home hardware prices news articles forums photos user reviews
Go Back   Tech Support Forums - TechIMO.com > PC Hardware and Tech > Mobile Computing
Ask a Tech Support Question (free)!

Need help deciding on a new laptop...

Reply
Get bargains at  »  Dealighted.com
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Currently Active Users: 2617
Discussions: 200,963, Posts: 2,379,591, Members: 246,331
Old December 23rd, 2008, 08:07 PM   Digg it!   #1 (permalink)
Member
 
rpeters83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 94
Send a message via AIM to rpeters83 Send a message via MSN to rpeters83 Send a message via Yahoo to rpeters83 Send a message via Skype™ to rpeters83
Question
Need help deciding on a new laptop...

My apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but I'm really split between getting a laptop or a netbook. I'm torn between two computers that are available at my local BB:

Sony VAIO CS Series Laptop - has a/b/g/n wireless, can do light gaming, and Vista (I like Vista)

...and...

HP Mini 1000 Netbook - small, lightweight, very portable, glossy screen (I like)

I'm a .NET developer and plan to use Visual Studio or Visual Web Developer on this machine. I also have a dual band wifi at home but like ultra portability.

Anyone have experience with either of these two or netbooks in general? What made you choose it? Any complaints? Also, how is the performance of the HP Mini? Is it easy to swap out the hard drive?

Help me decide. Thanks!
rpeters83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 23rd, 2008, 08:10 PM     #2 (permalink)
Not an OWO yet, just OLD!
 
sharder8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Uh, Central Oregon
Posts: 5,717
Sony Vaio FTW!!!

I have one at home and I work on computers and laptops everyday . . . Sony = long life and problem free.

HP = RMA and repairs.

Harder
__________________
* NOSCE TE IPSUM *
* NOLI ME TANGERE *
sharder8 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old December 23rd, 2008, 09:31 PM     #3 (permalink)
Ultimate Member
 
Pexster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Del Rey Oaks, CA, US
Posts: 4,264
You might look at a Lenovo ThinkPad T500 if the cost is within reach. They have been running some really great deals lately. I think you would like the extra real estate that a 15.4" unit with WSXGA+ (1680x1050) would offer for your development tools. I just bought one of these but had to give it to my daughter. 50+ year-old eyes and the WSXGA+ do not mix well. I switched back to WXGA.
__________________
Whatever . . .
Pexster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 23rd, 2008, 09:58 PM     #4 (permalink)
Member
 
rpeters83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 94
Send a message via AIM to rpeters83 Send a message via MSN to rpeters83 Send a message via Yahoo to rpeters83 Send a message via Skype™ to rpeters83
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pexster View Post
You might look at a Lenovo ThinkPad T500 if the cost is within reach. They have been running some really great deals lately. I think you would like the extra real estate that a 15.4" unit with WSXGA+ (1680x1050) would offer for your development tools. I just bought one of these but had to give it to my daughter. 50+ year-old eyes and the WSXGA+ do not mix well. I switched back to WXGA.

Thanks, but money is an object and I am sticking to these two, as they are at my local store and include free 18 month financing
rpeters83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 23rd, 2008, 10:08 PM     #5 (permalink)
Not an OWO yet, just OLD!
 
sharder8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Uh, Central Oregon
Posts: 5,717
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pexster View Post
You might look at a Lenovo ThinkPad T500 if the cost is within reach. They have been running some really great deals lately. I think you would like the extra real estate that a 15.4" unit with WSXGA+ (1680x1050) would offer for your development tools. I just bought one of these but had to give it to my daughter. 50+ year-old eyes and the WSXGA+ do not mix well. I switched back to WXGA.

Lenovo ThinkPad's are also a good choice . . . same as with the Vaio's when it comes to durability.

Harder
sharder8 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old December 24th, 2008, 08:53 PM     #6 (permalink)
Member
 
rpeters83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 94
Send a message via AIM to rpeters83 Send a message via MSN to rpeters83 Send a message via Yahoo to rpeters83 Send a message via Skype™ to rpeters83
I was able to get web access to a HP mini 1000 today and tried to play some Hulu on it. I'm not sure if it was the slow connection or not, but it seemed like half the videos I played were choppy and lost a lot of frames, even in non-HD mode.

Does anyone with a netbook watch Hulu in full screen and notice this too? I want a new laptop that at least lets me watch videos. Thanks.
rpeters83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 26th, 2008, 02:11 PM     #7 (permalink)
Member
 
rpeters83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 94
Send a message via AIM to rpeters83 Send a message via MSN to rpeters83 Send a message via Yahoo to rpeters83 Send a message via Skype™ to rpeters83
If anyone was wondering, I picked up the Sony today (actually I'm on it right now).

So far, VERY nice machine. This thing is glossy red all over, but hey, I like red. Definitely a sexy machine.

Only downsides are the trackpad buttons are a little harder to click than my last laptop and I don't like how the AC plug is angled. Other than that, very nice. Love the keyboard.
rpeters83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Need help on deciding. zgs14 Graphics Cards and Displays 9 August 3rd, 2008 04:19 PM
Got 3.5k (more or less) Deciding what's best for me. _Switch_ General Tech Discussion 3 September 16th, 2007 11:45 AM
help deciding on what pc to get... :) sweeper2 General Tech Discussion 7 October 20th, 2005 09:38 PM
Need help deciding zebrada General Tech Discussion 0 February 16th, 2004 05:18 PM
Help Deciding uncle_jimbo General Tech Discussion 6 December 30th, 2002 01:29 AM


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Most Active Discussions
Is It Just Me? (2987)
The disrespect of Obama by Russian .. (46)
Making Health Care Worse (181)
Wireless Televisions. (12)
CPU fan stops spinning randomly (11)
Laptop with wireless problem. (7)
Regular Build (11)
windows 7 problem (7)
Point and Shoot Camera Suggestions. (6)
windows vista security holes (14)
Is the PSU I received dead? (13)
Print spooler problem (16)
radeon x850xt platinum & shader.. (6)
HIS HD5770 graphic card question (15)
Recent Discussions
virus blocking exe. files (0)
windows vista security holes (14)
Laptop with wireless problem. (7)
Point and Shoot Camera Suggestions. (6)
CPU fan stops spinning randomly (11)
Nvidia GTX 260 problem (1)
Modern Warfare 2: Who Bought It? (65)
Is the PSU I received dead? (13)
Print spooler problem (16)
Kingston Bluetooth Dongle Driver (1)
Multiple Restarts Required at Boot (3)
Open With ..... Win7 (1)
webcam (0)
upgrade for hp a6101 (0)
tv not turn on-makes clicking sound (2)
EVGA 9800 gtx help with finding a goo.. (11)
Regular Build (11)
Help with onclick and buttons (0)
Virus advise (8)
My monitor won't turn on after instal.. (1)
Internet Lost (3)
Dept. of HS: NSA 'Helped' Develop Vis.. (16)
Ideal cheap graph card for PC-Gaming? (18)
radeon x850xt platinum & shader 3 (6)
Graphics Card Upgrade Question (4)


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:35 PM.
TechIMO Copyright 2009 All Enthusiast, Inc.



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28