Laptops

[threemonkeys]

Following on from yesterday's post. The hard disk on my computer made a bunch of strange noises on startup. Last time that happened, it was a precursor to failure. Well, after doing backups in a panic, the noise stopped. Huh?!

Well I did load a bunch of security updates the night before and the noise wasn't so much the screech of heads gouging platter as prolonged excessive seeking. And it wasn't so much panic as hurried caution. And a little reflection that backups should be done *before* applying operating system updates.

But it did remind me that last year I was looking at getting a portable device - a laptop or something similar. That plan got subverted into a media player purchase instead. But now I'm seriously looking to re-visit it. As well as being a travel device, the laptop also becomes a backup for basic computer functions.

All of which is a long winded way of asking for any of your thoughts out there as to the right sort of machine to get. Given the basic condition that it is cheapish and has wireless connectivity and an optical drive. Any bad experiences? Any really good ones?

Why yes, I am using you as an information resource. You got a problem with that then?

Comments

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I still like my eeepc, if that helps.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

It does help. An eee of some sort is certainly an option I was thinking about. The only thing is that there now seem to be something like 23 different models (http://event.asus.com/eeepc/comparison/eeepc_comparison.htm).

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

My stepfather had an XP one and it wasn't nearly as fast or convenient as the Linux (and it was a memory pig), but it interfaces better with Microsoft stuff.

I'd also be careful of the heavier ones. They have a bunch more capacity etc, but are just not nearly as easy to lug round. The lighter end with the bigger keyboards are the ones I'd be looking at, if I wanted to replace my own.

The biggest inconvenience of mine is the battery life. It's suppsoed to be 2 hours or so, but will work up to 3.5, depending on what programs I use. It's too little though.

Those are the things I'd use to make my choice, but I may not use the same programs as you. In fact, I most use it for net (and even use webmail on it, so I don't tangle up my files) and for Word. It's my travel computer, simply.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

When I was thinking last year I was looking pretty much at lightweight travel with some media playing capability - that made the eee a very strong contender. But now with this "backup" role, it really has to be windows and hard disk. That means an eee is still an option since even the largest is still pretty small (which is a factor) but it has more competition.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

It depends on how much you need to backup. I can fit all my backup on 6 gigs, so I use a stickthingie (it also means I can keep working on a novel wihtout complicated manouevres). My cousin needed 80 gigs and so he had to rethink the eeepc.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I have external USB hard disks which will (and currently do) handle my data backups. Application function backup is something I need to size - some of the software I need is pretty fat.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

Those 23 choices are dropping like flies...

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Yes, although fat applications is a relative term. The whole of MS office occupies about the same space as say one episode of BSG or Dollhouse.

[clockworkflight.livejournal.com]

If the optical drive's not a dealbreaker, I have a 901 which I'm very happy with. Wireless is good.

I have Xandros which is great if (like me) it's not your main computer and just want to use the web/word process and it's great if you want to do a lot of tweaking to get it how you want, but if you're in between I'm not sure I'd recommend though I know someone who's got something which looks like Ubuntu (I think it's called easy squeezy) installed as the OS which seems to take care of that.

I wouldn't get older than the 901, personally, because the horizontal scrolling would drive me mad. And I think testing the keyboard is a good plan - I have friends who find it too small.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about the necessity of the optical drive actually in the machine. I do need one but I'm thinking that as long as I can network share one or plug in one externally then that would do the trick for my requirements.

Good point about horizontal scrolling - I hadn't thought about that and it would certainly drive me mad too. Yes, testing keyboards is always a good plan.

[bytheseaside.livejournal.com]

The evil, expensive piece of crap I'm using right now is an HP.


All right. After it caused me so many headaches when I bought it at the start of last year, it seems to have been mostly fine since then. Sometimes I think it likes to taunt me - and I'm pretty sure it's not running as fast as it should. But HP help desk is such an awful experience as long as it's actually running, I'm not saying anything.

But it's pretty. The prettiest computer I've ever seen.

No, I would not recommend HP.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Thank you - you have confirmed my inclinations there. My work computer is an HP and I have no great love for it at all.

[russellk.livejournal.com]

I'd be very nervous about relying on a laptop for backup. Yes, I know it's better than *no* backup, but a quarter of them are stolen every year and most of the rest have problems.

You can get a 500GB hard disk for not much more than $150. Set it up for hourly wireless backups and you'll never have to think about it again.

Then again, I know jack about computers, so I shouldn't have sounded so certain...

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Nerves noted.

I'm thinking about two different backup concerns here. One is the data & history (e.g. emails) area. That I have covered with an external hard disk (well 3 of them actually but that is a different story).

The other is what I would describe as a backup processor. Right now I only have one machine in the house and I'm quite dependent on it. I.e. I want a machine to use when the main desktop machine falls over. Something to plug those external disks into if I have to. So I'm thinking laptop covers that area plus the travel and portable media player requirements that I have.

[lobelet.livejournal.com]

I love my Eee but I'd be the first to admit that the keyboard is too small for sustained use. I've written several (fairly long) articles on it, but I have quite small hands and very slim fingers and even I find long typing sessions on it quite tiring. Yes, you could plug in a full size USB keyboard, but bang goes the portability. Also, if you want to play any media on it, you will need to carry around some external drives of some kind (optical or proper disks) and almost certainly some speakers since the internal speakers are pretty crap and the volume level they are capable of producing is low and tinny.

I've no idea how Windows copes with the Eee, but under linux it's pretty easy to tweak the display so that you've got maximum real estate which (almost) eliminates scrolling. But the fonts tend to be very small (crisp and clear and legible, but still very small). You might find this tiring.

As far as "proper" laptops are concerned, every time I've needed one I've simply gone to Dick Smith's and bought the cheapest they had in stock (well, as long as it looked pretty as well). I've never been disappointed. I've had a Toshiba and an Asus and both are still going strong.

You won't be able to get any machines running XP any more; they'll all be vista machines. So go for the fastest processor you can find and make sure to have at least 2G of RAM. Vista *will* work with 1G RAM, but it won't like it and neither will you. That might put the price up a bit.

It's also a good idea to check out the specials on the Dell web site. You often get bargains there. A lot of people don't like Dell, but we use them exclusively at work (both desktops and laptops) and we've never had any significant trouble with them. And believe me, we treat them rough!

On the other hand, if you *do* need a repair, the fact that there is no "physical" shop to take it to can be a nuisance and will involve you in lots of adventures with courier companies. Make sure to keep the original packaging...

That, perhaps, is another reason to go somewhere like Dick Smith. I've always found their after sales service to be first class.

My 2c

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

People are hitting all my question areas.

I did go into Dick Smith on sunday. They (Asus & Toshiba) seemed a bit pricey compared to an equivalent Dell. At least I think they were equivalent. The Dell site isn't as good about tech specs as it used to be - you can go the the Dell USA site which has more details but you never know if the machines are the same.

I have bought a couple of Dell desktops and have been very happy. So am interested to hear that their laptops are at a similar level.

Ooh yeah Vista. OK a lot of the problems have been sorted but that is a consideration. Windows 7 is still 6 months away from full release.