Laptop Choices

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

But. but, but, ..., but only 16GB? I have 32GB on my Droid 1 and it is removable.

What do you have loaded on the chromebook?

Just remember, I am trying to simulate a chromebook on my Windows desktop to get an idea if I want one. I don't yet have a real vision of what I am getting into.

And yeah, I know they give you 5GB free in the cloud, but together that is only 21GB.

With a Chromebook, they do give you 100GB free cloud storage for 2 years. You don't really load apps on it, it's cloud based, the "apps" are on the web. There is an SDRAM slot.

I'm using my Chromebook now, it meets my needs for accessing the web, and Google Docs seems to be adequate. I have a tablet (Kindle Fire) and a desktop PC for when they are appropriate.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

With a Chromebook, they do give you 100GB free cloud storage for 2 years. You don't really load apps on it, it's cloud based, the "apps" are on the web. There is an SDRAM slot.

I'm using my Chromebook now, it meets my needs for accessing the web, and Google Docs seems to be adequate. I have a tablet (Kindle Fire) and a desktop PC for when they are appropriate.

Ok, I need to be clearer.

If you are "offline" out of reach of wifi and the cloud what can you do?
Do you need programs stored on your machine to do it?
Do you need data on your machine?

That is why I was interested in the C7. It has a 320GB hard disk. That would be sufficient.

So what do you do "out of range?"

Added.
And if you have the 3G connection, what counts on your bandwidth? Is it just downloads or uploads or is the connecting to your apps?

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

Of course printers are male. Slow to get started, cranky in cold damp weather, cheap to buy and costly in consumables........

And they always run out of ink when we need it the most.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

And they always run out of ink when we need it the most.

Can't you just jiggle the canister a bit?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

And they always run out of ink when we need it the most.

Maybe you are just not using the right men ... eh printers.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by frahse

Can't you just jiggle the canister a bit?

I've seen that they sell refilling kits, seems they involve needles.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

Ok, I need to be clearer.

If you are "offline" out of reach of wifi and the cloud what can you do?
Do you need programs stored on your machine to do it?
Do you need data on your machine?

That is why I was interested in the C7. It has a 320GB hard disk. That would be sufficient.

So what do you do "out of range?"

Added.
And if you have the 3G connection, what counts on your bandwidth? Is it just downloads or uploads or is the connecting to your apps?

What do you need it to do? It's a computer based around using the web. You can use Google Docs in offline mode. The computer is less functional when it isn't connected to the internet.

It meets my needs, most of what I do on the computer is web content and word processing.

I have no idea about the 3G, I only have the wifi version. I assume that all the data that transfers counts for the bandwidth.

[BookCat]

For the OP: I have a Lenovo Thinkpad L420. It's been fine (touch wood), but the little trackpad button really annoys me. I'm a fast typist and often catch my finger on the thing! Apart from that little red nub, the laptop has been unproblematic. I went for a Lenovo product because I wanted a matte screen; a "business" laptop, not a high-speed gaming one.

It's predecessor was a solidly built HP, nothing like the HP's I saw when shopping a year ago. They were flimsy, glossy, media and gaming laptops. One of my cats, who's rather large, has a tendency to jump on my laptop, while it's closed, so I went round PC World etc prodding the lids - they all buckled. Luckily, the Lenovo has a solid lid which Fred can jump on without doing too much damage

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Yeah, it has been like that for a while. Granted, about 70% of the price difference (before discounts) is for the operating system. Like the case, power supply, and optical drive, it can be carried forward as you upgrade. RAM and hard drives are sometimes an issue too: I've found that systems vendors tend to charge a lot to upgrade the RAM and hard drive. Often the RAM slots are filled, meaning that you have to replace it if you're doing the upgrade yourself. Many systems don't even have the space to add a secondary hard drive, meaning that you have to replace it if you're doing the upgrade yourself. The list can go on, depending upon your requirements.

That's why I was so delighted with the Lenovo. Standard case, standard RAM, standard disks, standard power supply, bays for additional disks. Easily upgradable to i7.

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Anyhow, at least the options are out there so people can buy what they want and in the form they want: laptops, prebuilt desktops, custom built systems, and home built.

It is amazing. And all are so inexpensive that it's not unreasonable for one person to have a desktop, laptop, tablet, and a smart phone. That's a lot of computer. Very few people share a common computer these days. That might be the most wonderful thing of all.

[RHWright]

Well, I ended up with the Lenovo.

It fit my needs and was in stock. Which proved an issue at some retailers. (Oh, this is a great machine. Great deal. We're out of stock. Rinse. Repeat.)

So far the biggest growing pain is to Windows 8. Reserving judgement there, but so far it's a bit of a beast compared to XP or 7. Would probably be better if I was happy with an out of the box configuration.

[kennyc]

Congrats! Good for you! Keep us posted.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by RHWright

So far the biggest growing pain is to Windows 8. Reserving judgement there, but so far it's a bit of a beast compared to XP or 7. Would probably be better if I was happy with an out of the box configuration.

Win8 is really not much different that Win7 if you do not have a touch screen. The only thing missing is the Start Menu. Think of the main screen as your start menu spilled across your desktop. If you click the Desktop tile, you will see the familiar Win7 desktop.

The main screen is a place to consume content and run apps. The Desktop is a good place to do administrative stuff.

After just a couple days, I am really starting to warm up to Win8.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by sabredog

I generally have desktops built specifically to order, but quite like Dell for our notebooks.

Going to break tradition when I replace our Dell netbook with a Macbook Air (13" 128Gb SSD, 8Gb RAM). The netbook, bag and charger weigh close to 3kg, whilst the Macbook Air comes in at just over 1.3kg. As we use the netbook for our travel PC, weight is very important when it comes to cabin luggage weights.

That is the model Macbook Air that I have (2012). I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I do travel a fair bit, and I usually have books to carry as well as my laptop when I go to the library to work. The light weight of the laptop makes a huge difference. I hope that you enjoy it. The OS offers many advantages to my work (linguistic research) over Windows as well.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

With a Chromebook, they do give you 100GB free cloud storage for 2 years. You don't really load apps on it, it's cloud based, the "apps" are on the web. There is an SDRAM slot.

I'm using my Chromebook now, it meets my needs for accessing the web, and Google Docs seems to be adequate. I have a tablet (Kindle Fire) and a desktop PC for when they are appropriate.

I have been thinking about getting a Chromebook for my dad, but they don't seem to sell them here in Canada; I may just get him a tablet instead.

[kevinp]

Originally Posted by RHWright

So far the biggest growing pain is to Windows 8.

Do a Google search for "classic shell". It's a free program that will put the start button back and make your laptop boot to the desktop. Install that and Win8 isn't much different than Win7. I love it!