Laptop buying advice.

Laptop is fail. Seems like I need a new one.

from WinCustomize Forums

Ok. I got a 17" HP AMD laptop and it's a pail of fail. My laptop speakers don't work. It's a major pain in the ass. Since this was a refurb and HP wants a fortune to fix the sumbitch, I'm now looking at a replacement. I've been shopping around and now I need some advice. I want a laptop to play around on the Intertubes and play music/movies and of course , run all the cool Stardock shit. I've been looking @ some 4GB Vista 64 bit models

I've gotten it down to a few models and I need some advice.

Model #1

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=73%2C74%2C75,4600&webid=764354&affixedcode=WW

$800 cdn

Pros. Dedicated video. inexpensive.

Cons. Standard 1280x800 4GB limit?

Model #2

http://www.acer.ca/acer/product.do?link=oln23g.redirect&changedAlts=&kcond5e.c2att92=474&CRC=617316481

$800cdn

Pros. Great styling , 16" screen ( 1366x768 ) Good sound ( subwoofer ) 2 year automatic warranty extension vis Costco

Cons. Shared video. Acer?4 GB limit.

for $250 more I can get an HP 15.4" laptop with a 9600m and 4GB and Blu-Ray. Not sure I need that.

Any ideas? Other models I need to look at?

Any other ideas? I'm in Canada

5,340 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Neither of your links work. :X First one asks for a Canadian postal code, second one redirects to the main Acer site.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

AMD and laptop do not make for a good combination. Acer makes goos sysems for the most part though I am not familiar with their laptops. Do you play games? If so you want dedicated video memory. The 9600 M is a good video subsystem.

Do you have an external monitor? if so pay attention to what resolution is supported on external as well as on internal. Again, this matters if you game much.

Also check cnet.com for reviews in the price range you want.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ended up with a cheap AMD based Toshiba 16" screened laptop

3GB RAM and shared video , but a max f 8GB and 64 bit Vista .. it's nice looking and sounding too. Has a sub-par ( but good enough for MSN  ) webcambut genereally I like it.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting TheD2JBug, reply 3
Ended up with a cheap AMD based Toshiba 16" screened laptop

3GB RAM and shared video , but a max f 8GB and 64 bit Vista .. it's nice looking and sounding too. Has a sub-par ( but good enough for MSN  ) webcambut genereally I like it.
End of TheD2JBug's quote

Sounds nice. I love ASUS laptops. We have several in our family and a few friends have bought them too and no one ever has a problem with them. Mines over three years old with a gig of ram and a little GeforceGo 7300 and Windows 7 flies along like the wind |-)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have a Sager laptop... works nicely... a bit pricey but it does what I need it to do.

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i would go for the acer,very reliable laptops.hade a n acer laptop and it never missed a beat.now have acer desktop for over a year and itsnever gave any problems.you get a lot for your money with an acer.davy from scotland

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The refurbed HP ........

If HP opened up the laptop to replace something inside, they probably failed

to re-connect the speaker wires. Download the appropiate manual from HP,

follow the procedure for taking the lid off to expose the guts and check the

speaker connection. :)