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[JoshuaFH]

I recently got a Dell Inspiron 14R, which usually sells for around $650, which is a bit above your range, but it has been pretty solid so far.

Specs for my model:

Processor  2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz
Operating System Genuine Windows® Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
Display 14.0" High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™
Memory3 4GB3 Single Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
Hard Drive  500GB4 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
Optical Drive  8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Warranty 1 Year In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis
Weight 5.24 lbs


Not much personal experience with videos, but as far as games go, it will run most older/indie stuff; I only have trouble with games that require a high-spec graphics card. (Ex: runs Mount&Blade, Source games, DF, Minecraft, Cortex Command, Deus Ex, Torchlight, vars. Touhou games, etc.)

DF requires a high spec graphics card?

But yeah, I generally need to keep it within $425 or less. Not a dollar more, as I need to budget for rent, food, and possible unknown expenses.

I went to a Best Buy the other day, and looked at some Toshiba laptop at $370~. It had an i3 processor, 320 GB HD, 15.6" screen, and some other stuff I forget.

The only thing that bothers me is that I have no idea what the appreciable difference between processors is. The Acer I pointed out had a Phenom something or other, and who knows how strong an i3 is? The guy there that explained things to me said that an i3 will handle most things you throw at it, but salesmen have an incentive to be disingenuous.

I would like to indulge in some Indie games, and I think the Acer could do atleast that.

I didn't buy anything that day, but I did learn that the 15.6" screen measurement is from corner to corner, as opposed to it's width, which is what I initially thought. I wonder how the hell anyone is supposed to reverse Pythagorean Theorem the screen dimensions from that though?

Pretty sure it's Pythagorean Theorem, A^2=B^2+C^2 or something. Like, the only thing I remember from HS Algebra...

Yes, I understand that PC's have the advantage of having interchangeable components, and thus building your own computer can be cheaper, and produce a better machine, but please understand that I have a weight and size problem that must be accounted for. The allure of a laptop at my present point in time is that I can easily bring it halfway across the state with me to my job, and while it doesn't allow for customization or upgrading as easily, I think that's a trade-off I can consciously make.

I do have a question, can a laptop be used on a bus that is very frequently hitting bumps, rumbling, and jostling in every which direction? I've been informed by a friend that certain types of harddrives can be damaged and be given 'bad sectors' from sudden movement while it's operating.

Most new laptops are made in such a way that using it on something like a bus isn't going to screw it up. Impact-resistant hard drives are becoming the norm for traditional disk-based hard drives, but if you have a laptop with a solid-state drive, then there aren't any moving parts to worry about.

Anyway, the Acer is a nice, solid mid-range laptop, though I'd personally prefer an ASUS laptop.

I hope you can enlighten me on the virtues of an ASUS. Especially seeing as how this one is the only one in my price range.

Also, is it just me or does every single laptop use the exact same pictures?

[rutsber]

snip

Not much personal experience with videos, but as far as games go, it will run most older/indie stuff; I only have trouble with games that require a high-spec graphics card. (Ex: runs Mount&Blade, Source games, DF, Minecraft, Cortex Command, Deus Ex, Torchlight, vars. Touhou games, etc.)

I think they meant those are games they can run.

[JoshuaFH]

Oh, the context through me off. Usually you give examples of what you mean, rather than what you don't.

[dragonshardz]

I hope you can enlighten me on the virtues of an ASUS. Especially seeing as how this one is the only one in my price range.

Also, is it just me or does every single laptop use the exact same pictures?

I'm just saying my personal preference is ASUS + nVidia. That's all.

As for specs, I'd recommend an Intel i3/i5/i7 and at least 4GB RAM, as well as at least 500GB of hard drive space. If you're going to be doing a lot of graphics-intensive gaming, I'd say to go for at least an nVidia 400M or better. If you're going to not be doing a lot of gaming, I'd just say to get something that meets the first 3 requirements and not worry about the last.

I definitely recommend staying away from the Intel Core2/Duo and Phenoms*. They're old and are starting to show their age.

Basically, minimum specs for a light-duty gaming rig:

Intel i3/i5/i7
4GB RAM
500GB HDD
nVidia 310M GPU

I'm recommending nVidia/Intel because I've never used AMD products, so I really don't know how they stack up to each other. Just to fend of accusations of being an nVidia/Intel fanboy.

*Is Phenom even a line of Intel CPUs?

[MaximumZero]

Surprise, surprise, MZ is pimping an HP!

No, but seriously, some of these computers are way overkill for what JoshuaFH needs.

Intel iSeries is great, but not so great for budget. AMD's new A-series "Fusion" chipsets (A4, A6, etc) are a little less powerful and a little more budget friendly. ASUS + nVidia are both good brands, but are generally aimed at folks looking to do higher end things (Crysis 2, CAD, and Photoshop come to mind.) 4GB RAM would probably be ideal, but you can scrape by on 3GB.

Food chain of processors: single core (older Intel pentiums, AMD V-Series, Intel Atom are pretty much all you'll see)<dual core(newer Intel Celerons, AMD Athalon<Turion<Phenoms), A4, i3, A6, i5, quad core (the rest of the Phenoms that aren't six-core), quad core i5 (very rare on shelves), A8, i7, 6-core (Phenom<Opteron). Some people will put the i7 over the 6-core, but I prefer physical hardware to virtual.

To run DF, what you need to look at is components. The higher end, the better, to a point. Since it only uses one core and a max of just over 2GB RAM, getting speed from different components is crucial. The higher the clock speed on the processor (the whatever.whateverGHz), the speed and type of the RAM (DDRwhatever and PCwhatever, higher is better in both cases.) Another thing you can look for is cache. (That'll be whateverMB. Again, higher is better.)

Most often, a retail salesman will not know any of this stuff, and worse, a commission-based salesman just may make it up, if they don't have any scruples. A very easy way (on Windows 7) to compare computers with your own eyes is to get your hands on it, go to the start menu, find "Computer", right click, and click properties. The splash screen there will tell you a) what kind, how many, and how fast the processors are, b) how much RAM it has, and c) the model number of the computer (so that you can research it later.) If you are dealing with a patient salesperson, ask if you can get a spec sheet or google the specific machine's specs. If the salesman is not patient (or does not seem very tech savvy, go see someone else.)

Personal preference time: (obviously) HP is my number 1 choice. All of HPs testing and damage-proofing on new computer models is done by the Department of Defense. Compaq is their budget line, but they don't put as much work into Compaq as they do HP branded stuff. #2 is ASUS. They've been in business a long, long time and know what they're doing with computer components. However, most of their machines are aimed at high end gamers. #3 is Lenovo. They bought the IBM PC division, and have been making a lot of business machines with it. Another decent brand is Toshiba. Mind you, they make everything that has electronics in it (like tvs, air conditioners, fridges,) so computers are not specifically what they do, but they don't seem to do a terrible job at putting components in a box.

Don't buy: Sony (overpriced,) Acer/Gateway (they make junk that's inexpensive, but it'll probably fall apart in a year or two.)

If you want a desktop but size is a concern, you could always go with an all-in-one, or a slimline model.

I hope you found at least a little bit of this enlightening.

[JoshuaFH]

Wow Zero! Thank you so much for the in-depth explanation!

That Omni 100z thing actually looks really cool. I will seriously consider it, especially if I don't have to pay the full price up-front, but in payments, so I can worry less that and more about buying necessities for my new place.

[MaximumZero]

Don't mention it, bro. That explanation is literally what I do for a living. Please feel free to take my word as a stepping stone into your own research, as there's a lot more knowledge to be had.

Also, I really, really hate to say this, but that's what the interest free part of credit cards are for. Set your own minimum payment that falls within the no interest period (usually with at least a couple months to spare,) pay that every month, get the whole balance paid off, then cancel the card.

Honestly, retail stores with credit cards are pretty decent, as they usually don't have a cancellation fee, maintenance fees, or minimum balance required.

Finally, if you like the Omni, wait til you see the TouchSmart.

[JoshuaFH]

Thanks again Zero.

I don't have a credit card, yet. I do intend on getting one to expedite purchases online though. I can't remember if it was you or someone else, that advised that credit cards should be used for the occasional purchase, and that the bills should be paid off as hastily as possible to prevent interest from gathering, and to build up credit over the years.

[KaelGotDwarves]

Quite a few of us recommended that.

In fact, I use a credit card for almost all of my purchases, and pay off every week.

It's easiest if you get a card tied to your bank, most banks make it a very simple few buttons click to pay off cc bills online nowadays.

[rutsber]

Have you ever had a gateway Zero? I have the $500 model from July 8, 2009. I haven't had any problems with it. Other people could have problems, but I personally have not. Any problems were caused by my stupidity and weren't hardware issues.

[MaximumZero]

I have indeed, but not since well before Acer bought the brand on the cheap, and dismantled everything good about it (customer service, mostly.) Every time I crack open a Gateway because of what I think is probably a loose cable, things are falling off the motherboard, and I hate hate re-soldering computer equipment. It's such a pain.

[dragonshardz]

MZ is right, nVidia and ASUS are geared more towards gamers and other people who need/want high-performance computers. Helps that they've got rock-solid quality, in my experience.

As for Sony...it's overpriced and it's generally crap, so, yeah. As for Acer...they make pretty good monitors. Everything else varies, usually leaning towards crap.

[Mephisto]

Personal preference time: (obviously) HP is my number 1 choice. All of HPs testing and damage-proofing on new computer models is done by the Department of Defense. Compaq is their budget line, but they don't put as much work into Compaq as they do HP branded stuff.

Don't buy: ... Acer/Gateway (they make junk that's inexpensive, but it'll probably fall apart in a year or two.)

Ha.

I've had my Acer Aspire One for three years. Zero problems, cost $350 when I got it and the only thing I've ever bought for it, a battery, was bought for the convenience of a longer running time rather than having the old one die on me.

I had my HP Pavilion dv7 for a total of a month and a half before problems started. A month and a half: one of the hard drives completely dies. Two months: the charger is somehow being detected at a lower capacity than it was the day before and no longer charges the laptop while it's on. Three months: the keyboard royally screws up and acts as if I'm pounding rapidly on the period key at all times. Cost $900 when I got it, then $70 for a hard drive, $15-20 for a charger, and I'm forced to use a crappy wireless keyboard I've had for years.

The thing of it is that I use the netbook very heavily. I use the fullsize laptop rarely. Use is not a factor.

[MaximumZero]

Hm. Seems like you shouldn't have had to pay for any of that stuff. We cover manufacturer's defects for a year. 1-800-HP-INVENT, if you're in the US. As for the Acer, that's pretty cool. (I hate to see any computer crap out, even a competitor's.) Seems like you got a good one.

[JoshuaFH]

Alright, taking everything into account, I think I can splurge a little bit more on a good computer.

I sifted through all the options for that Omni 100z series slim all-in-one thing, and this is what I came up with spec wise.

Operating system   Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium [64-bit]   

Processor   AMD Athlon(TM) II 270u dual-core processor [2.0GHz, 2MB L2, up to 3200MT/s bus]   

4GB DDR3-1066MHz SODIMM [1 DIMM]

FREE UPGRADE to 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 320GB   

No additional office software   
No additional security software   
Integrated graphics - ATI Radeon HD 4270   
Slim-tray SuperMulti DVD burner   
Wireless-N LAN card   
6-in-1 memory card reader, 6 total USB, audio   
Integrated sound   
HP USB keyboard and optical mouse

I thought I'd get the higher end processor, and the 4 GB memory. Also, a tiny set of speakers. Comes to about $576.

I really want your opinion though Max, before I commit to anything.

Also, I wonder if it'll fit into my luggage? I do need to get it on a bus, and take it across the state.

That, or purchase it from where I'm moving and just have it delivered there. It is a fairly big item...