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What should I look for when buying a new Laptop?

post #1 of 7
7/2/11 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 

So I'm not really that educated on the tech specs..

 

When looking for laptops though I see a few main specs:

 

the processor, harddrive, ddram

 

What are the best processors/best laptop brands..

 

What's enough harddrive/ddram space if I just want to surf the internet/watch videos etc..

 

And finally do you have a suggestion on an affordable laptop for me? I want to spend maybe $800 max, 13-14' screen

 

Thanks!

 

(also if you can drop some knowledge about how to tell which processors are faster (intel or amd) etc. that would be great too)

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post #2 of 7
7/3/11 at 8:42am
. Any 2GHz (or above) processor is good. Intel core duo seems to run cooler
. best brands? can't tell ya - for each one there is always the negative crowd
. 3GB ram is cool to start with current OS like Windows 7
. 250GB disk space is plenty unless you are into saving / downloading everything that you come across
. ...

cheers ...
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post #3 of 7
7/3/11 at 1:07pm
I would recommend buying a notebook with an AMD Fusion processor. They are likely to be a bit less expensive than similar computers with Intel i3 / i5 / i7 processors and they have better graphic performance, especially when multitasking.

The capacity of hard drive you need really depends on how much digital information you plan to store on your computer. For example, my computer has a 128GB Solid State Drive, which provides enough space for the approximately 60GB of information I currently have stored on it. Most of this information in my case (30GB) is music. If you take a lot of pictures or videos or want to keep lots of movies on your computer or if you plan to do a lot of graphic or video editing or creation, then you will need a lot more space. Notebook hard drives typically have between 250GB to 500GB capacity, although you can buy hard drives up to a terabyte (1000GB) if you need the space.

Regarding the amount of memory needed, I would say 2GB is an absolute minimum and I would recommend 4GB, and possibly more if you expect to be heavily multitasking or using intensive programs.
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post #4 of 7
7/4/11 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the help.  I actually just purchased a laptop.  I want to know if I got a good deal.

 

Order summary
Item description   Product # Qty. Unit
Price		 Your
extended
price
HP Pavilion g4t customizable Notebook PC
  • • charcoal grey
  • • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
  • • Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-370M Processor (2.40 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) + Intel(R) HD Graphics
  • • 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
  • • FREE Upgrade to 500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
  • • No Additional Office Software
  • • No additional security software
  • • 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (standard) - Up to 4.25 hours of battery life +++
  • • 14.0" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768)
  • • SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
  • • HP Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone
  • • 802.11b/g/n WLAN
  • • Standard Keyboard
  • • HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
Estimated build date: July 13, 2011 		This item ships free LN108AV 1 $589.99 $459.99
Summary of discounts for order H118293410
Instant discounts you received:
$100.00  Laptop instant rebate
$30.00  Coupon
Order subtotal $459.99
Shipping
(Standard 5-7 Business Days)		 FREE
Estimated ship date:
Your customized HP Pavilion g4t customizable Notebook PC will be
built by July 13, 2011
 
 AK Tax $0.00
  Grand total $459.99

 

 

Thanks guys!

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post #5 of 7
7/4/11 at 9:03pm
That's a very good price. How is the warranty?

cheers ...
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post #6 of 7
7/4/11 at 9:13pm
Thread Starter 

1 year?

 

HP Total Care provides award-winning service and support for your computer, in or out of warranty. From services that supplement or extend your warranty to expert consultation and installation, we have you covered.

During your standard limited warranty period you'll get:
 

  • Technical assistance via on-line chat, e-mail, or phone
  • One year of parts and labor coverage, including customer-replaceable parts, return of equipment to HP, and authorized service provider options1
  • One year of 24 x 7 toll-free technical support in English or Spanish
  • One year of limited toll-free software tech support

In addition, HP Support Assistant, a preinstalled application, can help you maintain your PC and resolve problems:
 

  • Automate routine tasks like receiving software/driver updates, tuning up your PC
  • Get help in a variety of ways (e.g., self-help, tech support)
  • Troubleshoot problems using built-in diagnostic tools
  • Quickly find product specifications


Not too bad right?

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post #7 of 7
7/4/11 at 9:16pm
Not bad at all, along with the good price you got yourself a good deal thumbup.gif

cheers ...
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