<p>no it's not, it might be very hard for the consumer to do it, but computer shops certainly can customize a laptop, I don't know what you're talking about.</p>
<p>No, that is not my reason. My reason is that you want your computer to last as long as possible as well as have the technology. If you buy a computer now you have old technology. Intel will be rolling out with new processors soon and you will want to have the newest processors. Additionally if you buy a computer now compared to the summer that is an 8 month difference and an additional 8 months the notebook will last you.
I was just recommending that the person looks at PCMag before buying their notebook.</p>
<p>Our v2000s run very well once we trashed all of the unneeded OEM software and moved to the no-frills corporate version of Norton Anti-virus. Mine would probably run a bit faster if I put more memory in it, which I plan to do when the warranty runs out.</p>
<p>If you're on a budget, find an ideal spec NOW...then wait to buy it until something new comes out. Having the fastest processor to, well, word process, isn't going to do you much good. What it will make a difference is the $300-500 you save. You can use it to get more ram, a bigger harddisk...(invest...).</p>
<p>As far as IBM being multimedia unfriendly, I dont see how that works out. Since it's business oriented, there wont be tons of junk running in the background straight out of the box. This means fewer CPU cycles are wasted on useless processes, leaving more for media applications. In short, getting a PC meant for business, then installing a couple programs that are unintrusive (VLC, winamp, powerdvd), would be better than buying a 'media pc' with Real, WinMedia, MusicMatch, and Quicktime all loading on startup and constantly running every second. Tasks that are actually processor intensive - ripping and encoding movies, for example - actually need nearly 100% of the cpu - less bloat is good here. Now, you can get the same effect by uninstalling and disabling programs in other brands...this means that in the end, the media aspect really is inconsequential.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, if you virus scan, spyware scan, dont have millions of programs starting up, etc, your computer will last a very VERY long time. The machine I'm using right now is circa 2001 (1.4 ghz, 512mb ram) and during normal use, I can't tell the difference between it and my school pc (3.0ghz, 1gb ram...which I plan to keep until after I graduate). Yeah, I feel the change if I use Matlab or run heavy filters in PS, but that just forces me to code efficiently.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>
[quote]
As far as IBM being multimedia unfriendly, I dont see how that works out. Since it's business oriented, there wont be tons of junk running in the background straight out of the box. This means fewer CPU cycles are wasted on useless processes, leaving more for media applications. In short, getting a PC meant for business, then installing a couple programs that are unintrusive (VLC, winamp, powerdvd), would be better than buying a 'media pc' with Real, WinMedia, MusicMatch, and Quicktime all loading on startup and constantly running every second. Tasks that are actually processor intensive - ripping and encoding movies, for example - actually need nearly 100% of the cpu - less bloat is good here. Now, you can get the same effect by uninstalling and disabling programs in other brands...this means that in the end, the media aspect really is inconsequential.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You could always just Ctrl+Alt+Del and close everything useless, or you can go into MSCONFIG and cancel everything you don't want to open on startup; I have Real, QT, Windows Media, AIM, BearShare/Tons of crap on my computer and the only thing that opens on startup is the actual windows explorer and a couple odd processes = 0% CPU usage :)</p>
<p>I use an Dell Inspiron 700m and I am really satisfied with it. I can switched on my laptop the whole day and it works perfectly fine! The only drawback is the small screen... But other than that it's great. It's small, light and the screen quality is awesome!</p>
<p>Thanks kenyon_10, I was thinking of getting that for my next laptop... how's the speed? How's the start-up? Battery life? Does it handle DVDs well?</p>
<p>
[quote]
You could always just Ctrl+Alt+Del and close everything useless, or you can go into MSCONFIG and cancel everything you don't want to open on startup; I have Real, QT, Windows Media, AIM, BearShare/Tons of crap on my computer and the only thing that opens on startup is the actual windows explorer and a couple odd processes = 0% CPU usage
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hence the last sentence in my post =).</p>
<p>As I repeat, not only will there be faster processors coming out soon but more efficient. Why buy something now when you can get the Yonah which will be dual core.
[quote]
In short, getting a PC meant for business, then installing a couple programs that are unintrusive (VLC, winamp, powerdvd), would be better than buying a 'media pc' with Real, WinMedia, MusicMatch, and Quicktime all loading on startup and constantly running every second.
[/quote]
Sorry, but that is not how they define media pc's... They define them as larger screens (+15.4"), higher end video cards, multiple media outputs, a good amount of firewire & usb 2.0, faster processor. Before you go and put down someone's comments, know what you are talking about first please :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Thanks kenyon_10, I was thinking of getting that for my next laptop... how's the speed? How's the start-up? Battery life? Does it handle DVDs well?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The speed is good. Start-up is not bad too except that my computer seems to have a trojan or something... making my start-up for the past few days kinda miserable. The battery life isnt something to be proud of unless you purchased the extended battery pack. It will last around 5 hours with the extended battery pack (I would definitely recommend the extended battery pack because it makes your laptop more mobile). DVDs? It's all right, like most other laptops. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>who would WANT a laptop bigger than 15.4 inches? there's absolutely no reason for it -- you ruin the best part of the laptop, portability. the ability to throw it in your backpack without having to worry about it being too heavy when you carry it to class. </p>
<p>If someone wanted both a big screen and portability then I think the best option would be to get a small say 12-14 inch laptop and an LCD screen. It'll cost a little extra but it's the best of both worlds. And as for small screens, you get used to them fairly quickly.</p>
<p>For the longest time I used to do photoshop work on big 19 inch CRTs but have bought a 12 inch iBook for college now. Obviously it takes a little adjusting but after that it seems perfectly normal.</p>
<p>I know many of my friends who went out and bought a 17 inch laptop, only to regret it later due to the lack of battery life, the heaviness, etc.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Sorry, but that is not how they define media pc's... They define them as larger screens (+15.4"), higher end video cards, multiple media outputs, a good amount of firewire & usb 2.0, faster processor. Before you go and put down someone's comments, know what you are talking about first please
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I know what a media center pc is ;). Remember, however, that higher end business laptops frequently have fast cpus as well. It's not like the high end chips are only for media center machines. Hence, tons of ram, multiple outputs (my fujitsu...with a 10" screen...has 2) FW and usb2...etc. I have a 21" lcd I can hook up if I need a bigger screen.</p>
<p>A media center desktop, I can see a value for. Stick it right in the entertainment cabinet and it integrates seamlessly with your TV and VCR. A laptop...not so much. After all, virtually any media center desktop worth its weight has a TV tuner (or even multiple ones for a Tivo-esque effect). How many laptops do? And what does a media center laptop really have then that a normal laptop couldn't do with software?</p>
<p>I can see the advantage of having a larger screen if you simply wanted a desktop replacement that happened to be easier to bring home. Or, if budget was a constraint and you wanted a large screen for Photoshop and the like - the price difference between a 10" and 17" laptop is likely less than the price of a good lcd. But to be completely honest, few people will carry their 8 pound 17" laptop around with them. On the other hand, I have my 1 pound 10" laptop in my bag virtually all the time, so, you really need to look into why
you're getting a laptop and what you intend to do with it. If you want to bring it to class and the library every day and you live on a huge campus, a small laptop might work. If you see yourself bringing it once in a while for writing papers or such, any size will do.</p>
<p>Sorry if it came across as putting down. However, I just don't see the reason for discounting IBM or Dell's business line since they aren't 'Media Friendly' - they very much so are, and, to the extent that the average college student would use it, pretty much identical in utility. You can watch movies. You can play music. You can write DVD's (remember, business computers had DVD writers first for large file backup, then home-level machines). You can hook up a large screen or a TV. And in the end, an IBM playing dvd's using third party software will probably have a longer longevity (and better customer support) than an HP media center laptop playing it using HP software, and in the end, cost the same.</p>
<p>Also, I see what you're saying about new processors coming out. Here whoever is buying needs to know how much they're willing to spend. Yes, it's certainly a wise idea to wait for two reasons. Those on a tight budget will get more for their money as todays high end machines become middle of the line while those with more funds will get a top of the line machine.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>The 17" laptop is not bad... It is for certain types of people...
Lack of battery: Who cares? If you bought one expecting more than 2.5 hours of battery life you need a reality check (in terms of computers)
Heaviness: It is just as heavy as some 15.4"</p>
<p>Screen: Can fit a lot more than your 12"
Power: These notebooks have some of the fastest processors available</p>
<p>Karth, a business laptop is a business laptop and a multimedia laptop is a multimedia laptop... Even the leading experts in computers make a differentiation...
Multimedia laptops have HDDs that go up near 200 gigs... Business hover around 40-60
RAM does not matter. You can put as much ram on a business laptop as you want and it is still a business laptop
The thing that really differentiates multimedia laptops: Graphics cards... Multimedia PCs carry top of the line graphics cards... The biggest that I see from IBM is a 64 mb outdated 9600
Additionally another component of a multimedia PC is widescreen display 15.4" or above... No IBM computer comes like that</p>
<p>I also recommend to wait for the new macs... They might be the perfect computer come a few days :)</p>
<p>I'll agree that the 17" may be perfect for some people. They wouldnt make it if there wasn't a market.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Lack of battery: Who cares? If you bought one expecting more than 2.5 hours of battery life you need a reality check (in terms of computers)
[/quote]
Why should I need a reality check if I want more than 2.5 hours of battery? Sometimes, projects take longer than that and I don't have access to a powerplug. For example, everyone brought their laptops to the library during finals week and NEEDED to plug them in. Major pain with wires everywhere. I was on a sofa...wireless...for a good 7 hours. It'll last an entire cross country flight and then some. All without the additional port battery. Battery life can be a big deal...but again, it depends on what you want to do with your laptop. If you don't anticipate using your laptop for large amounts of time unplugged, then I agree, battery life wont be so much of a concern. But in the same vein, if youll usually have access to a plug, you'll almost always have access to a desk, so weight won't matter. All a matter of purpose.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Screen: Can fit a lot more than your 12"
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My 10" has a res of 1280x768 widescreen, only slightly lower than nist 17"s (1440x900)...I will agree that it's substantially less than the higher res 17"ers though (1680x1050). Again, a large part depends on what you're going to use it for.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Multimedia laptops have HDDs that go up near 200 gigs... Business hover around 40-60
[/quote]
I'll cartainly give you that. I looked at the IBM site and the largest upgrade is 100gb. Still a good amount but I can see where someone with tons of music and movies might need more space.</p>
<p>As far as the graphics card, I cant find anything higher than the mid range 'ATI Mobility Radeon x600' on HP's site...do you have a link? (I don't doubt you, I'm just interested in seeing what's available now).</p>
<p>But yeah...news macs...<em>fingers crossed</em>. =D</p>