kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 18 Apr 2007 4:44 PM |
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Hey guys
Anyone got some opinions on a stand-out notebook available now?
I'm in the market for a good one, but am swamped for choice.
Kevin
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panfa1
Posts: 388
Location: Lower Mountains
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| 18 Apr 2007 8:53 PM |
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| Are you absolutely wedded to Windows only? |
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kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 18 Apr 2007 9:43 PM |
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It'd have to have the ability to run XP, panfa1. My work software uses it.
Kevin
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panfa1
Posts: 388
Location: Lower Mountains
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| 18 Apr 2007 10:49 PM |
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Any Intel based Mac laptop will run XP (or Vista) as well as Mac OS. Gives you the best of both worlds - and are seriously quick in either. However, not everyone needs that luxury.
So, if that's not important to you, there are some great Windows only laptops. My company supplied me with a Thinkpad that is exceptionally good. |
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flynn
Posts: 297
Location: Sydney
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| 19 Apr 2007 6:37 PM |
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The Hewlett Packard HP Pavilion DV6200 is pretty good apparently.
See review here:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/reviews/one-size-fits-all/2007/04/18/1176696844544.html?page=2
I agree with panfa about the Apple MccBook but they are generally more pricey than Wintel laptops |
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HP iPAQ rw6828
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kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 19 Apr 2007 10:14 PM |
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I have the Imac at home with Parallels installed. It's great. The work notebook needs to run software that uses Lotus Notes as a supporting program. Bloody thing is 5 years old. I don't know what they are going to do about Vista. I went doing a bit of research tonight - there was a JB HiFi opening near me that has about 20 notebooks on display. *One* ran XP!
I like the HP's flynn. I used to have a Pavillion a while ago. I also like the look of the new Toshiba's.
Kevin
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kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 02 May 2007 1:02 PM |
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I ended up getting a great deal on a Toshiba Satellite A100 - (upgraded to the 1gb RAM version) for under $1,300 which I thought was amazing.
It looks (and behaves) like a good little workhorse.
Kevin
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flynn
Posts: 297
Location: Sydney
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| 03 May 2007 5:54 PM |
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Did it have Vista installed or does it have XP?
I tried to install Vista on my Tecra A4 last week without success. Id din't need Vista but as I was training other users I needed a better Vista PC thatn what the company I am training had available. Fortuately I was able to recover as I had created a new partition and I didn't lose my XP installation. |
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HP iPAQ rw6828
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mtb
Mean and Nasty Site Admin
Posts: 6089
Location: In Ubuntu laptop heaven, running Wine... with not an M$ distro. in sight.
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| 03 May 2007 9:37 PM |
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| I see that Dell are responding to customer demand and offering XP on some desktops and laptops again, plus going the Linux path again with Ubuntu. Good thing too - when(!) I finally get my laptap (maybe Dell, maybe not) I won't be putting Vista on it either, no way. |
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Mike
Look here for my articles and hardware & software that I recommend.
The Doomsday Clock - It's five minutes to midnight - think about it... do something about it!
Psion II CM -> Psion II XP -> Psion II LZ -> Psion 3 -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II -> O2 Xda IIi -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II + Nokia 3310 -> Dell Inspiron 9400 running Ubuntu + Nokia 6234 (no more Windows Mobile for me!)
My new device is Linux based and it doesn't include a camera, a phone or an MS operating system! Oh, and I also have a Topfield PVRt, a TomTom ONE and a Wii - all of which also use nice, stable Linux... luxury! |
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kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 04 May 2007 10:48 AM |
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It was the only one available at the store (there were about 25 models on display) that had XP installed. I specifically didn't want Vista, so that was very lucky! 
Vista *looks* very nice - but I've heard horror stories plus my work software won't run on it - and can anyone say "Mac OS"??!? It's very similar in appearance to my iMac - it's unreal!
Kevin
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panfa1
Posts: 388
Location: Lower Mountains
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| 04 May 2007 10:55 AM |
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I'm investigating a laptop for my dad (he's 89) because he wants to be "more mobile" when he's surfing, sending emails and when we video Skype. I think the Dell option is a great one.
(All his computer experience is PC/XP and I don't want him to have to learn a new platform at his stage of life.) |
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kevinnugent
Cisco iModerator®
Posts: 2749
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| 04 May 2007 10:59 AM |
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Geez, panfa1, I'm amazed he's taken to the technology as well as he has! My Dad is just 80 and is a complete luddite. He has a desktop computer and doesn't know what to do once it's turned on!!
He actually started talking to it the last time he turned it on. hehe
Kevin
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panfa1
Posts: 388
Location: Lower Mountains
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| 04 May 2007 11:14 AM |
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It's funny, dad resisted a computer for years until he became a little infirm and began to have trouble writing long letters by hand (He reckoned a hand written letter was the most acceptable form of communication - after face to face, of course. If you saw his hand-writing you would understand - almost calligraphic.). Then I pointed out to him that he could type an email and send it to as many members of the family and friends as he wanted - even cutting and pasting bits for different versions. That's when he decided to 'bite the bullet'.
And since he saw his new great grand-daughter on a video Skype call for the first time, well ... there's been no stopping him.
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archibald
Posts: 2
Location:
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| 16 Apr 2008 1:21 AM |
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| I would recommend Asus but I'm a bit late :s |
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Mr_Gadget
Moderator
Posts: 2717
Location: Where else but Melbourne?
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mtb
Mean and Nasty Site Admin
Posts: 6089
Location: In Ubuntu laptop heaven, running Wine... with not an M$ distro. in sight.
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| 17 Apr 2008 1:16 AM |
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| Can't go past my Dell Inspiron 9400 with 17" widescreen... loaded with Ubuntu of course. |
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Mike
Look here for my articles and hardware & software that I recommend.
The Doomsday Clock - It's five minutes to midnight - think about it... do something about it!
Psion II CM -> Psion II XP -> Psion II LZ -> Psion 3 -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II -> O2 Xda IIi -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II + Nokia 3310 -> Dell Inspiron 9400 running Ubuntu + Nokia 6234 (no more Windows Mobile for me!)
My new device is Linux based and it doesn't include a camera, a phone or an MS operating system! Oh, and I also have a Topfield PVRt, a TomTom ONE and a Wii - all of which also use nice, stable Linux... luxury! |
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Insinr8
Posts: 38
Location:
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| 08 May 2008 11:08 AM |
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Im there with Mr Gadget...
Im using a Dell XPS 1530 (upgraded screen, maxxed out the RAM, upped the processor) and it is pretty sweeeeeet. I have used Toshiba, HP, IBM/Lenovo and other dell laptops before. Happy with them all but this XPS takes thecake so far (keeping in mind new features are added to laptops almost weekly LOL). Also make sure if your using it in a domain environment, you choose business or ultimate vista licenses and downgrade to XP install.... at least you have the licence available to you
The only other way I would go (If my CC was able to handle it) would be an alienware system...
I is a best fit thing too... make a list of needs and wants, read reviews and start sparating the wheat from the Chaff |
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Mr_Gadget
Moderator
Posts: 2717
Location: Where else but Melbourne?
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