Ok, so I'm headed to the States in a couple weeks and I intend to buy a new laptop. But I'm a bit...um...technically challenged, and need a bit of help.

I'm willing to spend a little extra to get a computer that will last me at least 3 years and not be obsolete. Mainly I'd be using it for word processing, internet, games (!) and possibly some other applications in the future such as html stuff. Headed back to school in 2 years, so I need to leave some room for possibly necessary stuff.

So, my questions:

1. What's a decent, dependable brand? (I've had a Compaq Presario for 3 years now and it's ok, but has had a few small problems and quirks.)

2. What's up with this new Pentium M chip? Or Centrino thing? Is it worth the money? How does a 1.6ghz M compare to a 3.0ghz P4?

3. What's a good video card and can I get it in a laptop?

4. Where to buy? A store like Best Buy, from a dealer or online? Suggestions?

I guess that's the stuff I need to know, right? Any and all help on the matter would be deeply, pepileptically appreciated! Thanks!

You don't need a computer, you need a time machine ;)

I can only give you my experiences with Dell. Their support is good, prompt and always willing to help. How do I know this? Because they supplied Reeka with a laptop woth a faulty motherboard. After a year, she got it replaced (and upgraded!), but that was after about 14 separate problems.

Make of that what you will.

Oh, and form what I've seen, you'd have to be a mug to buy from the high street., Mail order is the way to go, as far as I can see.

I have a lap top and I love it. I can play any games I want to, it has a re-writable cd/dvd burner. It is an Inspiron 600m and it is the best computer I have ever owned. I got it from Dell on-line. They do have payment plans if you qualify. Oh, and it also has a regular network card and a wireless card. It has centrino mobile technology if you are in to that sort of thing. Runs Windows XP.

I'm happy.

[ 08-01-2003, 11:44 PM: Message edited by: Reeka ]

my suggestion is Gateway, their 450 and 200XL are pretty good... I'd recomend the 450 tho...

I suggest you by an Ibook because macintoshes are... ~gets kicked out of subject~

Ok...Dell, Gateway. Thanks a lot, everbody. I'll look at their online stuff. Any answers for question 2 or 3?


edit: maybe I meant "everybody".

[ 08-02-2003, 01:42 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Mopery ]

<span style="color: lightblue">For question 2, "is it worth the money?" - probably not. You say you'll mainly be using Word Processing and Internet, which doesn't realy need too much processing power. Games might need a bit more, but generally not much - depending on the games. BG2 and PS:T both handle well on a 433 Celeron. Go for about a 1Ghz Celeron, aslong as none of your games have system requirements too much above that you should be fine, and it wouldn't be very expensive at all compared to, say, a P4 2GHz.
Good video card - first ask "Do I need one?". Again, aim for a little above your game's system requirements and you should be fine. Don't spend hudreds of $ extra when you don't need to - you could save it for getting new games, for example. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Im with you up to the word 'celeron' .

Try and get a standard pentium or an Athlon chip (although AMD chips dont work too well in laptops, they have higher power drain and emit more heat) since the celerons (aside from the 1.7Ghz celeron) have the L2 cache crippled and wont play games as well as they should.

Is a 1.6M faster than a 3.00P4?

I want something I could play Morrowmind or NWN on...

edit: That's Morrowind for the those of you who aren't me

[ 08-04-2003, 05:45 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Mopery ]

No, a athlon 1600MP is equivalent to a P4 running at 1.6Ghz - in theory. Actualy, it should be slightly better than that, the MP has an enhanced architecture and its at this point that I feel like shooting whatever halfwit marketing executive decided to label Athlons by pentium equivalent rather than by clock rate. But it definately no match for a 3Ghz P4.

Having said that, it should be OK for morrowind, you might not get the maximum image quality though. That depends on you graphics card more than your CPU thoguh.