New Laptop

[Autumn]

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home...s=ukdhs1&s=dhshttp://www.ebuyer.com/product/172314http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167375

I think it includes a free upgrade to Windows 7 but I would have to install it.

I also now see that it has a 17" screen.

The reason I would like a laptop is for the flexibility around the house and also to take to the club probably on tutorial nights, or if I am doing a slideshow (which is rare).

I don't plan to take it on holiday. The 17" is 0.55kg (19 oz?) heavier. So from the point of view of my requirements, I don't think it is an issue.

My question is how do these specifications compare?

I think the Acer Aspire 7735Z appears to be the best of the three, but would like your two pennyworth please.

They all include delivery and VAT.

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

Julia has a 17" Acer Aspire 9300 - it's nearly three years old, I think. I can't say I would recommend Acer, based on our experience with hers. The lid/screen hinge design is very poor - the friction of the hinge can't be adjusted and the plastics around the left hinge started to crack around 18 months into the life of the laptop and it has broken completely since. Google research reveals others who have had the same problem. I've had it apart and the quality of construction is not a patch on my HP laptop, nor two other HPs we also have. And we had terrible problems with some Acer bundled software, too, only just recently fixed by doing a clean install with Windows 7.

Maybe the latest Acers are better, but I can't be sure.

When it comes to 17" laptops and portability, the main problem isn't really weight, but bulk.

Ian

PS The keyboard on Julia's Acer isn't that great either - a couple of keys are loose and, again compared to HP, it doesn't have the best of 'feel'.
My brother in law uses Dell laptops, and I can vouch for them - very solidy designs.

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home...s=ukdhs1&s=dhshttp://www.ebuyer.com/product/172314

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167375

I think it includes a free upgrade to Windows 7 but I would have to install it.

I also now see that it has a 17" screen.

The reason I would like a laptop is for the flexibility around the house and also to take to the club probably on tutorial nights, or if I am doing a slideshow (which is rare).

I don't plan to take it on holiday. The 17" is 0.55kg (19 oz?) heavier. So from the point of view of my requirements, I don't think it is an issue.

My question is how do these specifications compare?

I think the Acer Aspire 7735Z appears to be the best of the three, but would like your two pennyworth please.

They all include delivery and VAT.

[Autumn]

Re: New Laptop

Thanks Ian. I was waiting for Aldi to get their Medion ones in, but I think it may have already happened.

I will look at the Sainsbury site. Both our computers are Medion and I am pleased with them.

Audrey

[Patrick]

Re: New Laptop

Thanks Ian. I was waiting for Aldi to get their Medion ones in, but I think it may have already happened.

I will look at the Sainsbury site. Both our computers are Medion and I am pleased with them.

Audrey

[Gez]

[Stephen]

Re: New Laptop

Thanks Ian. I was waiting for Aldi to get their Medion ones in, but I think it may have already happened.

I will look at the Sainsbury site. Both our computers are Medion and I am pleased with them.

Audrey

[Autumn]

Re: New Laptop

Thanks Stephen. Yes my Medion had to go back twice I think. The first time I think it was a faulty hard drive and last time I messed it up somehow by downloading something.

Of course with the 3 year warranty it helps and also the fact that I can ring Medion free and talk to a person in the UK who will talk you through issues.

I hear what you say about weight and size and will no doubt go that way. Tomorrow I will read through some more reviews and have a look at PC World.

Thanks everyone. I'll let you know what I finally decide.

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

I used to subscribe to Which? but after reading some of their reviews on products that I know extremely well (cameras, for example!) my confidence in their expertise completely evaporated.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

I'd bet on the Dell having sound - it has a web cam, which is pretty much useless without sound. I haven't seen a laptop without sound - er, since the early 1990s!

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: New Laptop

If you plan to enjoy 3D games which requires fast and efficient processing of huge graphic data, then it would be better to choose a laptop which has a separate graphic processing unit (GPU).
The shared graphic means that the computer has no GPU (such as NVIDIA, RADEON) so all the graphic processing is done by CPU which is on the mother board. This is a big burden for CPU therefore the speed of all the processing (of both graphic and non-graphic) is slower than those with separate GPU.
When a computer has an exclusive and separate GPU, then CPU can be freed from the additional burden which comes from the graphic data processing.

The GPU is also called video card, so having separate video card must help also viewing Blu-Ray Disk (BD) smoothly. I have no BD, so I do not know exactly.
yoshi

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

If you plan to enjoy 3D games which requires fast and efficient processing of huge graphic data, then it would be better to choose a laptop which has a separate graphic processing unit (GPU).
The shared graphic means that the computer has no GPU (such as NVIDIA, RADEON) so all the graphic processing is done by CPU which is on the mother board. This is a big burden for CPU therefore the speed of all the processing (of both graphic and non-graphic) is slower than those with separate GPU.
When a computer has an exclusive and separate GPU, then CPU can be freed from the additional burden which comes from the graphic data processing.

The GPU is also called video card, so having separate video card must help also viewing Blu-Ray Disk (BD) smoothly. I have no BD, so I do not know exactly.
yoshi

If I may, I will expand on what you have said, Yoshi

Practically all laptops now incorporate some form of dedicated graphics processor (GPU) alongside the CPU. It's the implementation and the power of the graphics processor model that matters most.

The cheapest laptops have a graphics processor that only accelerates 2D drawing functions, and they will share the standard memory of the computer with the CPU. A lot of laptops that only mention Intel integrated graphics are like this.

A bit better, is the same arrangement as above, but there will be some 3D acceleration support. The key brands to check for the GPU are ATI and nVidia. If these are mentioned, then you're likely to have reasonable graphics support.

Much better is a graphics processor that has its own dedicated memory. This is more efficient and enables much higher levels of 3D graphics acceleration.

My 18 month old laptop has an nVidia GeForce Go 6150 GPU, but it's classified as 'integrated' as it shares system memory with the CPU. But it's actually not bad at playing 3D games from a few years back, and I have successfully enabled GPU support in Photoshop CS4.

The latest version of my laptop still has an integrated GPU (sharing system memory with the CPU), but this time from ATI (HD3200) and this is significantly better at running more recent graphics intensive games at acceptable 3D graphics speed.

It's quite unusual to see GPUs with dedicated memory in laptops, but I believe there are some, though much more expensive.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: New Laptop

I've decided to withdraw my recommendation of the Sainsburys Medion laptop deal. It has Intel's integrated X3100 graphics, which isn't particularly impressive, and is only supplied with a basic version of Windows Vista. It does have n-standard wifi, but no bluetooth. You're paying for what you get.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: New Laptop

Thanks Ian, for the accurate explanation. It also helped me. I'm actually going to modify (a big change) one of my desktops next week and need more accurate knowledge such as your post. The one I still need to buy is the GPU. I always prefer nVIDIA. Less time for going out for taking pictures but more time at home for computers.
yoshi

[Autumn]

Re: New Laptop

THE DEED IS DONE


This is the colour of my new Dell Laptop Studio 15.

Here is the link - it is in the first column and I had the basic spec. It has a separate graphics card Ian.

The full spec details are available, if you are interested, if you click on "Tech Details" on the grey tab at the top.

I have ordered Spring Green with a Spring Green Mouse.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/Laptops/laptop-studio-1555/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-1555&cs=ukdhs1&s=dhs

Thanks to all of you for your help. It has been great and I expect you are right that I didn't need a 17" screen.

I shall have to ask Father Christmas for a carrying bag now. (In Spring Green of course!)

PS: You can see the colour if you click on the green laptop pic. It looks very shiny. I am also very excited.