's just best if it can handle me being insane b/c I likely won't change much just b/c it's a laptop.

I'm the same way. Ever gotten to the point that you are forced to close some windows/programs because other programs stop functioning or can't create any more windows of their own?

Dr.Satan · 12-25-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeek.

I'm the same way. Ever gotten to the point that you are forced to close some windows/programs because other programs stop functioning or can't create any more windows of their own?

lmao, yep...way too many times. My girl gives me shit for it all the time.

Circuitous · 12-25-2009, 09:09 PM

If I have more than four windows open I start hyperventilating.

Credge · 12-30-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Circuitous

If I have more than four windows open I start hyperventilating.

I go in to a diabetic coma on 3.

stray kitten · 12-31-2009, 03:05 PM

You dudes would probably go into cardiac arrest with 4 virutal desktops all running multiple windows on a linux box.

Speaking of linux and laptops, if anyone is interested:

I have been using Ubuntu for Netbooks Remix and Moblin to see if I like em over XP. So far it's ben a fantastic experience and really changes some core aspects of how I use the netbook. Also because of the scaled down nature of the each distro, they can possibly breath some life into older laptops. Saving someone some cash.

12-16-2009, 07:40 PM	#21
SomeOldGuy older than dirt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Doc, here's a review ( http://ryderduncan.com/rydertech/200...15-6-notebook/ ) on the HP one you linked to. Even though a blog, the guy writes well and tbh gives a decent review, flaws and all. The specs as listed are quite impressive given the price. Other than video, this one appears to have quite a nice assortment (including wireless N). The only thing that you may discover is that you need a larger size backpack to carry it around (I had to do that with my last lappy), and the HP is not light (but it's not onerous either). FWIW, I found a fantastic backpack at Sam's Club (has a nifty side opening for your lappy) and goes thru airline security by merely unzipping it without having to take out the laptop (it's the brand with a cross as a logo... don't remember the name... maybe "Swiss" or something). Last edited by SomeOldGuy; 12-16-2009 at 07:44 PM.

12-16-2009, 08:22 PM	#22
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	cool SOG, thanks for that, helped a lot. I'll look around for that backpack too! I'm thinking, unless I find something else that I absolutely love...this will probably be what I get. __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

12-17-2009, 04:52 AM	#24
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Looks good! Two small things... 1) Intel Graphics are crap if you want to do any gaming on it. I would recomend a laptop with an ATI or Nvidia card. 2) It doesn't have gigabit Ethernet (not a big deal, but good for the future). Also, a good thing to keep in mind: As a CS student you will likly have access to MSDNAA. This means that you will have access to Win7 Pro (which you WILL NEED eventually. Using Windows Home can be a real pain in the ass when you know exactly what you need to do.) What college are you planing to go to? __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

12-17-2009, 07:58 AM	#25
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	well, I'm not super concerned about gaming...the closest I would get to that would be maybe hammer but prolly not even that. And what's special about the Ethernet? Like what would I need a gigabyte Ethernet for? and cool on the MSDNAA, that shit looks sweet...but the school I'm starting at isn't on the list. Right now, I'm just gonna go with AIMS Community College, but after this term or the next...I'm planning on probably moving to somewhere where there is a better school that specializes in CS/CIS so I can get the full experience from what I pay for. Not sure what's the best place to go to yet...but leaning toward something in CA probably. I also need to do some research on/in the field and figure out if it's going to be a better idea to go for the AAS - CIS degree and just get a shit load of certifications, or if I should do an AS with CIS as my emphasis and transfer to a 4yr. school. __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

12-19-2009, 09:44 PM	#26
Credge FF Loremaster Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 4 Times	I still think you're crazy for running thousands of programs at once. __________________ "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

12-16-2009, 09:13 PM	#23
SomeOldGuy older than dirt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Here is the backpack: http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=425354

12-20-2009, 06:11 AM	#27
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	lol I know I am...and it's probably more like 15 or so at once. Like currently I have going: mIRC (Qnet: 14 channels/17 Query's and Gamesurge: 20 channels/14 Query's) 6 Steam windows 3 file explorers Notepad++ (17 files open) 2 mozilla window (1 w/5 tabs the other with 2) iTunes my ftp client SourceSDK Hammer (3 maps loaded) BitDefender and tinyspell and that's a pretty good day tbh...usually I have a lot more pm's but I've gone thru and deleted a few already since I got home. And a few more programs (like photoshopCS2 and VTFEdit). Also though, not all of those are active, but I do use them all regularly and very rarely close any of them (the ftp client and iTunes are probably the only 2 that ever would go down...and hammer and sdk if I remember b4 I leave). And I probably won't have all of that on my laptop...but you get my point. I'm very bad at closing stuff so it's just best if it can handle me being insane b/c I likely won't change much just b/c it's a laptop. __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

12-25-2009, 09:09 PM	#30
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	If I have more than four windows open I start hyperventilating. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

12-31-2009, 03:05 PM	#32
stray kitten mjau D&A Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Class/Position: kittens are sneaky, spy Gametype: Capture the mouse Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	You dudes would probably go into cardiac arrest with 4 virutal desktops all running multiple windows on a linux box. Speaking of linux and laptops, if anyone is interested: I have been using Ubuntu for Netbooks Remix and Moblin to see if I like em over XP. So far it's ben a fantastic experience and really changes some core aspects of how I use the netbook. Also because of the scaled down nature of the each distro, they can possibly breath some life into older laptops. Saving someone some cash. __________________ 6 of the 10 richest counties in America now surround Washington D.C. Our "capitol" edged out Silicon Valley as the nation's richest metro area. Reality Distortion Field = 1. Stream the distractions: One percent, hoodies, and kony oh my.

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