Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: kilz on October 27, 2009, 03:15:40 AM
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one of my kids wants a laptop just to surf the internet with and maybe chat online anyone know of any cheap arse laptops that can handle this say like price range between 200-300 and no minis
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115619
I think the Win 7 version must be new, so it may come down a little soon.
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In that range, a netbook is what would work best. If you want a full size laptop you'll have to go used.
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Go for an IBM Thinkpad that's a few years old. I was just given a mint T40 and it rocks.
After I got rid off all the bullshiite that the previous owner had installed on it
But even with 256mb ddr it's smooth (1.5ghz) and runs programs well (on XP Pro). I'll
add 1gb for about $30-$40 soon.
But now both sons can boot it up, use it to type up thier homework as well as connect
to the net to do any research while working on it. Makes a nice portable entertainment
device too - movies or streaming music. It also keeps them off my desktop at night! :)
Anyway. While looking for drivers and manuals I see they gor for low $200's to at
most $300.
p.s if you get one of those bargain basement Walmart or Best Buy laptop specials you'll
regret it. IMO of course.
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Laptops wear out. Keyboards go shiny, lose the print, and start to malfunction. Disks get closer to the inevitable crash, and are often hopelessly small. RAM is inadequate. Dust has clogged the cooling system, and need clearing out by someone who knows what they are doing. Spare parts are expensive. The battery may be down to holding very little charge, and a new one is not cheap. They are heavy too, unless expensive.
Unless a full size laptop (screen size mainly) with built in DVD-drive is paramount, I would advice going for a new netbook with warranty.
I've had about 5 laptops in 8 years, all payed for by me, and the next one will be a netbook simply because the loss of investment is miniscule when the eventual upgrade comes along, compared to paying for a "real" laptop. I'll keep my Vaio going though for a few more years (until netbooks overtake it in performance), as it's a great laptop, but I'm through paying that kind of money for what is essentially a web surfing and email tool. (I've played AH about 4 times on the Vaio.)
Well, that's my perspective on things anyway. You may need an external DVD drive, or one on the home network, that the netbook can access. Or, you may never need it at all, depending on usage!
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Laptops wear out. Keyboards go shiny, lose the print, and start to malfunction. Disks get closer to the inevitable crash, and are often hopelessly small. RAM is inadequate. Dust has clogged the cooling system, and need clearing out by someone who knows what they are doing. Spare parts are expensive. The battery may be down to holding very little charge, and a new one is not cheap. They are heavy too, unless expensive.
Unless a full size laptop (screen size mainly) with built in DVD-drive is paramount, I would advice going for a new netbook with warranty.
I've had about 5 laptops in 8 years, all payed for by me, and the next one will be a netbook simply because the loss of investment is miniscule when the eventual upgrade comes along, compared to paying for a "real" laptop. I'll keep my Vaio going though for a few more years (until netbooks overtake it in performance), as it's a great laptop, but I'm through paying that kind of money for what is essentially a web surfing and email tool. (I've played AH about 4 times on the Vaio.)
Well, that's my perspective on things anyway. You may need an external DVD drive, or one on the home network, that the netbook can access. Or, you may never need it at all, depending on usage!
Cheap is cheap. My Macbook Pro has been the best laptop I've had. Still is.
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Why no netbooks?
-Llama
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Why no netbooks?
-Llama
Wondering the same thing...does what is needed in this situation very well for very cheap.
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I'd look at used machines.
I've had my Vaio for 9 years now. I recently upgraded the HD to 120 Gb, doubled the memory from 128 to 256 Mb, replaced the battery and went from Win98 to XP Home. Even though it's only a 650Mhz PIII with 6 Mb of on-board video memory it still chugs along just fine. I listen to music on it, watch videos and movies, surf the net and play non graphic intensive games. In fact it does things it shouldn't like streaming movies from Netflix as it's only at 1/2 their recommended system requirements. And it still looks like new.
With some careful shopping you could probably turn up a much better machine for less than $200.
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Cheap is cheap. My Macbook Pro has been the best laptop I've had. Still is.
And expensive is expensive..
When it fails or gets too old, it will have been a pretty massive financial write off.
My wife's Eee 901 netbook is very sturdy and well built.
My first Vaio was built like a tank. Brilliant. But 166MHz processor won't cut it anymore.
The second wasn't sturdy, but was very lightweight. (The most expensive of them! Netbook size, but years before Netbooks arrived.)
My third is very light, despite DVD drive, and takes wear very well. But I payed half price for it. No chance I'd gotten it otherwise.
I did miss the "no minis" from the OP. That's a mistake, as the "mini" form factor was the most desirable and expensive BEFORE netbooks came along!
What young person want's to lug around an ugly 4 kg lump? Not chic.. (OK for stationary use, I suppose..)