I need a new laptop

[Helga]

I need a new laptop, I am a complete idiot when it comes to computer. Just this winter I managed to download a huge virus, throw out the internet and all the baby pictures of my son, yes you can laugh at me but it wasn't funny at the time!

Now, my laptop is a Toshiba satellite pro and I am told by a lot of people that they are not good. I do not trust the people in computer stores so I am asking you guys if you know anything about computers and your experience with the kind you own or have owned.

I am looking for a laptop that will be good in University. dosen't need to have anything extra like a dvd or cd player or burner because I would use the Toshiba for that. I have been looking into Acer and Packard Bell, also I am trying to keep it a bit on the cheaper side.

any help would be great!

[Emil Miller]

You could try Dell which is considerably cheaper than others because it is delivered and not sold in store. I haven't had personal experience of them but I know that some large organisations use them to save on cost.
My own computer is a Hewlett Packard PC which has done good service but when I bought it, Windows XP, that I had been using, was no longer available and I had to go through the process of learning the Vista format which was quite different. It is not as user friendly as XP but has built in security software that compliments my Norton anti-virus programme and has been useful even though it slows the computer down. Viruses are a constant problem ( if I had my way, anyone propagating them would be executed and I am not joking) that is why I never download anything extraneous, no matter what they are offering or how it's dressed up, unless it is signalled as OK by the anti-virus protection.

[MystyrMystyry]

How cheap? There are usually used ones on university noticeboards that are perfectly functional for wordprocessing, picture viewing/editing and surfing the net. And a good new one would be at least $500, anything cheaper and you'd be looking at substandard components

Okay - so I'm in your shoes and I need a [new] lightweight inexpensive computer for university studies that handles all the basics and then some with which I can still surf the net and download research...

Probably the latest iPad, just because I saw one the other day and it really was quite nifty - bright screen, no moving parts, though it's Apple not pc and I haven't looked into it as of this writing, but I imagine documents would be transferable through usb stick to the Toshiba

For surfing the net in safety from viruses get Comodo Firewall and avast! antivirus

Though you didn't say exactly what the prob was with the Satellite, what I have is an external hard drive, and when I suspect something odd happening with my computer I dump everything to it and run a scan - I can't describe the intricacies and the slight hassle of my method (because of space and time and boredom considerations), but I haven't lost any data in years, and also since discovering avast! I haven't had any actual problems in more than a year anyway

What all laptops and notebooks potentially suffer from is disc overheating because there isn't space for a fan - there's only a pseudo 'electrostatic' fan that doesn't actually blow fresh cool air over the drive - just the hot air that's already accumulated in the case

Back to the question - Brand isn't everything, but you have to be prepared to Goggle a few reviews because there are so many options, and you'd also want to make sure it's a reasonably new model (last eight months would be my limit)

Anyway, good luck

[Helga]

my laptop was the last one in the store when I bought it, the oldest model. I had no idea that mattered.

what is wrong with it now is that the plug in thing seems to be loose, the one inside the computer and if I get it plugged in and it connects I can't move the computer. also it is reallllllly slow I have had everything done to change that but nothing happens. the plug in problem was on my old toshiba laptop too and they said it wouldn't be worth it to have it fixed.

the thing is when you are not looking to buy a really big expensive computer the sales men don't seem to be interested enough to guide you right, that has been my experience anyway...

but how much memory and speed and hard drive and all that do you need for a laptop?...

I really hate computers

[Emil Miller]

I was trying to do something on my computer yesterday and it nearly drove me mad before I discovered that it couldn't be done, even though I'd done something similar before. I said out loud " I hate computers". So you are not alone. The thing I hate about them most, is that when you buy one you have to have the whole software package, even though you are only ever going to use a fraction of the gizmo's included. There should be basic packages for normal people and multi gizmo software for the geeks. It would make life so much easier.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Well, I'm not an expert, but I'd say if you are just looking for a general laptop for university, essays, browsing the internet, etc, then you don't need much at all. Even the bottom range laptops are going to be pretty good for all of that. Really, most average laptops come with massive memory now, so much that you're never going to use it all, even if you stored a load of media up on it and even a bottom range laptop is going to give you lightning connection speeds in comparison to a say, four year old laptop (like mine, though even that is good enough).

I tell you what though, I work with a top bunch of IT guys, if you want to send me a link with a laptop you are thinking of buying I can tell you (via them) if it is any good for the price. They steered me to a top PC, doubling the power of the one I was about to originally buy unknowingly. Go online and look around and send me a link if you want.

Oh, I agree with Brian, the people who do viruses are the absolute scum of the earth.

[Shalot]

I recommend NOT buying an Acer. Those always seem to be on the low end of the price range, but the keyboard is terrible.

I use a mouse with a laptop. How weird is that? Anyway, the USB port always seems to come on the wrong side of most all laptops (for my preference) so it makes using the mouse cumbersome because the cord has to go around the back of it. Don't know if you would have this weird problem or not. But, if you order your laptop from Dell, you can customize that and many other things. So if you're picky about certain features I woud try Dell.

[Helga]

I was mainly looking at this one

http://nl.bruneautech.com/en/dot-se-615nl-atom-n450/LU.BPP0D.019/specifications

my brothers girlfriend bought it and loves it, but she only bought it a month ago so....


I don't get it why there are so many viruses out there! I downloaded one when I was trying to download the lord of the rings audiobook.

my brother has a friend who took my laptop once for a few days when I had thrown out the internet, man that was stupid, people are still laughing at me for that. anyway he 'cleaned' it and it was a bit faster but still it takes literally 4 minuets to get online and about 6 minuets to open itunes!

the worst thing though is that sometimes when I am on the internet it jumps to the last page I was on! I play the game bookworm a lot and when your like on level 12 and it jumps back and you loose everything I just want to throw it against the wall, but I don't... I just curse it.

Anyway this is a love/hate relationship

[MystyrMystyry]

Before you do anything download and install this

http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html


It should restore you internet speed

[TheFifthElement]

I have a Hewlett Packard, and it's always stood me in good stead. Nothing fancy, but it's a pretty decent brand.

If you're getting a Windows machine, you want Windows 2007. Skip Vista, it's rubbish.

[MarkBastable]

I have a Hewlett Packard, and it's always stood me in good stead. Nothing fancy, but it's a pretty decent brand.

If you're getting a Windows machine, you want Windows 2007. Skip Vista, it's rubbish.

I think that's a typo - do you mean Windows7?

[TheFifthElement]

I think that's a typo - do you mean Windows7?

Yes, that's what I meant. Getting confused between OS and Office. Anyway, yes, Windows 7 is good. The jury's still out on Office 2007 :D

[Helga]

everybody keep telling me to loose the vista, maybe I should listen.

[Haunted]

Macbook Air

it runs both Mac OS and Windows

And if you have an iPod (or iPod Touch), and if you ever get an iPad or iPhone, you can sync ALL your devices seamlessly with iTunes.

Apple offers educational discounts. Check it out.

[MystyrMystyry]

Yes! Vista is very slow and a resource hog, and generally bad - I didn't realise that was a main part of the problem! Just reformat to Xp (the cheapest option if you already have a copy) or get something with windows7 already on it (which should last you the next twenty years) seeng as you hate computers

Today I'm going to have a look at iPod Touch because apparently you can email, write essays, surf, shoot widescreen video, and listen to audiobooks and music all at the same time wherever you happen to be - sort of like a mini iPad - should be fun

[Haunted]

Today I'm going to have a look at iPod Touch because apparently you can email, write essays, surf, shoot widescreen video, and listen to audiobooks and music all at the same time wherever you happen to be - sort of like a mini iPad - should be fun

Yes the iPod Touch is in actuality a little computer. You can also make video calls using Facetime (over wifi). There are also free texting apps you can get. You can also get the Skype app and phone anyone in the world.

There are tons of iPhone apps that also works on the iPod Touch, giving it hundreds upon hundreds of additional functions.

It comes with the iBook store, all the classics are free.

I started a thread but have been slacking, here are some of the good stuff we talked about earlier.
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58640

[MarkBastable]

And if you have an iPod (or iPod Touch), and if you ever get an iPad or iPhone, you can sync ALL your devices seamlessly with iTunes.


You say that as if it were a given that it's a Good Thing.

I loathe Macs. Don't like the design, the interface, the price, the marketing, the lack of variation and the hivemind brand loyalty of Macolytes.

My wife has just bought an iMac. She loves that cool sleek monochrome thing they have going on there. So I've acquired a desktop PC with so much neon on it that it looks like a Wurlitzer jukebox in an Amsterdam brothel. It's fantastically vulgar and pisses her right off, not least because the cost of mine (which'll do practically everything short of the CGI for The Hobbit movie) plus the cost of the one I bought four years ago is less than the total price of the Beloved's iMac.

On top of which, of course, I'm not implicitly committing to purchases that will commercially and technologically align my computer with my MP3 player with my book-reader with my cell phone with my coffee percolator with my cable box with my house security system with my cardiac pacemaker with my wife's dildo so that they all talk to the in-transit streaming movie player in my hybrid people-carrier that can be charged from my garden sprinkler system.

[Haunted]

You say that as if it were a given that it's a Good Thing.

It is for me. I love the whole user experience.

That said I really didn't have a choice, the field I work in are Mac oriented. No one wants to touch a PC file. Over the years I realized how lucky I have been. Just about every one of my PC friends had to replace their PCs, they die on them, virus and whatnot. My G4 from 2000 is still kicking.

Two of my friends who are IT pros working on the Windows platform love the Mac for its superior operating system, so it's not just looks.


My wife has just bought an iMac. She loves that cool sleek monochrome thing they have going on there. So I've acquired a desktop PC with so much neon on it that it looks like a Wurlitzer jukebox in an Amsterdam brothel. It's fantastically vulgar and pisses her right off, not least because the cost of mine (which'll do practically everything short of the CGI for The Hobbit movie) plus the cost of the one I bought four years ago is less than the total price of the Beloved's iMac.

On top of which, of course, I'm not implicitly committing to purchases that will commercially and technologically align my computer with my MP3 player with my book-reader with my cell phone with my coffee percolator with my cable box with my house security system with my cardiac pacemaker with my wife's dildo so that they all talk to the in-transit streaming movie player in my hybrid people-carrier that can be charged from my garden sprinkler system.


I got an iPhone 4 last year and life hasn't been the same since then. I'm looking to get a home security system that I can monitor on my iPhone. I also want to get thermastats with iPhone controls that I can turn the thermastats up or down without getting off my butt.

[Scheherazade]

Hi Helga,

I am a little late coming into this discussion but I have an Asus Eee PC since the beginning of 2009 and I can very easily say that it's been my best computer buy so far (I have been a computer user since 1994!)

It was very reasonably priced (I think it was around £250 at the time), got more than enough memory than I will ever need and, most importantly, the battery life is 4 hrs. The excellent thing is that after 2 years, it still runs for 4 hours on battery.

Because it is so compact, I can very easily carry it around in an ordinary handbag even (and I do!). True that it does not have a CD drive but I got an external drive for less than £50 so I even watch movies and such on it without much hassle.

I'd really recommend it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-netbook-1-66GHz-battery-Windows/dp/B003PS45P0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300126080&sr=8-1

[Janine]

Yes! Vista is very slow and a resource hog, and generally bad - I didn't realise that was a main part of the problem! Just reformat to Xp (the cheapest option if you already have a copy) or get something with windows7 already on it (which should last you the next twenty years) seeng as you hate computers

Today I'm going to have a look at iPod Touch because apparently you can email, write essays, surf, shoot widescreen video, and listen to audiobooks and music all at the same time wherever you happen to be - sort of like a mini iPad - should be fun

Mystyr, I have the iPod Touch and not sure now how I lived without it. It's a wonderful little device that does a lot for the money. Be sure and get the 32 GB - you will be surprised how fast you can fill it up. I copy videos from YT and I watch whole movies and miniseries on there. It's great for audiobooks and there is many free apps for the sites and many free book downloads. I don't know about writing essays on there - the keyboard is so small but it would fine for notes or short emailing.

Helga, As far as the computer is concerned I agree with Fifth. I don't have a laptop, but a HP desktop and I love it. I have a fairly large harddrive (500GB) and 3GB's of Ram....could even upgrade that easily. The Packard Bell you are looking at in laptop form seems nice but 1GB of Ram seems way too small for me. My son recently bought a HP laptop - duel core with Windows 7 and he loves it and before that he was not keen on HP's. He streams many things from it to his TV set downstairs. He is good at this sort of thing. A bit of advice: no matter what type computer you own, you have to keep it maintainced and up to date on drivers and systematic updates. You also have to, from time-to-time, clean out old download files, or things get quite sluggish. It's not hard to do and it's worth all the efforts. From what I can see in the ads HP are pretty reasonable for laptops. I would not go with a Dell, since I know several people had complaints with it and Acer is just too cheap. The Mac's are the best perhaps, but one needs to re-educate yourself, if you have never owned one. The prices are too high for me personally...and you said you wanted something reasonably conservative for your needs.

Another bit of advice to you, is to always back-up, especially pictures - how sad to think you lost those of your child. You can backup several ways - join an online site like Snapfish, Photobucket, or Shutterfly and keep the bulk of you photos there, along with the ones on your computer. The easiest way to back up your entire computer as well, is to buy a backup drive (external)...they are really reasonable in price now and worth their weight in gold. I have a Maxtor and I back up now and then to insure I never lose a thing. I unplug it after each backup. I came close to loosing stuff on my last computer, so I learned my lesson. You can also burn a DVD backup disk. I do that as well and label it the dates I backed it up. I think if you take your current HD to a tech you can get the photos back...it's possible. I thought I lost a lot of stuff and I had a tech burn it all to a DVD and it was mostly all there; even my music. I would have died if I had lost precious photos and douments.

I hope these ideas help you. Go to the store and physically look at the computers and ask to use them. I did that many times until I made up my mind which one I wanted in the end. So far (knock on wood) this computer has been great.

[MarkBastable]

For backup, take a look at Carbonite (http://www.carbonite.co.uk/?couponcode=GoogleUK&utm_campaign=Branded_-_Exact_-_UK&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=Trademark&utm_term={QueryString}&match=e&adnumber=8012268541&mkwid=sOdeqTe1T&gclid=CO350PzC0KcCFQoZ4QoduAHyCw). It backs up automatically any file or directory you want, and there's no limit to the volume of disk space you can consume.

Also, if you go for it, feel free to name me as the reference ([email protected]) and I'll get a free month or two.

[Janine]

For backup, take a look at Carbonite (http://www.carbonite.co.uk/?couponcode=GoogleUK&utm_campaign=Branded_-_Exact_-_UK&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=Trademark&utm_term={QueryString}&match=e&adnumber=8012268541&mkwid=sOdeqTe1T&gclid=CO350PzC0KcCFQoZ4QoduAHyCw). It backs up automatically any file or directory you want, and there's no limit to the volume of disk space you can consume.

Also, if you go for it, feel free to name me as the reference ([email protected]) and I'll get a free month or two.

Mark, that looks good but it's $41.00 a year. My Maxtor was under $100. and I have had it many years now. It holds 500GB which is still not filled up. You can get a cheaper one now - many good brands and they will hold TB's. I think that is the more ecomonical.

[MystyrMystyry]

I just bought a 2 tb for $100 - because it was cheap and I need it for working with video, but I think Mark's suggestion is a good solution if it's about keeping costs to the bare minimum, though there are completely free options as well

http://www.freewebspace.net/free/Free-file-hosting

http://www.adrive.com/

for example


Just Google 'file storage' for a thousand others