Author Topic: New Lappy  (Read 6535 times)

Melvar

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New Lappy
« on: April 22, 2010, 09:33:16 PM »
So I normally buy components and build my own desktop.  I don't really know where I can buy parts for a laptop and don't even know if it would be cost effective since so much of them are prepackaged.  Given that, I am looking for a decent laptop to run internetz, the office suite, and at the most, simple ODE solve code in MATLAB.  I'm not too picky on brand, but would prefer at least a dual core.

Has anyone purchased anything similar recently?  Or have any leads?  I wanted to stick in the $600 range.

Thanks in advance.

ristarr

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Re: New Lappy
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2010, 09:43:31 PM »
I just got a new one a couple of weeks ago.  Look at the Samsungs.  I just got this one from BestBuy http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/samsung-np-r580-jsb1us/4505-3121_7-33974719.html?tag=mncol;txt and it is real nice.  It is a little pricier than you are looking for but it is jam packed.  i5 processor and a blue ray.  The touchpad they are complaining about it actually one of the best I saw.  The keyboard is great also.  I looked at a bunch of them and was looking for an i3, but went ahead and upgraded when I saw this one.
Good Luck!

clockworkjoe

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Re: New Lappy
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2010, 10:03:18 PM »
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3218565

Current consensus  for raw performance value?
Acer Aspire One AS1410 or AS1810with Dual-Core CPU
Acer Aspire AS1410-2920  ($450 at Amazon and at NewEgg)
* Intel Celeron SU2300 dual-core (1.2GHz) CULV
* 11.6" 1366x768 display
* Intel GMA 4500MHD Graphics
* 2GB - 4GB of RAM
* 250GB Hard Drive

Current consensus for best video performance for under $500
Asus 1201N (Around $485 at Amazon and NewEgg)
* Nvidia 9400M w/256MB Graphics
* 1.6GHz Dual-Core Atom N330
* 2GB up to 8GB of RAM
* 1366x768
* HDMI Out

A damn good competitor on the CPU and graphics front - AMD :siren: updated :siren:
MSI Wind12 U230-040US (NewEgg link- $480 now - Amazon - $480 pre-order)
* AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335(1.60GHz) - Dual-core "Congo"
* ATI Radeon HD 3200
* 12.1" WXGA  1366x768
* 2GB (4GB Max)
* 320GB HDD
* 6-cell battery
* Review at Hexus.net

A damn good competitor on the CPU and graphics front as well - AMD
* 11.6" Toshiba Satellite T115D-S1125 - around $500 at Amazon and NewEgg
* AMD Athlon Neo X2 Dual-Core Processor L325
* 11.6" 1366 x 768
* 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium,
* ATI 3200 Graphics
* HDMI Out

Current consensus  for best value for video performance :siren:
HP Mini 311
• Intel Atom (Single-core)
• 1GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA ION
• 11.6" diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
• Wireless-G Card
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Current consensus of older  netbooks: (becoming outdated by the hour)
* Asus Eee PC 1000HE (1005HA is newer version of 1000HE)
* Toshiba NB200/NB205

Best Hackintosh / Mac OS X experience?
* Above-mentioned Asus 1201N - dual core CPU, :krad: graphics (see this InsanelyMac thread)
* On a budget: HP Mini 311, see this insanelymac thread for details
* Stay the hell away from netbooks with Intel's X4500 graphics if you want OS X, Apple moved away from Intel before the X4500 graphics came out, you will be better off with the HP Mini 311 mentioned above if you want to get OS X running on a new model.
* Older Netbooks: Dell Mini 10v.  Not the Dell Mini 10.  The Dell Mini 10v. 10v 10v 10v
* Older Netbooks: Ye Olde MSI Wind U100 (the thing has been documented to hell and back)


* 11.6" Gateway (Best Buy) - AMD Athlon 64 Processor L110 with 1366x768 display.  6-cell battery, $380, but don't expect spectacular battery life.

Characteristics of a Netbook: 
In the past, it typically was:
*  7" - 10"
* A price in the range of $250 - $600
* Running with a low powered single-core CPU (usually Intel's Atom or on older machines an older Celeron)
* Usually Windows XP Home or Linux.
* Lack of an internal optical drive
As of CES 2010, you're seeing:
* 10" - 12" (the 7" form factor has all but died off thanks to cheap 9" netbooks and the 9" netbooks are dying off too))
* Low powered single-core (Intel Atom, Celeron, Core 2 Solo) to dual-core (Intel Celeron, Core 2 Duo, Intel Atom N330)
* Windows 7, Linux, Google's Android, and less and less likely, Windows XP (Microsoft has been wanting to drop XP sales for a long time, and netbooks kept them around)
* Still typically lacking an internal optical drive (there are one or two models that have tried, but they didn't do so well)

Want to argue what a Netbook is? Don't. We're all aware of that argument and we've seen it play out in the past.  The sub-notebook or ultraportable laptop versus netbook argument is only going to get more contentious now that we are weeks away from getting a Core 2 Duo netbook for around $550, but there is no point in hashing it out again. 

Important Links:
* Previous Netbook Thread
* Previous Previous netbook megathread thread
* Even older previous megathread
:qfg: Something Awful Netbook Gaming Thread :mario:

But I want a trackpoint
* Got lots of :20bux: ?  If so, check out Sony's offerings. (actually you can find them on clearance these days)

What about tablet netbooks?
:qq:
* Amazon.com shows Asus Eee PC T91 Tablet as shipping
* iPad :effort:

Higher Resolution displays (above 1024x600) in 10" models and smaller
* A lot of the 11.6" and 12" have the option for 1366 displays
* Dell Mini 10 and HP Mini 5x series both do but you may have to select the option.
* Sony's 10.1" W series also has one (SonyStyle link)
* While it's 11.6" Gateway "netbook" (Best Buy) has a 1366 x 768 display, but it's pushing the limits of what a netbook is, given it's CPU. Seriously, for nearly the same price, grab the AS1410 from Acer.

What about HDMI out?
* Going to become standard.  See the Acer Aspire AS1410 netbooks listed in the next post.

Frequent  questions:
* Bootable USB Keys XP/Vista/Windows 7
* Dual-Core CPUs:  :xd:  Wait, it's October 22nd, it's upon us.
* Difference between 1005HA models, specifically - 1005HA-V and 1005HA-P.  V has the N720 Atom, P has the N280 Atom.
* Batteries: DON'T buy anything less than a 6-cell unless you absolutely have to as in there is some kind of $100 price difference.
* Chrome OS: See the Google FAQ for more details.  It's a ways off.


Discussions of specific Netbooks:
* Asus EEE Megathread at Something Awful
* AspireOneUser
* HP2133Guide.com
* EEEguides.com
* EEEUser.com
* MSIWind.net
* MyDellMini.com

Where to buy Netbooks - US?
* Amazon's Netbook Section,
* MWave - lots
* NewEgg - lots
* ZipZoomFly - lots
* Best Buy: Acer Aspire One, Asus Eee PC line, HP Mini (Atom), Dell Mini 9
* Target carries them on and off
* US - Importing = Dynamism (Warning, will make you jealous of Asia :smith: )

Where to buy - US/Canada
* US/Canada = NCIX (sometimes has international keyboard, see FAQ to replace)

Where to buy - Europe
* UK / Europe = Expansys  Clove.co.uk, Amazon UK - netbook section
* Gamma - Dutch hardware store

Where to buy - Asia
* Give me a break, there are entire stores in Asia dedicated to these things (I have no idea the particulars, I just know they are all over the place - Asia was ahead of everybody else when it comes to smaller notebooks).

Melvar

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Re: New Lappy
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2010, 02:49:11 PM »
WOW, thanks for the info.  You get a gold star!