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| Thread ID: 65532 | 2006-01-21 12:47:00 | New Laptop Purchase | vodafone (9466) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 423016 | 2006-01-21 12:47:00 | I need a new laptop by end of June 06. I hope some of you will be able to give some advice on my questions below. I am planning on buying Toshiba Satelite M70-S005 which retails for $2799 as seen in the Harvey Norman bochure. It comes with Win XP - has Centrino config with 1.8Ghz processor and 512MB RAM and 80GB hdd. And from the toshiba website it says its running a ATI Mobility Radeon X700 SE with 128MB memory. My first question is, is this laptop gonna be sufficient to Run Windows Vista in full glossy mode when it comes out and if it cant then will it be able to run in normal classic mode ok. I am planning on playing normal games, not DOOM 3 or any graphic card intensive games. So i am guessing the video card will be ok. In fact i was looking at getting M70-T00E which is slightly cheaper but has Intel graphics accelerator (915GM) as video card. I am guessing this will be pathetic to run games. Is this true and will this sort of card be able to run DVD movies. Also since these kinds of laptop are bundled with Win XP customised install. Will it be quite easy to just format hdd and install Win Vista or any other OS for that matter or they like tied down in BIOS or something that wont allow you to install just any OS Now seeing that Harvey Norman has 2 year interest free deal, its very tempting (i am not lucky like others who can fork out $3000 just like that) for me to get it now. Does anyone know that these similar 2 year interest free deal will be offered again in coming months as the current offer ends on Jan 31st. The salesman told me that this is rare and normally you get 6 month interest free deals. Is this true? I have seen Intels Dual Core Centrinos coming out now also. Will these laptops be avilable anytime soon. Will they have significant performance advantage compared to what i am after. If these kinds of 2 year interest free/no payment deals may come out again from harvey Norman in near future then i might wait for Dual Core laptops to come out and buy it later on before end of June Pheww this is lot of typing. Even if you guys give bits of helpful hints and not answer all my questions, it will be much appreciated Cheers :) |
vodafone (9466) | ||
| 423017 | 2006-01-21 20:21:00 | harvey Normans have these offers every few months, in fact there ususally is a special of some kind then not so no worries there. There should be some dual cores out now, apple have anouced there's and will be shipping in march/april |
plod (107) | ||
| 423018 | 2006-01-21 21:23:00 | Sounds like a great machine. Re future-proofing, well nothing can entirely do that, but you have the single best option of meeting future performance requirements by adding more ram later on, or if you find performance is sluggish in any game now. Also, it might pay to look around at a couple more places. Dick Smith's has one which I'm sure is exactly the same processor, for $2500.00, here (www.dse.co.nz). So if it's the same product, then it looks like HN's higher price is what's paying for the interest-free deal :eek: And oh yeah, re Vista, you can be 99.9 % sure it'll be fine to accept it. And upgrading Windows Operating Systems on a fully functioning machine is a piece of cake. That machine will definitly run dvd movies. My Celeron 2.93 gig notebook does fine, and yours will be way more effective. |
Greg (193) | ||
| 423019 | 2006-01-21 22:20:00 | I went through a similar dilemma earlier this month. However with regard to Vista, I've been told that it will likely have install options allowing to work with plainer laptops (i.e. those without fancy video accelerators). Kinda makes sense since why would folks upgrade if it doesn't work properly. Usually the first thing that anyone does after a MS install is turn off all the fancy & unnecessary UI enhancements anyway. In the end, I decided on a mid-range Toshiba Satellite, not spending too much $$$ now so I can look again in 18 months once the Core chips are out and prices are no longer at a premium. I went for Toshiba 'cos they're reliable and tough (having taken one in a backpack for three months up the Amazon in Brazil and Peru a few years back). I hope that's some help. For me, the thought of spending megabucks for a top of the line laptop would be depressing when seeing similar/better speced versions for half the price six months later on. But I guess everyone has to make the choice which best suits their own individual needs. Cheers |
AndrewMercer (9663) | ||
| 423020 | 2006-01-22 00:30:00 | Isn't it true that one of the advanced features in Vista will stop you playing movies unless your video interface has a special encryption chip? I wouldn't rely on assuming that any computer bought now (especially a laptop) will handle Vista without any problems. Remember, Vista isn't "finished" yet. Hell, XP isn't finished yet. :groan: |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 423021 | 2006-01-22 00:53:00 | Of course the thought occurs, why change to another version of Windows anyway, when XP, for the foreseeable future, is perfectly adequate. | Greg (193) | ||
| 423022 | 2006-01-24 22:09:00 | Thanks For all the information. I am going to US in June Would it be cheaper if i get a laptop in US for a similar model. |
vodafone (9466) | ||
| 423023 | 2006-01-25 01:49:00 | Laptop's typically have a life expectancy of only three years, due to their rough-and-tumble life style . The primary concern with any overseas laptop is the external power supply and warranty . Toshibas have an excellent reputation as far as auto-adopting power supplies . Just need the right plug adapter . |
kingdragonfly (309) | ||
| 423024 | 2006-01-25 09:04:00 | Umm dunno about Laptop purchase in USA. I have seen the ones Harvey Norman sells, They have bluish green cover. Just wondering if you can get i different colour e.g black upon request? |
learning (5137) | ||
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