Computer gurus unite!

[Mom]

Hi guys

I would have to be the furtherest thing from a computer guru that exists and I need some help.

I want to buy a laptop. What I want it for is to have internet access to view my bebo/facebook profile and talk shit on there. I want to be able to download music via I-tunes, and maybe send the odd email. My step Mom reckons having some word processing ability would be a bonus, what do I need?

I dont have a lot of money to throw around, and I dont want to buy a heap of technology I wont use and dont need, all I want is something that will do the above, and not cost me the earth. What should I ask for?

Thanks...

[Boob Johnson]

You need a Benny basic LT Mom, nothing fancy just so long as it has at least 1GB of RAM (if it has Vista on it) & Wifi. Question is are you expecting brand new or 2nd hand?

[Trudes]

One word...... iPhone.

[Leyton]

What should I ask for?

Decent warrenty, new or 2nd hand. Cover yourself for as long as you want to keep the laptop, Usally 3 years does it.

Buying 2nd hand is not a good idea, as batterys are usally well dead by year 3. Or atleast completely pack it in at 3 years and 1 week. Also laptop hardware repairs can be expensive if you need a new screen for example.. if you have a broken mainboard.. I would not even go their to replace the mainboard.. or even the screen really.

I would buy a cheap new laptop with a decent warrenty. If you are not a gamer, you do not need a high end laptop for Facebook, I-Tunes and basic internet dutys.

Your looking at spending no less then $1500 and no more than $2000 in todays market.

[Blackshear]

Some single core beast 2nd hand.

Short of that, maybe an EEE thing?

[Mom]

Buying 2nd hand is not a good idea, as batterys are usally well dead by year 3. I would buy a cheap new laptop with a decent warrenty. If you are not a gamer, you do not need a high end laptop for Facebook, I-Tunes and basic internet dutys.

Your looking at spending no less then $1500 and no more than $2000 in todays market.

Thanks, proably not important that the battery is not good, this will more than likely be plugged in most of the time. Being mobile is not what a lap top is all about in this case. What is not high end? What are the specs, I dont want to be sucked in to buying something speced way over my needs.

Some single core beast 2nd hand.

Short of that, maybe an EEE thing?

An EEE thing? Please speak english.

[Mom]

You need a Benny basic LT Mom, nothing fancy just so long as it has at least 1GB of RAM (if it has Vista on it) & Wifi. Question is are you expecting brand new or 2nd hand?

Dont care, good value, something that will not crap out 10 mins after I get it home.

[vindy500]

if buying new, go to shop, look at laptops. they will all do the job fine

[Boob Johnson]

Dont care, good value, something that will not crap out 10 mins after I get it home.

here's an easier question, what's ya budget?

[Cajun]

Well mom, first thing i would ask, is how much you want to spend
under $1000?
$1000?
$1500?
$2000?
-----

Since you can get good laptops in all these budgets, like anything cheaper you get the short time it will last before needing an upgrade.

At a minum buying a new laptop

You should be wanting
100GB+ Hard Drive
2Gb Ram
Screen = personal prefernce, 17"+ good for movies and like, but ad extra weight. compared to 14-15" screens.
Stay away from anything that says cerelon as a processor.

The other thing, is are you wanting a laptop cause you want to take it away with you? Or more just be able to use it in lounge surfing net (wifi connection)

next question is plan to take it away on bike etc etc.



Something out of left field is you could get one of those micro laptops, ones with 10" screens etc, they are good for basic web surfing, and like. They are small, light, not super face/powerful, but good for basic use, and net surfing suit your needs. and can be carryed very easy on a laptop, and with a telecom/vodafone datacard, you can use that and laptop to surf net from anywhere that has a cellphone recpeition

[Leyton]

I will paste you a link of a couple around the ballpark..

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a8513...ct/View/XC4359 <-- That one is acually fairly grunty

If you see Pentium Dual Core it generaly means grunter, but this machine is far from high end

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a8513...ct/View/XC4362 <-- This is a Aspire One E-Pc. Or Netbook as they call them.

This model is acually supprisingly grunty. This unit comes out on Windows XP, they are super light, easy to just throw in a bag and go. They are the best out of the E-PC Series imo due to the screen, It is a small screen, but they are crystal clear and are quite usable.

The only thing I do not like about the Aspire One is the touch pad, it is small and a pain to use, So get a mouse with it. This unit will give you 3 hours of battery life. And you may be able to.. and I am not sure if you can do it through retail stores is upgrade to a 7 hour battery if you so desire.... . I have a few schools where these machines are used by students, thrashed day in and day out and survive and do well!

Hope your getting a better picture.

Just get a long warrenty!!

[Leyton]

Something out of left field is you could get one of those micro laptops, ones with 10" screens etc, they are good for basic web surfing, and like. They are small, light, not super face/powerful, but good for basic use, and net surfing suit your needs. and can be carryed very easy on a laptop, and with a telecom/vodafone datacard, you can use that and laptop to surf net from anywhere that has a cellphone recpeition

Also known as an E-Pc or Netbook And as Cajun describes them very well

[James Deuce]

As Cajun says a Netbook would be a good option. Combine it with Google Apps and all your Word Processing and Spreadsheet requirements are sorted, however you will need to have Internet access to do Word Processing or any other sort of work requiring a specific application.

Google Apps are free by the way.

You can hook some Netbooks up to a screen for when you are using it at home so you won't need to squint or use the reading glasses.

Something like this (but not necessarily exactly like it)

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/pro...ource=2degrees

[Warr]

If you do decide to go new ... which is a good plan ...
It could equally be a good idea to hold off for a couple of months ?? and wait for something with Windows7 on it.
Have been using it on my HP Laptop for couple of weeks and very cool and not quite the same slug as Vista. So gets my tick

[Slicksta]

Well mom, first thing i would ask, is how much you want to spend
under $1000?
$1000?
$1500?
$2000?
-----

Since you can get good laptops in all these budgets, like anything cheaper you get the short time it will last before needing an upgrade.

At a minum buying a new laptop

You should be wanting
100GB+ Hard Drive
2Gb Ram
Screen = personal prefernce, 17"+ good for movies and like, but ad extra weight. compared to 14-15" screens.
Stay away from anything that says cerelon as a processor.

The other thing, is are you wanting a laptop cause you want to take it away with you? Or more just be able to use it in lounge surfing net (wifi connection)

next question is plan to take it away on bike etc etc.



Something out of left field is you could get one of those micro laptops, ones with 10" screens etc, they are good for basic web surfing, and like. They are small, light, not super face/powerful, but good for basic use, and net surfing suit your needs. and can be carryed very easy on a laptop, and with a telecom/vodafone datacard, you can use that and laptop to surf net from anywhere that has a cellphone recpeition

1+ 10 char