General Laptop Advice From An Old Pro.

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Hi, and thank you for such a wonderful break down on the subject of laptops, i.e. the low end ones. i was trying to decide on two laptops based on there specs, and with the help of your breakdown on things, i was able to determine that the Toshiba Satellite Black 15.6" C655D-S5084 Laptop was the superior choice due to its ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 card inside. although the acer i was looking at had greater specs when it came to processing, ram as well as hard drive space, most if not all of those items can be upgraded to better parts of the same type. the acer that i was interested in had an intel 4500m i think it was, and according to reviews by gamers, intel absolutely sucks when it comes to gaming, as stated by you as well (i think). feel welcome to judge which one i should get, as i will post the specs below:

Toshiba Satellite Black 15.6" C655D-S5084 Laptop $398.00
* AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Mobile P340 processor 2.20Ghz, 1MB L2 Cache
* 3GB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
* 250GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats
* 10/100 Ethernet LAN; 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Certified
* ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics with 256MB-1405MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory

Acer Aspire AS5736Z-4016 Laptop $428.00
* Intel Pentium Processor T4500 2.30Ghz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB
* 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel SDRAM Memory
* 320GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
* 8X DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
* 10/100/1000 Gigabet Ethernet LAN; 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Certified
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M with up to 1759MB total graphics memory

Thanks, any comments will be greatly appreciated.
 
The graphics card ranks in as one of the best single cards out there (laptop only) so it will be fine. My concern for that is the CPU but for that price, grab it.

That said, if you want a desktop replacement, you have to check out the ASUS G73. That 17.3" laptop is a beast!
 

wow thanks for the suggestion i can get one from best buys site for the same price as the MSI one. I was also considering this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220755 as its been shown a few times and i like the specs on it. How dose it stack up to the ASUS G73 as far as gaming performance?
 
I'd argue that some brands are worth paying a bit more for - but more so for warranties and customer service than for hardware.

I don't think this is a good generalization. Most laptop hard drives, disk drives, and RAM can be upgraded/replaced by Average Joes. If the CPU isn't soldered in, it can be upgraded as well. Even LCDs can be upgraded (with sufficient know-how), if deemed worthwhile. The only major parts can't be upgraded (feasibly) are the motherboard and GPU.
But your advice is well-rounded otherwise. Good stuff.

You probably don't want to invite specific laptop questions if you're looking to have your thread stickied. :kaola:
 


That thing is a piece of junk compared to the G73. Yes it has a Phenom Quad but it is only a 1.6. The ASUS has a 1.73 with turbo-boost to 2.93!
Next comes RAM, which is 4GB of 1066MHz in the K52 while the G73 (while there are different models) has minimum 6GB 1366MHz RAM.
The G73 can have up to two drive bays which means more than 500GB space (again depending on the model).
The real item of interest here is the graphics card. The G73 has a 5870M, as it said before, that is one of the best single cards on the market for laptops. The 5730M is still a good gaming card but it is nothing compared to the 5870.
If you are looking for a desktop replacement, you will want a larger screen. The K52 has a 15" screen (K-model, 5-size, 2-generation) while the G73 has a 17.3" screen.

If you CAN get the G73 then you SHOULD get the G73. It is all about how much you are willing to spend but I tell you this.
The K52 and G73 are by no means similar laptops.
 
Thank you for all the information, I have found it very useful to read through these comments. I'm trying to buy a laptop for my inlaws (in their 80's) and have found the following at John Lewis (a very reputable store that my mother-in-law loves!). I would really appreciate you opinion on whether there is any difference between the following laptops and if the price is reasonable. I feel quite nervous buying this as it is a lot of money for them to spend and I'm NOT a computer expert. They want to do basic business/surfing/talking to their son in Australia, so I'll have to add a webcam. Thanks in advance - off now to find out how much a replacement battery costs! Thanks again for the top tips.

Toshiba Satellite C660D-10W Laptop, AMD Sempron, 250GB, 2.3GHz, 2GB RAM with 15.6 Inch Display
£319.95
Toshiba Satellite C660-15 Laptop, Intel Celeron Dual, 320GB, 2.1GHz, 2GB RAM with 15.6 Inch Display
£339.95
p.s there is a timing issue as VAT will go up in the new year so they are anxious to buy now.



 

Definitely the Toshiba. Not only is it less expensive, it will actually play a good number of games (even if they're at minimum settings) while the Acer will not. That Intel GMA will be an Albatross around your neck. :sol:
 
Yeah, I'm waiting for the shipping for it to kick in. I did my homework and thankfully I got the right one, for the best price. (walmart wise, anyways). Looking forward to gta 4, and if not that then gta San andreas haha.
 

Yeah, that will do it. That Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is a monster as far as laptops is concerned. Just don't be expecting it to perform like a desktop HD 5870. Desktop cards weigh as much as netbooks...lol
 

Well, if they're in their 80s, I think that for their uses, either laptop will do the job and make them happy. Having said that however, I think that this laptop would be more suitable because it has a webcam for only £10 more. A separate webcam would cost you at least that anyway and this one is integrated so they won't have to install drivers or worry about where the webcam is located. The extra GB of RAM won't hurt either:
http://www.johnlewis.com/231050652/Product.aspx
I hope this aids you well. :sol:
 



I wonder if they might not get confused with all the junk that comes courtesy of Toshiba - don't get me wrong, I'm on my third one and their great machines but all the Easy this and Config that which comes with them are mighty resource hogs.

The HP looks good but an Acer or Advent would suit their purposes - either from John Lewis or Staples - would come in at less that £320 and still include a webcam.

All that said, some of my 80 something year old customers are on their PCs and laptops day and night, flying all over the world on Google Earth, sharing music and pictures and chatting for hours on Skype or Logitech Vid. 😀

 

I had put the wrong link, you answered it before I could fix it. It's an Acer, not an HP. And that said, Jacks2011 was very specific about what it would be used for, or did you not read his post? Also, bloatware is not restricted to Toshiba. This is why I generally spend an hour with a new laptop getting rid of the crap regardless of what brand it is.:sol:
 



I think it's fairly plain to see that I read it. My point was to show how expectations change once someone gets their first computer - however old they may be perceived to be. I build cheap computers for people even older than I am and to keep costs down, install Linux. It isn't unusual to get an e-mail a few months later asking questions about Command Line work and other Terminal functions outside the GUI.

Age is not a barrier to anything and Jacks2011's relatives may well surprise him.

 

Oh I agree totally. Computers are some of the most interesting and addictive things on the planet. I'm a walking result of it! LOL When people start to realise that there is literally nothing that an x86-based machine cannot do these days, they get interested VERY quickly. The thing is, this guy wanted a cheap laptop and of course, I don't like the fact that laptops can't be upgraded but I can see that they're very useful for a lot of people, especially seniors for whom a big heavy tower might be too cumbersome. I don't believe in sinking any real money into a laptop because I'd rather buy more desktop components and throw them in my tower. :sol:
 



Thanks for your replies and for the extra comments from Saga Lout, they have all been very useful (i'm their daughter-in-law by the way). I am completely open to them become major Internet surfers but they live in a small house packed with furniture and no room for the box and screen etc. On top of this they can only heat one room efficiently and that doesn't have a table or room for one!
The reason I went for the Toshiba was that it came out as the least likely to break down, I have read your opener and appreciate they are all the same under the skin but still cling to a thread that it might be better. I need to since I live 60 miles away and would be the only person to help if it breaks down. Perhaps I will try Staple as I've just read they offer a telephone help option and if that's rubbish at least I could deal with it on the phone.
Sorry I couldn't reply sooner but the urgency was taken out of my hands and I've been laid out with flu for 3 days so Vat no longer an issue.
Thanks again for all your help. I'll continue to read the thread as it seems to be most intelligent discussions I've encountered so far. Happy new year. :)
 
One final comment, I know that for some computers are easy but I have to say that for others they remain cussed and arbitrary e.g. why does my laptop connect to my mums wireless effortlessly and yet refuses to do so to mine! I have a a job and children that take up all my time and sorting these things out becomes secondary and never seems to get done. Although as the children get older I will have to do it at some point! I have two laptops neither of which works perfectly and I have neither the time or energy to make them perfect so I have to deal with them and all their foibles. Still once again thank you for the clear advice and help.
 
Hi again, so much for final comments! I've just been to Staples and found this http://www.staples.co.uk/technology/pcs-and-laptops/laptops/presario-cq56-101sa-15-6-hd-led-brightview-display-intel-celeron-900-2gb-ddr2-250gb-sata-5400-rpm-intel-graphics-4500-sata-optical-drive----includes-free-mcafee-internet-security-software. What do you think? I'm a little worried that it's not covered by their 30 day returns policy.
Cheers.
 



I can't make that link work but I saw enough of the make and model to say it's a good one - sadly I couldn't find Staples' price but I can assure you that VAT doesn't go up in Britain until tomorrow so today would be a good day to shop.

Opinions on this will vary but I would ditch that free McAfee on day one and replace it with the equally free Microsoft Security Essentials and make sur ethe Windows firewall is turned on. McAfee is a resource hog which isn't worth the space it occupies.

As to returns policy, surely that's only for changes of mind. The warranty is unaffected and everything in the EU with an electric plug on it has a two year guarantee. Hard disks usually have three years - some have five.

Without wishing to appear patronising (I'm 64 myself) older people will find a conventional mouse easier than the built-in touchpad so while you're there, a fiver should buy a decent one - a little more for the wireless variety.

 
This is true. Older people tend to hate the touchpad, I know that everyone in my family who are baby boomers or older always use a mouse and complain about the touchpad (I honestly don't care either way)

As for Toshiba being the best... Walmart sells Toshiba. That doesn't mean that they're bad, but it sure doesn't make them the best. I've heard people say that they're high-maintenance (but I've heard people say that about all names). If you are set on getting a Toshiba, that's up to you. They are the same as everyone else but if you think that they are superior, you do so at your own risk. Remember that even if you've owned 10 laptops in our life, those experiences are a drop in the bucket as far as the laptop market is concerned and any experience you've had with laptops more than 2 years ago is completely irrelevant to today. :sol:
 
Great post. If buying a laptop for work (no gaming etc.) but I plan on connecting it to an external display w/ HDMI does it make a difference in clarity or resolution if it has an intergrated Intel HD graphics card or an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650? And if the laptop specs say 1366 x 768 is that all I'm gonna get on the external display as well?
 
Avro Arrow, I agree with literally 100% of everything you said. I work at Best Buy, and you and I think alike and that's word for word exactly how I recommend laptops. Brand is irrelevant, hardware depends on the person's needs, all of it. Good job sir.
 
WOW! nice! Thats a great post....I am looking to buy a laptop myself and am from India...The biggest problem is that these things cost a bomb here and we dont get to choose from as many models as customers in the US, UK or Australia do!

Anyways, i want a laptop for gaming, and as u've said, i'l just look for the power of the GPU...

But since prices are really prohibitive here,
I was looking at two options:

1.Lenovo y560p @ around 57000INR
2.ASUS n53sv (price unknown)

Are they good? I would like to play the recent games at med settings atleast!
Thanx!
 
This is a great post. I am thinking to buy a laptop and i mostly use it for mathematical calculations. So, if i haven't misunderstood, it would be better to buy a laptop with a intel processor, a lot of ram, and a fast hard drive. I am rigth? i would appreciate your advice.

Thanx!!!
 
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