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| Thread ID: 90338 | 2008-05-31 00:16:00 | new laptop wanted | Thomas01 (317) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 674178 | 2008-06-01 05:34:00 | I think we are getting off the point again a little here. (But it makes for good discussion). The person under discussion is an amateur as regards computers. The last thing I would do is offer her a laptop with two possible operating systems. In fact I would like to see her buy or scrounge a very old cheap computer and play with it first. A very bad bit of advice which I have seen around ever since we started with computers is telling the absolute beginner to make a list of what they want the computer to do and then go and get one to suit. The absolute beginner really has no idea just what any computer can do. That is what they want guidance on. Tom Do they not offer training with Office where she works? Training on OS X is no problem www.apple.com The main reason Apple offers the ability to run Windows on a Mac is because A - With Intel Macs OS X was going to be hacked to run on a PC anyway B - It makes the transition to Mac easier for those who are unsure about switching C - It makes it easier for Mac users to use Macs in the Windows only work environment. Alternatively if you feel that she is going to be coming to you for advice when she wants to know how to do stuff and you are more comfortable using Windows then get her a PC laptop with XP on it. You will find that aside from the EEEEPC that the ultra lite ultra slim PC laptops are all priced the same or more than the MacBook Air due to the new technology. The following is a generalization but is still fairly accurate. Many non tech office workers in the 35+ age bracket are totally clueless around PCs and don't tend to incorporate them or feel the need into their daily lives in the same way that the under 30's and under 25's do and so will continue to remain totally clueless as a result. |
vitalstatistix (9182) | ||
| 674179 | 2008-06-01 22:52:00 | Gosh I think we are rapidly getting in to a MAC v WIN discussion. So often happens here. But I must repeat - a MAC would be ridiculous for her - in fact the only bit of advice I have really given her (as I did with all my students when I was teaching computers) is "avoid MACS at all costs. They are for people who know what they are doing and are prepared to put up with more costly computers that are slower and not compatible with the normal run of things" Please note I am not anti MAC - just that being logical most people want simplicity in their lives. For that they are better falling in line with the average user ie WIN. Just to be awkward I did have the chance to play with a couple of AZUS EEE computers the other day - one running XP (I have years of experience with that) and the other that free program I know nothing about. To my horror I found I managed better with the "other" program - particularly when I tried to use the web camera. I didn't manage to get that to run on the XP computer at all. Sigh Tom |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 674180 | 2008-06-01 23:47:00 | If it will be easier for her to use a PC in the office (support wise) then get help her get one. As for Macs being slower - maybe 9-10 years ago on Motorola chips but not the current Intel Mac range which have been out since early 2006. If Macs were as slow as you claim they are the entire deadline based print and publishing industry would be a large loss making venture - last time I checked it was pretty profitable due to the speedy operators on fast Macs. As for compatibility "issues" you would have been more correct 10 years ago than you are now. Your basic office stuff runs on Office Mac or MS office with very few issues - the most common ones are caused swapping Powerpoint on Mac with Powerpoint on PC due to Macs using Truetype fonts and MS using Bitmap fonts which are incompatible thus causing corruption although there is an app that will deal with this issue or you just make and show your Powerpoint demo on the same machine. The only other one would be that Mac Excel doesn't do macros bit that is not really a big deal. |
vitalstatistix (9182) | ||
| 674181 | 2008-06-01 23:51:00 | Thomas, I don't think anyone can make any specific recomendations without an intended budget. | Metla (12) | ||
| 674182 | 2008-06-02 03:11:00 | Thomas, I don't think anyone can make any specific recomendations without an intended budget. Metla you have done it again. Gone right to the most important point so far. Something I have missed out entirely because I don't know what her budget will run to. But I will point out the old story of buying the cheapest computer on the market and replacing it every 2 years or so with another cheapest. After four years you have 3 computers - have never been out of the normal guarantee period, the final computer being vastly superior to the most expensive machine 4 years back. The person who went for the expensive device is lumbered with an out of date computer - has paid big amounts in interest on the initial loan and had problems with it for two years the makers didn't want to know about. The only snag is trying to convince "her indoors" that my greed in wanting yet another computer is in fact only sensible financing. Tom |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 674183 | 2008-06-02 03:22:00 | Thomas01 are you able to give us a ball park figure of what the price is, so that forum members can match that to the best choice of lite weight laptops? Baring in mind that many laptop brands have finance deals available. |
vitalstatistix (9182) | ||
| 674184 | 2008-06-02 04:36:00 | Thomas01 are you able to give us a ball park figure of what the price is, so that forum members can match that to the best choice of lite weight laptops? Baring in mind that many laptop brands have finance deals available. I think I have to be sensible here and elect for $1000 or less. I know PCWorld seem to think a $2500 computer is cheap. It isn't and in my own family one bought an expensive laptop last year and another has just bought a real cheapy - which seems to perform much better and makes the other outdated already. So $1000 is my best bet. Tom |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 674185 | 2008-06-02 04:44:00 | What about this one? I know it will offend many that I think this will do the job, but dollars for donuts, the specs look reasonable. Ken www.dse.co.nz |
kenj (9738) | ||
| 674186 | 2008-06-02 04:50:00 | What about this one? I know it will offend many that I think this will do the job, but dollars for donuts, the specs look reasonable. Ken www.dse.co.nz :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: Even leaves $50 in the budget to bump that ram up to 2GB. |
Metla (12) | ||
| 674187 | 2008-06-02 04:50:00 | For a sub $1000 laptop the option that kenj posted is looking pretty good especially when its main use will be Word, Excel and email.:thumbs: Plus you can put OpenOffice on it which is FREE, download.openoffice.org Open Office tutorials here http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/ Free antivirus Free Firewall Free anti spam etc which will save another $200+ |
vitalstatistix (9182) | ||
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