Laptop Advice

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Mr.Cheeks, Jan 1, 2009.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

    5,373
    89
    190
    Jan 1, 2009 #1
    Remove Advertisement - Premium Membership
    What do you guys think of this lappie?

    I'm looking to spend about £500 for one, but am limited to Comet.

    I will be using this mainly for virtualisation and watching movies (yes! those ones! :twisted:) Not into gaming, even if i did get one with a dedicated graphics card, i know i'll get bored of games within a few weeks.

    Cheers
     
  2. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    Jan 1, 2009 #2
    Remove Advertisement - Premium Membership
    I've seen two for you which may or may not be good enough for your needs

    http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/504777/?cm_sp=FeatureEnd-_-Laptops-_-position1
    http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/505765/HP-DV5-1111EA/tab/specification

    Edit the Acer one looks quite good and has a decent bus speed, good amount of RAM too.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  3. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,143
    559
    383
    Jan 1, 2009 #3
    The Acer one (and the 2 that GBL found) is pretty good, one thing that I would recommend is to install a 64-bit edition of Vista to have access to all 4gb of Ram especially if you want to play around with multiple VM's.

    If you do go down the route of the Acer lappie, with part of the money you save you can get an external USB HDD to store all the Vm's & movies :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  4. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

    5,373
    89
    190
    Jan 1, 2009 #4
    Food for thought!
    Thanks
     
  5. zebulebu

    zebulebu Terabyte Poster

    3,748
    330
    187
    Jan 1, 2009 #5
    Or, indeed, 64-bit XP - which is better supported, doesn't chomp through RAM as much as Vista (leaving you more to dedicate for VMs) and, well, lets be honest, isn't Vista :D
     
    Certifications: A few
    WIP: None - f*** 'em
  6. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

    10,718
    543
    364
    Jan 1, 2009 #6
    Yup, if you can get a downgrade to XP 64-bit or even just XP go for it. 8)
     
    Certifications: MSc MCSE MCSA:M MCSA:S MCITP:EA MCTS(x5) MS-900 AZ-900 Security+ Network+ A+
    WIP: Microsoft Certs
  7. Raffaz

    Raffaz Kebab Lover Gold Member

    2,976
    56
    184
    Jan 2, 2009 #7
    Its hard enough to get XP drivers for new laptops so i suspect it will be near impossible for XP64 :)
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, AutoCAD
    WIP: Rennovating my house
  8. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,143
    559
    383
    Jan 2, 2009 #8
    The Acer AS5735 is part of the Acer Aspire 5730 series of laptops, there are no current XP drivers offered by Acer (see here) so unless you want to go hunting for individual drivers that may or may not be 100% compatible (see here .), I every much doubt that Acer will offer an XP downgrade (but that doesn't stop you from asking :) ).

    Don't forget to make a back-up CD/DVD of the applications on the laptop first as Acer will not let you download them of their site.

    Me personally I would stick with Vista, but that's just me.

    Hope this helps :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  9. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

    5,373
    89
    190
    Jan 2, 2009 #9
    Interesting read so far...
    ...no downgrade to XP for me as Comet "never" heard of it, i even asked 3 different sales reps'.
    i more likely go next week, when i get my vouchers, but if anyone see's any other laptops or comments to add, please feel free to post.

    Thanks
     
  10. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    Jan 2, 2009 #10
    how about just getting a copy of xp and wiping vista off the laptop?
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  11. Raffaz

    Raffaz Kebab Lover Gold Member

    2,976
    56
    184
    Jan 2, 2009 #11
    There will be limited if any xp drivers available for the laptop.
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, AutoCAD
    WIP: Rennovating my house
  12. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    Jan 2, 2009 #12
    I suppose, if only you could get laptops with nothing on them instead of being forced to use the OS that's with it.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  13. Raffaz

    Raffaz Kebab Lover Gold Member

    2,976
    56
    184
    Jan 2, 2009 #13
    Id say its down to the manufacturers not making drivers for a soon to be obsolete OS mate.
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST, AutoCAD
    WIP: Rennovating my house
  14. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

    10,718
    543
    364
    Jan 2, 2009 #14
    As Raffaz has said its more of a driver issue here. Sure you could wipe the OS and install XP however if there are no XP drivers available then obviously there are going to be problems.

    There was the same issues when Windows XP came out and some companies wanted to keep a Windows 2000 standard build. Not as much resistance moving to Windows XP from Windows 2000 from what I remember though. :biggrin
     
    Certifications: MSc MCSE MCSA:M MCSA:S MCITP:EA MCTS(x5) MS-900 AZ-900 Security+ Network+ A+
    WIP: Microsoft Certs
  15. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    Jan 2, 2009 #15
    yeo, wouldn't it be possible that maybe someone wether sanctioned by MS or not will take over support for xp as it's so popular?
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  16. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

    5,373
    89
    190
    Jan 2, 2009 #16
    yep, its down to the Manufacturers of the devices to provide drivers and not M$.

    I wont bother with formatting and knocking XP on, as its not worth the hassle, and im gonna need it for me next exam anyway.
     
  17. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

    5,373
    89
    190
    Jan 14, 2009 #17
    Bought the baby yesterday and blimey - it is nice!
    Paid £530 for this baby, together with laptop case aswell
     
  18. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    Jan 14, 2009 #18
    looks nice and a good buy too.:D
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  19. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

    10,718
    543
    364
    Jan 15, 2009 #19
    Smart laptop there mate. 8)
     
    Certifications: MSc MCSE MCSA:M MCSA:S MCITP:EA MCTS(x5) MS-900 AZ-900 Security+ Network+ A+
    WIP: Microsoft Certs
  20. Wassup

    Wassup Byte Poster

    244
    4
    10
    Jan 15, 2009 #20
    nice 1

    looks more like a desktop replacement :O
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

Loading...
Remove Advertisement - Premium Membership
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...