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Laptops

SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Laptops

Well after my experience with a new Tosh L300D with Vista Home Premium which would connect to 1 wireless connection ONCE and then refuse to connect to it when you rebooted and would not connect to any other Wireless connection I'm in the market for a new laptop.
If I have to have Vista on it then so be it but I plan to dual boot it to Linux (I use Linux for my php development work) but need Windows for "work". 
So I'm looking for machine with 3-4GB of RAM and a good sized hard drive. Battery life is not a major issue but I'd like more than 55 minutes (which is all the L300D could do under Vista).
Budget is round the £450 mark. Slightly less if I need to buy a new Wireless router to get it to work (which was the advice I got for the L300D).
I'm currently using an old Tosh SA30 with its whopping 22GB HDD and 768MB of RAM running Ubuntu and its 1024*768 display is a bit "small"
10 REPLIES 10
Njal
Grafter
Posts: 290
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: Laptops

No particular recommendations, but have a look at Morgan:
http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/default.asp
and Sterling:
http://www.sterlingxs.co.uk/
They don't usually have state-of-the-art cutting edge kit, but a bargain can sometimes be found.
Regards,
Neil
SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Re: Laptops

Thanks, I'll look at both of those. I often look at the Morgan ads when they are in Private Eye.
Now I've never taken advantage of the Free Wireless Router from Plusnet. I'm on Option 2 and have no intention of moving from PlusNet and I assume that their new wireless routers are "Vista compatible" (what ever that means!). So that would free up some more money to spend on the laptop.  Cheesy
Denzil
Grafter
Posts: 1,733
Registered: ‎31-07-2007

Re: Laptops

All routers (at least in theory) are independent of the operating system as they communicate using a standard network protocol (TCP/IP). USB modems are the ones you have to be careful with, as they rely on software drivers.
Not applicable

Re: Laptops

Hurry up and take advantage of the free router if you stay for 12 months - I believe that demand is high and stock 'flying off the shelves' as they say. Just taken delivery of the Thomson TG686v7 - easy to install and works well.
And yes, Denzil is correct - USB won't work with Vista AFAIK.
My own laptop is a Dell Vostro 1700 (Business Edition) but bought from a local shop who resells them for Dell (pre-ordered but not shipped for some reason). Got it a couple of hundred cheaper than it would have been direct from the company so am well pleased.
Good luck with your choice of laptop - nothing like a new computer - enjoy.
SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Re: Laptops

Dont want USB - filthy concept for a router frankly. I started off with an Alcatel Frog and it was a pain.
My Dlink DSL-G624T (actually a flashed 504) works fine but I was told by some numpty that I needed a Vista Capable Wireless router. My take on it is - that if Vista doesn't work with my wireless router then Vista is wrong. I know they introduced the Broadcast Flag into the DHCP which breaks some none Microsoft DHCP servers (oh there's a surprise - Microsoft breaking something).
But the Dlink is getting old and its suffering from Electrical Alzheimers at times (like forgetting its settings) so if I can get a router for post only rather than paying £60 for one then I can spend more money on my laptop 😉
So do I just raise a ticket?

Denzil
Grafter
Posts: 1,733
Registered: ‎31-07-2007

Re: Laptops

Yes, I think all you need to do is raise a support ticket saying you are happy to be charged for the P&P. PN won't charge you for the router itself as long as you stay for at least a year.
SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Re: Laptops

Router ordered
New Laptop sitting on desk and its working fine. Its a Medion S5610 and seems to be very good  Cheesy
pierre_pierre
Grafter
Posts: 19,757
Thanks: 3
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: Laptops

did you get this version from Aldi - not due out til 20th
Quote
MEDION® AKOYA® S2210. The dress code for this season.
only £499.99 *
Swarovski style
More than 300 original Swarovski crystals embedded in the notebook lid
Not applicable

Re: Laptops

Thank you for the information Pierre - so  Cool  - gotta have one!
My two favourite things put together - a computer and Swarovski crystals.
Just made for me!
SteveA
Pro
Posts: 1,847
Thanks: 106
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎17-06-2007

Re: Laptops

Well the S5610 seems to go for the blue lights (a-la boy racers) so I guess a crystal encrusted one is only a logical progression. I hope they never bring out a Burberry one!
I've got it running Ubuntu now, had to edit a file to get the audio working but I think it got confused because its got HDMI audio as well as normal stuff.
It also boots Linux and Vista a hell of a lot faster than the Tosh and the Vista install wasn't bloated out with crud like the Tosh was