Computer Advice - Page 2

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 12:00 AM

Thanks eschwartz. Sorry I know nothing about all of that. Main reason I was asking for advice.

eschwartz · 03-16-2015, 12:26 AM

Don't apologize -- that is why I was answering.

dickloraine · 03-16-2015, 09:04 AM

Do you work mostly at one place? Maybe buy a dektop and a laptop. You should get a very capable desktop pc for 600-700. Then buy a laptop around 400, looking more for mobility than power (meaning 13-15", no dvd, light, long battery live etc). That way you would get much more power than for less money and better mobility when you are abroad. If you have no dedicated workspace, this is of course not practical.
For what you are doing you don't need much power, your current laptop sounds actually fine. Is it defect?

JSWolf · 03-16-2015, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyBunnies

JSWolf will I be able to hook up another monitor? I use two at the moment for the flexibility

The Acer does have an HDMI port for hooking up a second monitor. The screen of the Acer is a 17.3" screen with a full HD resolution at 1920x1080.

You really do not want just a VGA port as on the Thinkpad. You'll get a much better picture on a second monitor with the HDMI port as that is digital and the VGA port is analogue.

I do think the Acer will last much longer as it has better specs and while it might be more than you need now, it will keep you going for a long time.

eschwartz · 03-16-2015, 10:33 AM

HDMI might be preferable, but VGA really does work pretty well too...

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickloraine

Do you work mostly at one place? Maybe buy a dektop and a laptop. You should get a very capable desktop pc for 600-700. Then buy a laptop around 400, looking more for mobility than power (meaning 13-15", no dvd, light, long battery live etc). That way you would get much more power than for less money and better mobility when you are abroad. If you have no dedicated workspace, this is of course not practical.
For what you are doing you don't need much power, your current laptop sounds actually fine. Is it defect?

I have a desktop as a backup. I do not need to buy one. When I had it build I spent around $3000. More than I needed at the time but great for gaming.

I do not like the smaller screen (13 inch). My current laptop is not perfect for my needs. It is 5 years old and really just needs replacing. It does not up to what I need for working.

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Acer does have an HDMI port for hooking up a second monitor. The screen of the Acer is a 17.3" screen with a full HD resolution at 1920x1080.

You really do not want just a VGA port as on the Thinkpad. You'll get a much better picture on a second monitor with the HDMI port as that is digital and the VGA port is analogue.

I do think the Acer will last much longer as it has better specs and while it might be more than you need now, it will keep you going for a long time.

Thank you JSWolf & eschwartz. I would of never been able to narrow it down to what I want. Now to pick... Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, Catch a tiger by the toe....

eschwartz · 03-16-2015, 04:32 PM

Also check out some of the other Thinkpads. They do have an excellent reputation for durability.

JSWolf · 03-16-2015, 05:10 PM

But since you've had your Acer for 5 years, I would think this new one would last as well.

When you configure the Thinkpad to be as similar as possible, you are going to end up paying more than for the Acer.

The last time I used VGA, I found it fuzzy. Plugged back in the DVI and the picture was nice and crisp.

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 06:17 PM

I am almost to the post of buying both, trying them out and return the one I do not like. But I feel that is wrong and similar to buying a book reading and returning after reading because I did not like the ending. Just not something I do.

dickloraine · 03-16-2015, 08:10 PM

Some funny thing about the Think Pad: I never had one, but two people I know just buy them for this little red dot in the keyboard (I think it is called TrackPoint). Don't know what you can do with that, but they love it.

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 08:56 PM

I thought that little red dot was similar to the marks/raised area for typist so they know where their fingers are at.

KyBunnies is crawling back into her uneducated farm cave

FizzyWater · 03-16-2015, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickloraine

Some funny thing about the Think Pad: I never had one, but two people I know just buy them for this little red dot in the keyboard (I think it is called TrackPoint). Don't know what you can do with that, but they love it.

Well, I don't know for sure about the Think Pad, but I've had a couple of laptops with a "dot" in the middle of the keyboard - it was basically an attached mouse. It took a little bit to get use to - but once I did I absolutely loved not having to lift my hands off the keyboard to use my "mouse".

KyBunnies · 03-16-2015, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Well, I don't know for sure about the Think Pad, but I've had a couple of laptops with a "dot" in the middle of the keyboard - it was basically an attached mouse. It took a little bit to get use to - but once I did I absolutely loved not having to lift my hands off the keyboard to use my "mouse".

Really. That is a plus to the Think Pad. Thanks for sharing Fizzy

eschwartz · 03-16-2015, 11:58 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick

I saw it on a couple laptops a long time ago -- I as very unimpressed, and somehow got the feeling they went out of style. They still make them?

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03-16-2015, 12:00 AM	#16
KyBunnies Book & Bunny Crazy Posts: 1,291 Karma: 6468095 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: USA Device: K3 (x2), Fire HD 7-inch (x2), Fire HDX 8.9, Acer Android Tablet	Thanks eschwartz. Sorry I know nothing about all of that. Main reason I was asking for advice.

03-16-2015, 12:26 AM	#17
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Don't apologize -- that is why I was answering.

03-16-2015, 09:04 AM	#18
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544528 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	Do you work mostly at one place? Maybe buy a dektop and a laptop. You should get a very capable desktop pc for 600-700. Then buy a laptop around 400, looking more for mobility than power (meaning 13-15", no dvd, light, long battery live etc). That way you would get much more power than for less money and better mobility when you are abroad. If you have no dedicated workspace, this is of course not practical. For what you are doing you don't need much power, your current laptop sounds actually fine. Is it defect?

03-16-2015, 10:33 AM	#20
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	HDMI might be preferable, but VGA really does work pretty well too...

03-16-2015, 04:32 PM	#23
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Also check out some of the other Thinkpads. They do have an excellent reputation for durability.

03-16-2015, 05:10 PM	#24
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But since you've had your Acer for 5 years, I would think this new one would last as well. When you configure the Thinkpad to be as similar as possible, you are going to end up paying more than for the Acer. The last time I used VGA, I found it fuzzy. Plugged back in the DVI and the picture was nice and crisp.

03-16-2015, 06:17 PM	#25
KyBunnies Book & Bunny Crazy Posts: 1,291 Karma: 6468095 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: USA Device: K3 (x2), Fire HD 7-inch (x2), Fire HDX 8.9, Acer Android Tablet	I am almost to the post of buying both, trying them out and return the one I do not like. But I feel that is wrong and similar to buying a book reading and returning after reading because I did not like the ending. Just not something I do.

03-16-2015, 08:10 PM	#26
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544528 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	Some funny thing about the Think Pad: I never had one, but two people I know just buy them for this little red dot in the keyboard (I think it is called TrackPoint). Don't know what you can do with that, but they love it.

03-16-2015, 08:56 PM	#27
KyBunnies Book & Bunny Crazy Posts: 1,291 Karma: 6468095 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: USA Device: K3 (x2), Fire HD 7-inch (x2), Fire HDX 8.9, Acer Android Tablet	I thought that little red dot was similar to the marks/raised area for typist so they know where their fingers are at. KyBunnies is crawling back into her uneducated farm cave

03-16-2015, 11:58 PM	#30
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick I saw it on a couple laptops a long time ago -- I as very unimpressed, and somehow got the feeling they went out of style. They still make them?