Need Some Help

dblake87 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:33 PM

I could do with some help..... I need a new computer, now I would like to have a laptop as I could do with the more space but I don't know if what I want to do on a laptop will be too much for it.

What I'll be doing is the following:

Light gaming (Game like command and conquer)
Web browsing
Music listening/editing - recording from external sources, turntable, tape deck
Some video editing - maybe recording from external sources like VCR's, recording using the TV tuner
Watching DVD's (Not much though)

The laptop I've seen is A Sony Vaio AR21M Laptop

laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_Vaio_AR21M_Laptop_VGN-AR21M/version.asp

Now will what I would like to do be too much for this laptop? The specs sound not too bad, just a few minor things to consider:

the hard drive size not that big (160 gb) and the speed isn't that great (5400 rpm) - Maybe an external drive to save files to would be an option.
No audio input to record from an analog source but I think this can do it ebuyer.com/UK/product/90815

To what the specs say the RAM is upgradeable to 2 Gigs but I don't know if this would be expensive to do.

Battery life isn't really a problem as the laptop wont be moving around to much, but I don't know how long a laptop should be left on for when connected to the mains.

I'm not really wanting to spend more than that price.

Now am I demanding to much out of this laptop? If so then I'll have to go with a tower which if do go with a tower then I would like to build my own, any tips on building a pc? I've never done it before I've done upgrades and that but not building from scratch, got the parts wrote down if I have to go with building my own.

Any feedback will be great.

cheers.

**Ash** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:59 PM

Hi there dblake87!
Firstly, welcome to CompuForums. It's great to have you on board, and I hope that you continue to post here even after we have helped you. This helps us, after all we help you for nothing. Also it would be great if you could add yourself to our member map.

Now... I recently was going to purchase a laptop from LaptopsDirect - but I didn't simply because it's not until you get to the last page before the "Pay Now" button that they add a surcharge for using a credit card. Not much [I think it was a fiver on a £600ish laptop] but then they might have had more hidden charges that I wouldn't have found out about until the bill came.
I ended up purchasing my laptop from Play.com (UK): DVDs, Music CDs, Video Games, Books, Electronics & Gadgets - Free Delivery. Even though they ship CDs, DVDs etc. from Jersey, the laptops are shipped from a wholesalers on the mainland and they're a bit cheaper than anyone else I could find.

And secondly, about the brand. Sony Vaio laptops [like anything else Sony] are more expensive than most other brands - with Sony you really do pay for the brand - and the insides of that laptop are no different to any other. My laptop had a similar spec but was only £580. It didn't have a TV input but you can get them off eBay for around £10-20. If you want a good-value laptop then I reccomend Acer.

Also, there is no trouble about leaving a laptop plugged in [just don't leave it in during a storm]. The power transformer gets warm just like any other, but they're designed for constant use. The transformers are similar to the ones used for low-voltage outdoor Christmas rope-lighting [but of better quality, and can't be used outside!]

Tomorrow, I'll see if I can find some suitable models for you.

dblake87 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the reply Ash, that would be great if you could find some suitable models I'd appreciate it.

Thats really unfair when companies add charges at the last point, they list their items low and then add on the charges later on.... but I wont be using a credit card, just a debit card so I shouldn't get any charges....

I haven't really been looking around that long for a laptop, I was actually going to build my own computer which I've been going through different parts for the last month then wasn't until a few weeks ago I thought about a laptop. I liked the spec of the sony one as it had the gig ram and over 100 gb disk drive but the price is a bit more than I wanted to spend out.

I've heard that Acer are a good brand and I've also been told Toshiba are a good make too.

About the laptop being plugged to the mains, I could have a laptop on for lets say 4 or 5 hours none stop and that wouldn't do any damage? I don't wanna go over heating it and buggering it up.

Cheers

guyladouche · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 11:44 PM

Hi. Yes, I agree--Sony is expensive and you're not usually paying extra for better quality, just the Sony name. I also recommend Acer. Toshiba is just okay--my sister and my friend both have Toshiba notebooks, and they've both had problems with the optical drive--and Toshiba has been very bad about customer support. I have a Gateway, and it's great, but buying it through the gateway.com website is quite expensive--if you can find one on sale at a store, generally the price is much better (which is counter-intuitive). I'd steer clear of Dell--they're in the same category as Sony.

Leaving the notebook plugged in all day is fine and will not harm anything. I leave mine plugged in all day. With modern batteries, this isn't a problem--perhaps you're a bit apprehensive because you're recalling the previous battery generation where overcharging/leaving the notebook plugged in all day long damaged the battery/battery life. But technology is much smarter now, and it's virtually impossible to overcharge a current laptop battery--those things aren't an issue. But to maintain battery life now, it's best to completely discharge the battery once every couple weeks, then completely recharge it--this maintains the battery's capacity over time. Using poor usage/recharge cycles (where you don't completely discharge or completely charge the battery between use) is what decreases battery life with the current battery technology--though likely people are upgrading their computer before that happens due to the rapid progression of technology in the recent history and future.

Hopefully you find a computer that suits your needs, and I'd bet that you could find one for hundreds less than the Vaio you posted.

Looks like this Acer should suit your needs, though unfortunately it only has the Intel graphics accelerator (instead of ATI or Nvidia chipsets). Newegg.com - Acer Aspire AS5630-6951 Intel Core 2 Duo 15.4" Wide XGA Intel GMA950 NoteBook - Retail It has all the same specs as the Vaio you listed except for the video card aspect--but is significantly cheaper (though I believe that newegg.com is US only).

**Ash** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2007, 12:13 AM

The notebook that guyladouche has linked to is identical to the one that I'm typing this on apart from the fact that it it's Core 2 Duo rather than Core Duo. [and maybe I missed a few extra details]
The one I purchased is here:
http://play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3250076/Ac...k/Product.html
As for the graphics - I get a smooth framerate from 3D games that are a few years old, but multiplayer online games are a bit jerky and not too fun to play. This doesn't concern me though - in fact I expected worse graphics performance. But if all you want to use the laptop for is internet usage, office work, watching video and DVDs, then it's more than capable.

As for overheating... well, I am in bed with it sat on top of my duvet [blocking some of the vents and the battery [the cause of all the Dell laptop explosions] on top of my right thigh.

I was using it all day also with the CPU on full throttle, and it did not get hot [I've been in bed most of the day due to being ill]

A laptop will also warn you and eventually turn itself off well before it gets too hot - it has internal heat sensors that closely monitor the temperature.

dblake87 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2007, 12:26 AM

I haven't used a laptop in years, going back about 5 or 6 years ago.

That Acer sounds not to bad, only thing is I would maybe like a larger drive size. Is their any way of upgrading hard drives in laptops or add an extra internal hard drive? Also how much would it cost to upgrade the RAM to 2 Gigs? I'd probably wont need 2 Gigs but would be nice to know. I see by looking at the specs it has line in, so that help with recording from an analog source.

What would of been nice that the Acer doesn't have and the Sony one does and that is the bluetooth and the tv tuner built in, even though both arn't really essential to me and both can be bought externally but it would of been nice to have them built in.

So to sum up that Acer Aspire 5612WLMi will do what I want to do with no problems and will last for a couple of years, just wont be able to record from a video input and wont play newer games 100% ok? The only games I probably will be playing is Red Alert 2 as I have this already, also a game called faces of war, but I dont know if faces of war will work probably on that laptop. It needs:

Operation System: Windows 2000/XP SP2
Processor: Intel Pentium IV 2.0GHz (3.0GHz recommended)
Memory: 512MB (1GB recommended)
Video: 3D card DirectX 9.0c compatible 64MB (128MB recommended)
Audio: DirectX 9 Compliant sound card
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (Included in the disk)
DVD-ROM Drive: 4X speed
Free Hard Disk Space: 2.5GB free hard disk space
Multiplayer: Modem or LAN broadband with 56kbps upstream
Input: Windows keyboard and mouse compatible

I dont know if the audio and video requirements are on the laptop.

dblake87 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 12:11 AM

The laptop I maybe going for is this one

http://play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3273950/Ac...k/Product.html

Its got the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 TurboCache graphics card instead of the Intel one.

Also some laptops I've seen have bluetooth built in but not enabled, is it possible to enable it if its not enabled?

**Ash** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 12:20 AM

That looks like quite a capable laptop - just be aware that "TurboCache" means the graphics card takes system memory to use for it's own.

On non Bluetooth enabled laptops, you usually just need to switch something on or install a driver. However some laptops [mine included] have a Bluetooth switch with is nonfunctional as there is no Bluetooth radio built in. If I connected a Bluetooth dongle or inserted a Bluetooth card, however, this switch would work.

dblake87 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 01:00 AM

How much will it take? 128mb or 256?

Oh and it has a card reader but will it take Memory Stick Duo? My phone takes Memory Stick Pro Duo and I have the memory Stick Duo adaptor that the Pro Duo goes in so im just wondering if the card reader would support it? No big deal if it doesn't as I'll just use the phones cable to transfer files like I do at the moment.

Just hope that this one doesn't go out of stock when I go to buy it, which should be in the next few days anyway. The thing I'm finding is that new laptops now are being sold with Vista and I don't want to have Vista at the moment.

Last thing before I go to bed, That laptop has been formatted with FAT32 and not NTFS is this a real problem? Also I've read on reviews on some sites on Acer laptops that people are saying their laptops arn't coming with recovery discs. If something went wrong and had to reinstall windows, is their anyway to get a recovery disc or is their away to create one myself? Or will I have to make a back up of my drive instead? Oh and I'm being lazy now but what added features does XP Media Center Edition 2005 haveDoes it contain any XP Pro features or is it just Home edition with added extras?

**Ash** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 01:10 AM

Not sure if it takes Memory Stick Duo, but I am pretty sure it does.
This one will be sold with XP - and you will be able to go and get a copy of Vista from Microsoft free [you pay shipping]
Acer format the laptop with Fat32 but using a utility to turn the 2 partitions into 1 then using XP's NTFS conversion utility it is no problem. You get a utility to create recovery disks yourself [stock up on blank DVDs - you'll need 2 DVDs at least or 7 CDs]
And Media Center Editon 2005 is based on XP Pro and it has additions. Well it has all of the features and hallmarks of XP Pro.

dblake87 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:17 PM

Ordered the laptop round this time last week and received it today. Only just opened and got it turned on. at the moment its going through some Acer Launch Tool, not to sure what this is but its taking awhile. It took a while to load up as well I don't know if its just because this is the first start up or not. Also it came up with a wireless network was detected, I have no wireless network in my house so how can it pick up a wireless network?

Anyway I'm happy with the laptop, just now need to get some blank dvd's so I can create the recovery disc.

**Ash** · #12 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:22 PM

Which laptop did you go for in the end?

And the Acer launch tool does take some time - you will probably find yourself uninstalling the stuff like Norton that comes pre-loaded.

The reason you're picking up a wireless network is because one of your neighbours must have one [it's surprising how far a wireless signal can travel - that's why if you set up one you must ensure it's WPA-encrypted]. You will be able to stop that by sliding the wireless switch at the front [orange light]

dblake87 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:40 PM

I went for the 5633WLMi.

Theres a couple of things I've just noticed that when I go to click something sometimes it does it automaticly, I don't know if its supposed to do it or not. Also the dvd drive just pops open then you've got to then pull it open and push it in to close it, not really a problem though.

Just put my memory stick duo adaptor into the card slot but I cant seem to find where to read from the card. I've never used a card reader before so can you help?

**Ash** · #14 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:41 PM

That's normal with the DVD drive. To save power, laptop DVD drives do not have drive eject / load motors.

To use your card reader, just insert the card and go to My Computer. An icon for a "Removable disk drive" or "Removable media" should have appeared. The computer sees the card as a regular external hard drive /flash drive.

dblake87 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-28-2007, 09:55 PM

I didn't put it in right so thats why I couldn't find it.... When I'm finished with the card do I need to stop it using device manager like I would with a usb flash drive?

On the bluetooth bit again, how will I know if theirs an bluetooth aerial installed in the laptop? I moved the switch on the front but does nothing.

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