Laptop Advice Please

[sereneone4u]

I am purchasing a laptop and was seriously considering this one. I only need it for college, googling, emails, finances, and in the future, photos--of my kids for family and friends. I know very little about computers...is this one okay? Thank you.

Toshiba - Satellite Notebook with Intel® Centrino® Duo - Onyx Blue A105-S4384
Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor T5500; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; 15.4" widescreen; 160GB hard drive; 1GB PC4200 DDR2 SDRAM; Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 5-in-1 media adapter


Toshiba Satellite Notebook with Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology - Onyx Blue

Model: A105-S4384



This sleek powerhouse notebook boasts an Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, 5-in-1 bridge media adapter and Express Media Player, so managing your photos, music and video clips is quick and easy.
Take a product tour of the Toshiba Satellite A105-S4384 notebook. (Flash demo)
What is the Intel processor number? Learn more about this 3-digit number with our Resource Guide, or check out Intel's introduction for all the details.


Intel® Centrino® Duo mobile technology with interrelated Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor T5500, Intel® 945GM chipset, Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network connection (802.11a/b/g) and extended battery life capability
1GB PC4200 DDR2 SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 4GB; 667MHz frontside bus, 2MB L2 cache and 1.66GHz processor speed
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; also supports DVD-RAM
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[sereneone4u]

It is $849.99, normally $999.99

 

[LukkyKnight]

It is $849.99, normally $999.99

Certainly it will do what you've described more than adequately.

 

[sereneone4u]

But is Toshiba an okay brand? And thank you

 

[LukkyKnight]

But is Toshiba an okay brand?

They have a significant market share, a reasonable reputation, and can be worked on by most qualified people. Parts are fairly readily available in most places. It will do what you need for now.

 

[Kain__Thornn]

At that price it sounds good.

 

[The Heretic]

Toshiba is good.

The T5500, while not top of the line, has plenty of juice to do just about anything you want - it is 64 bit and plenty fast.

My current Dell laptop is a step down or so from that, a 32 bit Core Duo T2500 and I like the speed compared to my old desktop. With 2 GB of RAM I can run my whole dev system, SQL Server and 3 or 4 server processes and still have plenty of juice left over.

If it were my money though, I would get a MacBook - then you could run either OSX and/or Windows (either one, or both at the same time). I just installed Parallels on my Mac Mini, then Suse Linux, and tomorrow Windows.

 

[sereneone4u]

Thanks Kain and Heretic. I do not even know what Suse Linux or OSX is...I only started IMing late August of this year...yes, I am that new.

Should I pay extra for the Geek Squad to but VIrus and Firewall programs on my laptop for $129.99 or is there programs cheaper that I can install myself?

 

[Kain__Thornn]

Thanks Kain and Heretic. I do not even know what Suse Linux or OSX is...I only started IMing late August of this year...yes, I am that new.

Should I pay extra for the Geek Squad to but VIrus and Firewall programs on my laptop for $129.99 or is there programs cheaper that I can install myself?

Avast anti virus
Windows Defender
Ad Aware SE
Spyware Blaster
Spybot S&D


Google search for them, they're all FREE! I use them and haven't had any virus/malware problems.

 

[Guru]

Both HP and Dell have laptops for about $499. For email and browsing, you can do with the lowest performance that they offer, as they will still be more than adequate. I bought a more top-of-the-line system for myslef, though, so if money isn't a problem, go for it. You can run SQL server and your development system on a high-end laptop no problem.

 

[sereneone4u]

Both HP and Dell have laptops for about $499. For email and browsing, you can do with the lowest performance that they offer, as they will still be more than adequate. I bought a more top-of-the-line system for myslef, though, so if money isn't a problem, go for it. You can run SQL server and your development system on a high-end laptop no problem.

What is an SQL server and development system?

 

[IndieSnob]

My bias is going to show here, but, absolutely stay the hell away from Toshiba's.

I had two of their models, and while I had extended warranties on them, their service depot would send the laptops back with only half of the issues fixed, while saying the others were the fault of the end-user.

Their tech support, depot support, and management all treated me like I was the bad guy. I finally ended up contacting BBB to file a complaint about them.

Having said that, Dell's aren't my preferred choice, but at least their tech support is pretty top notch.

Go to this site as they always have great coupon codes and deals on Dells.

 

[The Heretic]

Thanks Kain and Heretic. I do not even know what Suse Linux or OSX is...I only started IMing late August of this year...yes, I am that new.

Should I pay extra for the Geek Squad to but VIrus and Firewall programs on my laptop for $129.99 or is there programs cheaper that I can install myself?

No. Windows comes with an okay firewall just turn it on. If you are behind any kind of network router at home and at work, those usually have very good hardware firewall of some sort builtin.

As for anti-virus, there are a number of good free versions of good commercial products. I don't like McAfee - too picky and intrusive. It came with my computer and I uninstalled it because it was mucking things up all the time (would'nt even let me connect to an email server). I installed AVG by Grisoft - they have a free version that works very well.

If you don't like the built-in Windows firewall, you can get a free version of ZoneAlarm.

As for Suse Linux, it is just another operating system. I mentioned it to point out that with Parallels you can run just about anything on a Mac, including Windows. OSX is the operating system for the Mac, and it is much nicer that a Windows and yet, with the right software (Parallels) you can also run Windows at the same time if you have some Windows only program that you need to run). For me, that is certain aspects on my development system (such as SQL Server).

 

[Guru]

What is an SQL server and development system?

Something that takes gobs of RAM, that you'll never use. As I said, I'd recommend the cheaper system, unless you want more horsepower for some reason. (Usually, that's a guy thing.)

 

[Kain__Thornn]

I installed AVG by Grisoft - they have a free version that works very well.

That's what I'm running, but I keep getting a window that says after Jan 15 there will be no more free version of AVG. So I've got Avast ready to go when AVG stops.

 

[The Heretic]

That's what I'm running, but I keep getting a window that says after Jan 15 there will be no more free version of AVG. So I've got Avast ready to go when AVG stops.

They are saying you have to upgrade to the newer free version (7.5?). I did and it got all confused. Shortly thereafter my hard drive gave up the ghost. I have the newer version on my new computer and it doesn't complain.

 

[Kain__Thornn]

They are saying you have to upgrade to the newer free version (7.5?). I did and it got all confused. Shortly thereafter my hard drive gave up the ghost. I have the newer version on my new computer and it doesn't complain.

It's not a newer free edition, everything I click on and look at says $29.99.

 

[The Heretic]

What is an SQL server and development system?

Sorry, like Guru said, nothing you will ever need - it is for developing software.

I just get all kinds of geeky excited because I have a new laptop for development that makes my job much easier and me more productive.

 

[The Heretic]

It's not a newer free edition, everything I click on and look at says $29.99.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

 

[Kain__Thornn]

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

I dunno how the hell that got by me, thanks very much!

 

[The Heretic]

I dunno how the hell that got by me, thanks very much!

They hid it. You can't find it from the main page - you have to google for it.

 

[RC1856]

You cannot go wrong with a HP. mine i've found to be very reliable...

 

[sereneone4u]

THis was the one I was going to get...but the sales person recommended the Toshiba...this one is $50 more than the Toshiba...

Hewlett-Packard Pavilion Notebook with AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-50 - Piano Black

Model: dv2125nr



With a stylish wave pattern on the case, blue backlit media buttons and powerful AMD Turion™ 64 X2 mobile technology, this notebook has the look while it makes work quick and easy. LightScribe labeling allows you to create custom silkscreen-quality labels for your CDs and DVDs.
Take a product tour of this HP Pavilion dv2000-series notebook.
Learn more about LightScribe technology.


AMD Turion™ 64 X2 mobile technology TL-50* for AMD dual-core technology in a thin-and-light design; HyperTransport™ and AMD PowerNow!™ technologies and improved security with Enhanced Virus Protection**
1GB DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 2GB
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible media; also supports LightScribe direct-disc labels using compatible LightScribe media
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Do you have all the accessories you need?
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[RC1856]

I have a friend with the HP you mentioned. His runs awesome! It's a good notebook, shouldn't easily break, either.

 

[~hellbaby~]

I've hadthree Toshibas and like them a lot. I am brutally tough on computers and they take abuse better than sony's I had. I have the m30x/m35x series satelllite.
There is one thing I've found with them that may be a factor for you to consider, in my experiences the cd/dvd drive sucks. They broke in both laptops reletively soon and the external one I had for the portege tablet worked twice and quit. Like I said, I'm a little rougher than you may be but I don't mean dropping it or hitting it I mean moving from room to room, ashes and crumbs and dust in the keys and never turning off.