New laptop. Decisions, decisions.

joglynne · 11-05-2008, 15:04

I am treating myself to a laptop to run along side my main computer which I shall continue to use for most of my design and graphics work. I am not a games player.

I want to be able to take the laptop to clients, but that is mainly a display thing and and I was thinking that having a card reader would enable me to use a memory card for easy transfer between laptop & computer and to upload any changes that clients require. Does this sound feasible?

I want to be able to use it in the garden whilst I sip a cool G&T

and may be watch a film, see the odd thing on BBCi, or visit my favourite forum.

I seem to have ended up with 2 Samsungs

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsu...UK/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsu...UK/version.asp

Will somebody look at my selection and see if I am on the right track as making a final choice is proving to be a nightmare of indecision. I don't mind spending less but I don't really want to spend more than £450. Any other suggestions will be very welcome.

Druchii · 11-05-2008, 15:23

I see two main differences, they are as follows:

One processor is a Pentium Dual Core, which although probably powerful enough to watch DVD's iPlayer content and of course do just about everything bar game or crunch any real numbers (Think encoding or rendering). The other, is a Core 2 Duo, which are amazing processors, these can do everything, even at the relatively low speed of 1.66Ghz.
So, it's low-range that can do almost everything you can throw at it, or it's mid-to-high range which can do everything you throw at it without breaking all that much of a sweat.
If you want to know the main differences between Pentium Dual Core and Core 2 Duo, it's the processors cache (the bit the processor can read and write to really really fast, and where it stores common stuff for the application it's working with right now). The Core 2 Duo has double the amount of the Pentium Dual Core if i remember correctly.

The other difference is the hard drive space, 160Gb vs 250Gb, i think you know what this means though. (storage space).

Another thing to consider, is how long you plan on keeping this one without upgrading? Is it worth spending that little bit extra now, to save you wanting a new one in a year?

joglynne · 11-05-2008, 15:34

Thanks Dru, I have been Googling like silly to try to understand the difference in the processors and I thought it sounded like the Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 / 1.66 GHz was the best bet, so maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this components lark. The larger HD would be a bonus, so that was another plus. I just wasn't sure if the extra cost of the 'Core Duo' and extra HD was justified.

I would like the laptop to last for a fair few years if possible, so, I'm hoping the higher spec one would do that.

Druchii · 11-05-2008, 15:40

Well, 50quid for a slightly faster processor, and 90Gb of space. Is basically all it boils down too.

**David F** · 11-05-2008, 20:38

the difference in processors are slight its just is the extra hard drive space worth the extra 50 notes the other specs are the same

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Asus_...5C/version.asp this has a bigger screen which may help with graphics work

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Lenov...UK/version.asp or you could save some cash but you will need to use the cheap ram upgrade offer

joglynne · 11-05-2008, 23:27

Thanks zing. I did look at a Asus and at another Lenovo but as I hadn't heard of them before I was wary of buying into a brand I had not had recommended to me. You have just made my choices wider you rotter.

Guess I will have to to on an expedition to see if I can track the 2 you have mentioned and have a play on them before I make up my mind. Decisions, decisions.

**Maggy J** · 11-05-2008, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

Thanks Dru, I have been Googling like silly to try to understand the difference in the processors and I thought it sounded like the Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 / 1.66 GHz was the best bet, so maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this components lark. The larger HD would be a bonus, so that was another plus. I just wasn't sure if the extra cost of the 'Core Duo' and extra HD was justified.

I would like the laptop to last for a fair few years if possible, so, I'm hoping the higher spec one would do that.

I've a Core 2 Duo PC and it's been great so far..I can render texture and polygon heavy pictures and still answer my emails at the same time.

joglynne · 12-05-2008, 00:04

Thanks for that Coggy. Can you tell me which Core 2 Duo processor you have and how much RAM you have installed?

I am so used to sitting at my computer to do my designs I don't know whether I would ever get any work done if I sat in comfort to do them.

It would be an advantage if I could show clients, on the spot, what effects I can achieve rather than sending the alterations by e-mail. I'm hoping that with a combination of laptop and digital camera I will be able to show how my work will look in situ.

**Maggy J** · 12-05-2008, 15:59

Intel Core2 CPU 6600@240 GHZ, 1GB RAM.

12-05-2008, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Intel Core2 CPU 6600@240 GHZ, 1GB RAM.

Me thinks you should add another GB of ram for that quad core

**Rob M** · 12-05-2008, 16:13

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz
3.50GB of RAM

(*)

XP Doesn't recognise the full 4GB

**David F** · 12-05-2008, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraxData

Me thinks you should add another GB of ram for that quad core

what makes you think its a Q over an E

**Maggy J** · 12-05-2008, 16:25

The extra RAM will be arriving but only after I start earning again later in the year.

joglynne · 12-05-2008, 16:29

Thanks for the details Coggy. At least I now know that my starting point should be able to cope with my more modest demands.

I am wondering whether to to up my budget a little and see what is available as I am thinking that a C2D of T5550 or above running at 1.8GHZ with 2GB of RAM might keep me going longer in the future. Boy!!!!! am I getting techy or what.

At this rate I will end up with a laptop the outstrips my main machine. LOL

add... I have just spotted a Samsung R60 at Currys which seems to fit the bill and it's only £399.00 in their sale. Decisions, decisions.

**David F** · 12-05-2008, 16:34

good price

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs the smells match the price and features but you can up the cpu speed for a few extra quid if you so desire (second from left) for 20 quid you can go upto 2 gig cpu