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Thread ID: 35645 2003-07-18 05:25:00 Laptop Specifications willbry (1555) Press F1
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160761 2003-07-18 05:25:00 I'm thinking about getting into a lap top but am confused about all the different "extras" different brands offer. I've asked salesmen for explanations but they seem to be evasive or are too technical . Would some one tell me in simple lay terms what the following mean and what advantage[s] would one get from having any of these components installed. This would help me decide whether I need or want any of the following:
1. LAN 2. Firewire 3. Bluetooth

Also If I buy one with a CD/DVD rewritable facility, would it automatically have an output jack to allow me to connect a lead to a TV imput to show DVD movies and photo images stored on a CD on the big screen? What I'm asking is whether such a lap top can function as a separate DVD player and thus save the outlay of buying a separate DVD player?
willbry (1555)
160762 2003-07-18 06:03:00 > 1. LAN
Local Area Network.
Allows you to connect the laptop to a home network of other PC's for instance.

2. Firewire
High speed port, mainly used for attatching digital video cameras etc.

3. Bluetooth
For local, close range connections (wireless) of cellphones, Personal Digital Assitants (PDA's, pocket PC's) but only if those devices have bluetooth built in, not all (or many) do.

> Also If I buy one with a CD/DVD rewritable facility,
> would it automatically have an output jack to allow
> me to connect a lead to a TV input to show DVD
> movies and photo images stored on a CD on the big
> screen?

It *should* have a tv-out (and audio out), but you would need to check.

> What I'm asking is whether such a lap top
> can function as a separate DVD player and thus
> s save the outlay of buying a separate DVD
> player?

Technically yes, but with stand alone DVD players as low as $130 (complete with remote control), would you really want to use the laptop in this manner?
godfather (25)
160763 2003-07-18 08:49:00 Infact, theres a special at K'Mart for about $99. ;-)

We brought ours for $299 :(
~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
160764 2003-07-18 08:50:00 ... and have so far watched about 2 DVD and 5 or so VCD along with about 5 CD, total use under 20 times, of which about 15 were used up when we first brought it, as it seemed different. ;-) ~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
160765 2003-07-18 09:07:00 Thanks Godfather for that and while I've got your attention I have one more query. I presume taking a lap top overseas for internet /email purposes is no advantages as wherever you are with it I guess you have to be able to get into someone's ISP to access the net such as an internet cafe. I suppose there is no technology yet that allows you to be away from your normal ISP source say in a bus in another country or waiting at the airport for example and able to remotely access the net without directly using a dial up connection? willbry (1555)
160766 2003-07-18 09:20:00 i agree. if u travel i take a PDA if u want to hog onto a toy. many airports has wireless LAN broadband internet and emails in the airports.

there is little point bringing laptop overseas or on travel. its not exactly light, it has dimensions also!! :D

internet cafe is the best way. check emails like each few days or each day at ur accom or so .. my laptops for 7 yr all i have done is use it on the plane when moving from one location to the other. and in between it just sits on my desk for months and months until i take the plane back to the other location again.....
nomad (3693)
160767 2003-07-18 09:22:00 unless u really need the tools of the lappie then get it like if u on conference or business ... nomad (3693)
160768 2003-07-18 11:16:00 One thing a laptop would be very useful for is transferring photos from a digital camera onto the laptop's hard drive when overseas. It would save the hassle and expense of finding a photo shop to download photos from the camera's memory stick in order to be able to take more photos. One would have to be able to justify the inconvenience of carrying the laptop around with one on one's travels though. tommy (2826)
160769 2003-07-18 11:19:00 I can imagine enormous hassles with connecting to wireless nodes....

I find it much easier to use internet cafes and webmail interface, but have used "Ipass" global roaming software from the ISP to get local connections using host ISPs, where I have been working in a city for a period of time.
godfather (25)
160770 2003-07-18 11:30:00 no laptop is needed. can get this devices which u plug the mem card in it. it downloads it into the device's of 30GB or so .. then it wipes it and u have a fresh mem card! nomad (3693)
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