I'm trying to get my small business going and I just wanted to know what would be a good PC (laptop) to have. I need one thats fairly fast, doesn't overheat like my current piece of trash, and has good features (memory ect.) There are like a thousand to choose from so I figure some of you guys could cut this task in half for me. I plan on ordering one by nightfall,lol. Links would also help so that I can read up on the reviews, i just don't know any websites.

thanks guys

1/18/2008 6:02:21 PM

What are you going to do with your computer?

1/18/2008 6:12:02 PM

well, im going to be managing escrow accounts, writing mortgages etc, and in the short run editing video footage. Other than that, just the typical pc usage.

1/18/2008 6:13:44 PM

you plan on transporting it alot? Battery life important? What computer are you coming from? desktop? laptop? PC/mac? computer specs of that? What is your price range?

Just letting you know, anything that's really cpu intensive, like video editing, will generate heat. Some more than others. You can get a low voltage cpu with low wattage, but they typically run slower to conserve battery life.

For video editing, faster hard drive, more ram, and a fast cpu are what you are looking at, but power specs like that end up being in larger configurations, limit battery power, and tend throw out more heat. I have an older e1705 dell laptop that works for my needs. I use it for everything, from business apps, photo editing, to playing computer games. It's just large, generates a lot of heat, and doesn't last long on battery. However I transport it everyday from school, work and home with no real burden, and I'm always near an outlet.

[Edited on January 18, 2008 at 6:32 PM. Reason : ]

1/18/2008 6:31:19 PM

If you can wait for a really good deal on Dell laptops, you should. At least a few times a year they will take 30-40% off laptops.

Actually right now it looks like their running a deal "marathon" of sorts ... I guess check back every day until you find a deal that satisfies you. http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/dod_systems

[Edited on January 18, 2008 at 7:16 PM. Reason : deal of the day]

1/18/2008 7:14:33 PM

yeah, i plan on ordering one tonight. i just got this new job and i need a pc (new one) asap. the one im coming from is a dell inspiron 1500. was good in the begin, but due to a design flaw it heats up really fast and shuts down now. its been thru hell and back, and its even been hacked. so theres no way in hell im working off it,lol.

but i pretty much want to use it for the same thing as u ^^.

^ yeah I just checked it earlier and they have a plethora of laptops. so many to choose from so I just need some advice. don't want to make the same mistake again.


like this one. pretty good deal? meh, Im not much of a pc guru thats why I turn to you guys.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspnnb_1525?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=bundlestab

[Edited on January 18, 2008 at 7:28 PM. Reason : /]

1/18/2008 7:25:18 PM

Need to answer these three to get the best advice.

You plan on transporting it a lot?
Battery life important?
What's your price range?

I could give you specs that would be idea for what you need, but it could be out of your price range or have limitations that you don't want.

1/18/2008 7:38:49 PM

transporting, not really that much.

battery life, Don't need like a super battery or nothing. Just standard.

Price range $500- 1100. no higher.

my main concern would probably be the heat!! I have limited use on the one I have now due to damn heat from the cooling fan (motor)?!!? It gets how, slows down (mostly media files) then it shuts down. I know most laptops generate heat, but ive seen some to continue to function. Mine won't apparently.

Which of these two?

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/dod_systems?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

[Edited on January 18, 2008 at 8:22 PM. Reason : /]

1/18/2008 8:08:28 PM

Just don't get one of the dells that electrocute people. They've killed dozens of people in hundreds of countries already.

1/18/2008 8:22:46 PM

hahah, and what one would that be?

1/18/2008 8:33:35 PM

have you tried cleaning it? Probably shuts down because your system can't extract the heat from sensitive parts. Blow in the air vents or use canned air lightly.

I would go with the XPS laptop. It's fine for just 1200, but if it were up to me, I'd upgrade these:
cpu to the T7500 for 4MB of L2 Cache
1440x900 lcd (1680x1050 might be too high for a 15" screen, but I'd probably jump on that personally)
120GB 7200 drive (personally, I'd leave the 160GB 5400 and swap out for an OEM 7200 drive, cheaper that way)

You could always go into Bestbuy as they now sell dell's to get a feel for their laptops.

1/18/2008 8:40:36 PM

^^ Just the xps m1330 and 1530 and only some of them. It's more of an annoying thing when it does actually exist. It's a shame though since I was strongly considering the 1330 because I want a 12-13 inch laptop with a somewhat rugged casing and good specs- meaning discrete graphics ram. I know that's a very... pie in the sky combination to want, but this laptop was it basically. I'm really just waiting for confirmation they fixed the issue to order one.

If apple had a 12 inch macbook pro or lenovo's x60 had a version with non-integrated graphics.

1/18/2008 8:47:36 PM

If you haven't purchased already ... this is what you want.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DYCWTG3&s=dhs

XPS M1330

Starting Price $2,198
Instant Savings -$799
Subtotal $1,399

1/19/2008 5:46:51 PM

that is a good price. I'd buy.

1/19/2008 6:14:37 PM

^^ Ah yeah, that one was the shocker. Have they fixed that yet?

1/19/2008 9:03:17 PM

Quote :

"get my small business going "

http://www.lenovo.com

1/20/2008 6:24:39 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-DELL-Inspiron-E1405-640m-Dual-core-1-6G-1G-Ram-DVD_W0QQitemZ310014995223QQihZ021QQcategoryZ140080QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1/20/2008 7:13:10 PM

No.

1gb of ram with Vista is asking for trouble, so at the very least upgrade that. 14" screen is too small for a lot of people but maybe not for you? 5400rpm drive also isn't very performance oriented, 7200rpm will yield a reasonable gain, and for doing video editing that you say you'll be doing, is 80gb really enough?

1/20/2008 7:25:25 PM

1/20/2008 8:21:48 PM

Quote :

"If you haven't purchased already ... this is what you want. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DYCWTG3&s=dhs XPS M1330 Starting Price $2,198 Instant Savings -$799 Subtotal $1,399"

He's right on. Get the 1330

1/20/2008 8:57:02 PM

ive got a 1330, be aware that the screen is only 13.3"
i'd go with a 15.4" at least, maybe even 17" if its for business

1/20/2008 10:00:05 PM

I have a 12" screen, and its perfect for business, drawing, photoshop, everything.

1/20/2008 11:49:40 PM

Quote :

"i'd go with a 15.4" at least, maybe even 17" if its for business"

You can always have an external monitor on your desk. You can't make a 17" laptop convenient for traveling.

1/21/2008 12:16:26 AM

If you really want the 15.4" version, it's also got a big discount on it right now.

1/21/2008 2:46:17 PM