Whirlpool

Hello everybody... i came to the idea that christmas is allmost around the corner only 4 months away for dec.
I dont no much about LAPTOPS.. but more on homebase computers..
what im after is how much or brands and info of the best laptop in the market that would at least help me install large video files from my camcorder video.. with usb ports and cd rom dvd rom and such and that it has to have internet aswell... for a sample puting softwares like win xp pro/photoshop c2/msn/so on like add video files into the laptop that are abit over 1 GIG but later i can save it on a dvd blank cd... if only laptops aloud me to do that. and allso probly playing pc games such as the SIMS 2.

know i wont buy a laptop for something that wont do much but mainly i would atempt to use it to edit video files and internet search just like what im doing with this computer as we speak even fast internet or fast laptop.. know we all say we want something that would be very good and fast and no problems...
i know laptops are pretty expensive 5 years ago but know they seem to be around the low 1,000.00 mark price.. not bad i think but are these good enugh computers to buy?

such as harvey norman store they have different ranges.. once are black model laptops and some seem they are shine gray model laptops.. dont no the differens but a shine gray one looks more modern then the black once ?

my budget has to be no higher then 1,100.00 australian dollars know this dosnt mean im going to buy one next week... im willing to buy at the start of dec you know christmas shopping (hopeing that laptops will reduce to a much low price to aprox 800.00ish for a very good laptop..) but someone can correct me on this..

Sorry for this long msg subject but i really like answer with links and pics of what it looks.

Before buying a laptop for the frst time... what is the first thing to look for?

Does laptop brands makes any different then ather brands?

does a cheap laptop for 1,000.00 mark price any good for what i need for?

Is laptops good for quality pc games or mainly internet work?

buying a laptop for aprox that amount of prize depends how large the screen is? for a sample my monitor is 17" and thats pretty large so i like that but not like a 15

Will the laptop have internet cables and usb and so on to connect the itnernet?

If i was in the car and had the laptop with me... but want to use the itnernet... does the laptop contains some sort of wireless internet satelite without the need of going back in to plug the cables?

is it worth buying a laptop for my needs and whats the good thing about it?

when buying a laptop for that mount of price for 1,000.00 but not higher.. what els do i must buy to use the internet ? (unless it comes everything includeing carrying case protection and battery charger)

If anything els i havnt added such as things for me to now about before buying a laptop please include that just so that when i buy one i wont stuff up my cost and hain a useless laptop if i miss anything els.
Just hope that at the start of DEC 2005 the laptops will reduce low price but not higher then 1,100.00 but thats just my rough budget... i dont atempt to spent over 1,200.00 because its just abit too much for my price mark.

Thanks people and apologies for the long msg. i would eally preciate your heaps of help that i want.

regards
malixv

malixv writes...
and allso probly playing pc games such as the SIMS 2

does a cheap laptop for 1,000.00 mark price any good for what i need for?.

No.

There are not many laptops at the ~$1000 price range. In fact there are probably only half a dozen. And they are all pretty much pieces of junk. You mention styling - for $1k they definitely do not have nice styling. Hardware at $1k is also very light - it'll have poor battery life, poor speed, ram and other things like USB ports.

A $1k machine is fine if you want a convenient solution to browsing the internet around your home. It will never play any (decent) games. It will never be the most stylish item around, and it will never be a lightweight power conservative travelling machine.

A decent laptop that will play a few games (maybe just get sims2 going) will cost you ~$1500. At $1.5k, you are entering a wider range of possibilities. $2k and upwards is where you have a chance at playing the majority of games and having a pretty decent laptop. To play the most recent games & have top gear - you are looking at $3k upwards.

BTW, i don't mean to offend as english is probably not your first language (if so, you are doing well anyway), but 'know' and 'now':
Know: "I know a lot about computers".
Now" "Right now i'm sitting typing on whirlpool".

I dont think that $1100 is going to buy you a machine that has all the capabilities that you require , but most of the late models come with a DVD burner ( which can handle CD format as well).

You wiil require Firewire to transfer your videos from your camera to the computer.

The colour of the computer has nothing to do with its performance ( if that was the case , all the overclockers would have red ones ) . Buy on the basis of whats inside the case , not its colour.

Most laptops will have internet connectivity of some description.

FM

guys and girls thanks for your msges here... so what if only i want a cheap but stylish like these gray shine once that can be use to do internet work... msn aswell hmm win xp if that works on a laptop.. and add editing software for a sample add video viles prob as far as 1GIG kept on laptop but later i can save that files into a cd if the laptop copies it into a dvd rom..

prob i gues laptop for computer games such as the sims 2 wont be any good but as you said the 1,500.00 can be the start,.. but is this mean at that a 1,500.00 price laptop now be cheaper at the start of dec2005? so this mean reduce extremly low?

For your budget ($1100) a laptop/notebook isn't an option IMHO.

I do a bit of DV (Digital Video) editing, and this is very hard disk / processor / memory intensive.

While many laptops now come with an connection to hook up to digital video cameras known as either : 1394, iLink, Firewire to capture video well on a Windows system you need 2 Hard Disk Drives, which is very unusual for a laptop......

Reason is to capture the video stream, you need a dedicated drive, because the drive Windows XP is installed on gets system instructions to do things, this interruption usually means dropped frames in the video.

Many laptops have a built in 56K modem for dial-up access..... but if you are in the car, you cannot connect unless you buy a mobile data access kit from the likes of Telstra of Hutchison 3G..... usually a couple of hundred $ + a fairly high access fee.

A laptop will come with a battery charger, but cases are usually extra. Most cheap laptops also have a screen that is about 14" LCD with quite a low resolution.

In contrast, I am looking for a laptop right now, but the $3500 Toshiba I am looking at will do most things well, yet I expect it will not do DV edit, for that I will use my home PC in tower case with 1 gig RAM, 2 HDD's etc......

Maybe I'm a technology snob, but gear that cheap is old technology & usually throw away, if it breaks turf it & buy a new one.....

Especially laptops as a lot of the componentry is very expensive to replace.....

malixv writes...
1,500.00 price laptop now be cheaper at the start of dec2005? so this mean reduce extremly low?

They won't drop that much in the next couple of months. Prices have been pretty static for a while now - no reason they'll drop ~30% in the very near future.

so what if only i want a cheap but stylish like these gray shine once that can be use to do internet work... msn aswell hmm win xp if that works on a laptop.. and add editing software for a sample add video viles prob as far as 1GIG kept on laptop but later i can save that files into a cd if the laptop copies it into a dvd rom..

A ~$1000 machine will be fine for web browsing, common office apps & some video/photo editing. However it'll be a bit slow on vid/photo work because it will have a slow-ish processor & very very low memory (almost certainly only a very weak 256mb). But it will definitely get by.

As for styling... For the most part the cheaper machine look just that - cheap. They usually are plain looking etc & pretty uninteresting. But really you'll just have to get out there and have a look around. Take a look around at Dell & computer stores. Maybe see if you can find a $1k Asus model. Asus & Dell will have a bit more bang for your buck than something picked up from harvey normans (generally a pretty big rip off for computer gear).

thanks guys all of use msg does help me but it allso does make me think laptops are useless by the sound of it.... i just got 3 weeks ago a cataloge from retravision store and shows laptops.. one is 1,299.00 its a COMPAG presario notebook Intel celeron-m 250 256ram memory 40gb hard disk 15 sizes screen dvd/cd/rw combo drive 6-in-1 card reader wireless neworking... win xp home

okies most of that i dont get it speicaly the 6 in 1... so aniways that model looks dark gray but not sure if its good for editing videos and save them on computer for a week unless a laptop comes with higher GB drive... like with my computer home base ive added more harddrive and only cost me as little as 120.00 and i added 200GB but i wonder for a laptop like that...

so for that price i wonder how much it will be like in dec2005 because as we all know when christmas season is just around the corner they addvertice discounts on alptops as u sen on tv these harvey norman stores and retravision and such... maybe not know but once christmas comes u know the discounts but dont no if its worth it... i just dont want to spent a laptop that cost me higher 1,500.00 i dont have that sort of money but i gues somehwere below that is good if only does what i need to do rather then slow laptops that are useless

the next one is 1,499.00 hewlett packard notebook... then 1,699.00 for a acer aspire notebook... these 2 looks stylish slim and shien gray but the frst price i said is very good but prob not enugh to do my job... this dosnt mean im going to install 200hours of video file into a laptop but prob quality video files such as 500ish MB sizes files but later i can save that on a blank dvd.

allso by useing the internet with a laptop and lets say i want to download a large video file that is aprox 195MB sizes... will it take forever to get it?

because right know im on a hoembase computer im on a 10,000megabytes unlimited with bigpond cable... now because i past over 10 this month im on at aprox 64k slow internet.. but dosnt make any differents.. i still download l;arge video files from sites and it coems pretty normal for a 36minutes video file it only takes aprox 36minutes to get it even if im on cable or dialup. so i wonder IF* laptop is the same regardless to the brand and figtured..

But in most cases... computer games isnt the frst thing in my mind on a laptop but much more editing and downloading stuff and broawing the itnernet and abble to get msn messanger/yahoo and not some laptop that says u cant get that its not supportive.

thanks

EDIT: i just had to include something els in here.

malixv writes...
allso by useing the internet with a laptop and lets say i want to download a large video file that is aprox 195MB sizes... will it take forever to get it?

*Any* laptop is capable of downloading as fast as any internet connection home users can get their hands on. Internet usage will be just the same as a normal home machine.

is DELL expensive brand or ather brands i cant recall know from my head.

ops press wrong button sorry....

Well, if you had $1198 (+ $99 delivery) you could get a TPG notebook. Athlon 64 and all. Definitely get your bang for your buck.

www.tpg.com.au/online

oh no no i wont dare to buy such a thing like that online.. maybe but no... i rather look touch and see before i buy the next day morning...

any ather comments and helpfull tips from use all please do so

regards.

Hi Malixv, what you have listed as the things you want a laptop to do, is not really within the real capabilities of a laptop. Video editing requires a fast processor. These are only found in the more expensive laptops. It also requires as much hard disk space as possible (and more still), this is another limitation of a laptop. Also it helps to have a true representation of the image. This is where CRT monitors still excel.

Laptops have never been considered good for gaming. A desktop with a CRT will almost always be better.

Six months ago I bought one of the cheap Compaq laptops from Retravision (model M2000). I am very happy with it for what I want to do. It's great for surfing the web in the early hours of the morning when I would rather stay in bed (I have a wireless network). I also use it for work, it is much more reliable than the aging unit my employer supplies. However I had one job where the instructions asked me to telnet into a router using a console cable. It was then I discovered that there was no serial port. A $50 investment corrected that (USB to Serial adaptor (that works with a Cisco router)).

I still have my desktop to do everything that I can't do on a laptop, and I have a laptop to do everything I can't do on my desktop. Such as watching DVDs in bed or surfing the internet at the BBQ.

Don't look for a laptop to replace your desktop, look for it to augment it! I'm using my desktop right now.

hmm thanks rimfire thats interesting consept there... yeah by listerning to all of use all saying that a laptop is somehow poor to try such a thing... i thought laptops where the high standerds in technology.. aniways it does put me to the idea that i dont want a laptop for myself in dec christmas season but.. what* if... only if a laptop that cost for a sample 1,499.00 from harvey norman or retravision stores and that Bang DEC is allready here the christmas season month massive discounted time... how much would you think a laptop at that price may reduce low for christmas?

I gues as i said i would like the idea of editing such as okies.. i have a digital camdorder... i film the views and friends and such.... to abble to edit and add titles and such the video files has to go into the computer or laptop so that once its there i can cut and edit and such... prob something like 1 gig is heavy alot of vido file or prob 850mb of video install on a laptop... ive had a look at retravision website just gives me samples of prices and what they look like... know i allso need internet and as fast and relible a laptop can be... okies take the pc games off the talks i might not want games install on a laptop.. would be too much but still if a price at 1,499.00AU is any good for a start then let me know but surely that price will come down in dec when the christmas dicount year starts then thats when you buy a laptop .... not know but in 4 months time if you want to wait for the discounts..

i just say that 1,499.00 is abit too much... my budget was aprox 1,000 to 1,300.00ish but no higher but not sure.. i wouldnt wanna dare to go higher then 1,500.00 if i new that a price like that is very good laptop.

hmm ive check the site as is aid retravition i geus because it shows images in details.. some site are hopeless aniways aslong as it has dvd/cd and such... usb connecters and so on... baterie i hope that comes too unless thats buying seperate..

If you know any website shop names in australia mainly more for brisbane such as harvey norman... and athers that are well known to the people and addverticers on tv please link that here because i really like to see whats available on laptops for* just for know and see the comparesin price in 4months time from know.

Allso i see that even a 1,500.00 price mark laptop still has 40Gb? thats so small... veyr small. i think. what if i add more gb... i wonder how much that cost if it works on laptops or how easy it is.. i mean i know how to place a new 200gb on my pc computer... but laltops are slim designs and just u know abit complicated.. but You tell me people whats best... reasons as i said is for internet search,.,.. forums chat msn yahoomessanger and such just like normal internet and aswell to edit video files.. and when going on travel hotels and car and such on mobile outings... or when in bed :) just like how u said... pretty much thats about it really.

sorry for the long msg here again.
pls reply everyone and i preciate your help and comments .. this will give me a better and clear understanding about new laptops out there in the markets and what to look out for before buying something before hand* for christmans season month

regards
malixv

p.s harveynorman currently has:

$1,582.00
Compaq Presario V2340AP Notebook Bundle.
Intel® Celeron® M processor (360) 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD Combo, 6-in-1 card reader, 14" Bright wide screen, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home. Includes bag, antivirus, 256MB USB drive and 24/7 phone support. EE502PA

but i wonder how much that would cost in dec... and i wonder how good and relible can be... im not so worried if its a wide screen or a normal standed screen just aslong its not going to be small like 14

malixv writes...
Allso i see that even a 1,500.00 price mark laptop still has 40Gb? thats so small... veyr small. i think. what if i add more gb

You can't.

Afaik, laptop harddrives are only 60gb maximum.
They are limited by size and power requirements.

hi the fat... u think 40gb is enugh for 1 gig of vid file download from the net ? from a laptop? ( 2hours video clip thats like 1 gig i believe... and u download that off the internet website.)

Let me condense what everyone else has said :

1) If you want to do video work , DO NOT GET A LAPTOP.

2) The prices will probably not fall all that much for Christmas , not by more than 20 or 30 dollars .

3) For basic internet work , browsing , email etc , a cheap laptop will do these things.

4) You only get what you pay for , an $1100 laptop will be just that , an $1100 laptop. If you want fast and big , then you will pay a lot more for it .

5) Putting a bigger HDD into a laptop is not a job for those not experienced in doing so , they are a lot more complicated to work on than a desktop unit .

6) If you want internet connection in your car , you will pay a lot of money for it . Why do you need internet connectivity in your car ?

7) Most laptops will have all the necessary hardware to connect you to the internet. You will of course have to have a modem , if you are on ADSL or Cable. If you have dial-up , some come with an internal modem.

Hope this clears this up for you .

FM

malixv writes...
hi the fat... u think 40gb is enugh for 1 gig of vid file download from the net ? from a laptop? ( 2hours video clip thats like 1 gig i believe... and u download that off the internet website.)

Well no, 40 gig really isn't much. Certainly not enough to store a collection of videos on.

But: Do you have a desktop machine - a normal home machine?

My laptop is 60 gig - so really not a lot. But my home machine is ~300gig. I store everything on there - and temporarily upload ~10 movies at a time to my laptop.

Movies (as in dvd's) are typically ~700mb or 2x 700mb.

You need to recognise laptops (unless you are paying through the nose) should be considered a bit of a stop-gap measure. Something to get by with when you aren't at home on your desktop machine. Thats how i use mine.

i suppose yes i have a homebase computer but if im on the laptop okies and im downloading a 1 hour long video clip and its comming its on the laptop... know all i need to do is save it on to a cd... is that isnt enugh?

i know what u meant... i wont be just downloading everydays from the laptop but if i was suppose to be traveling and i had connection for the internet seen most hotels has connectionn available... and i had to download a 500mb video file or abit higher from someonce website... and put it on to a dvd or cd after wards as is aid is that ok for a laptop? or does it go straight into a blank cd without saveing it onto desktop from the laptop.

sorry for the confuseing

or what if i downloaded a 36min video file from a website into the laptop for that price mark.. and thats only one vid file... ?

malixv writes...

p.s harveynorman currently has:

$1,582.00
Compaq Presario V2340AP Notebook Bundle.
Intel® Celeron® M processor (360) 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD Combo, 6-in-1 card reader, 14" Bright wide screen, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home. Includes bag, antivirus, 256MB USB drive and 24/7 phone support. EE502PA

We had to order a replacement computer this week for my boss and we basically got the above (minus bag, card reader and USB drive) for $998 incl delivery from Dell
(special ends 26th Aug). As others have mentioned, it's a little (lot) under-powered for video editing but fine for general office stuff...

Shows how much inflated HN's prices are... (even by Dell's prices the bits not included would have added less than $100 to the price)

(as an aside Dell quoted $750 to replace the motherboard on his current notebook that was only just out of warranty)

malixv writes...
i suppose yes i have a homebase computer but if im on the laptop okies and im downloading a 1 hour long video clip and its comming its on the laptop... know all i need to do is save it on to a cd... is that isnt enugh?

I don't understand?

The laptop has enough space to comfortably store ~40 average size movies.

Are you talking about moving files between desktop & laptop? You can network them for that (only takes one cable).

The Fat Controller writes...

Afaik, laptop harddrives are only 60gb maximum.

I've seen 80G and 100G HDDs listed (at Umart)

or what if i downloaded a 36min medium quality video file from a website into the laptop for that price mark.. and thats only one vid file... ? but of course later i save it onto a cd

the fat.. no i said if i had a laptop for what im talking about im downloading a 1 hour vido or a 36min quality video from a website and its downloading u know it will be there on the desktop thats the laptop... and later save it onto a cd or dvd cd. ? u think thats not good enugh for a decent price laptop? because i do realise laptops are expensive and dont udnerstand why its expensive if it dosnt do much help.. but still i say 40gb laptop is poor... would be great if its 80 but 40? im not sure... i beleive there is plenty of memory on these laptop price but aint sure..

malixv writes...

or what if i downloaded a 36min medium quality video file from a website into the laptop for that price mark.. and thats only one vid file... ? but of course later i save it onto a cd

In that regard , a laptop is exactly the same as a desktop unit. You can download stuff from the internet , store it on the hard drive , and then later burn it onto a CD or DVD.

What a laptop will not do well ( in your price range anyway) is processor intensive video work.

FM

i would gues that laptops at a price of 2,000.00 can do the job or higher but surely a price at a prox 1,499.00 can at least be a smart laptop to handle that amount of stuff... but prob one file only then save it on cd then download another... u see with my computer pc i can download 20large video files and leave it there or save it.. as i have a 80gb drive and a tsecond 120gb backups.

i suppose so flight.. yeah i believe u on that too.. its a shame hard price though but still u would wonder and think geez a laptop at 1,499.00 u will think its alot and does alot of things well....

I think you migt be getting confused about the 2 different types of video we are talking about. Movies downloaded from the net are no problem for a laptop. A $200 Laptop can do this .

Working with video from your video camera would not be good on a laptop.

Internet video = OK

Video Camera = Not OK

FM

hmmm okies... oh well so why is it so expensive for a laptop/// it does frustrate me about this because i was hopeing that a laptop can do it even if i must buy from 1,500.00 and thats it atherwise no

malixv writes...

oh well so why is it so expensive for a laptop

Because the parts have to be a lot smaller , and more robust , as a laptop just doesnt sit on a desk. There is also the battery to consider , carrying case , adaptors etc etc .

FM

malixv writes...
hmmm okies... oh well so why is it so expensive for a laptop//

As flight manager says, its pretty much due to minimisation - everything has to be smaller. And power consumption - everything has to be low power.

so to finaly this up for the meantime.. what will a laptop do for me at a price say 1,499.00AU ? internet sounds good what els for a price like that.

any els comments are most welcome im very interesting in this subjects and its good to better understanding atherwise..

This is what i'd buy.
Can be had a cworld.com.au for $999.00

LG LS50-A56A (Celeron 1.3/256M/40G/Combo/15"XGA/XPH)

Product Description:
- Intel Celeron M Processor 1.3GHz (350)
- 256MB DDR (333MHz, Dual Channel support, Up to 2GB)
- 15" XGA (1024 x 768)
- Intel Extreme Graphics 2 graphics card
- 40GB hard drive
- CDRW/DVD Combo drive
- 802.11 b/g Dual Quad-band Antenna
- 56Kbps MDC Modem
- 10/100 Ethernet
- 16bit Stereo (Sound Blaster Pro compatible), Resonance Speakers
- Touchpad with Scroll Function
- 3 USB(2.0), VGA, S-Video, IEEE1394, MIC-IN, RJ11, RJ45, S/PDIF (Sharing with Headphone Out)
- 2.7Kg (Including Standard Battery)
- Microsoft Windows XP Home
- Multimedia Card Slot: 4 in 1(SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO)
- Dual Quad Band Antenna:Reliable wireless connection
- Battery Miser:Latest power-saving technology
-

Its not be best value for money.
But i love the design and weight of it.
Very portable compared to dell lappies.

The Fat Controller writes...

laptop harddrives are only 60gb maximum

Haven't you seen the DELL screw up? They screwed up the pricing of 250gb Notebook drives so obviously you can FYI :P

Benmc writes...

Can be had a cworld.com.au for $999.00

Haven't you seen the dodgy dealings that CWorld do? There are a few threads on it.

malixv writes...

because i do realise laptops are expensive and dont udnerstand why its expensive if it dosnt do much help..

Because they are small

Can we get a translator here please!!!!

LiQU!D writes...

Haven't you seen the DELL screw up? They screwed up the pricing of 250gb Notebook drives so obviously you can FYI :P

No that was a desktop drive. And it is pretty much impossible due to the space, power, and heat that larger HDD's make and consume.

The largest Notebook HDD to be had atm is 100GB. But that's only a 5400RPM ones. 80GB is the next one down and that's also a 5400RPM. If you want a 7200RPM ones you will have to buy 60GB or smaller.

so what if i brought a 1,499.00 laptop and all i want to do with it is surf the world wide web... chats.. msn maybe webcam exclusive* (my friend from another state says he owns a MAC laptop.. he just brought a cam and hook it up it wont do cam but only take images... now is that for real or what? even he just said he cant get the latest MSN but just the old version on his laptop.. should i believe him? but prob he has a old laptop now... or not sure)....... aniways with a price at 1,499.00 for a brand new slim design laptop from harvey norman or who ever store surely that would be a good laptop to do internet and cam and prob abit of video downloads but of course save it on a cd or dvd.. suppose the editing thing can be done on a home base computer..

surely as i said before a 1,499.00 laptop would be less then that amount of price by DEC 2005 correct? if so i suppose its a deal discount to wait in dec for that... but most laptops comes with a 40gb... thats not alot though but would it be posible to add more like say 80gb? how much will it cost and will it work on a laptop... lets say these (((Qompac laptops)) brands.. not sure if that was the correct name of brands/

so aniways if it does* become abit dicounted from a laptop at that price... and lets say they discounted by 200.00 off the price... does it mean the laptop isnt good because of the discounted?

by the way currently from harvey norman store website.. has this:

$1,582.00
Compaq Presario V2340AP Notebook Bundle.
Intel® Celeron® M processor (360) 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD Combo, 6-in-1 card reader, 14" Bright wide screen, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home. Includes bag, antivirus, 256MB USB drive and 24/7 phone support. EE502PA

this laptop is just one of them... the website wont show ather similarity prices from 1,000.00 to 1,499.00 mark price thats my budget but surely these amount of price tacks will reduce on Discounts by the start of DEC 2005. well that info ive just givin out as i just paste that from harvey norman website... it has widescreen.. im not fuz if its a wide screen or normal sizes just aslong the screen isnt a very small one.. prob a 15or more sounds good not a 14 sizes screen..

now this dosn't mean i want that particular laptop model but thats just a rough idea... the shine gray slim design makes it look like its a very expensive laptop compare to ather thick designs.. aniways i know there would be more then that model... not sure if that brand ((compag)) is any good for my needs specialy downloading video files or do webcam and chat and do as normal itnernet and updates and not a laptop that wont aloud me get updates for msn and such like my friend said his laptop wont aloud him get the latest msn and do cam but only take pics.. well hard to believe because if it does take images surely it can allso do cam. but anyone can correct me on that.

anyways christmas season isn't here jsut yet until another 4months time... but my goals is to buy a laptop by everyonce recommendation name brand ... what to look out for before buying one and such... i just want to wait till christmas because thats when DISCOUNTS starts to apear all over the town. rather then buying one now.

so i wait for your best recommendation for whats good roughly at this stage.. but this subject will resume more in november because thats when i in late november will start looking for infos and designs but not buy one until i look around first before hand and then dec start shopping... i just hope i dont buy a laptop that would be poor in technology... i mean the one i seen looks like a cute sshine gray design and people would think and wonder that a laptop in that model slim deisgn would had cost over 2,000.00 but i gues model designs hasn't got to do nothing with the price tacks correct?
aniways i ask your best recommendtation whats bad and whats good and whats value by your opinions.. this is the only way for me to get as much as more information from everyone recommendations on laptops at that price tack no higher then 1,500.00au but then again by christmas a laptop at that price would recuse discounts i hope.

one last question here for know aswell: laptops with slim gray shine designs models are better in high technology compare to a thick black laptop? just that i allways thought black thick laptops are the really old tehcnology of the llate 90's// but someone can correct me on this.

h50025.www5.hp.com/hpcom...892_EE502PA.html

the one im looking but im not too keen about widescreen laptops... aniways i clearly says it can : Maximum memory Upgradeable to 2GB max (with discard)

but its just a 40gb... i wonde if i could add more but how much.. how easy or such..

but lets think that one but without the wide screen no higher then 1,500.00 i cant aford higher then that for know. if unless just 100.00 extra of a better one if*

allso i heard these new mb or gb i dont no witch one but its like a long sqaure sticks u plug it onto a usb and it contains a massive gb... and you can use that to store video files and such on a laptop.. so if your laptop is only 40gb... then plug that in and use that rather then the laptop itself.. well i dont no but sounds very complicated know on that with so much high tech suff...

seriously, with 1000.. your will be very tight to get anything decent for video editing even for a desktop.. I think you should not waste your time on laptop with that price range..
Price will come down but not by that much, AUD is too strong atm

yes i suppose so .. you have a clear point there... just well .. okies will see how we go in nov with money wise for me and how lucky i am for a better laptop. but i like how you point ur views there.. i heard that from athers too trust me.

any comments are welcome because i like to hear from use all about this laptops discussions

simultanies

Good luck malixv.

Get back to us closer to when you are going to purchase. I'm sure someone here will have spotted a bargain you might have overlooked when you are ready to buy.

The Fat Controller writes...

Afaik, laptop harddrives are only 60gb maximum.

Most Apple laptops have a 100Gb option, and an 80Gb option, but thats the biggest I have ever seen in a laptop. They dont come cheap either, BTW.

Moose

*Not bad english for a second language

Yeah, someone pointed out why i had that 60gb misconception.

Laptop hard drives do only come in 60gb at 7200rpm (like desktop machines). Otherwise they are easily available in higher capacities, as stated.

Hence why i thought otherwise.

Glad to be stood corrected though.
:)

well folks your help has been great this long week... and for you fat cat thanks for informing me... there's been these who would say a laptop would not be such a great thing for my needs.. and some yes... there is a more dont buy it and less of these buy one...

So to finaly and finish this conversation... i know all laptops starts with a 40gb... i see that very poor in quality... prob a 60gb and up would be much better then just a low 40gb. all i wanted is buy a stylish laptop these nice shine gray slim design models if ever there is such a thing... and that i wanted to lets say put a dvd on to watch movies/add a cd that contains 3,000 images to look at on my laptop/brwosing the world wide web as normal/msn and all such of these communictions interactive such as this forum/do live cam with athers sometimes/ perhaps do abit of download video files if ever a laptop at a price of 1,000.00 to 1,500.00 would aloud me download a video file from a website that could be aprox 38.3mb to aprox anywhere with a file upto 550mb prob not half the way to a 1gig. and thats about it really. the laptop for all of that wont be just for everydays prob every 2 days... but that dosnt mean i will download video files every time i use a laptop. its not that im asking much to make the laptop do heaps of things..

When addvertice on a laptop apears on cataloges and on tv or website... they say son on about the brand and such it has 40gb it is pre-loaded Antivirus/win xp/sony media/winDVD and so on... when they say this does this mean that the 40gb has allready been use half of it reasons of because all of that pre-loaded software? allso do i get all of that software incase i have to reboot the laptop and bring all of the software back in ?

allso if someone can let me know this: my friend has a MAC laptop he says he cant aloud to get the latest msn and has to use the old version of msn.. he cant do webcam on his laptop but only does taking pics from the cam... how is that suppose to mean? if it does take images then it would aloud to do cam aswell on his MAC surely? unless his just pretending to hide his Identity amond the people. someone can explain this. the most case laptop i like are Qompaq reasons that they look very unique in style and looking at it makes u think they are a high performance because of the beautifull stylish... but that dosnt mean i go for that brand... Oh and as long it dosn't have to be a widescreen but much more a normal standard screen not a wide looking screen.

Finaly i would like to hear everyone els in to the responds of this last mages i have to ask for.

and this subject is to be cleard for know and i will resume this same subject sometime in November 2005... so i could allso get deals and what not once christmas is just around the corner by then.

please keep posting to this questionaires if posible.
So thank all of use posters and willr esume in Nov the time when i will start looking around what i might want to do and i want your opinions first before i rush into such a thing.

very best regards
malixv

ops sorry. press wrong button

could anyone respond to my questions please ? would be great to finaly finish what i have to say folks.. thank you for reading.

regards
malixv

Have a look at the mac lappy range, ibook are great and it is in the $1500 price range.

i will say this again incase everyone has forgoten but please dont be offended by my typeing.. as i left here many questions msot people probly has forgoten to answer it but all of use have really help so dont be offended if i repeat this. please show a link here if anything here would make scence so i could see what it looks like the laptop when your mentioning about it and brand.. aslong that brand and such is available in asutralia in brisbane and not overseas laptops that isnt available here.

(1) for a laptop in the 1,000.00 to 1,500.00 dollar price mark... do they all come with a 40Gb or higher?

(2) Is compaq laptops at that price any good or is MAC better and reasons why ?

(3) When addvertice says this great laptop for 1,500.00 and says it has 40gb but then it says it has pre install antivirus/windvd and such... does this mean there is much less 40gb? i wonder how much taken.

(4) If i want to use the internet with my laptop for abit... but i dont have a connection.. and the only connection i have is broadband cable connected on my computer machine... could i connect that cable broadband onto to a laptop and browse the itnernet or is a prepaid dialup thing could be peace of mind if ever on a another room or at a hotel while your not at home with the computer machine. ?

(5) for a sample i have a camcorder* where i allways film the family and such... would a laptop have a plug in for that?

(6) for a sample i was filming the family on a 8mm camcorder and now i wish to trasfer it onto the laptop so i could then save it on a dvd cd or leave it there and lets say the video file is just *76.1MB* so thats just one video file clip... would that be ok for a laptop?

(7) i know i heard you guys and girls that it wont be good for aediting and such for video files... but what if a price like that says it has pre isntall edit media...? whats the porpose for that if it wont be large space wenugh to edit videos.... i mean i can do that on my computer machine but what if im at a hotel or traveling in the car and i just wanted to transfer the video file directly to the laptop but without editing because i can do that once i arrive home if i allready save it on a dvd or cd oversly ?

(8) similar question as above: what if i was downloading a video file from american website and i was doing this on my laptop and lets say ii was at a hotel and that hotel has internet connection* and that i wanted to download a video file from someone on the itnernet that was only one video file like 76.1MB or just alittle bit higher and watch it and then save it on to a dvd... is that posible?

(9) when hotels says they have internet connection on the room... how do that works? so lets say i have a laptop.. and i dont have internet connection but i do with the cable.. and that if i plug that on the wall at the hotel... what sort of internet ISP am i getting from? will it be for free? or will it be the same way as useing your own isp provider with username and password? will the hotel department pays the internet alone or will i have to pay this on the dispatch of the hotel?

aniways people i really hope i get this fiew or all to be answered it would help me alot though... but for know i will let this upto everyone to either say something or not.. until next time in Nov when i will be posting same subject as o bove because my goals are what to do if i want to buy a laptop or not in christmas time. and what els should i look out for before BUYING* such a thing.

thanks folks
regards malixv

p.s im after a stylish laptop prob these shien gray once because they look like the latest styles and they not too thick on the sides but i dont no whats the differents from slim designs to thick designs... the compaqs brands looks stylish but are they worth it? i dont like the wide screens on them i dont think but i dont no whats the differents from a normal screen or a wide screen laptop.

My friend has a MAC and he said he cant use webcam on it but only alouds to take images... he just brought a cam.. but is that really true? if a cam takes images then surely he can do live cam on his laptop.. allso he said he cant get the latest msn messanger but uses the old version on his MAC laptop... but not sure if the person is lieing to be to hide his identity... someone can explain this one aswell if posible please that would be great to know... thank you!

Go and pick up a Compaq Presario M2217AP laptop from Harvey Norman, $944 ($844 with $100 cashback) AMD Sempron 2800+, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD Combo, 15" TFT screen, Windows XP Home. It will do the things you are looking at, except play the sims 2. You are not looking at editing entire movies, you are just looking at clipping together some of your home videos, am i right? I have been doing this for years on a Celeron 800mhz, 128mb SD ram, and a 20gb hdd, before i upgraded, you will have no problems with any of the entry level laptops.

that one u jsut said ive read the sunday mail newspaper addvertice it there for abound that price and has 60gb witch is very good but its 1,500.00 i dont mind the price but no higher then that/ but that that one isnt a sylish but im sure it was compaq... i think i might go for compaq but my questions has not been answered well here...

Yes thats what i meant to the whole point not all video files editing.. just a fiew and i then save it on dvd and do more so rather then saveing it on the laptop another and another u deal with one frst then edit and save it on cd or dvd then download another and do the second one or sles if u download all of it same time it will just be not good for a laptop dont think.

thank you

1. yes all come with at least 40gb HDD
2. Depends which OS you prefer, but the mac are very stable (my opinion)
3. 40gb is the HDD size. After OS and other software installation, it will be less. Just doa google search to see how much os takes and antivirus takes
4. Yes, can get router (or maybe wireless) so you can connect many pc with your cable internet. Hotles these days all have fast broadband internet, just connect and surf.
5. Depends on your camcorder. but most new cam use firewire (all mac have this port). Most pc lappies have it but do check.
6. yes
7. OK...but watch out for battery of laptop.
8. yes
9. depends on Hotel which ISP they use. You pay when you checkout. usually there is instructions in the room.

when we all say watch out for the laptop bateries... what do you mean? will it run out if im doing things with the laptop for 2 hours? what if the plug is connected but there is still a baterie inside the laptop?

thank you

some batteries on some lappy last longer then others. But if you have it plug into the mains it is fine. But you said in a taxi tranfering files? My mac ibook lasts me for at least 4 hours

There are a few notebooks around that have hard drives greater than 40GB within your price range, if that's what you're after. For example, I'd probably recommend the mid-range model of the HP Compaq nx6125 sold by CWorld at the moment, as it has a 60GB hard drive.

Check out www.cworld.com.au/info.php?ID=118541

thanks folks... for a laptop at the cost normaly 1,500.00 lets say from harvey norman... how much will laptops at that price be reduce down to? due to christmas stock discount sales... prob at the start of Dec. ?

plus anyone with a laptop or recommendation please let us your say what brand you go for for laptops and reasons to why compareing with ather brands...

is it true that what my friend said.. he has a laptop MAC and he just brought a cam and the MAC wont aloud him do cam but only take pics from it.... and allso he cant get the latest msn messanger on his MAC.... know should i really believe him about this? due to if the cam alouds to take images surely it could allso aloud to do live cam with someone.. right?

goodnight folks

You can not do a live webcam using the Mac version of MSN because the lazy bastards at Microsoft slacked off and won't convert the latest version. There is a program LIKE MSN, that has a webcam function called Mercury.

As for your laptop problem, I would suggest (in order):

-iBook with upgraded internal HDD
-iBook with external HDD
-Compaq/Acer ($800 - $1000 laptops) with external HDD

Moose

sorry this thread part i just posted this morning today i posted went to the wrong window...

aniways.. as long that a webcam alouds me do normal internet and use media player and real player for such video files is concern... allso latest win xp and msn and yahoo messangers.... if a laptop dosn't support this when i if only if* i buy one then i will be silly enugh to have spent that amount of dollars.... i think compaq are very stylish. but not sure... whats the iBook look like? never heard of it before...

Could anyone with a thinking cap that nows what kind of model and brand it might* be let me know.... I have put a photo on this profile link just for a quick one.. where it shows a laptop and what i wish to know is the Brand name and model that you might think it is and if so do you have a link for a better look at this sort of model laptop and what does it have..

The image is bad so i dont no if anyone out there might know this... it seem thats it has a small 2 lights on the front low panel in blue and the ather in another colour that lids up when laptop is on.

any helpers please let me know it is: us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/...pfDXnEDBvBH_FZCV

have you tried dick smith. You can have a look at what they have got on there sight find something you like and pop into there stores to touch it :)

e.g they have

# PROCESSOR - AMD Mobile Sempron Processor 2800+ with PowerNow Technology
# MEMORY - 256MB DDR333
# HARD DRIVE - 40GB 4200RPM
# OPTICAL DRIVE - DVD⁄CD-RW Combo
# READ AND WRITE SPEED - Not specified by Manufacturer
# COLOUR DISPLAY - 15" XGA TFT
# RESOLUTION - Not specified by Manufacturer
# VIDEO - ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M up to 32MB shared with system memory
# TV-OUT PORT - S Video
# AUDIO - Not specified by Manufacturer
# LAN - 802.11b⁄g WLAN with 125HSM⁄SpeedBooster support; Integrated 10⁄100 LAN
# MODEM - High speed 56K modem,
# SPEAKERS - Altec Lansing speakers;
# CARD READER - 6-in-1 media reader
# DISKETTE DRIVE - Nil
# USB PORT - 3 USB 2.0
# PARALLEL PORT - Nil
# SERIAL PORT - Nil
# PC CARD SLOT - 1 Type I⁄II PC Card slot
# IEEE1394 PORT - IEEE 1394
# INFRA-RED PORT - Nil
# BLUE TOOTH - Nil
# SECURITY OPTIONS - Not specified by Manufacturer
# SOFTWARE - Microsoft Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works 8.0, Microsoft Money 2005, Microsoft Encarta 2005 (CD), Microsoft Windows Media Player 10, WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, Muvee AutoProducer DVD Edition, Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, Apple iTunes for Windows, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 2005 (60 days live update),

for $1087

thanks mathew for your very help advice there.. i will sure to have a look at dick smith now..

if anyone els knows what brand and model of this laptop is on the pic please let me know and where i could posibly fine info about this laptop... read above in this 3rd page for more info.. your help would be great to investigate that laptop... i dont no what brand or model it is... but someone might fine out if they good at knowing things for laptops. any helpers please let me know it is:

us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/...pfDXnEDBvBH_FZCV

regards
malixv

p.s not sure if that links works but you could try this and all you do is click the image in that profile for bigger view. thank you.

profiles.yahoo.com/terminal699

look like a toshibas,very blurrin picture!

i know its a bad pic but i gues thats the guest if you now about laptops.. do you now what model so i could look it up?

thank you

no one can fine out?

it might be a compaq???

you said compaq and another said toshiba..... if so.. what brand.. if anyone knows infor with a clear pic of that particular laptop rough pic that would be great.. i personaly have no idea model or brand it might be... wouldnt think it is toshiba but who knows...

why is it important any who

if i would guess between 2 i would say compaq and HP

No reason though... im just curious to know what kind of brand and model it is... i personaly dont like it well i do but looks like an old laptop probly 2 years old.. just curious to fine out info of that laptop thats all..

i wonder if* SONY laptops are any good at the price im after... dont no if sony makes laptops.

found it mate

images.google.com.au/img...26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

A Hewlitt Packard NX9040 it is a google image put it upto the other image u have and they are the same.

No we speak rewards for these courageous efforts

May be a bit rich, but the TPG laptops are great.

It'll cost $1300 (including delivery) but has a mobile Athlon 64, 512MB RAM and 40GB HDD, DVDRW drive and WinXP Home. Great value for performance.

www.tog.com.au/online

Fantastic mathew.... someone like you deserve a good reward... thanks for looking it up... i wonder how long it took you to fine that laptop for brand and model....

good on you... solved the parcel ;) but i wonder if its a good one or an old one aniways allways go for the brands and whats on the shop and not from whats back in the closet as we speak..

thanks guys aswell..

regards.

p.s it looks the same as the rough photo.... i presume it has a small blueish light on the bottom front panel and a orange or such... but i believe thats the one... me thinks that when you close the lid it is white or gray shine metal frame rather then black i think.

as 2 other users have said, TPG sell some of the cheapest laptops ive ever seen, and they also have the best specifications for the price they sell at, www.tpg.com.au/online

take this laptop for example, its faster, has more memory and more hard drive space for 1000's of dollars less then dell/ibm/compaq/hp/sony laptops

its $1398, + $99 Delivery, total of $1497

basically from what ive seen in what this laptop has, it should be able to do basically anything except graphic intensive stuff (playing the sims2)

Processor AMD Turion™ 64 ML-32 (1.8GHz, 512KB L2 & 128KB L1 cache, 1600MHz HyperTransport, 35W)
Chipset SiS M760 North Bridge, SiS M963L South Bridge
Wireless IEEE802.11g
54Mbps transmission rate
Cardbus AdapterBus Type II
64-bit/128-bit WEP Key; WPA support TKIP
Graphic Integrated SIS M760 (Mirage 2 core)
Display LCD Display, 15.4" Widescreen (1280x800res) WXGA TFT Interface
Memory 1GB (2 x 512MB DDR 333)
Hard Drive ATAPI interface 60GB 4200RPM
Optical Drive DVD+/- RW drive 8x4x2 CDRW 24x16x12
PCMCIA Support one type II
Modem 56Kbps V.90 internal Modem
Audio Internal AC97 AC-Link
pointing device Synaptics touch-pad with 2 buttons option
I/O Ports CRT port - Analog RGB Mini D-SUB 15 pin
Audio Jack - MIC in, Headphone out Jack
Fax/Modem port - One RJ-11 Telephone Jack
USB ports - Three 4-pin USB 2.0 Ports (USB2.0)
Power port - One DC-in Jack
LAN Port - One RJ-45 for Ethernet, 10/100Mbps
IEEE 1394 - One 4-pin port
Battery Li-ion 6 cell battery AC 90-264 V, DC 19V, 65 watts
Dimension 354mm x 254mm x 33mm
Weight from 2.865kg (6.3lbs) - May vary depending on configurations and components
Kensington Lock One Kensington lock (slot only)
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
FDD No Floppy Drive
Carry bag Notebook carry bag not included
Warranty 1 Year Return to Base Warranty (excludes software)