Laptop recommendation

**scracha** · 4th February 2010, 10:54

Funny, I always get a better response here than Geekzone.

After a laptop between 14" and 16".
Must have eSATA
Must have HDMI
Would like serial port (remember them) but not essential
Must not be Acer
Would like it to be under 2K.

Best recommendation gets two beer tokens

**mashman** · 4th February 2010, 11:00

Originally Posted by scracha

Funny, I always get a better response here than Geekzone.

After a laptop between 14" and 16".
Must have eSATA
Must have HDMI
Would like serial port (remember them) but not essential
Must not be Acer
Would like it to be under 2K.

Best recommendation gets two beer tokens

wotcha gonna be using it for? Graphics, development, word processor, games, internet dating etc...

**scracha** · 4th February 2010, 11:22

Bit of CAD. Mostly general purpose stuff, nothing too taxing. Serial would be nice as hooking it up to PLC's but current USB->Serial interface dongley thingie works OK. Not sure if it'll work on 64 bit or Win 7 so plannning on using booting XP from external drive....thus the eSATA requirement. Oh, and watching filthy bike video's so the HDMI is needed. Must be Win 7 Pro with downgrade to XP Pro or Vice Versa

**mashman** · 4th February 2010, 11:40

I've been a Toshiba convert for many years now. This isn't exactly top of the line, so you'll likely be able to get it cheaper somewhere else... but this should do the trick

http://www.mytoshiba.co.nz/products/...ations#details

**bane** · 4th February 2010, 12:05

Originally Posted by mashman

...but this should do the trick

http://www.mytoshiba.co.nz/products/...ations#details

yep, but the problem is the requirement for W7 Pro. There are a number of Toshiba/HP laptops that would fit the bill if W7HP was okay (std "home user entertainment" laptops). If you're stuck on W7 Pro, you'll need to track down a business laptop.

btw, isnt this selling freezers to eskimos? dont you fix and sell computers for a living?

Do you have a Tech Pacific a/c (Ingram Micro)?

if yes, something like this might do the trick

HEWLETT-PACKARD: HP ProBook 4510s Core 2 Duo T6570 2GB W7 +Bag+Mse (HNB4512B)
PROCESSOR : Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6570
2.10 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB
MEMORY : 2048MB (1 x 2048MB) DDR3 1333MHz DIMM
MEM SLOTS : 2 slots supporting dual channel memory
STORAGE : 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard disk
OPTICAL DRIVE : DVDRW Super Multi Double Layer with LightScribe
DISPLAY : 15.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD6
RESOLUTION : 1366 x 768
CAMERA : 2 MP webcam
COMM : Marvell Ethernet (10/100/1000 NIC), Intel 802.11 b/g/n,
Bluetooth 2.0
GRAPHICS : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics with 512 MB dedicated
video memory
AUDIO : High Definition Audio, stereo speakers, stereo headphone/
line out, stereo microphone in, integrated microphone
PORTS : 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI, 1 x stereo microphone in,
stereo headphone/line out, 1 x RJ-45, power connector
SLOTS : 1 x ExpressCard/34 slot, Media Card Reader
OS : Windows 7 Professional
DIMENSION : 31.5 x 371.8 x 249.6 mm
WEIGHT : Starting at 2.59 kg
Battery : 8 Cell to support discrete graphics
+++ BUNDLED WITH HP ELEMENTARY CASE PLUS HP BLUETOOTH MOUSE +++
(~$1200 +GST) - but looks like lacks esata...

OR:
HEWLETT-PACKARD: HP ProBook 4710s Core 2 Duo P8700 4GB 17.3+Mouse (HNB4711B)
PROCESSOR : Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor
2.53 GHz, 3MB Cache, 1066 MHz FSB
MEMORY : 4096MB (2 x 2048MB) DDR3 1333MHz DIMM memory
MEM SLOTS : 2 slots
CHIPSET : Mobile Intel PM45 Express Chipset
STORAGE : 320GB 7200rpm hard disk drive
OPTICAL DRIVE : DVDRW Super Multi Double Layer with LightScribe
DISPLAY : 17.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD+
RESOLUTION : 1600 x 900
CAMERA : 2 MP webcam
OS : XPPro Installed with Windows 7 Pro Lic Both Media in box
COMM : Marvell Ethernet (10/100/1000 NIC),
Intel 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
GRAPHICS : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330, with 512MB dedicated video mem
AUDIO : High Definition Audio, stereo speakers, stereo headphone/
line out, stereo microphone in, integrated microphone
PORTS : 4 x USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI, stereo microphone in, stereo
headphone/line out, power connector, RJ-45/ethernet
SLOTS : 1 ExpressCard/34 slot, Media Card Reader
DIMENSION : 32 x 410.6 x 270 mm
WEIGHT : starting 3.08 kg
(~$1500 +GST) - but again looks like lacks esata...

**PuppetMaster** · 4th February 2010, 12:13

IPAD...........
The first one Bane posted above looks nice, cept I'd double the RAM.

**mashman** · 4th February 2010, 12:42

Originally Posted by bane

yep, but the problem is the requirement for W7 Pro. There are a number of Toshiba/HP laptops that would fit the bill if W7HP was okay (std "home user entertainment" laptops). If you're stuck on W7 Pro, you'll need to track down a business laptop.

Any reason why? Just for my own knowledge.

I've had a few HP's that have been a PITA over the years (once worked for them), drivers always seemed flakey and 64-bit support always seemed to be lagging for their hardware. Just my experience though...

**SPman** · 4th February 2010, 14:44

Just got a Dell Studio 15 - it's got similar specs to the HP 4710 above, but it's got an eSATA port & 500GB HD - but only 2 USB ports!!!
Last laptop fell victim to the dreaded Nvidia GS8400 meltdown, so now whilst it runs, you can't see squat, and I don't want to pay $450 for a new MB (the GPU is soldered to the MB), although I beleive if you bake the MB at 375F for 8 mins, it can cure the problem.......

**golfmade** · 4th February 2010, 14:59

Don't know about prices down there but I've not had too much trouble with HP/Compaq laptops in the past. Wife just got a monster of an HP laptop with Win7 and it works great. I don't like Acer as well but Asus has good parts, most of my desktop computer is Asus parts. I know they've mostly been making a bazillion different variations of the EEE pc but should have 14-16" laptops with the specs you need.

**scracha** · 4th February 2010, 17:04

Originally Posted by mashman

http://www.mytoshiba.co.nz/products/...ations#details

Would be great if any of the distri's actually stocked it.

Originally Posted by bane

btw, isnt this selling freezers to eskimos? dont you fix and sell computers for a living?

Kindov mate, but I'm more into fixing them and IT "consulting" rather than flogging them (that's where the money is). Have you ever actually tried ringing HP/Toshy/Asus or went to their website or dealt with distris (I won't name names but one starting with 'I' for example) etc to try and find a laptop based on actual features? They've all got pretty "flash" websites that deliver nothing when you try and do a proper search. HP have NEVER EVER called me back as promised.

Sold a few pro-books but hate the keyboard to be honest. MUST have eSATA. You'd think it were rocket science.

I'm a toshy junkie myself but Synnex came to the party, actually seemed to have some product knowledge and I've ended up going above budget and getting:.....

Asus N61JQ i7-720QM
http://www.asus.co.nz/product.aspx?P...pnPRZ5UxVOtrHJ

Mashman had the best suggestion though. Beer token address please?

Scary how cheap you can buy them off the shelf in Aus though. Were I not in a rush there'd be one heading across the ditch as we speak*.

Next question :-
Microsoft Dynamix GP or Sage PFW .... BWHWHAHAHAHAHA

* Which is kinda ironic as my customer is an Aussie who's heading back across the ditch at the end of next week

**3umph** · 4th February 2010, 17:44

Why a laptop? unless your going to move it heaps id go for a desktop and you get more bang for your bucks..

win7 professional have an xp mode

**Scouse** · 4th February 2010, 18:41

Originally Posted by scracha

Funny, I always get a better response here than Geekzone.

After a laptop between 14" and 16".
Must have eSATA
Must have HDMI
Would like serial port (remember them) but not essential
Must not be Acer
Would like it to be under 2K.

Best recommendation gets two beer tokens

Asus M60J comes with win7 pro

**k14** · 4th February 2010, 19:05

FYI I have used a USB > Serial adaptor in windows 7 for quite a while with no issues at all so far. I think you'd be lucky to find a laptop with a serial port these days but they may be out there.