ANOTHER laptop buyer lookig for advice

[monkey]

Hello all. I'm considering getting my own laptop as the works one is pants and they won't replace it.

I have a little one in mind but I've noticed that they're generally a good few quid cheaper with Linux installed rather than Windows. I have a copy of Windows XP home which I can use and would want to. My question is this: Will loading windows onto it devoid it of any special drivers or laptop specific er... stuff that will impede it's performance?

Also the one I'm looking at is the Asus Eee1000HE. I like everything about it apart from the size and would like a slightly larger screen. Any recommendations of which one and where to buy? I don't even know which brands are generally good.

Thanks. :)

[alexs]

If 10" is too small, is 13" too big?

[monkey]

No I think that's perfect. Up to 15" really but then they're heavier and more power consuming. Suppose I could get a car charger though. A CD/DVD writer would be good too.

[tigersaw]

I had an asus eee - the 4gb SSD one. I loaded windows XP, but the sound never worked. Looking on the net most everyone had the same problem.

Sold it and bought the little samsung (n1?) which is brilliant, 6 hours batt life easy.

[keith_d]

Depends what you want to do with your shiny new laptop. Here's my thoughts.

Screen:

Small enough to take on the bike = 10" screen. But you'll probably need to attach a monitor for anything more than watching the results from your bike cam.

Portable and useful = at least 15" screen. OK for short periods but can be tiresome if you're spending lots of time on it.

Desktop replacement = biggest you can afford. If you're not using an external monitor bigger really is better. Bung it on a stand and use a separate keyboard rather than hunching over the laptop for long periods.

Memory:

Minimum=500Mb, typical=1Gb or greedy=2Gb. If you don't have enough memory to run all the applications you've got open the laptop runs like treacle because it's busy using disk space as a memory replacement.

Disk Space:

Don't consider the 8Gb flash option unless you're taking it on the bike. Absolute minimum these days is 80Gb but 120Gb plus is typical.

Operating System:

I'm fairly geeky so I'd install XP and Linux. Mostly 'cos if I'm abroad and logging in through dodgy wireless networks I'd rather be running Linux. For normal folks XP is a better bet.

Other stuff:

Install decent anti-virus software and a firewall before some tosser hijacks your machine and uses it to send out spam (or worse).:smt013

I'm hoping to find my way to Soho tomorrow, so you're welcome to pick my brains (such as they are).

Keith.

[monkey]

I won't be in Soho I'm afraid.

I currenly use the laptop on my lap on the sofa for the web, occasional pics and videos and burning. I'm not too bothered about it being bike-able but I'm sure I done something to the old one after just one ride.

[lukemillar]

Get a mac :)

[Supervox]

Get a mac :)


<picks up BIG bowl of popcorn (and tin hat) & awaits Soulkiss's inevitable arrival>

[phil24_7]

How much are you looking at spending and what are you intending to use it for (now and in future)?

[Bear]

Mainly porn and hacking into government websites to change the "I" into an "A" in the name Smith. Also for calculating the difference between kilometers and a wasp.

Edit: Actually I'm thinking of getting a new laptop too. mainly for email and web, will be using it to watch films and the occasional bits of word processing but nothing too strenuous. May use it for gaming. Budget is tight as a penguins ass and twice as fishy, otherwise I'd get a mac purely so I can see the look on Soulkiss' face...

[metalangel]

Macs ftw. I have a 12" iBook G4 and it's perfect for everyday use, yet small enough to be far more portable than the behemoth that was my old Dell Inspiron.