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Future proof?

post #1 of 6
8/10/05 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
I'm purchasing a faculty computer for a small school with out a lot of money so I was hoping to acquire a notebook as future proof as possible to give it a chance to last about 5 to 6 years, but still within a budget.

We do have an in with microsoft and when Vista comes out we probably will switch. I'm aware that Vista will probably come in 32 bit also.

I'm not even completely sure of all the potential uses but a decent graphics card I plan on getting with the machine, along with around 2.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM or so.

So I am looking hard at the Compaq r4000, Athlon, Radeon 200M pressario.

Better future proofing startegy: 64bit vs. best performance for the money.

So my question: is trying to future proof as much as possible with a 64bit processer going to be worth doing at all? Or is this going to limit me a lot in what notebooks I can purchase, keeping me from better performing books, which may be more important for future proofing?

I hope this isn't too confusing. Thanks.
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post #2 of 6
8/10/05 at 3:43pm
Its a waste of money to try to future proof. There is no gaurantee that Vista will make it by end of year 2006 and even if it did, the new revolutionary file system (that's supposed to win over the Mac users supposably) has been removed from the Vista launch and will debut on its own timetable as possibly an add-on or (most probably) part of a service pack in mid 2007 (Microsoft claims so its very likely that will also change :P).

The only really other cool features will be the new graphics engine (its more like a new platform really as opposed to a new and improved Direct X engine upgrade) is not something that school's would normally be interested in having on their computers.
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post #3 of 6
8/10/05 at 4:22pm
Buy a mid-range laptop one sale (1100-1200$). Two years later, sale it and buy the mid-range lapto one sales.
Buying the super notebook will cost you 2500-3000$. Do you really need that type of technology now ? And in two years, it will probably be the mid-range. It is impossible to buy future-proof for 5-6 years. Do not throw all your money in one shoot, buy what you need and upgrade or change.
It is like taking a 1 day long bath once a year insted of a daily shower.
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post #4 of 6
8/10/05 at 4:29pm
The 64-bit is just a waste of money right now. By the time everything is in 64-bit, you will need a new computer. Also, don't get the 64-bit just because you want to run Windows Vista. After all, there will be a 32-bit version, and anyway, you need to allow them time after the public release to fix all the common problems and such. If I was looking for a power notebook, I would definately not look at Compaq. Try looking at some other brands with AMD, if you absolutely must have 64-bit. If not, with coupons, Dell turns out to be the best bang for the buck.
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post #5 of 6
8/10/05 at 5:07pm
the only thing in this universe that is future-proof is the past
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post #6 of 6
8/10/05 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darthladys
I'm purchasing a faculty computer for a small school with out a lot of money so I was hoping to acquire a notebook as future proof as possible to give it a chance to last about 5 to 6 years, but still within a budget.

We do have an in with microsoft and when Vista comes out we probably will switch. I'm aware that Vista will probably come in 32 bit also.

I'm not even completely sure of all the potential uses but a decent graphics card I plan on getting with the machine, along with around 2.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM or so.

So I am looking hard at the Compaq r4000, Athlon, Radeon 200M pressario.

Better future proofing startegy: 64bit vs. best performance for the money.

So my question: is trying to future proof as much as possible with a 64bit processer going to be worth doing at all? Or is this going to limit me a lot in what notebooks I can purchase, keeping me from better performing books, which may be more important for future proofing?

I hope this isn't too confusing. Thanks.
Future proof is a joke on laptops but in your situation, your GPU will be the largest limiting factor as everying is demanding more and more graphic power nowaday while even a Pentium III will have no problem dealing with your day to day office applications. I would recommanf getting the fastest GPU in your budget with at least 1GB of RAM and a large HD. The CPU is totally secondary so even a P-M 1.6 would be plenty. Oh even that don't expect it to last more than 4 years as components like the LCD backlight and the HD will most probably die or just about to by then.
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