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Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 12:44:32 PM

impishlilhellcat

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Okay So I am not computer savvy at all at least when it comes to buying an actual computer. Anways I am now in grad school and I need to get a new laptop and have no idea what I need or what I should look for.. This computer will really hold my whole life essentially for as long as it lasts i.e my dissertation, my class roles and grades for the classes I teach, etc... Sooooo Does anyone have any ideas of what I should get that will work well, be efficent, and not riddled with problems???

Thanks ya in advance
B

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 1:30:00 PM

SavageFaerie

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From: NYC
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Imp, I dont know the latest models.
I would suggest that it have a pretty big hard drive
With a full range of Office Works or something comparable
Lastly I was make damn sure it had the best security package on it.

I personally would pose this question to Gauge. He is about the biggest geek that I know of around here.

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 1:52:26 PM

captiveplatypus

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If you call Dell they will custom make one for you. Since you don't plan on gaming on it, I assume, you will only need a decent processor and decent amounts of memory. It's those gaming computers or graphic/music artist computers that get really pricey and complicated.

I'd ask for a CD burner either way, though, because if you like music at all, you will want one. Besides, I don't even think computers come with a:drives anymore, so to transfer information from your laptop to say a school computer, you will need to burn the information to cd or buy a usb jump-drive.

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 2:51:29 PM

Tamerofwild1s

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your gonna need a good size hard drive . 100G is usually good .... your gonna need the latest version of microsoft office . your gonna want windows XP ... since you like music you need a CD burner ... I would recommend a Zip drive for your dissertations since they can hold large amounts of text and can be re written over .... the new duocore pentiums are excellent and very reliable ..... and large amounts of Ram is good too. Don't need things jamming up on you

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 2:54:48 PM

cuddleheart50

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I wish I could help, but I'm a computer ninny.

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 3:31:41 PM

masterhyyde

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From: Manhattan
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I would suggest a dell unless graphics are an important factor in your schooling, then you need a mac.

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/20/2006 11:34:36 PM

Gauge

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Joined: 6/17/2005
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OK... since you are going to lay out several hundred bucks for a computer, you have to ask yourself a few questions first.

1. What am I mainly going to be doing with the computer?

2. How important is gaming or video performance to me?

3. Do I really need all the latest bells and whistles or can I get by with something that will do the job and be reliable?

Those are just a few questions to start with. The other things you should think about are the following things:

Having a big hard drive is great and chances are, with what you say you are going to use the computer for, you will never come close to filling it. So, the best advice... get whatever size you can afford.

How to backup your data. This is the biggest thing that I have run into when someone calls me and tells me their hard drive crashed... I ask them if they did regular backups of their data... almost everyone has said that they didn't. My rule of thumb is that if you store something on your computer that you would be very upset over losing, do regular backups of your critical information. There are many ways to do this now days and again it is what you can afford. a DVD burner would be ideal because DVD's can hold (I think) 4.5 or so gig of information, the dual layer DVD's can hold around 8 gig. Don't quote me because I am just recently getting into the whole DVD writing scene, but they are not hard to look up. A flash drive is nice especially if you are going to want to transfer data from one computer to another and do it quickly. A flash drive is a USB device that acts just like another hard drive in your computer except that you can remove it and install it very easily. Another thing for backups are external hard drives. They are what they sound like... a hard drive that attaches to your computer with a USB connection, you can buy them already made or you can buy the enclosure and the hard drive and make it yourself. Either way, it makes having a safe place for your critical data pretty easy.

Network and wireless network capability are pretty much standard with most laptops now so, just make sure that you do have one or the other. Both is a nice thing to have, so... if it costs you another $50 or so, get it.

Did I mention backing up your data?

Make sure that you get a decent printer, if you are mainly printing documents and they must be high quality a laser printer is the best. Inkjets will get the job done too but at a slightly lower quality. Get what you need and don't get sucked into a combination machine (printer, fax, copier) unless you really need it.

Oh yeah... two other things that are pretty much a must own are a high quality surge suppressor and an emergency battery backup. With a laptop, your battery should kick in if there is a power loss so the battery backup is not critical. The surge suppressor is though. Do not think that the ones that you can get at the Dollar store will do you any good. Most computer manufacturers sell them. This is an item that I will tell you that you should NEVER skimp on, so get the best that you possibly can. Register it and send in all the documentation that comes with it because most of the really good ones have a replacement policy if your equipment fails because of an electrical spike while using their product.

Did I mention data backups?

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me.

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 8:45:51 AM

Yang4yin

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From: NC (USA)
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... and the school probably has its own system requirements.

Instead of a Zip drive -- known for its "click of death" -- how about a USB "Jump Drive?" They are cheaper and more portable.

Based on horror stories told to me by several friends, I wouldn't buy a Dell.
Toshiba seems to be a good choice.

Edited for typo.

< Message edited by Yang4yin -- 8/21/2006 9:06:27 AM >

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 8

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 8:54:41 AM

beenwhipped

Posts: 191
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I echo many of Gauge's comments.

not sure he mentioned it but be sure you back up your data.

i personaly like DVD-RW for the backup again Gauge's numbers were correct, and as lone as you have the system disks, you dont need to backup the "Windows" folder so for most folks 8 gigs of backup is more than enough.

i personaly have no experience with the Zip drives, but i do have a 256 mb jump drive and i LOVE that damn thing.

I will echo Yang4Ying's comment about Dell, Toshiba is nice and so is Acer. (Acer mainly because i like the AMD processers better) Dell will be the cheaper option, but then there is a reason for the lower price, and it isnt the mass marketing

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 9:05:47 AM

mnottertail

Posts: 60698
Joined: 11/3/2004
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well, impster, you go down to the IT classes area, at night and go talk to the nerd tapping on keys....

tell him what you need and that you are a prof there and yadda yadda......

he will go to places like generalnanosystems on the web and grab components and put them together for you cheaper and more powerfully and efficiently than you can buy ready made...........it is a college for fucks sake.........use it.

And, he will probably do it for the geekyness aspect, especially if he is on work study.......and it won't even cost you even a mere blowjob, unless you demand that it does...........

Ron

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 9:08:12 AM

Yang4yin

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From: NC (USA)
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mnottertail

well, impster, you go down to the IT classes area, at night and go talk to the nerd tapping on keys....

tell him what you need and that you are a prof there and yadda yadda......

he will go to places like generalnanosystems on the web and grab components and put them together for you cheaper and more powerfully and efficiently than you can buy ready made...........it is a college for fucks sake.........use it.

Ron

That's good for a desktop, but a laptop/notebook? I don't think so.

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Post #: 11

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 9:10:36 AM

beenwhipped

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Joined: 5/14/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Yang4yin

That's good for a desktop, but a laptop/notebook? I don't think so.

still can be done, but i would go with a prebuilt system myself on a laptop.

I build my on desktops, damm laptop scares me.

(in reply to Yang4yin)

Post #: 12

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 9:12:30 AM

Yang4yin

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From: NC (USA)
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Beware of amy laptop that has a SONY battery in it.

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Post #: 13

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 12:39:39 PM

SohCahToa

Posts: 563
Joined: 3/17/2006
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Yeah get an exploding Dell laptop see link below. OK they don’t explode anymore but I found it funny none the less.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32550

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:16:29 PM

MissyRane

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Joined: 5/11/2005
Status: offline

I'm using dell laptop..aaaaand well yeh..I hate it..and did I meantion that I hate it? I'm planning on getting myself a new laptop

I've had enough of this one I'm using now.....
the problem with mac is that not all programs work on it..so the pc is usually better...I'm still thinking of getting myself a mac lol

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Post #: 15

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:20:43 PM

Saratov

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Surge supressor you can probably get at wally world(they have good ones w/ protection guarenty).
For what you say you will be doing, probably Win XP pro.

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Post #: 16

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:38:49 PM

impishlilhellcat

Posts: 4379
Joined: 3/26/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: captiveplatypus

If you call Dell they will custom make one for you. Since you don't plan on gaming on it, I assume, you will only need a decent processor and decent amounts of memory. It's those gaming computers or graphic/music artist computers that get really pricey and complicated.

I'd ask for a CD burner either way, though, because if you like music at all, you will want one. Besides, I don't even think computers come with a:drives anymore, so to transfer information from your laptop to say a school computer, you will need to burn the information to cd or buy a usb jump-drive.

I hate dell really I do they have terrible customer service and I had nothing but problems with my last lap top

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RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:43:06 PM

impishlilhellcat

Posts: 4379
Joined: 3/26/2006
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I was thinking about getting a mac.. Most of the Professors here use them and I'm just a lil ole TA and grad student but they seem really dependable and I haven't heard anyone complain about them. I'm more worried about what it is I am going to need for basic requirements I have no idea even where to start. I always back up the important stuff(put it on CD's because it's easiest for me and then keep a copy stored in my email in case I need to get to it in a pickle) I don't do gaming and won't on my laptop but I would like to be able to listen to music while I work or watch DVD's at night.. Any thoughts I that???

PS I HATE DELL :P

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Post #: 18

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:46:56 PM

beenwhipped

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Joined: 5/14/2006
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for a GOOD surge suppressor/ power strip expect to pay $40+ .

sure you can get them for 10-15 but they are trash only good for extra recepticles

edited cuz i think i put something wrong here and got rid of it

< Message edited by beenwhipped -- 8/21/2006 1:47:40 PM >

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Post #: 19

RE: Who knows where this goes. - 8/21/2006 1:50:13 PM

Yang4yin

Posts: 1677
Joined: 7/26/2006
From: NC (USA)
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quote:

ORIGINAL: impishlilhellcat

I was thinking about getting a mac.. Most of the Professors here use them and I'm just a lil ole TA and grad student but they seem really dependable and I haven't heard anyone complain about them. I'm more worried about what it is I am going to need for basic requirements I have no idea even where to start... I would like to be able to listen to music while I work or watch DVD's at night.. Any thoughts I that???

PS I HATE DELL :P

Check with the college to see what its requirements are. Most colleges have a preferred system and/or platform. About the only real objection to getting a Mac is the cost.

Get a radio for music. It's a lot cheaper, plus you don't have to spend time loading music onto it.

(in reply to impishlilhellcat)

Post #: 20

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