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Best Laptops for IM??

by Happyinorbit
16 replies
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I am looking to purchase a laptop to use primarily for IM. Can anyone recommend a good one or perhaps some pointers on what to look for in a laptop computer? There are just so, so many out there, and the technology is really beyond me. I do not know what I need and what I dont. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks! Kristi
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Brian
    I am using a Compaq Presario C700 series, less than $700. It does office jobs fast with no problem but don't expect to play high end games on it
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  • Profile picture of the author Janet Sawyer
    Originally Posted by Happyinorbit View Post

    I am looking to purchase a laptop to use primarily for IM. Can anyone recommend a good one or perhaps some pointers on what to look for in a laptop computer? There are just so, so many out there, and the technology is really beyond me. I do not know what I need and what I dont. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks! Kristi

    You just need a basic laptop with 2gb memory, internet connection, and all the programs loaded onto it .........

    Vista, the latest from you know who takes at least 512 gigs so if your lappy only comes with 514 don't expect it to do much

    If you want to connect to the internet, as most IM people do at some time, then 1Gb is the minimum.
    If you want to connnect to the internet, and do something at the same time, like upload files to your webhosting etc, then 2 GB should work for you.

    Buy the biggest spec you can afford, and it should give you at least 2 or 3 years service before you have filled it up enough to choke it up and make it run real slow.

    Hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author HarveyJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Wright
      The new Samsung X360 is cool and well specced at the price
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    • Profile picture of the author Andy Money
      Originally Posted by HarveyJ View Post

      Asus EEE...
      They're cheap, they've got WiFi built in, and if you're using the XP edition ones, most wireless modems are PnP enabled.
      They're also going to give you change from $300 if you get the the 700 or 900 series. The 1000 series is probably more than you need, unless you're intending on doing some graphic work for your websites too.
      Don't get an Eee. I just bought one, terrible, terrible, terrible. Even more terrible when I went to return it to Target and had to visit the store THREE times to get my money refunded plus a 30 minute call to India.

      If you want a small "netbook" look at the MSI Wind and the Acer Aspire. Otherwise look at a budget Gateway or Dell if size isn't of any importance.

      The Eee's have such cramped keyboards I couldn't even type. The MSI Wind keyboard is perfect though. Plus with Linux on the Asus Eee unless you pay for the XP version of the computer, it's practically useless-especially with IM related tasks.
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      • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
        Originally Posted by mrsleep99 View Post

        Don't get an Eee. I just bought one, terrible, terrible, terrible. Even more terrible when I went to return it to Target and had to visit the store THREE times to get my money refunded plus a 30 minute call to India.

        If you want a small "netbook" look at the MSI Wind and the Acer Aspire. Otherwise look at a budget Gateway or Dell if size isn't of any importance.

        The Eee's have such cramped keyboards I couldn't even type. The MSI Wind keyboard is perfect though. Plus with Linux on the Asus Eee unless you pay for the XP version of the computer, it's practically useless-especially with IM related tasks.
        I find those 2 netbooks very interesting although I haven't been able to see one at the stores yet. They just seem to have the best size for taking a notebook anywhere.

        Personally, I use a 4 year old HP notebook and it's still running fine. Anything brand new with 4-6+ hours of battery life is probably the best option.
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      • Profile picture of the author HarveyJ
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        • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
          Originally Posted by HarveyJ View Post

          The keyboard, I can sort of agree with you for other people, but I don't find it an issue myself.

          As for the Linux issue... it's called knowing how to use a computer. I suggest you learn sometime. It'll actually help your IM career.
          Xandros is MUCH easier system to learn than XP or Vista are, and to say otherwise tells me you're the sort of person that would never have been able to use a computer 10 years ago when there were still these things called Command Prompts, and the internet didn't have search engines.
          Well there are many tools and programs that don't work with linux.
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          • Profile picture of the author HarveyJ
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            • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
              Originally Posted by HarveyJ View Post

              Uh, yeah, they do... you just need to run a windows emulation platform for them. Something like WINE.
              Sadly, they run faster under Linux emulation than they do under Windows most of the time.

              The only reason why Linux isn't more widespread is because it doesn't have a central business marketing it, and it's shite for gaming (which is what the majority of computers are sold for these days... How many people that aren't playing games or doing 3D work actually need a 3D accelerator in their comp's graphic chipset? Zero... So how come nearly every PC has one?)
              PM me if you can get .net framework and tools that require internet explorer to run together. I can't even get IE to work within some of the tools I emulate let alone the .net framework to run.

              I run winehq on my ubuntu computer but have never been able to get these to work.
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              • Profile picture of the author myob
                Toshiba Satellite. I buy these for all of my employees because they are dependable and rugged. My employees are too!
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Kristi,

    I've had a Toshiba A75-S213 for the last three years and it's worked pretty well for me, though it is starting to make a noise (whirring sound of some type, I think), so it may die soon (I hope not).

    However, it has a Pentium 4 processor; at the time I did not realize that the Pentium 4 ran hotter than the Pentium 3 or the Pentium M (which was based on the Pentium 3 processor, not the Pentium 4). That partly could explain why it is making a noise now, a little earlier than I thought it would (my Compaq Presario laptop that I had before my Toshiba lasted 5 years before it suffered a systems failure).

    Regarding Toshiba in general, they usually provide the most specs for the lowest price. I agree with Janet that you should get at least 2 GB RAM; I know with Toshiba (and I think with Gateway and perhaps HP as well) that there are models out there that will give you 3 GB and even 4 GB RAM for less than $1000, with 320 to even 400 GB HDs. Many of them also come with Wireless Networking of some type, even Wireless-N, along with an integrated webcam and microphone. I'd suggest getting as much RAM as you can, along with a sizable HD (200 GB or more, preferably). I'll probably look into getting a Toshiba again or possibly a Gateway when I need to purchase my next laptop (I hope that's still a year or two away, but am not sure, due to this noise my laptop is currently making).

    You could also access sites like CNet.com, PCWorld.com, and similar sites to help you further evaluate more laptops you're interested in. You should also check the main consumer sites - BestBuy.com, CircuitCity.com, Newegg.com, OfficeMax.com, OfficeDepot.com, Staples.com, Walmart.com, etc. - as most of them have reviews posted on the various laptops. You can likely find out more about how well they run and any weaknesses they have.

    There was also at least one thread under the old forum, located at warriorforum.com/forum, that dealt with a similar topic. If you search for laptops or similar words, you'd likely find it. I posted a reply there at the time that might be useful to you as well.

    Good luck in choosing a new laptop - I know it's a big decision and it's hard to evaluate which one is best for you with all the choices out there. Take your time and do extensive research before choosing one.

    Take care and have a great day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
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  • Profile picture of the author WilsonA
    Originally Posted by Happyinorbit View Post

    I am looking to purchase a laptop to use primarily for IM. Can anyone recommend a good one or perhaps some pointers on what to look for in a laptop computer? There are just so, so many out there, and the technology is really beyond me. I do not know what I need and what I dont. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks! Kristi
    Just try to get one that has enough space (at least 80gb) to allow you download the tons of books you are going to come across in Im
    Also get one that comes with wireless internet or wlan this way you can easily move around and it should be able to play dvd's.
    That's really what I would mainly lookout for
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Dittberner
      Get a MacBook. IM requires a lot of your time. Time you don't have for virus scans/updates, fighting spyware, etc on a PC. Too much hassle you don't have to worry about on a Mac.

      The people that will steer you away from a Mac, or have negative things to say about them, haven't used one.

      I'm not a kool-aid drinker, as I have a PC and Mac desktop as well as a PC & Mac laptop. I use them both, but the Mac is more fun and less hassle.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
        Originally Posted by Jason Dittberner View Post

        Get a MacBook. IM requires a lot of your time. Time you don't have for virus scans/updates, fighting spyware, etc on a PC. Too much hassle you don't have to worry about on a Mac.

        The people that will steer you away from a Mac, or have negative things to say about them, haven't used one.

        I'm not a kool-aid drinker, as I have a PC and Mac desktop as well as a PC & Mac laptop. I use them both, but the Mac is more fun and less hassle.
        Once you go Mac...you'll never go back.
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  • Profile picture of the author bendiggs
    Well it really depends on what you are going to do with the machine. If you are really only going to write web pages, read e-mail and do some writing and web surfing then get the lowest specced cheapest laptop available. The MSI Wind or Asus Eee PCs are both good choices. Do get an external hard drive for storage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sweeney
    Do you guys recommend buying used or new?

    I was just going to post a thread about laptops too.. guess I have good luck =D
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    • Profile picture of the author jchengery
      Hello Sweeney,

      Personally, I'd recommend buying new. Granted, it will cost more than a used laptop, but there are a few reasons why I would suggest buying a new laptop:

      1. You don't know exactly what shape and working condition the laptop is in if it is used. Granted, if you buy on eBay or elsewhere, the owner may say it is in "working condition," "everything runs fine," etc., but how do you know what the previous owner ran on it, how hard he/she taxed it with programs, etc.? There's no real way to know.

      As a result, the laptop may be in working order when you receive it, but that's no guarantee it will last you for a year, two years, or five years because it is in working order when you get it. It could die on you quickly after you get it.

      2. Combined with #1, unless you purchase it separately (if you can,) you have no warranty with a used laptop. Again, if your laptop dies on you unexpectedly, you have almost no recourse to get back your data and get back up and running without shelling out more money on, likely, a new laptop. So you might as well shell the money out the first time on a new laptop - you know it's never been used AND you get a warranty (usually 1-year, though there are usually options to purchase extended warranties for 1 or 2 additional years).

      If you want a third reason, if you're buying a used laptop on eBay or somewhere else online and it needs to be shipped to you, you have to rely on the person packing it that the laptop will be secure enough in its package/box that nothing will come loose or be damaged when you receive it.

      If I were you (and I may purchase another laptop in the not too distant future, depending on how long my current one holds up, and it seems to be doing better now than it was over the weekend), I would certainly consider purchasing a new laptop. It's likely you could get a solid one for just a few hundred dollars more than you would a used laptop that is likely a bit outdated, depending on how long the previous owner has had it.

      Hopefully, this is helpful - good luck in deciding what laptop to get.

      Take care and have a great day!

      Sincerely,

      Joe Chengery III
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      My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

      Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Happyinorbit
    Good Grief....Thanks for all the input! Not sure what I will end up with, but all your advice will be a help in narrowing the field.
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