Searching for a new laptop.

BalefireX said:
Screens: The quality of a laptop screen varies from maker to maker, depending on who they source their panels from, and which panels they use. When you buy a laptop, the screen is important, as you can't change it out without buying a whole new laptop. One company's 14.1" TFT might be a crisp 1600x1200, another's might be a blurry 1024x768. Even in screens with apparently equal specifications; color reproduction, viewing angles, brightness, contrast, response rate, etc. vary, and as there are few official standards for measuring such specifications, different companies measure them different ways!

Processors: Ideally, the processor would be simple - get the fastest one and you're set. However, because of the way processors are designed, certain architectures (designs) are better at certain things. The different top end architectures most familiar to consumers are Pentium 4, Pentium M (often called "Centrino") Athlon 64, Turino, and PowerPC (Mac). They are optimized for running different types of programs, and for different levels of power consumption, and as a result the "fastest" processor depends on which application you're using! A processor that is fastest in Office Applications might not be the fastest in Games, and might eat batteries twice as fast as a processor only 5% slower in both games and office applications.

I could go on, the same applies to Video Cards, Hard Drives, etc.

Computer manufactuers know the specs that people look for (fast processor, lots of ram) and spend there while cutting corners other places - they want the best advertising bang for their buck.

By the way, that 99% Silver Paste is Arctic Silver 5:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm
and it costs about $8 for a tube good for 20 or so applications.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007
Click to expand...

Firstly, mr. cockroachfarm asked what the best laptop was '..if money is no object'. And if you're thinking about weight then you're not going to be getting the best laptop anyway. You'll just be getting something that'll do everything in a mediocre way. Same with power consumption. You want portable you won't get a laptop with the best performance. So you go with a P4 which sucks out power. and so on with the hard drive, graphics card etc. I may be wrong but a person looking for the best laptop 'money is no object' probably isn't looking too much in terms of weight or power saving. Most probably a desktop replacement notebook. But hey, if he's looking for a portable notebook then it won't be the fastest or most powerful one.

And...to me a good screen is a good screen. Doesn't matter what resolution. The best screen is the best screen. Simple.

And for processors, ram and graphics card. Other than a dual processor, what can really be better than a 3.8Ghz P4, with 4gb Ram and a 256mb X800 or Geforce 6800 on a laptop? I'm thinking try out Office applications or gaming and it'll still be the fastest one out there.

If you look at the high end manufacturers, they don't really cut corners since most of what you order is configurable. So you decide what you want. If you want an Alienware with 2 hard drives and 2 cd drives you can get that.

Anyway, to a certain extent i have to agree that it depends on what you're going to use it for. But a fast processor, ram and graphics card will get you 90% there.

BTW, yeah Arctic Silver is cheap. I think i used it on my wife's computer but i wonder how many companies actually use 'em in their computers. Probably the higher end manufacturers who custom build your pc but i'm thinking it's unlikely with mass produced notebooks.
 
Ok. Obviously we are looking at this from two different perspectives.
I see your "best" as the best for a certain person, one who doesn't care about battery life, weight, etc. However I realize that that's not what is best for me, or, IMO, what is best for most people who are looking for a laptop.
Given the requirements you're going by, what would I reccomend?
A Desktop.
 
BalefireX said:
Ok. Obviously we are looking at this from two different perspectives.
I see your "best" as the best for a certain person, one who doesn't care about battery life, weight, etc. However I realize that that's not what is best for me, or, IMO, what is best for most people who are looking for a laptop.
Given the requirements you're going by, what would I reccomend?
A Desktop.
Click to expand...

Desktop replacement :)
 
BalefireX said:
....you have to list your needs, which would probably be better served in a new thread :) ....
Click to expand...

You are right, of course. My apologies for the hijack. :o (But my question DID bring out some good info, for me anyway. Thanks! :) )
 
Vunderbar, at sygyzy! It's terribly easy to get opinions, but darn few of those are informed.

At least, MY opinions are generally based on prejudice and whim.. :D

But by golly, I do bleeve you actually know what the heck you're talking about.

Thank You.
 
good thing you saved ALL that money today


score

Kalooch 1 world 0
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top