Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with laptop and PC

Is mac really better than pc? Help me buy a decent student computer.

Miss Mitz — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:27:51 -0800

I've been a happy Pc-er for the last couple years. That is, until a few months ago when my AVG failed me and my pavilion got all virused up... Twice. Ultimately I had to d-ban the poor thing. Since I was only 'mostly sure' I still had the original operating system disks, I have since been using my mom's mac. While I've been slowly getting used to the system (on a casual basis, no work yet, just internet) I still miss the windows format. My old tower is past it's prime, even with a new system. I'm about to become a student in English and am highly discouraged by previous Windows failings. Should I release the ghost and go with the more 'secure' mac? Or stick with my roots? I would like some advice on my next computer purchase. I'm looking for a laptop that can handle a students workload for the next... lets face it, many years, with minimal extras. The only thing it needs, is to be fast. I break things that go slow. I'm not looking to game (much) or download + store music (at all), I just need to research crap at high speed. All suggestions are greatly appreciated. Cheers!

Looking for the perfect laptop for traveling

Afroblanco — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:31:20 -0800

Looking for the perfect laptop for traveling. Priorities are durability, lightness, and battery life, in that order. Performance is not too important, but it must run Windows 7 like a champ. Willing to consider netbooks. Can spend up to $2000, but obviously I would like to spend no more than I absolutely have to.

Can Asus EEE laptop be fixed after getting water spilled on it?

micketymoc — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:57 -0800

Asus EEE 1000h laptop, daughter spilled water over it. Won't turn on anymore. Help! Asking for a friend. Daughter spilled water on it. Let it dry out, and it still worked. 24 hours later, it wouldn't turn on anymore. Is repair still possible, or practical?

Scope this!

Jon-o — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:22:13 -0800

I'm looking for affordable multimeter/scope software and USB compatible test probes for my Vista based laptop. At work, I currently use a laptop for a lot of my automotive diagnosis. I have some hardware and software that turn my computer into a fantastic scan tool. A scan tool's best friend is a good multimeter. However, my multimeter doesn't have any scope or logging features. I also want to reduce the amount of gear that I have to drag back and forth to the car. The more I can run off my laptop, the better.
I've been Googling, and all the PC multimeter/scope software I've found is either expensive or requires a bulky adapter for the test leads.

Criteria:
Intutive interface for someone familiar with a scope.
It doesn't need to be too fancy. I just need to look at analog and digital signals and adjust the ms/division and volts/division until the trace looks good on my screen. An auto-range feature would be nice, too.
Compact, light-weight hardware or adapter. Test leads must be USB inputs. My laptop doesn't have a serial port.
Reasonably priced. I don't want to have to sell too much headlight fluid to pay for it ;)

Thanks everyone!

Help me pick the right PC laptop.

Thin Lizzy — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:16:15 -0800

I think it's time to replace my laptop and although I love using it, I’ve never known much about specifications. I’ve read the other computer buying threads, but I’m hoping you’ll help this special snowflake out and point me towards a good machine, be it off-the-shelf or a custom build. Here’s the rundown:
My current computer is a 4 year old Dell Latitude D620. It doesn’t run unless it’s plugged in to outlet power. It’s slow and crashes about 3-4 times a day (sometimes just a Windows crash, sometimes full-tilt blue-screen-of-death). Sometimes it freezes and the screen goes berserk- all flashing colors and rolling pictures. It overheats a lot. The trackpad doesn’t respond intermittently and the sound started constantly skipping so everything sounds like the DJ remix. I’ve tried reinstalling Windows and blowing it out, but it hasn’t really helped. If you think it can be saved, let me know, but if not- read on…

I’m an entertainment designer who shockingly prefers a PC. I use AutoCAD and Vectorworks regularly (and sometimes concurrently if it doesn’t bring everything to a screeching halt). I also use Photoshop and Lightroom along with the usual suspects- iTunes, the whole Microsoft Office suite- Powerpoint, Excel, etc. I’d like this computer to run these programs quickly and allow me to store lots of photos and drawings without needing external storage since I tend to reference old files all the time. I travel and work from a lot of weird temporary set ups so lightweight is good, as is an intuitive way to access the internet. I love that my current computer is rather sensitive to wireless networks and can frequently pick up signals that other computers can’t.

What I’d love to avoid is all of the crap software that comes pre-installed on most PCs (although I’m willing to uninstall if necessary) but I’d like it to include Microsoft Office. When I bought my last computer I was surprised to find out it came with Word Perfect and a bunch of other programs I didn’t like as opposed to Word and the usual Office suite. Fortunately at that time I qualified for a student version of Office, but that’s a shock I’d like to avoid this time around. I’m a pretty casual Adobe user, so things like super-awesome monitors are probably a waste of money. I’m also not into gaming. As far as price goes, let’s say under $2000.

So to summarize: What minimum requirements should I look for in a machine? Where should I buy it? How much should it cost?

Thanks in advance!

Which distro of Linux should I try?

n3rt — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:20:04 -0800

Which one of the multitude of Linux distros should someone who's never used Linux before give a go? I''m by no means a PC-phobe [or a Windows-phobe for that matter] but I've just done a couple of system backups and reinstalls of Vista, and am looking at my laptop [Acer Aspire 720Z with 2GB RAM, Intel Core-Duo] with a "hmm, what if eye, and wonder whether I should finally give a Linux distro a try.

My computing background was initially Amigas [hey, configuring Ami-TCP by hand was fun! To a certain extent... :) ] and I'm a graphic designer by profession. I already use a fair bit of Inkscape / GIMP so I'm not scared of new apps to replace anything, I'm just stumped at what to try from the various advice proffered by various techy-types here.

Any advice greatly appreciated - and play nicely! :) [Remembers the Amiga vs PC debate years ago...]

Please help me find a laptop

billysumday — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:10:54 -0800

I'd like to purchase a cheap (~$400-$500) laptop with certain requirements. The more I look, the more confused I get. Please help me. I just want a cheap but relatively fast laptop to do some occasional out-of-the-house work in a coffee shop or library. I'll most likely only be using internet (wifi), Word, Excel, and iTunes. That's it. I do want a webcam so that I can Skype. I'll be doing a lot of typing so I don't want a netbook - the keyboard needs to big enough to comfortably type on, and the screen should be anywhere from 12"-15". I want it to be relatively fast and have a reasonable amount of space, but I don't need to do anything fancy like game playing or video editing. At the same time, I also don't want it to operate slowly and I don't want to have to plug in an external drive. Battery life would preferably be decent.

I've checked out the Dell Outlet, but they don't really seem to have the great deals that people say they do - e.g., in an old AskMe post someone said they recently purchased a 15" Inspiron with 3GB RAM and 250GB hard drive with webcam and other accessories for a little over $400. But now, you can't get anything under $500 that has more than 1GB RAM and 80GB hard drive. Am I missing something?

Also, I've gone to Best Buy and checked out their computers and some of them are nice. I come home and check out the computers online and they seem to be more expensive than in Best Buy. Again, I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Please help this laptop noob. I've always just bought Macs but this time I just want to go the el cheapo route while still getting a good deal. So, anybody have good recommendations? Any models or brands to stay away from? And where should I look to get the best deal? Thanks to all.

Does Not Compute

misha — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:17:42 -0800

Please help me find the best laptops for our teens! Specifics inside. We have decided to get new computers for our teens--the younger is entering high school and needs it for school, while the older is really into animation and we want to encourage that interest.

I was originally looking at the Mac mini. We decided on laptops because we like portability and assume they will as well, they want webcams AND their high school prefers the Windows setup to Mac.

I'd still be up for Macs, because I feel they are more secure against viruses and the like, if we could get below $1000 each. The basic white 13" Macbooks at the Apple store are $999 and we're hoping to get under that price. I know we can run Windows programs on them with the right software.

Here's what we want:

Memory--lots of it. Can't get too much of this. Would rather have more than the 4GB the Macbook starts with.

Graphics-- Is the NVIDIA Ge Force 9400M the best choice for animation and gaming? Could we do better?

Preferably under $999 each!

Here's what they want:

High-speed--both love to chat on Google and have complained about speeds with the ancient models we have now (an old desktop and a G3 iBook).

Webcam--yes, we know all about internet safety, thanks!

Incredible sound--the oldest is really into music and his friends are in a band, so he wants the best audio he can get, even if this means peripheral speakers. Would love recommendations for these as well!

Software

If we got a Mac, we'd need to be able to run Windows programs on it as well--what software would we need, and how much is that going to cost?

We do not qualify (damn it) for educational discounts from Apple for the free iPod Touch promotion, as kids have to be accepted into college OR a parent needs to be a full-time teacher.

Thanks so much for your help!

wirless connection slow down

tangyraspberry — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:39:50 -0800

Can anyone suggest a remedy for a slowed up wireless connection? My p.c., laptop's wireless connection has mysteriously slowed way down even though my wife's connection speed (we both work at home) remains strong. I purchased and swept my laptop multiple times with an anti-malware program which found and rid my p.c of several viruses. The program now shows my system is free of all viruses yet the problem continues.

Headphone jack Snapped Off Inside Laptop

zzazazz — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:55:11 -0800

I have about a quarter of an inch of a headphone jack snapped off inside my laptop due to a manic dachshund. Can you recommend a tool I can use to get it out? I've tried very small tweezers but I can't get in there. I attempted to open it up but stopped when I got to the point I didn't know what I was doing.

Saving my PC's Optical Drive

brandman — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:50:52 -0800

Is there a way to selectively disable the CD/DVD drive in my computer? We let the kids play the computer occasionally, and from time to time, my (pre-school aged) son will press the button, open the drive and start playing with it. What I'd like to do is find a way to 'turn off' the drive, or at least disable the eject button, while the kids are playing the computer. Is there a way to do that? On Windows XP, Dell Inspiron 1505.

In search of my new best friend...

fogonlittlecatfeet — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:32:37 -0800

What New Laptop should I buy? I know there are probably a bazillion threads on this topic, so I apologize now for being redundant. But with the rate that technology changes and upgrades itself, I figure you can never be too up to date on this stuff and those other threads don't deal with what I want.
I am in the market for a new laptop. I am open to any and all ideas. I have about $1200 or so to spend. I would use it for your typical joeschmoe computer stuff: internet, digital photo and mp3 storage, and organizing simple documents and spreadsheets for work. I have been given the money as a gift "for a new laptop" so while i realize this is quite a bit of money for what I would be using it for, I might as well go all out.

I am currently using a mac and am enjoying it, and definitely see why some people won't use anything else. But, as of right now, I am kinda of leaning toward going back to Windows, since that is what I am most comfortable with. Anyone care to convince me otherwise?
What if I was dead set against a Mac? then what would you suggest?

Here are a few negotiable specs -
i don't want it to be too heavy as I take it everywhere. That said, I am not the most careful person. Gimme something that can take a licking.
I would like a nice big screen, but would rather it be light, and for it to fit in a backpack type computer bag.
I am tired of my cramped keyboard on my iBook. A nice big keyboard with back lit keys would be great.
I also HATE the speakers on my iBook. is there a laptop with good built in speakers?

Thanks in advance.

What should I look for in a laptop?

Caz721 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:32:11 -0800

What sort of specs should I look for for my new (sub-$600) PC laptop? My old laptop has been giving me a lot of problems, and as it is nearly 6 years old, I think I'm ready to get a new one. However, I'm having trouble figuring out what specs I should focus on as I compare what's available. Any advice as to what to focus on or caution as to what to avoid would be appreciated. I'm not sure exactly what details are relevant, so I apologize for the length below. I have read the previous questions on similar topics, but none seem to fit exactly, so I hope someone will have some advice.

I use my computer for internet, Microsoft Office, Itunes, and digital photo storage. I'd like something that has adequate memory so I won't have to worry about storing music/pictures. Additionally, I'd like something that I can use when I work from home, instead of bringing my work laptop home. Working from home I connect to my office network through a VPN, and sometimes use document review and database programs, as well as Office programs. My work laptop is an 80 GB Dell Latitude and is 2 years old or so (running windows XP I think). I use a cable internet connection at home, if that's relevant.

Size and weight is less of a concern, because I don't travel with my laptop often. I've ruled out the little netbooks based on size however because I need a larger screen size when I work from home (I've considered the netbook + monitor, but I usually work on the couch in apartment, so I think that would be awkward). I think my current screen is 15" and it doesn't have to be exactly that, but in that range would be best.

I've recently heard/read here at AskMe that people seem to be unhappy with the current Dell laptops. Is this true? Is there a brand recommendation or should I concentrate more on a set of specifications? Which ones?

Thanks for all your help.

Make my Vista Arrow Keys Work.

Juicylicious — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:07:15 -0800

How do I set up my arrow keys to cycle forward/backward in firefox? I had this ability with my T42 XP, now I have a 1720 inspiron Vista and I don't have that ability anymore. I've called Dell support, but they have no idea what I'm talking about. I miss using my arrows keys to move back and forth between pages on firefox, instead of the mouse. Help :/

Eee-only?

matthewr — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:50:58 -0800

Could I use an Eee 1000 as my only PC? I'd be getting the 10-inch 1000H, with XP Home and an 80Gb HDD.

Specifically, is it practical to watch DVDs on the move, via a bus-powered external US DVD drive? Or would that use so much power that the battery wouldn't last the length of a film?

And if I were to plug in an external monitor at home, what's the maximum resolution the Eee could output, via the VGA port? I've read various forum posts about changing Xandros config files, but nothing for XP.

Can a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop with High Definition Audio 2.0 sound card perform 16-bit recording ?

eebs — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:58:24 -0800

Can a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop with High Definition Audio 2.0 sound card perform 16-bit recording, which is supposed to be required for Dragon Naturally Speaking? The other sound card options are:

Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition (add $25)

ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card (add $80)

Thanks so much.

mac? pc?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:48:54 -0800

When and where should I buy a laptop (also: what kind?!)? I'm leaving the US for France for about a year on September 16. I want/need a laptop for my job and entertainment. I can't think clearly about this anymore (stressed out about 10000 other things!) so I thought I'd consult AskMe.

I was planning on buying a MacBook when the product line was refreshed. Current rumor on that, though, is around October 14thish and I really wanted a laptop sooner than that. If I buy a Mac now, I can take advantage of their education discount which will give me a "free" iPod Touch (after rebate). If I wait until mid-October to buy a newer release Mac I will have to pay more for it because they cost more in France (also no iPod Touch). I really like Macs because Apple fixes anything that's wrong with them and I find them to be really well-made and happy (my last two computers were Macs). I was looking forward to a new Mac because aluminum casing is really desirable to me.

I am also considering getting a netbook/ultraportable laptop (MSI Wind or Inspiron Mini or Eee PC 1000 or ???) and running Linux on it because the price tag isn't as bad as Macs and I like the idea of being able to shove the laptop in a large purse and wander around. I do not, however, want Windows, because it frustrates the hell out of me.

I want whatever I get to have a built-in webcam and microphone so that I can Skype, I don't play games on my computer, I don't program, I like full-sized keyboards, I don't particularly like glossy screens, I don't like heavy laptops, I am sort of attached to my optical drive, and I am annoyed that the base MacBook only comes with a combo drive rather than super drive.

So, should I buy a laptop in the US and get a "free" iPod Touch and old MacBook, should I wait until mid-October and buy a new MacBook for $300ish more, or should I buy a cheaper PC? (money both is and isn't an issue because if I am convinced that I am making the BEST choice I will buy it within reason but I don't want to spend money on something too frivolous (ie: dropping $1,700 on a MacBook Air)).

Aaak, what should I do (sorry for the rambly-ness of this question, I have a lot on my mind right now)?

Bluetooth Automatic Syncing Between Laptops

0bvious — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:35:59 -0800

Syncing between laptops: How can I easily and automatically sync files and documents between two laptops using Bluetooth? Ideally I want to load up one machine in the vicinity of the other and have all my recent data (documents/data/RSS feeds etc.) syncronised with NO hassle. Any good apps out there? I already have a not-very-portable WinXP laptop, with bluetooth. I am also awaiting arrival of a new ASUS EEE PC. I will probably end up installing Windows XP on it, but might opt to stick with Linux.

The internal Bluetooth was a key component of my purchase.

I am interested in using the Asus as a portable addition to my writing and reading routines. I'd love to load it up and have all my recent file changes synced on both machines without me doing anything. Just like the way iTunes syncs my iPod, but with Bluetooth as a sweet bonus.

I would also LOVE for all recent RSS feeds to be downloaded in FULL and sent to the Asus, ready for me to read on the train.

Any hints would sure be grand

What's my best option for finding a cheap-as-dirt computer in the Dallas area?

Item — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:43:01 -0800

What's my best option for finding a cheap-as-dirt computer in the Dallas area? I recently received a promotion at my much-loved job that requires me to do some basic (i.e. Excel, email, internet browsing) work from home. Trouble is, my ancient Thinkpad finally coughed out its dying breath a couple of days ago and I don't think it'll be revived in any easy manner.

I've got various peripherals lying around and I don't need anything other than the computer itself - I don't need a laptop, either. I'm not the world's most tech-savvy fellow, otherwise I'd just pick up something off of Craigslist. I can't afford to buy something that'll conk out on me in a month. I'm broke, dead dead broke for at least the next few months, so I can't really spend more that a few hundred bucks - even $300 will be stretching my budget in an uncomfortable fashion.

Any suggestions as to my best means of computering myself as cheaply, semi-reliably, and quickly as possible will be greatly appreciated.

Stereotypical laptop question. Sorry.

damnjezebel — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:57:59 -0800

[laptopquestionoftheday filter] $750 to buy (my first laptop + shipping) with my boyfriend's paypal or bank account. Your thoughts? I picked up a second job doing code and such online. Because of my random working weekends at Job #1 that will also allow me to work at Job #2 (plus the "i want to watch youtube in bed" factor) I need a laptop. I was planning on saving up for this over the next month or so, but my boyfriend thinks he's in the doghouse because he missed our anniversary, and thus will be paying for the laptop posthaste. I have his paypal info and his bank account info - a total of $750 to spend on the laptop and shipping, as well as any little accessories I may need.

So... is Dell worth it, besides the pretty colors? I mean, really? The only reason they're even on my grid is because I can get one in a color other than black or silver (possible new damnjezebel laptop found here). On this laptop, I'll be primarily working in photoshop and dreamweaver, and will be wasting time with videos and WoW. So if it can run WoW, hot... but I have a desktop I can use for that anyway - so it's a luxury, not a requirement. Before it's asked, yes I'm a pc girl... I don't think my budget allows for a macish laptop right now, anyway. Oh, and preferably xp, as I hate vista - but that's somewhat trivial, I think.

I'm used to desktops, and have never had to shop for a laptop so I'm very... nervous. Are there brands I should stay away from that are absolute no-nos? Per Dog Boy, "stay away from compaq... unless they've gotten better in the last few years". Have they? Thanks in advance, ya'll!

Should I reinstall XP?

Kiwi — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:38:37 -0800

Should I reinstall XP to speed up my laptop? After a couple of years of use, my laptop is starting to run a little slow. I've heard that uninstalling and reinstalling Windows XP and all other programs can speed things up dramatically. Is it worth the hassle of doing this? How long before it starts to slow down again?

Help me Geek Squad these laptops!

whiskey point — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:00:37 -0800

2 used laptops: what to do with them? One will be new to me (from my wonderful girlfriend), one will be new to my grandma (from me) Part 1:
I'll be getting a ~2 year old Toshiba Satellite laptop, a pretty basic model with probably 512 mb of RAM and a smallish hard drive (no big deal, I have a My Book and am willing to upgrade RAM). What would you do with this machine, that has been taken care of very well - no downloads, etc., and only used for typing papers and surfing the web? I'm down for anything-I just want to make sure I optimize this computer as soon as possible. I'm into web surfing (generally 10-15 Firefox tabs open at a time), watching DVDs, and typing papers on the go (I have MS office). I'm also into photography, burning DVDs, and listening to a ton of music on itunes-but I deal with all of that on my high(er) performance desktop. Would Photoshop kill this machine? What are some of the applications you can't live with out? This will basically be a backup, take to school, and travel computer for me.
Part 2:
I'm going to give my grandma my 4.5 year old Compaq 2100. It's not in the best shape (I can no longer watch movies on it, probably a software problem I haven't taken the time to fix) and it runs slow. I'm thinking I'll re-install XP and start over from scratch-but what should I do after that? Does your grandma have a computer? She's kind of wary, but she's willing to give it a try. I'd like to make this as simple for her as possible: a gmail account, something to play DVDs, maybe something to help her with recipes-either looking them up or storing them, and any other suggestions you guys can throw out for me.

I'm sure some creeping on the MeFi archives would have helped a little, but I wanted to kill two birds with one stone and get both of these computers working to the best of their abilities.

Hey, "c000021a" to you too, buddy.

mykescipark — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:50:29 -0800

PC laptop diagnostics and repair in L.A.: Recommendations, please. My ever-unreliable Gateway laptop has bitten the dust for the millionth time. Rather than throw it into the sea (my preferred solution), I'd like to have someone local take a gander at it. Angelenos, who would you trust around here for such things? (I live in central Hollywood, if it matters.)

Eee PC?

dersins — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:16:59 -0800

Do I want an Asus Eee PC? I'd love to have an ultra portable (fits in my coat pocket?), ultra cheap computer for writing and internetting. Is the Eee the machine for me, or is the keyboard too small to type on for extended periods of time? (My hands aren't ginormous or anything, but they're not exactly dainty, either.) Anyone have any experience trying to write on one? Any alternate suggestions at a similar price point?

mac or pc ?

sgt.serenity — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:51:42 -0800

which is the best laptop if you're working with graphics ? i've got the choice of a macbook pro or a pc laptop - i thought initially that the macpro would be good but i keep reading about its poor display and there are so many pc laptops out there - i'm asking the wise people of mefi to help !

so it's the macbook pro or a pc laptop at the same cost.