Thinking about buying a notebook

J

jrdouthit

New Member
I'm computer literate, as most people my age are (20). But I don't know much more than how to use Word, navigate the internet, or load my iPod. Since I recently got a new job I've been thinking about buying a new laptop, as my old one succumbed to System Security 2009 (some form of XP Antivirus, I'm sure). I'd really like to get one of the small notebooks that are about half the size of a normal laptop (if possible), but I don't know very much about them. My questions are numbered and placed below. Please feel free to answer any or all of them you can or want. I want this laptop to be everything I've never had in a computer before--I want the whole package (or as close as I can get for a few hundred $$$'s).

1) Microsoft or Apple? Do they both make notebooks?

2) If I go with Microsoft, XP or Vista? Vista is newer, but I've heard nothing but bad things about it. Can anyone give me a one-sentence non-technical answer to why this is?

3) How much memory should I get? Probably the only game I'd have on it would be Age of Empires III. I'd want to download some songs (via Limewire) to eventually put on my iPod, but not one of those 1000+ song collections--maybe a couple hundred.

4) How big/fast/whatever a hard drive should I get? I don't know much about this, other than it determines how fast the laptop runs. I would like things to load and run pretty fast, and I've had enough of slow computers.

5) What antivirus/spyware filter/etc should I download or buy? Is there a definite best? Any free ones worth having? Is it true Macs aren't vulnerable to viruses?

6) Do they make notebook laptops that have CD drives? The only ones I've seen so far would require an external drive, which I wouldn't want to have to lug around. This seems like something I would definitely want included, if possible.

7) What company should I try to buy from, and what's the difference? Dell, Lenovo, Vaio, etc?

8) Anything else I should look for?
 
jrdouthit said:
1) Microsoft or Apple? Do they both make notebooks?
Click to expand...

Yes. But mac are expensive.

jrdouthit said:
2) If I go with Microsoft, XP or Vista? Vista is newer, but I've heard nothing but bad things about it. Can anyone give me a one-sentence non-technical answer to why this is?
Click to expand...

Netbook with XP, Laptop wait for a while and let window 7 come through.

jrdouthit said:
3) How much memory should I get? Probably the only game I'd have on it would be Age of Empires III. I'd want to download some songs (via Limewire) to eventually put on my iPod, but not one of those 1000+ song collections--maybe a couple hundred.
Click to expand...
min standard for laptop is 2 GB, I suggest get 4GB instead. If you want to play game, get laptop with delicated graphic card.

jrdouthit said:
4) How big/fast/whatever a hard drive should I get? I don't know much about this, other than it determines how fast the laptop runs. I would like things to load and run pretty fast, and I've had enough of slow computers.
Click to expand...
Laptop's hard drive speed usually be 5400rpm/ 7200rpm. 7200 is the faster one. however, i don't think it is significant to the overall performance
Size of HDD - laptops nowsaday usually come with min. 160GB. If it is not enough, just get an external HDD.

jrdouthit said:
5) What antivirus/spyware filter/etc should I download or buy? Is there a definite best? Any free ones worth having? Is it true Macs aren't vulnerable to viruses?
Click to expand...
I curent use free avast anti-virus, and I haven't come across virus problem.
Kaspersky would be the one if you want to purchase. BitDefender is good as well, but I just get used to Kaspersky.

jrdouthit said:
6) Do they make notebook laptops that have CD drives? The only ones I've seen so far would require an external drive, which I wouldn't want to have to lug around. This seems like something I would definitely want included, if possible.
Click to expand...
Laptops have DVD writer. Netbook don't.

jrdouthit said:
7) What company should I try to buy from, and what's the difference? Dell, Lenovo, Vaio, etc?
Click to expand...
Depends on your approach. Best value? Best looking? Brand loyality?

BTW, how much do you want to spend?
 
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Thanks for your response, first of all.

Would you recommend Windows or Mac? Can you tell me like the basic difference, and like which is better for what? Anything I won't be able to do on either one?

I do want a good value, and looks don't matter too much I suppose. The main thing I'm looking for is like good computing speed--I don't want to have to wait forever for anything to open or to run, like my home computer does. The second most important thing to me is memory--I don't want to ever have to worry if I'm going to run out of memory. And thirdly I want durability, as in toughness.
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to respond about my price range.

I don't think I'd want to spend more than $600, but of course I want to buy the cheapest one I can that also has what I'm wanting in it.
 
jrdouthit said:
I'm computer literate, as most people my age are (20). But I don't know much more than how to use Word, navigate the internet, or load my iPod. Since I recently got a new job I've been thinking about buying a new laptop, as my old one succumbed to System Security 2009 (some form of XP Antivirus, I'm sure). I'd really like to get one of the small notebooks that are about half the size of a normal laptop (if possible), but I don't know very much about them. My questions are numbered and placed below. Please feel free to answer any or all of them you can or want. I want this laptop to be everything I've never had in a computer before--I want the whole package (or as close as I can get for a few hundred $$$'s).

1) Microsoft or Apple? Do they both make notebooks?
I'd go with Microsoft.

2) If I go with Microsoft, XP or Vista? Vista is newer, but I've heard nothing but bad things about it. Can anyone give me a one-sentence non-technical answer to why this is?
Get Vista now because most notebooks will now let you upgrade to Windows 7 for free when it comes out.

3) How much memory should I get? Probably the only game I'd have on it would be Age of Empires III. I'd want to download some songs (via Limewire) to eventually put on my iPod, but not one of those 1000+ song collections--maybe a couple hundred.
I'd try to get from 3-4 gb.

4) How big/fast/whatever a hard drive should I get? I don't know much about this, other than it determines how fast the laptop runs. I would like things to load and run pretty fast, and I've had enough of slow computers.
Try to get at least a 64gb harddrive. Most people honestly don't use more than 32gb. And then you wanna get a harddrive thats (7200 rpm at least)

5) What antivirus/spyware filter/etc should I download or buy? Is there a definite best? Any free ones worth having? Is it true Macs aren't vulnerable to viruses?
Macs are as vulnerable to Viruses as PCs. You'll get a virus (usually only spyware) if you're retarded basically... Going around clicking thing (and doing stuff thats not legal.)

6) Do they make notebook laptops that have CD drives? The only ones I've seen so far would require an external drive, which I wouldn't want to have to lug around. This seems like something I would definitely want included, if possible.
Most laptops have built in disc drives. Only netbooks (12 inches and smaller I think) don't come with an internal cd drive.

7) What company should I try to buy from, and what's the difference? Dell, Lenovo, Vaio, etc?
Ive always liked dell.

8) Anything else I should look for?
A good cpu.
Click to expand...

I recomend going to dell.com. And clicking home products at the top. Clicking laptops and then picking out a studio 15 laptop.

And customize the computer to your liking (best cpu, good harddrive, 3-4 gb of memory)
It all depends on how much you wanna spend. Around 950 will get you a really nice computer. and around 1,200 will give you a great dell studio.
 
jrdouthit said:
Oh yeah, I forgot to respond about my price range.

I don't think I'd want to spend more than $600, but of course I want to buy the cheapest one I can that also has what I'm wanting in it.
Click to expand...

There's a few decent laptops you can get for 600. But, you get what you pay for. I'd recommend just saving your money. It's not worth it buying a 600 dollar laptop every year till you're 80. Just invest some money in it. At least around 1,000. You'll be happy with the results. And, I do recommend going with a desktop... just because the performance to price ratio is a lot better than a laptop. Laptops parts can easily cost twice as much just because they have to be optimized for a very small system.
 
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