New Laptop

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 01:37

I'd like to buy a new portable before April. Is there any make that has particularly good sound, preferably 17 inch screen and a built in spel checker

JSP · 12 March 2009, 01:57

There's loads of deals about mate. Check dabs.com and if you know anyone that works for BT they can get a good discount there.
Is the spell checker just for the internet? I use firefox with a dictionary addon. If you spell things wrong it's underlined in red, right click and it gives you the right spelling. I'd be fecked with out it.

JSP · 12 March 2009, 02:00

http://www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx...105&PageMode=1

I got my eldest a 19 inch widescreen lappy from Dell a couple of years ago. Only thing that has gone wrong with it was the charger. They sent one out free of charge within 3 days!!!

codprawn · 12 March 2009, 04:27

Depends how much you want to spend and what you are going to use it for. if you want to play good games on it then you need one with a dedicated graphics card.

1 year ago I bought an HP for £599 which was the cheapest with proper graphics although that will have changed by now. Remember RAM and graphics are more important than CPU.

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 11:39

thanks re games I only really played Red Alert and I got bored with that. My passion is music and comedy hence the requirement or good sound qualities. Idon't really watch DVD's unlise they are live music DVD's

Spel checker comment was a bit of self deprecation in acknowledgement of the sloppy nature of my posts.....however I used to use the Firefox spell checker but it (FF) disne work well with Vista

My present laptop has an Nvidia geforce something in it is that what you mean by a dedicated graphics card? or is it something that plugs into an expansion slot. This machine is fine processing wise but I don't like the sound much at all.

I can probaly go up to a thousand for a laptop but I'd prefer it to be less than £700 really.

JSP · 12 March 2009, 11:51

I'd go for Dell then. http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs

Daughter has the inspiron and have to say it sounds ok even with the crap she listens too.
I have the firefox spell checker on Vista and it works fine after an update they did last year

What Music by the way?

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 17:01

Good and Bad but for me mostly the stuff they play in the bar in the movies just before the fight breaks out. Marcia Ball, Dr John, Little feet, Wailing Walker Band, Prof Longhair, Pinetop Perkins, KWS, SRV, Walter Trout, Roomful of Blues, Sax Gordon, Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman,Edwin Mcann, Frank Zappa, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, AC DC, Scouting for girls and Fall out boy The list is long but those are some of the people wot I like.

Jono · 12 March 2009, 17:17

I would have thought that the Panasonic "Toughbook" would be the minimum standard for your use...............

Do they do one with extra wide keyboards for "Gorilla size mits"...?

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono

I would have thought that the Panasonic "Toughbook" would be the minimum standard for your use...............

Do they do one with extra wide keyboards for "Gorilla size mits"...?

if they did i'm on the waiting list! I'm begining to think the answer might be a turtle beach USB add on and a decent pair of powered speakers

codprawn · 12 March 2009, 17:46

There is a simple way to get great sound out of almost any laptop - invest in a nice pair of headphones. Far better than any laptop speakers. You could even get cordless one if you want to move around.

RAD · 12 March 2009, 18:24

Also depends if you want to touch and feel it or buy off the net.

Compaq and HP are the same company. I have an Acer, not had a problem with it. I don't like Toshiba's or IBM's, not got the same feel. Avoid Fujitsu Siemens, Ok for desktops but not for laptops.

So I would get a Dell if I could wait or a Compaq/HP/Acer if I wanted one from Comet

Andy Moore · 12 March 2009, 19:08

Do yourself a favour and plump for a simply gorgeous MacBook. Trust me, you will NEVER EVER look back:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/hom...ok?mco=MTE3MjA

codprawn · 12 March 2009, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAD

Also depends if you want to touch and feel it or buy off the net.

Compaq and HP are the same company. I have an Acer, not had a problem with it. I don't like Toshiba's or IBM's, not got the same feel. Avoid Fujitsu Siemens, Ok for desktops but not for laptops.

So I would get a Dell if I could wait or a Compaq/HP/Acer if I wanted one from Comet

Don't touch Acer desktops though - we have supplied a load and they have all had problems - grrrr.

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 20:30

copy that!

JSP · 12 March 2009, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Do yourself a favour and plump for a simply gorgeous MacBook. Trust me, you will NEVER EVER look back:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/hom...ok?mco=MTE3MjA

Trouble is with Mac you have no option but to buy an external device if you fancy trying surround sound. Once priced up the Intel Mac Pro due to the "Best for Photography" Myth. Fair enough you can spec them up very well, 32GB ram, loads of hard drives, 4 graphics cards etc. What stopped me in my tracks was the fact I'd then have to spend out on an external component to listen to music through 5.1 dolby.
And another thing was I could get a 64bit PC for 4 grand cheaper!

Macs are very nice to use, but still (only in my opinion) not as versatile as Windows based PC's

Rogue Wave · 12 March 2009, 23:17

understood but what do you want to listen to music for in 5.1 You rarely go and see an orchestra or a band with forwad facing rear speakers so why is surround sound important for music, DVD's I can understand but music, shurely shome mishtake

John did you create yoyr AVAtar? iss verrry nicce

Rogue Wave · 14 March 2009, 01:13

Who is the best commercialy available soundcard manufacturers for desktop PC's please