New Computer

[scooterpickleman]

I want to get a new computer possibly a laptop. At first I was aiming for a gaming computer, but I've changed my mind. I don't want to spend that much money. What I would really like is a nice computer about $1000 dollars that would be good for animating and art stuff as well as casual gaming nothing super intensive. Any suggestions? (I think I'd really prefer a laptop I want the mobility. One that I can also hook my two moniters up to though)

[Comp Guy]

Do you have any preferred brands?

[mike3851]

i would go with a sony vaio

[dl65]

Mike .........

would go with a sony vaio

Please list the reasons ..... it may be helpful.

dl65 

[DeltaSlaya]

In my opinion, if you want good value get a customized dell or if you are experienced enough - buy the components and make it up yourself.

[Comp Guy]

In my opinion, if you want good value get a customized dell or if you are experienced enough - buy the components and make it up yourself.

YES!

[Calum]

If you want a laptop you will not be able to play many modern games at good settings on it for that budget, and you will not be able to buy the components and make it yourself.
If you can live without the mobility I highly recommend you get a desktop instead, they're a lot cheaper, easier to maintain and easier to upgrade.  But it's your choice.

[scooterpickleman]

im not a big fan of dell. i know i could build a desktop myself i woudnt even knnow where to start with a laptop.

[Calum]

You can't do it, or to be more accurate you can, but it's very difficult and very expensive.  So it's really not a good idea.
If you're going for a laptop, I'd recommend at least 1Gb of RAM (2Gb if you're going for Vista), a Core 2 Duo CPU, a 7200rpm HDD, and a 7400 class or better card.  The 7400 will handle older games at lower settings without pushing the cost up too much and without sucking all your battery life.  A 7600 class will handle games much better at the cost of battery life and mobility, plus the laptop will cost more.
Also consider your screen, it's for life in a laptop.  Make sure you get the size and resolution you want.  And think about whether you want a glossy or matte screen, if you're not sure go to a local computer shop and ask to see some laptop screens to get a feel for them.
If possible, try to test out the keyboard and touchpad of the laptop you want, as you can't change those either.
Hopefully this gives you a good starting point.

[DeltaSlaya]

I agree with Calum. Based on getting XP, which I currently recommend you should get, I'd get at least 1gB RAM, ~Core 2 Duo 1.83ghz, that will fly through XP and all your needs. Again as Calum mentioned, if you're looking for Vista in the future, you may have to push your budget and get 2x the ram and a DX10 graphics card. (ie. 8xxx series from nVidia).

What do you have against Dell? They're alright, and the prices are quite competitive. Not sure if they still come with XP though? Their sister company (i think?) Alienware, has more Gaming oriented models. For example SLi (2 Gcards) and 17" screens...

As always, its up to you, but we're glad to give more opinions.

[beanhead07]

I love Dell I must say! I've got a very nice Dell laptop that I'm very happy with. But if you're wanting a laptop for art and animation and stuff I would suggest.... (and I can't believe I'm saying this.... ) I would suggest a Mac. If I were more into all the graphics and stuff like that, I would get a Mac, they are supposed to be really good for that kinda stuff. I've got a buddy here at work that does art stuff and he loves his Mac. So that's a suggestion too...

[scooterpickleman]

mac is the other thing i hate. lol i hate mac a lot they are so overpriced for that god *censored* apple lol.

[Deerpark]

How about HP then? They're not expensive and they look good. The software package is usually not that great but not any worse than many other brand name laptops.

[Comp Guy]

I have always know HPs to have problems. I would NOT recommend that brand. A friend had to continually get his screen replaced because it keept going out. The HPs my family has had have had lots of problems too. On the other hand, I have never known a Dell to have problems.

[Deerpark]

I on the other hand have heard of a lot of problems with Dells and with all other major brands for that matter. Both HP and Dell was part of the major laptop battery recall for example. When you sell computers in the quantities Dell, HP, etc. does there's bound to be people with problems.

[Comp Guy]

I on the other hand have heard of a lot of problems with Dells and with all other major brands for that matter. Both HP and Dell was part of the major laptop battery recall for example. When you sell computers in the quantities Dell, HP, etc. does there's bound to be people with problems.

Deerpark, all the batteries that were recalled were Sony batteries, not Dell or HP batteries. I'm sure these brands trusted Sony for their batteries. So that whole incident was really Sony's fault; not Dell's, not HP's.

[Deerpark]

You can use that argument for most PC problems then. Most of the hardware in both Dell and HP computers aren't manufactured by them either. Is it their fault then if it malfunctions?

[Computer_Hopeless]

I'd say so, If you're selling it, no matter where you got it from, it represents you. If McDonalds bought horrible tasting and diseased potatoes, you can bet everyone would see it as their fault, no the farmers.

[soybean]

If McDonalds bought them, they bare the responsibility.  If the potatoes were "horrible tasting and diseased", McDonalds should have determined that by inspection before buying them or, it not then, before serving them.

[Comp Guy]

However, I haven't had any hardware trouble with Dell. And it's not that easy to test batteries. All other hardware can be easily tested for conflics.

[Computer_Hopeless]

My point exactly. The farmers lose credibility with only the potato purchasers, not the recipients of the fries (the end product). The potato purchasers have the responsibility to buy good potatoes so as to not reflect badly on their own company, and should avoid farmers know to have a bad crop. However, if the pad potato farmers have a good crop the next year, the company can buy the potatoes and reflect well upon themselves.

Wow, talk about a tangent... We started off discussing what laptop would be the best buy, now we are talking of buying potatoes.

[beanhead07]

Scooterpickleman, I agree with you full heartedly... I'm a fellow Mac-hater myself, always have been, but for graphics and stuff I must admit that they are better than PC. *shudders* I can't believe I heard myself say that. lol

[simshi993052]

Forget the laptop for a $1000 dollars you can build a pretty decent desktop
i would not recomend Vista

[Calum]

I have to say I agree with the Mac views, they're very overpriced and a PC can do just as good a job with graphics nowadays.

Forget the laptop for a $1000 dollars you can build a pretty decent desktop
i would not recomend Vista

Yes . . . read the first post and you will see they want a laptop.
I also recommend a desktop, but if you want mobility, like the OP, you can't lug a desktop around because it hasn't got a battery and it's a bit large and heavy.

As for the other discussion, all manufacturers will have problems if you listen to everyone.
That would be why you "have heard of a lot of problems with Dells and with all other major brands for that matter."
The vocal minority are the people who have had problems, you don't usually see an entire website devoted to praising a company but you often see one dedicated to flaming them because of a few negative experiences.
Taking the McDonalds analogy, if your friend has a bad chip, do you stay away for life and scream about how bad they are?
Personally, I don't.

[Computer_Hopeless]

Yeah, after that finger incident, Wendy's still sells chili (I rather like it, in fact). No one really talks about it any more, and their chili is good and finger-free.

I have yet to hear a good thing about Vista, so I too would warn you away from it. Unless you consider bugs and the like a good thing, in which case I've heard plenty of good things.

If you want portability but a desktop sound appealing, I have an idea. You could get a cart, load it with your PC and a diesel engine, and there you have it, both portable (take the elevator, not the stairs) and cheap (until the price of all that gasoline builds up). By using a biofuel (such as used vegetable oil that restaurants will give you free or even pay you to take), you can avoid this extra cost. I would suggest a tarp or the like for outside travel, and a way to hitch it on to the back of your vehicle for road trips.

BENEFITS OF VEGETABLE OIL POWERED DESKTOP PC
• Free power source
• Portability
• More cost efficient than a laptop
• Improved health, strength, and stamina from lugging around the heavy cart.



DISCLAIMER
I am not to be held responsible for any damage resulting from anyone actually trying this. I mean, hey, if you break your legs from having your computer/engine/cart roll over you when you are going down hill, that's your fault. Isn't it sad that our society has come to this? Writing a disclaimer to an idea so I don't get sued... Wow.

[DeltaSlaya]

I on the other hand have heard of a lot of problems with Dells and with all other major brands for that matter. Both HP and Dell was part of the major laptop battery recall for example. When you sell computers in the quantities Dell, HP, etc. does there's bound to be people with problems.

Sony was the ones who made those batteries.

[Comp Guy]

Yeah, after that finger incident, Wendy's still sells chili (I rather like it, in fact). No one really talks about it any more, and their chili is good and finger-free.

I have yet to hear a good thing about Vista, so I too would warn you away from it. Unless you consider bugs and the like a good thing, in which case I've heard plenty of good things.

If you want portability but a desktop sound appealing, I have an idea. You could get a cart, load it with your PC and a diesel engine, and there you have it, both portable (take the elevator, not the stairs) and cheap (until the price of all that gasoline builds up). By using a biofuel (such as used vegetable oil that restaurants will give you free or even pay you to take), you can avoid this extra cost. I would suggest a tarp or the like for outside travel, and a way to hitch it on to the back of your vehicle for road trips.

BENEFITS OF VEGETABLE OIL POWERED DESKTOP PC
• Free power source
• Portability
• More cost efficient than a laptop
• Improved health, strength, and stamina from lugging around the heavy cart.

Great idea! That'll be the next computer I get!

DISCLAIMER
I am not to be held responsible for any damage resulting from anyone actually trying this. I mean, hey, if you break your legs from having your computer/engine/cart roll over you when you are going down hill, that's your fault. Isn't it sad that our society has come to this? Writing a disclaimer to an idea so I don't get sued... Wow.

So true! I'd better create a disclaimer for me soon.....

[Deerpark]

I on the other hand have heard of a lot of problems with Dells and with all other major brands for that matter. Both HP and Dell was part of the major laptop battery recall for example. When you sell computers in the quantities Dell, HP, etc. does there's bound to be people with problems.

Sony was the ones who made those batteries.

Yeah I'm aware of that... you should read the posts after mine for the full discussion. My only point was that theres always going to be people with bad experience with a particular brand, these are usually a very tiny, very vocal, minority.

[patio]

Who wants fries ? ?

 

[Computer_Hopeless]

I sure could go for some, lugging around my desktop has me really worn out. 

[Comp Guy]

Hey save the grease.... I need it to power up my diesel engine.

[FilluX]

Back to the point?!
My brother recently got a hp pavilion dv6000, its pretty nice, big screen (for a laptop)
and good performance (for a laptop) and it was about 1000 €, and he can play F.E.A.R with medium/low settings!

-Filip

[Computer_Hopeless]

How do Euros translate to dollars, I'm assuming American, but may be Canadian, etc. If they are like British pounds, then thats way over his budget.

[Deerpark]

Don't you just love Google

[Computer_Hopeless]

Never knew you could use Google for money conversions, just knew about their simple calculator. Google calculator knows the answer to life, the universe, and everything. (Imagine lugging Deep Thought around in a cart...)

[Comp Guy]

42, huh? Interesting....

[soybean]

How do Euros translate to dollars, I'm assuming American, but may be Canadian, etc. If they are like British pounds, then thats way over his budget.

For a good currency converter, use Universal Currency Converter

[Richenstony]

Never knew you could use Google for money conversions, just knew about their simple calculator. Google calculator knows the answer to life, the universe, and everything. (Imagine lugging Deep Thought around in a cart...)

HAHA thats from hitchhikers guide to the galaxy lmao funny times

Tony

[Computer_Hopeless]

I think it's kinda funny that 6 x 9 = 42 in base 13, Douglas Adams said that was an accident. The numbers were pretty much random, and Arthur interpreted it not working out as a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with the universe.

So, yeah, 1000 € is a few hundred USD (American dollars) over budget, but maybe it'd be worth it for a good laptop. I can't really make that decision; it's not my money (though I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands for you...).

I doubt Scooterpickleman is still watching this topic since it has spun WAY off topic. Here's a map of the topic as I remember it:

TANGENT MAP
good laptop? --> laptop problems --> fry analogy --> chili analogy --> get a desktop --> use a cart --> don't use Euros --> Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[Comp Guy]

Wow! So we have had eight different subjects in this one topic.

Actually, you forgot one:

good laptop? --> laptop problems --> fry analogy --> chili analogy --> get a desktop --> use a cart --> don't use Euros --> Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy --> topic analogy

[Computer_Hopeless]

good laptop? --> laptop problems --> fry analogy --> chili analogy --> get a desktop --> use a cart --> don't use Euros --> Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy --> topic analogy --> correction --> correction of your correction

[Comp Guy]

good laptop? --> laptop problems --> fry analogy --> chili analogy --> get a desktop --> use a cart --> don't use Euros --> Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy --> topic analogy --> correction --> correction of your correction --> topic death....

[scooterpickleman]

im watching it lol cuz its funny and stuff

i like the desktop cart idea run on vegetable gas or sometin like that i just have come up witha  witty enough response for anything

[Comp Guy]

im watching it lol cuz its funny and stuff

i like the desktop cart idea run on vegetable gas or sometin like that i just have come up witha  witty enough response for anything

I am so not witty!