Lukeee wants a new computer.

[Lukeee]

What should he get? I have only ever used windows PCs and I am thinking about getting a laptop (or a Mac but I think those are just called laptops too?) and keeping my 2 PCs also.

I don't do much stuff with my computer really so I doubt there will be anything I can't do on all the other fancy types.

I don't know what info. I should give to see what will be best for me, but any feedback on what ones you like best is appreciated

 

[GamerBear]

If you are adventurous and plan to buy a Mac laptop then it would be a totally new experience, that's if you never touched a Mac with the new operating system interface.

It depends if you are willing put out the dough for a Mac since they can be quite expensive, the cheapest I've seen are in the 900 dollar range. For that price you can buy a powerful Windows based Laptop for 900 bucks, 6GB of RAM and 1TB to 500GB hard drive.

Its always good to tell people what you plan to do with it (Web Surfing, Word Processing, Photo Editing, Video Editing, etc) or else others won't be able to give you better results otherwise you'll be left with hundreds of laptops that do different things.

 

[Lukeee]

I mainly use it for surfing the net, news websites, forums, porn but I also watch a lot of movies and online television. I like to watch tv shows on my computer whilst I am on websites like JUB so I do need a decent sized screen for that

It has to be really fast because I don't like slow things.

 

[GamerBear]

Also what kind of price range are you willing to spend on a laptop? That way if you say then its a possibility that a Mac laptop would be affordable but I think in order to get a 17 inch Macbook will cost you around 2,000+ dollars.

Not sure if I can post links to other websites but for a 17 inch HP laptop with 4GB of RAM and 500GB hard drive will cost around $800+ dollars a good price, better for your wallet. I was actually looking for a similar laptop like the one posted in the link below, as I am shopping for a laptop as well.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pavilion-DV7-3060US-17-3-Inch-Espresso-Laptop/dp/B002ONCDRO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259518419&sr=1-5"]Amazon.com: HP Pavilion DV7-3060US 17.3-Inch Espresso Laptop - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium): Electronics[/ame]

 

[Lukeee]

Price isn't really that important. I'd expect it to last me for at least a year or two so I would be willing to pay quite a bit for that. I am a bit worried about them breaking though. Laptops are really delicate aren't they? Also I'm not used to the different mouse systems Are they hard to use?

 

[GamerBear]

Every laptop is delicate especially the Mac laptops, so no matter what laptop you buy it being a 3,000 dollar one or a 800 dollar they will break if you drop it, or step on it.

With an additional couple hundred dollars you can get a laptop with more RAM and a Blu Ray ROM to it.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pavilion-DV7-3080US-17-3-Inch-Espresso-Laptop/dp/B002ONCBD0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1259519275&sr=1-3"]Amazon.com: HP Pavilion DV7-3080US 17.3-Inch Espresso Laptop - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium): Computer & Accessories[/ame]

 

[trinket]

Lukee, always exciting to get a new machine! Check out this thread for some ideas as well. If you can, visit some shops and get a feel for the models "in person" - performance, usability, what you like or dislike. You obviously don't have to buy them then and there, but it's a great way to augment any online research or recommendations.

 

[Lukeee]

Good idea. I really want to see the size and get a feel of how the mouse works before I get one.

I have been looking online and they give you a size (15 inch, 17 inch) what exactly is that the measurement of? The length of the screen? I don't want to waste a lot of money for a few extra inches << I didn't link to that! The forum did it.

I'm most interested in Macs because I have heard a lot about them...

How easy are they to use?
Do you have to constantly update them like you do with windows? (Mine has to update every week, which gets annoying)

I don't know how to word this, but do they work well with other machines? Like if I made a word document on a Mac then put on my pen thingy and took it to a windows PC would it still work?

 

[Ekim23]

Ekim21 wants a new computer too

 

[andysayshi]

Good idea. I really want to see the size and get a feel of how the mouse works before I get one.

I have been looking online and they give you a size (15 inch, 17 inch) what exactly is that the measurement of? The length of the screen? I don't want to waste a lot of money for a few extra inches << I didn't link to that! The forum did it.

It's the diagonal length of the screen - from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.

I'm most interested in Macs because I have heard a lot about them...

Macs are great machines, and you have the benefit of using both Windows and Mac OS if you choose. But they are a bit pricey. I'm typing this on my 17" MacBook Pro, which personally is the best laptop I've ever owned. I wouldn't hesitate to spend the money on another one.

How easy are they to use?
Do you have to constantly update them like you do with windows? (Mine has to update every week, which gets annoying)

All OS's require regular updates, but personally I find the Apple update process much less intrusive than the Windows process. Either way, you can turn updates off and just do it manually once in a while, if you prefer.

I don't know how to word this, but do they work well with other machines? Like if I made a word document on a Mac then put on my pen thingy and took it to a windows PC would it still work?

Yes, there are very few compatibility issues between Mac/PC these days. And you can network a Mac to your other PCs quite easily too.

 

[seven2go]

Lukee.....no matter WHAT you wind up with.......get a wireless notebook mouse.......or even a wired one.....ANYTHING beats a touchpad.......

 

[justsimon]

If I had the money, I'd buy a 17" MacBook Pro.

 

[andysayshi]

Lukee.....no matter WHAT you wind up with.......get a wireless notebook mouse.......or even a wired one.....ANYTHING beats a touchpad.......

I used to feel the same until my latest MBP. The multi-touch trackpad's ability to scroll, zoom and flip pages without ever touching a button or keyboard is now so second nature to me that I find a mouse just slows me down.

Although the new Apple Magic Mouse kinda combines the best of both worlds. Once they take full advantage of it and write better (and more configurable) software.

 

[Lukeee]

I have a question!

If I got a MAC and then I plugged the mac into another screen (like a computer screen or a TV screen) I could use it on that screen right?

So I could be say, on these forums on my MAC screen but have something else on the other screen so it would be like having two windows open but on different screens and you have to press a button or something to flick between them?

I would use it for doing stuff on the MAC screen and then watching TV on the other screen (because I watch TV online)

would that work or not? Would I have to buy any special screen to work with it?

 

[andysayshi]

No special screen required. Everything you said is exactly right: just plug the second monitor in. The Mac will detect it and you can choose which is the primary display (with menu, dock etc) and which is secondary. You simply move the mouse from one display to the other - no switch required.

OS X also has a virtual desktop system called Spaces. If you prefer, you can spread multiple windows out over multiple desktops and switch between them, rather than have all the windows stacked over each other.