What kind or model laptop you use for IM? Please tell

[David_Thompson]

Hey guys,

I was wondering about something what kind or model laptop you
guys use for your online business?

I myself am looking to get a laptop now and it would be good to see
what you guys recommend or are using at the moment...

I would love to know what you have and why...

--David

[bgmacaw]

I mostly use my desktop but I recently bought a laptop for when I travel. Here's the review I did on it: HP G60-235DX Laptop Review.

I mainly bought it because of price (under $500). If I wanted a laptop to be my primary PC I would have probably spent about $1000-1500 to get more features like more RAM, more HD space, faster processor, Blu-Ray, 18.4 screen, etc. It does run all of my web development software and IM software fine though, which is what I needed from it.

[Sam101]

I use a standard desktop with a large screen display-laptop screens are too small for me.
Besides most desktops tend to be more powerful than equivalently priced laptops.

[rhelaine]

17" 1680x1050....

Nice harddrive with a couple of backups.

The rest is not important.

[Roz3377]

I just have a Dell Inspiron 1420 and seems to do fine for me. You want one with good RAM and good hard drive space. Basically, that's it.

[derekwong28]

I am using a Lenovo X301

Lenovo ThinkPad X301 Review

It comes with 128G SSD flash memory hard drive, makes very little heat and is almost waterproof.

I have been eyeing this for a long time, and finanlly got it after a promtion with a big discount.

[Dana_W]

Other things that I consider when looking for a laptop are weight - if it weighs six pounds, to me it's not a laptop, it's a bag of bricks I have to lug around - and size of keyboard.

[melanied]

I use a Dell Inspiron 6000 running XP. As to why I use a laptop, it's because I like the variety of working in coffeeshops, etc. in addition to my house. Sometimes I go to colleges and work - I like the feeling of hustle and bustle and industry out in public. It often gets me going when I'm stuck!

[David_Thompson]

Can you do stuff like work with photoshop, dreamweaver
apps like that with this model, it just seems so fragile...

Was looking at this the other day but decided not to get it
but I like the look...

--David

Originally Posted by melanied

I use a Dell Inspiron 6000 running XP. As to why I use a laptop, it's because I like the variety of working in coffeeshops, etc. in addition to my house. Sometimes I go to colleges and work - I like the feeling of hustle and bustle and industry out in public. It often gets me going when I'm stuck!

[Tyrus Antas]

Most laptops will do. I have an HP Pavillion DV5 with 3GB RAM which is the most important thing I search for in a laptop.

Tyrus

[GuruGazette]

I have a Gateway CX210X Tablet PC. It's big and heavy for a laptop but I wanted the tablet writing capability, plus be able to use all my regular work stuff (Old) write up on it here: Gateway CX210X Tablet PC

[googmagic]

Dell Inspiron 6000 running XP

[Kat Fuschillo]

A big old Phillips laptop.


It's huge, heavy and it never leaves my desk.


I've also got a imac for cool stuff like music production.

[ladyshadowrider]

I use a Dell Latitude D600 laptop running XP. It's the 4th Dell Latitude I've owned.

I also have a Dell desktop that I use as a server, don't recall the model number. And, I have a C600 as a backup in case something happens to my primary laptop.

All are still running great, but need to upgrade occasionally as technology and Windoz "advances."

All were bought used on Ebay, except the desktop which was new, but also purchased on Ebay. Each cost less than $500.

HTH,
Tamara

[Tristan Bull]

Dell inspiron for me, probably need to upgrade....

[Bruce Wedding]

I buy whatever name brand is the deal of the week at Frys, under $500. All I care about is:

15.6" screen
100Gb or bigger HD
2Gb or more RAM
DVD burner
dual processor

My current one is a Toshiba Satellite L305D w/AMD Dual Core and 3Gb RAM. I paid $449. It does Photoshop and runs my programming software fine.

[AmyBrown]

I use a Dell Latitude and a docking station for day to day work and a HP mini for travel and cruising the internet while watching tv.

[Learnanew]

Holy crap, and I was under the impression that most Internet Marketers used Macs. :P

I use a Dell XPS 1530. Works pretty well.

[Marian Berghes]

I'm using a desktop atm, but I'm gonna buy a laptop pretty soon and there is only 1 choice for me: Macbook Pro 15", more security, more reliable and looks awesome too

[JonnyAndrews]

I'm running the entire show from an Acer Aspire 6920.
Got it at Costco last year for under $1000.

Costco - Acer AS6920-6898 16.0" T5900 2.2GHz 4GB RAM 320GB HDD

WAY Cheaper now (as is the rule with computers

Thing runs like a champ and travels beautifully.

Been using that brand for over 7 years now. The only
other computer equipment I have is stuff I've won
in JV contests.

Actually, I just bought my JV manager the newer Acer
model (again from Costco) it was under $800 out the door
and had something like a 19" HD cinema display.

Jonny

[melanied]

You're cool. LOL.

I don't use photoshop or dreamweaver, but I do use other photo, video, and html editors with no problem!

Originally Posted by googmagic

Dell Inspiron 6000 running XP

[Rich Struck]

I use a Macbook. It runs OSX and Windows XP flawlessly. I can't imagine ever going back to a non-Apple machine because in one awesome computer, I have the best of both worlds. It is also invaluable for checking how websites look & perform so I can be sure that my surfers are all seeing the same thing. I think if you are going to be a serious webmaster then there really is no better way to go.

[Rich Struck]

Originally Posted by Marian Berghes

I'm using a desktop atm, but I'm gonna buy a laptop pretty soon and there is only 1 choice for me: Macbook Pro 15", more security, more reliable and looks awesome too

You will not be disappointed.

[Lisa Gergets]

Acer AspireOne. It's tiny with a 10" screen, but man I could NOT live without this little netbook! Best $350 I've ever spent.

[David_Thompson]

So you guys are say go for something that has lots ram 2 to 4gb,
big hd 100gb, processing speed intel duel core...

--David

[alanm88]

I have a HP Pavillon dv9000, I do 3D modeling work for video games so I needed a good video card.

As for your laptop, there are many things to consider before you purchase it.

What programs are you going to run?
If you are going to run programs like Dreamweaver, Photoshop, video editing software such as Adobe After Effects then you need one with a better video card. Most laptops have integrated video cards, you might want to look for one with a Geforce or ATI video card.

Are you going to be bringing it to different places or just mostly at home?
If you are a traveler, a 17 inch laptop might be too much to carry around all day. A 15 inch might be more ideal if you are putting it into a backpack with other books and such

What programs are you planning to run?
Are you the type that runs a lot of things at once? A music player going while you're working, firefox to do surfing and internet marketing, a keyword research tool, a messenger software to chat with friends. If you like a lot of windows open, anything above 2 GB ram would be enough to run all that. You could go on the safe side and do 3 GB but I don't think it's neccessary.

What else are you using it for?
If you are strictly doing IM, 100gb or above hard drive is more than enough. I don't see document files, pictures, and website files, and a handful of programs could need over 100 gb. However, if you plan to use it as a personal computer too such as playing some PC games, downloading videos to watch, then a bigger hard drive might be the better choice.

Hope this helps you in choosing a laptop

Alan

[leeb]

Not too long ago I was facing the same question.
For years I had been using Windows machines but really wanted better performance and stability.
After much consideration I went for a Macbook Pro 15" with 4GB and haven't looked back.

I'm sure that many warriors will agree with me when I say that my main purpose of a laptop is that of a tool so I can get on and concentrate with the important job of IM.
This is where the Mac came into its own, excellent battery life, not notch build and performance. You cant really beat Mac for stability and everything just works. Making the switch from Windows to Mac is a breeze!

I you really need Windows for some unique applications, there are a number of apps out there that will allow you to switch between OSX and Windows. However, so far I haven't come across anything I cant do on a Mac.

[David_Thompson]

Alan, The idea is to have a working, traveling online business,
you know what I mean, it's where everything is done.

I do videos with camtasia, I use dreamweaver, photoshop,
skype, googletalk, snagit, textpad as you can see all the
IM stuff I need and a few more...

So that's why I was thinking processing power and ram
plus a good size HD...

--David

[SullyUI]

Toshiba Satellite A605

[alanm88]

Originally Posted by David_Thompson

Alan, The idea is to have a working, traveling online business,
you know what I mean, it's where everything is done.

I do videos with camtasia, I use dreamweaver, photoshop,
skype, googletalk, snagit, textpad as you can see all the
IM stuff I need and a few more...

So that's why I was thinking processing power and ram
plus a good size HD...

--David

Another important feature might be battery life if you are always on the go. The last thing you want is your battery to die while working at a coffee shop or on a plane. Like many of the people mentioned above, a Macbook Pro may be a great choice for what you are looking for. Also, they just released a Macbook Pro Summer 2009 that costs 200 USD less than the Pro but has a bit of a shorter battery life.

I did a quick search on CNET and found another one you might be interested in.. it is the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6916. Anyways, take a quick look at the specs and user reviews at CNET, I think these ones will meet your needs.

I don't have enough posts to attach links but go on CNET reviews and type those laptops into the search.

Alan

[Christa_Regalado]

I'm using Acer Aspire 4736z. Here's the specs:

• Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 processor (1MB L2 cacahe,2GHz,800 MHz FSB)
• Mobile Intel GL40 express chipset
• 2GB DDR3 RAM
• 320GB Hard Disk Space
• Super Multi DVD writer
• 14.1-inch HD Acer CineCrystal LED-Backlit TFT screen
• Dolby Surround sound
• 1366×768 resolution
• Acer CrystalEye Webcam
• Wi-Fi
• HDMI
• 5-in-1 card reader
• 3 USB v2.0 ports

It's running on Windows XP. Bought it for over $600.

[CashTactics]

I'm have a 2 year old macbook pro with upgraded ram. BUT when its time for me to get down to business I use my desktop as I feel more productive when I sit at my desk to work. If I have my laptop I feel like messing around online instead of getting work done.

Dell Inspiron because it's built like a tank. I left my last dell on the roof of my car and drove off. It flung about 1/2 mile down the road. Someone found it, called me, and there was no damage to it at all. I take my work on the road a lot and need that kind of durability. My Toshiba before that, on the other hand, cracked like an egg when I dropped it and it was in the case.

I'm running XP on it because Vista eats RAM. If you decide to ignore Vista and install XP, you need to do something in the BIOS. I have no idea what, my husband did it. But it's not as simple as just simply installing it.

[Josh Gould]

I recently gave my laptop away! I bought a netbook and it does everything I need it to. In your case it probably wouldn't be a good fit since you need to run Photoshop and the netbook isn't that powerful... but it has 9.5 hours of battery life.

Anything with an Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 or 4GB of memory and a decent size hard drive will be fine for you (as long as battery life isn't an issue).

I would just actively check websites like Tiger Direct and NCIX for a couple weeks... within that timeframe they both usually have a couple decent sales. Sometimes if you go refurbished through Tiger Direct you can get killer stuff at ridiculously awesome prices.

[joan007]

One of the reasons I like Dell is their warranty. I usually buy the 3 yr. warranty. If anything goes wrong with my computer they send out a service representative the next day to my house to fix it.

You might want to inquire about the product's warranty when you purchase a new computer. While still under warranty, and your computer breaks down, do you have to send it back to the manufacturer to get it fixed? You will be without a computer for period of time.

[Swastik]

I've a Dell XPS 16. Got it for $1500 [with taxes] and it works beautifully.

I've got Vista on it and it works like a charm. Maybe, I'm going to get a Macbook later the next month.

[EmmaJames]

I have a Dell Inspiron 14. I love Dell b/c they
have great customer support and awesome
warranties.

Before I got the new one I had a Dell Latitude.
And the warranty was phenomenal. I cracked
the screen, dropped it, broke keys on the keyboard...
you name it, I did it.

Every-time they sent someone to fix it the next day.

[Ray Erdmann]

Right now I'm using an old Gateway desk top w/a 19" monitor...I'm eying a Dell Studio at the local BestBuy. It's got a 17"in monitor, weighs about 6 or 7 pounds, has 4gig of RAM IIRC and a 320gig HD...thought about going to the Mac, but just not now.

The Dell Studio will allow me the flexibility of being able to work anywhere in my apartment, w/out being tied down to a desk, as well as taking the laptop to say "Borders" and connecting to their WiFi while I kick back, read a few magazines and have a few drinks/smoothies.

[MemberWing]

I am at crossroads.
I need laptop for 2 purposes:
1. Article writing at busy coffee shops - i love the environment an different flavor of inspiration that comes with it.
2. Software development when i am away from my 2 x 24" flat screens at my home office.

My pre-requisite - I don't like Vista and have no intention to waste my time on it.
I use XP for development and occasional Linux.

I wanted to get netbook for #1 to write articles in coffee shops
For it I need just internet connection and some screen + keyboard to type article. Netbook seemed like a perfect choice.

For #2 i am critical for screen real estate and processing power. For Vista-deterred person like myself i'd rather run XP for another year ot learn something decent like MacOS.

That left me with only 1 choice: save money for MacBook Pro 15". Which is guaranteed to run XP + have me occupied in my spare time learning MacOS.

The thing is $2k though (Im in Canada). But i think it's the right choice.

Gleb

[Tom Brite]

I should actually be ashamed of what im using for IM laptop wise however i absolutely love it.

I brought it a week after i moved back to the UK (had it about 3 months now) and its a netbook with a small screen and its not even a brand name.

Yet it does the job really well. Its 1.6Ghz and 1GB RAM. Nothing too fancy really.

It has a built in mic and webcam which will come in handy in the future for webinars and video recordings. However it doesn't even have a cd/dvd drive.

The best thing about it however is that its really lightweight and small and that its running windows xp and not vista.

To be honest i don't think it really does matter what you are using as long as you are using it, and effectively.

Tom Brite

[Sfrew]

I personally like the large format Sony Viao for the great screen clarity and the extreme reliability...but they do cost more. I have had very short performance lifes out of the HP's. I don't worry very much about the on-board disk space because I use an external drive for files, but I do go for maximum ram.

[Lynette Crase]

I use a Dell Inspiron 1520, Intel Core Duo 1.50ghz, 2gb Ram, 250gb hdd, running Vista.

Bought it brand new 18 months ago for $1500.00. I am fairly sure that they don't make this model anymore.

[cypherslock]

I'm seriously thinking of getting the Acer Timeline 3810. Wifi, camera, nice feel to the keyboard, 13.3" screen, 3 or so pounds and 8+ hours of battery life. Anyone used it yet?

[actionplanbiz]

Old school Mac Powerbook G4 17 inch. Great for VIdeo and Graphics

[Sheryl Polomka]

I have an Acer Aspire 5570Z - it has been pretty good but I do need an upgrade. I'd like to upgrade to a 3GB or 4GB laptop.

[bgmacaw]

Originally Posted by MemberWing

2. Software development when i am away from my 2 x 24" flat screens at my home office.

My pre-requisite - I don't like Vista and have no intention to waste my time on it.
I use XP for development and occasional Linux.

What do you develop software with? I use Visual Studio 2008 on my HP (mentioned above) and it works fine under Vista. I actually find that it runs better there than it does on my XP desktop at work. You can disable UAP if it annoys you too much when developing. Of course, Windows 7 will be out by the end of the year and the testing I've done with it indicates that it will be much more flexible than Vista and less of memory hog.

Screen size was a big issue for me too since I've got 2x19 on my work system and 2x21 wide on my home system. I found I could work easy enough on the 1366×768 screen although I missed having the extra screen.

[NickCook]

I have an Acer Aspire One. Does everything I need it too and is ultra-portable. Mine has an extended battery and it can go all day without a charge. I believe the latest models have an inbuilt 3G modem, so you can be truly portable...Between this and my PDA I can get my work done wherever I go...

[Ray Erdmann]

Originally Posted by Sfrew

I personally like the large format Sony Viao for the great screen clarity and the extreme reliability...but they do cost more.

....


Ahhh...Yes! The Sony VIAO's...I've seen a few at the local BestBuy as well and will say they're quite the eye candy, but have the processing power to back it up!

The only draw back for me is the size of the keyboard and how the keys are laid out. Being 6'5" and with fairly large hands and long fingers, I find the layout of the Dell's to be quite pleasing and easier to hit/use.

Guess the deciding factor will be, once the time comes that I venture into getting my 1st ever laptop, is the mood I'm in when I'm actually ready to 'buy' and how much $$$$ I'm willing to spend at that particular time.

[kakarotoni]

I use IBM lenovo, they make reliable laptops. I also believe HP and gateway make good laptops too. If you just want to use the lap top for IM then you dont need anything fancy, just get something with at least 1 GB ram and a decent processor.

[Ricky Parker]

Originally Posted by David_Thompson

So you guys are say go for something that has lots ram 2 to 4gb,
big hd 100gb, processing speed intel duel core...

--David

David I use something similar to those specs. It is almost 2 years old and was cheap. (i have bad luck with laptops so i buy them cheap)


But as far as running DW or PS or any video stuff the basic specs above will be fine.

I run all the programs you listed above in one of your posts and a bunch of video stuff AE, Vegas, and whatever else and have no problems at all.