I'm looking at buying a new laptop. Mostly for home/school use. ppt shows, e-mail, word processing, internet, wireless networking and possible mediashout etc.

I am mostly concerned about longevity and future compatability.
I wondering if anyone knows anthing about the new AMD sempron, it's supposed to be low power?
Processory choices are...
Mobile AMD Sempron Processor 3600+ [Included in Price]
AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor TK-57 (1.9GHz/256KB) [add $25]
AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor TL- 60 (2.00GHz 512K) [add $100]

And I'm planning on getting Vista premium unless someone can talk me out of it...
Advise please if I am making a mistake...
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition [Included in Price]
Genuine Windows® XP Professional [add $99]
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic, Service Pack 1 add $0
Genuine Windows Vista® Business, Service Pack 1 [add $99]
Enhanced business productivity and security
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium, Service Pack 1 [add $29]

Thanks in advance for any good advice. Please spare me the VISTA sucks comments unless you have reasons to support it (and if I could afford a mac I would get one!)

6/3/2008 1:29:54 PM

i dont see intel on that processor list

6/3/2008 1:34:23 PM

Quote :

"buy a mac"

Their free iPod Touch promo started today!

6/3/2008 1:37:50 PM

i dont see intel on that processor list

basically if you're going Vista, you'll need at least a dual-core, a sempron will not suffice.

if you're going XP, then a sempron will work, but keep in mind it's equivalent to the celeron, these are severely crippled CPU's. for a user concerned with "longevity" i wouldn't recommend the sempron.

6/3/2008 1:57:12 PM

Ok, good to know about the AMD^
And Intel is not one of the choices on the basic packages so I'm looking for the best of what is offered...
Any opinion on if either of the AMD's would work...

6/3/2008 2:02:55 PM

do you HAVE to get this model laptop, or can u get whatever u want?

if its the latter, post your price range and we might be able to come up with something better than what you're putting together.

6/3/2008 2:10:52 PM

^^
AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor TK-57 (1.9GHz/256KB) [add $25]
AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor TL- 60 (2.00GHz 512K) [add $100]

Both of those are dual core. The turion 64 is the best choice (obviously) for the money, it's their mobile processor.

Get Vista Home Premium, its worth the extra 30 bucks to get Media Center

6/3/2008 2:43:27 PM

^So what does it mean if it's mobile?
From what I read about the sempron it's supposed to be low power and run really cool.
But it seems like you guys are saying that the sempron won't be fast enough to run vista?
I think the 3600+ is equivilant to 2.2 ghz?

6/3/2008 3:02:56 PM

mobile means that it's generally low power and cool, but still have plenty of horsepower
Sempron may also be low power and cool, but because it's underpowered to begin with.

6/3/2008 3:11:53 PM

Vista "can" run on the sempron but Vista is also a resource hog so it's going to run slow and have poor performance which in result is going to make you an unhappy user.

Go with the last processor mentioned - it's worth the $100 to double your L2 cache (even though it is only 512k). However - the AthlonTM 64 X2 would also be o.k. since it's dual core.

Are you sure you couldn't find an Intel option? Their Core 2 Duo models are much better than the AMD (with much larger L2 cache and overall a better performer).

I realize a budget is a main factor in almost everyones computer purchase but don't skip out on the Processor and the RAM. Majority of Vista complaints I hear are from people with underpowered machines. Make sure you get dual core processor and a minimum of 2 GB of ram. My next priority would be the video card - if your $$$ covers it get discrete graphics (compared to integrated/shared).

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 5:01 PM. Reason : $0.02]

6/3/2008 4:59:38 PM

didn't read the thread, but:

if at all possible, go core 2 duo @ 2ghz+
get the lowest amount of memory possible and then buy 2-4gb (depending on whether x64 or not) for $25-50 instead of the $vermont they try to charge you

6/3/2008 5:10:14 PM

^same goes for the hard drive.

6/3/2008 5:12:25 PM

and pretty much everything

it's a shame they won't let you order the board, display, and chassis bare .... or... will they? :lightbulb:

6/3/2008 5:15:33 PM

well that's what i meant, in regards of what you "can" upgrade, typically it's just memory and hard drive.

6/3/2008 5:20:35 PM

So here's what I was looking at.
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=bqcwi1s&s=bsd
upgradable w/ 2gb ram 80gig hd with the processors and OS listed above. around $440 plus I have a 10% discount. and free shipping.
I found an upgrade to go to the Intel dual recommended but it's a $250 upgrade which breaks the budget.
Also the only video card that comes is a 128mb integrated graphics card.

So it sounds like if I don't want to spend the extra $ to get the upgrade processor and video card I should just stick with XP.
So I could keep the lower processor 2GB RAM and not have to worry about an larger graphics card.
Bare bones, cheap and reliable is what I'm looking for.

6/3/2008 6:25:47 PM

Any last minute advice, I'm looking at ordering this today.
Thanks!

6/4/2008 8:06:23 AM

spend the $25 and get the X2 processor.
get the true life display, esp since you don't have to pay extra for it
just pay the extra $25 and get the 2gb of ram
if you dont need to burn dvds, dont worry about the dvd/rw
if you 're going to be using this on battery power much at all spend the extra $10 and get the 6 cell battery. hell just get it just in case, its only $10 and the 4 cell sucks.

so after all those upgrades you're still only looking at $460-10% + tax and shipping

6/4/2008 8:28:46 AM

^ right I was planning on that, b/c upgrades are on 50% discounts as well.
And with the X2 processor should I stick with XP or can I do Vista.

6/4/2008 8:49:43 AM

vista is fine

just get the basic version since it's included at no extra cost, and you won't want to run premium (aero) with that hardware.

6/4/2008 8:53:19 AM

btt

any last minute input?
advice appreciated!

6/4/2008 4:46:28 PM

if upgrades are 50% off, i'd go with the TL-60...i'm not a fan of tiny L2 cache and the doubling might well be worth the $50 it'd cost you

heck, if upgrades are so cheap, go with the 2gb RAM (it's only $12.50), the 120gb hard drive (it's only $7.50), the DVD burner (it's only $7.50), the 6-cell battery (it's free!)

that puts it at $554, before your discounts (i haven't done the math)

[Edited on June 4, 2008 at 5:11 PM. Reason : .]

6/4/2008 5:08:04 PM