Laptops

[givenout]

Hi, I have been thinking about purchasing a laptop for the last couple of years and haven't yet, in part, because I don't really know what to look for, etc.

The primary purpose of my laptop would be so I could edit pics and make digi scrapbooks somewhere other than the confines of my desk.

Given what I want, any suggestions? Oh, if possible, I'd like to stick to $1000 or less, but if that is completely unrealistic for what I want then I will go higher, but I doubt I need top-of-the-line.

Thanks

[Sharpli]

You ought to be able to find an adequate laptop for the $$ you're talking about. I bought a Toshiba about 5 months ago that has a 100 GB hard drive, i GB of Ram anda dual core processor and it was just a bit more than that. I'd also suggest that a DVD burner is a must - scrapbook pages can get quite big and fill up a CD in no time.

[givenout]

And what kind of laptop (brand and model) and where did you purchase it? I am assuming you are happy with it? Does it have the feature that you can take it to coffee houses and not need to be plugged in. I'm not too familiar with that technology yet.

[rhondabwright]

You should easily be able to pick up a laptop for the price you are hoping. I am on my 3rd laptop. There are quite a few good models that are conveniently small for carrying around. I have used Sony Vaio`s exclusively but Toshiba is a really great company also and has some nice ones. I just got my newest because my second one only had a 20G hard drive and was at least 4yrs. old. Try to go for as much hard drive and ram as you can. 1G is good. It would be good to have at least two USB ports.

One really good tip for laptops is to be sure and have an external hardrive. I have over 100G of digital pictures since I have been taking digital photography since digital cameras first came out. They have some really nice, small portable hard drives (smaller than a wallet) that plug in with a USB connection. Storage capacity keeps increasing also. They have them over 120G. One company I have two from is Buffalo! They are easy to carry, you can take them even when you don`t take your computer to share photos with others on their computers and they are great to back-up all your original files on. If you can`t find the small PORTABLE external hard drives (make sure they are for portable use, they have extra protection) at your local computer stores you can order online from Buffalo, etc. I often couldn`t find any really small ones in stores in the states but they are available.

Another tip, if you plug a high speed external hard drive into a laptop that is older (like my older two) it will pop up with a menu that a high speed is plugged into a slower port. But don`t worry, it still works great. Any new computers out there now should only have the higher speed USB ports anyway.

Hope this helps! Laptops are great!! Rhonda

[rhondabwright]

To answer your next question, you need it to have wireless in it. But unless you are buying a used one, all the new ones should have this feature. If you get an older one,a really cheap new one, or if anyone has an older one without wireless (like my husbands), you can get a special card that will go into the PC card slot (my son calls it a PC MCI slot or MCIA slot) and make most any laptop a wireless. Anywhere that has wireless should work. I don`t know a lot about the wireless features but even our old models (mine and our daughters) that have built in wireless have worked all over the world including Russia! We sat in the car outside McDonalds in downtown Tokyo with my husband`s very cheap laptop without wireless features but with this special pc card and got very good internet!

[rhondabwright]

There are many brands out there. In the US, Sony may be higher, and not necessary. Toshiba, Nec, Dyna book, Sharp (are popular in Japan)...even the off brands Sotec...whatever you have in the states.. most of the companies are pretty compatible. We have PC Depot here also and they make their own off brand. I think it is important to like the features, such as keyboard, size, screen. Most of the "insides" are quite the same and not enough of a concern. Do price comparisons for what you get and design features to suit your needs and you should be fine. I`m sure off the top of my head I`m forgetting other really good brands.

[DigiNet]

My dream is to show up at a scrapbooking expo (when everyone around me is slaving away with paper and tape) with a laptop loaded with digital scrapbooking goodies. I'd whip up several layouts without any mess - in no time at all!

[dmrdm]

If you can hold off, you might want to wait until the new Windows operating system comes out. The offers yet, don't show free upgrades to it yet. I think a lot of people are waiting for that to happen before they buy. (get the most RAM, fastest processor you can afford). We've always run Gateway laptops and desktops. (except my first two were Radio Shacks back in 80's, when we were on DOS) Love them. Never have had issues.

[ConnieK]

Oh you guys, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on laptops. Every Sunday when the ads come out in the paper I'm pouring over them for good deals on laptops.

If I'm reading all of your suggestions correctly you would buy a laptop that has:



at least 1 gig Ram
a dual core processor
a DVD burner
wireless capability
the new windows operating system
and extra external hard drives to store more scrapbook pages




Do you have any thoughts about the battery and what's good as far as how long it runs before having to be charged up again?

Thanks,
Connie

[Sharpli]

My newest one is a Toshiba, and I've been happy with it. One other thing that I find really wonderful is that it has slots for your camera memory cards - no need to hook up the camera or lug around an external adaptor. Just slide the card into the laptip and download.

[chris.orrell]

I love my laptop, I have an acer aspire, which was less than 1000aus dollars,It has 1gb ram(I had extra put in when I bought it) and it has a 30 gb hard disk and dvd burner. and I sit on the lounge and scrap (or read this forum, i have only done 4 layouts since this site opened, I'm spendin all my here instead, must stop reading and start scrapping again) while my husband watches tv, still in the same room, dont have to go into the study and sit at my desk, (my pc is gathering dust.) I also have a portable hard disk to back up all my photos and layouts. and yes:D I take my laptop with me to show off my pages to friends and family

[seebee]

I love my laptop, I have an acer aspire, which was less than 1000aus dollars,It has 1gb ram(I had extra put in when I bought it) and it has a 30 gb hard disk and dvd burner. and I sit on the lounge and scrap (or read this forum, i have only done 4 layouts since this site opened, I'm spendin all my here instead, must stop reading and start scrapping again) while my husband watches tv, still in the same room, dont have to go into the study and sit at my desk, (my pc is gathering dust.) I also have a portable hard disk to back up all my photos and layouts. and yes:D I take my laptop with me to show off my pages to friends and family

I also use an Acer Aspire. We upgraded the RAM to 1.5 Gig, and it's got two hard drives at around 25 Gig each. I'm filling 'em up fast, though! :)

We bought the Aspire last Xmastime; it was about $650 after rebates.

[Just Jan]

I have a Hp and just love it. I also have an external 260 hard drive. I am going to get a another hard drive just to store my photos on so that I am not constantly booting it up and shutting it down.

[joyfuljanet]

Unless you are really attached to your pc before buyng I would visit a local Apple store and try out the Macbook. They have lots of folks who can answer questions and let you play around with all you want.:) It is amazing. Janet

[scrapperjlc]

You ought to be able to find an adequate laptop for the $$ you're talking about. I bought a Toshiba about 5 months ago that has a 100 GB hard drive, i GB of Ram anda dual core processor and it was just a bit more than that. I'd also suggest that a DVD burner is a must - scrapbook pages can get quite big and fill up a CD in no time.


I bet I bought the same one you did (Toshiba)! I love my new laptop! I think everyone has given you pretty good options to look for. Have fun with your new toy when you get it!

Jodi

[scrapgal]

ConnieK,

A couple of more suggestions. A lot of the newer laptops also have wide screens (easier to watch the newer widescreen movies). This mean bigger laptops to tote around. (There are, of course, smaller laptops like the notebook size that most business people travel with back and forth. They are usually under 6 lbs.) Speaking of bigger laptops, how much will you be traveling with your laptop? If not much, go for the bigger size. The bigger ones are great desktop replacements. It is also helpful to buy a port replica with your laptop. This usually gives you more USB ports, etc. and makes it a lot easier to plug and unplug from instead of always disconnecting your USB cables, etc. Also, battery life is important if you do not have an electrical connection around. PC Mag rates Dell laptops as one of the highest in this area. I've had a HP laptop for the past 3-1/2 years and I have been extremely happy with it. I had a Toshiba and Dell before that and was also happy. Dell used to have great customer support, but I've heard they have gone down hill these past few years. Another thing to look at is Customer Support. Be sure to find out who pays for shipping when something goes wrong. Is it you one way or them both ways? What is the turn-around time?

Hope some of this helps!

P.S. I also bought a powerport (cigarette lighter thingy) electrical converter. That way, I am able to use it in the car/RV for long periods of times without using my battery.:D

[ConnieK]

ConnieK,

A couple of more suggestions. A lot of the newer laptops also have wide screens (easier to watch the newer widescreen movies). This mean bigger laptops to tote around. (There are, of course, smaller laptops like the notebook size that most business people travel with back and forth. They are usually under 6 lbs.) Speaking of bigger laptops, how much will you be traveling with your laptop? If not much, go for the bigger size. The bigger ones are great desktop replacements. It is also helpful to buy a port replica with your laptop. This usually gives you more USB ports, etc. and makes it a lot easier to plug and unplug from instead of always disconnecting your USB cables, etc. Also, battery life is important if you do not have an electrical connection around. PC Mag rates Dell laptops as one of the highest in this area. I've had a HP laptop for the past 3-1/2 years and I have been extremely happy with it. I had a Toshiba and Dell before that and was also happy. Dell used to have great customer support, but I've heard they have gone down hill these past few years. Another thing to look at is Customer Support. Be sure to find out who pays for shipping when something goes wrong. Is it you one way or them both ways? What is the turn-around time?

Hope some of this helps!

P.S. I also bought a powerport (cigarette lighter thingy) electrical converter. That way, I am able to use it in the car/RV for long periods of times without using my battery.:D


ScrapGal:

Thank you for the suggestions. I had never heard of a port replica before. Or maybe I had, I just didn't know that's what it's called. Do they come built in or is it something you buy as an attachment (like a portable external hard drive)? I'm picturing it to be something like lots of spaces to plug in USB stuff.

Thanks too for translating what a powerport is. I have thought about that as an alternative when we're on the road. I got one for the portable DVD player we bought this summer and used it in the car to keep our son entertained while we were on the way to a family reunion 1,000+ miles away. It worked like a charm.

I won't be traveling much with a laptop. I mostly want it so I can work in the family room where my toddler (and husband for that matter) would be more tolerant of me working on the computer so a wide screen might be the way to go. I'm hoping to get all this information gathered so I can had it over to my husband for a Christmas "surprise" for me. We shall see.

Connie

[dkc]

Coming from a fairly fast desktop, I'm afraid of a processor that's noticeably too slow. What's acceptable? I, too, am anxious to be mobile!

Thanks,
Donna

[tzigane70]

I just bought a new desktop and laptop, and yes there is a difference in speed but if you only use the laptop for a few things like me,it is mostly just digital scraping than i find so long as i back up the files i can keep it running phoshop and the internet at ok speeds.I love being able to take my hobby camping or when the guys go 4 wheelingi can sit back and enjoy. the peace.I had the software for the gps on here.it was great to find where i am going cause hubby had the gps with him, i was joining him the next day.soI do miss the speed,but the desk top is over loaded with software so i runs almost as slow.:) The one thing i love is being able to take it ]to a wedding or somewhere and taking digital shot i can put them right on cd for the bride and groom.

[scrapgal]

ConnieK,

A port replicator is another piece of equipment. It is kind of hard to describe how it connects; sort of like inserting a very large flat battery (your laptop) into a slot. Usually it runs around $100 to $300 dollars according to what they have on them. I copied this from the Dell web site, but this would apply to the other computer manufacturers as well. Look for pictures of them as well on their sites. You also have the option of attaching another monitor, if you want to view a bigger picture than what your laptop has. I like it because I have to do is pull the laptop away from the replicator and go. I keep duplicate cables in my laptop bag to make it even easier.

1.More Comfortable Work space – Use your notebook like a desktop system! Plug a keyboard, mouse and monitor to the port replicators and use your notebook like a desktop!
2. Simplify connectivity – No more scrambling around your notebook looking for ports. Use a single interface to connect to your printer, monitor or other peripheral devices.
3.Ease of mobility - No need to unplug and re-plug multiple peripherals to access your printer or other devices. If you are using your notebook as a desktop, simply unplug your system from the port replicator and your system becomes portable again!


Maximize your workspace while expanding your desktop with the Dell™ Advanced Port Replicator. It provides convenient cable management and alleviates the need to reconnect peripherals each time you return to your desk. One simple connection provides access to multiple expansion ports — VGA, DVI, S-Video, Parallel, Serial, PS/2 (x2), Headphone, S/PDIF, USB 2.0 (x4), RJ-11, RJ-45 and D/Bay connector for utilizing external media modules. In addition, you get workspace flexibility and viewing expandability with flat panel and dual-display support.

Oh, forgot to add one important addition to a laptop. Get a speaker system to attach to it. You can buy these wireless things that let you connect it to your stereo system or you can use cables with attached speakers. Or in my case, I bought a mini speaker system by Creative Labs. It is portable (3 in. by 8 in.) and gives you a much better sound than your speakers in your laptop.

"Accessories, as a woman knows, is just as important as the outfit!"

How true this is when it applies to computers, eh? :)

[scrapgal]

DKC/Donna,

Rule of Thumb - If you can not afford the latest processor, buy the one before that for your laptop. It is usually much cheaper, but will not be that much difference in speed. (By the way, most new desktops are using "dual core" processors or dual processors. This is not true in laptops yet, but will probably be in the near future.)

However, what is also important is to buy as much RAM memory as you can afford, too! At least 512 and at best 1 MB. Both of these things affect the speed of retrieving files and processing software applications. It is usually very hard to upgrade a processor in a laptop (a desktop is not that hard). However, it is pretty easy to upgrade the RAM. So if you can not afford a lot of RAM now, you can easily upgrade it in the future to get more speed. Also, buy the largest hard drive you can afford. Pictures (and in our case digital scrapping), Music files, and of course tons of software, use up alot of hard drive space. If you can not afford a large one, you can upgrade it in the future, or buy an external drive (which you should really have anyway for back-up of your files) for more space.

Hope this helps.

[slwood3]

Basically, a port replicator makes your laptop a desktop. You can plug your printer, monitor etc. in the replicator and when you want to take your laptop somewhere, you don't have to unplug everything from the laptop, you just pop it loose from the replicator. This makes it real easy to hook a normal monitor and keyboard to your laptop and basically work like you are on a desktop, which is easier, for viewing and typing purposes.

[Sharpli]

Do you get Office Depot's flyer in your Sunday paper? They had great buys on laptops today. It's frustrating to see the one I bought in April - on sale for $1,050) now offered for $900. Centrino Dual core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 100 GB hard drive, DVD R/W - wow, are the prices ever going down!
They also had a laptop on the front of the flyer for $480. Y'know, it used to be that you couldn't get a laptop for under a thousand dollars, no matter what the configuration.Now the entry price is under $500.:)

[indigolisa]

It's supposed to be here next week and I am salivating. I have been using our Dell desktop but have been wanting a laptop. Can't wait!!!:p

[IreneO]

I'm so jealous, indigolisa! I've been wanting a Dell laptop. I have the narrow profile desktop and have been hauling that around everywhere (digital scrapbooking retreats) but a laptop would be SOOOO much easier.

[Sarah]

IreneO, Where do you find digital scrapbooking retreats?

[cmarien]

I would love a laptop! Maybe soon. All of this info is great! I would like to know where these digital retreats are too.

[IreneO]

We organized a digital scrapbooking retreat in Langley, British Columbia. It was in June 2006. We hope to have another one next spring. We had several classes at the beginner level and hope to have more advanced classes next time around. Most people brought laptops but there were a couple of us that had desktops. It was so-o-o-o much fun.

I've also had a couple of digital scrapbooking weekends at our cabin. 3-6 of us each time and we hardly took time to eat or sleep! It was funny - it was so quiet in the room except for the sounds of mice clicking!

[troush]

Irene,

A digital scrapbooking weekend sounds like fun - especially at a cabin! Maybe when the little ones are all grown up... I actually do all my scrapbooking on my desktop. I use my laptop for surfing, e-mailing, forums and keeping track of homeschool. I put PSE 3.0 on here just so I could answer questions. I don't think my laptop is powerful enough for doing sbing full time.

-Trish

[ConnieK]

Thanks, everyone for all of their suggestions and explanations of laptops. I have learned more here than any of the proprietary websites. You guys are great.

[casey]

I, too, am in need of a new computer. I've always been a Mac person, but find it annoying when software is more expensive (or non existent) for a Mac. I'll sometimes buy PC software for my daughter's computer, but can't always use it, as she uses her computer for university courses.

However, the new Macs are dual boot now (will run PC software), so I thought I'd stay with a Mac. I'm trying to decide whether to get a laptop or a desktop. Will the laptops handle enough (speed, RAM, and hard drive space), even though the hard drives are quite a bit smaller than the desktop models? I have an external 250 Gb hard drive.

Any thoughts? All of you seem to be quite well informed. I'd really appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks so much,
Casey :)

[vholdwic]

Hi Casey,

I, too, am a Mac person and always have been. I currently have an iBook (1 GB memory and wireless capability) and an iMac desktop. Both of them are fine running CS2. If you have a 250 GB external hard drive and the capablity to burn CDs and/or DVDs, you should find a Mac just right for you.

I haven't had a hard time finding software in a long time. The software I use is not necessarily what my PC friends use, but it suits me just fine.

BTW, the wireless capability comes in very handy for me - I only have dialup where I live, but I can go to a close coffee shop with wireless access and download large files easily.

Vicki

[casey]

Hi Vicki,

I have an iBook too, but it's about 5 years old, and has only OS 10.2 (or less), therefore no iLife, iPhoto, etc. Also, the hard drive is only 10 GB, and is so full I can't even burn CDs. It has no DVD burner. Do you think a newer iBook will be enough? I'm assuming you find it acceptable . . . Do you have a dual boot model? Does anyone know how well they work?

Thanks,
Casey :)

[fortlady]

[QUOTE=scrapgal;3431]DKC/Donna,

So if you can not afford a lot of RAM now, you can easily upgrade it in the future to get more speed.

QUOTE]


I had a bad experience with trying to add more memory to my laptop. It wouldn't work when we put in a second chip, there is a slot for it and it is 1GB capable, but the computer wouldn't work! They said you had to set something so the computer would recognize the second one, tried that didn't work, reformated and reinstalled the operating system, still didn't work. Then they said you have to buy the two at the same time, something about them being made at different times made them uncompatable, so I ended up not adding more ram, guess I could have bought two more and thrown away the one that was in here, plus the one I'd just purchased, but I'd had enough, so I gave up! I was told laptops are more sensitive than a desktop about adding memory chips, don't know, but next time I'll get the upgraded ram at the time I get the laptop!

Karen

[vholdwic]

Hi Casey,

I don't have a dual processor; I bought my desktop just before they came out with that model. I am running OS X 10.4.5 on both my iBook and my iMac. The great thing about having both is that I can easily take my iBook with me when I go to the UP to see my Mom and can work on scrapbook pages. When I get home, I connect my two computers via the firewire port with an Ethernet cable and can transfer anything I want from one machine to the other.

I have 1GB of RAM on my iBook and 1.5 on my desktop. I also have a LaCie 40 GB external drive. I keep all of my scrapbooking supplies on that. It is easily accessible from either computer.

Vicki

[casey]

Thanks for the information, Vicki. It sounds like maybe an iBook is a good idea, after all. Do you use iPhoto to organize your pictures? My OS X doesn't include it, but I do have a version of OS X (Jaguar, I think) that has it (but I haven't installed it yet--no room on the hard drive). Did yours come with iLife or iWork, and did that include iPhoto, or does that have to be purchased separately?

I really appreciate everyone's help--Thanks!

Casey :)

[midges*prims]

Here's a good place to buy computers tigerdirect. com
My son bought a pc there called an "E-Machine" and he is very satisfied ($600.00)
I brought a Compag Presario V4000 and I like it real well ($700.00)
If you have any young people in your family or college students, they usually know what is the best pc to purchase, because they use them a lot for playing the games and videos, and this is what you would look for (a pc that plays videos and such) due to the tut and all the images we download and view with scrapbooking...