Question:
Do I actually really need a new laptop?
I am thinking about buying a new laptop to replace my current model. I am currently running a Samsung P10. It’s 3 ½ years old. Spec is: Intel 4M 2.00GHz with 256 MB of RAM 1.20GHz. Looking at the Samsung Q35 as a replacement.
Having pondered buying a new one, I wonder what the advantages are? My current laptop isn’t so bad. I keep it fairly basic what I load on to it. I use the laptop to run a home business from but really only use it for Excel, Word, photoshop, surfing the net and downloading music. No games.
Once a year I re-load XP and regularly run the usual crap cleaner/spware/adaware/virus checks etc.and regularly keep it clean of dust inside. Also, use a few XP tweaks to close down unwanted services which makes it run a bit faster.
Thing is, it doesn’t seem that slow. I guess if I add some RAM and keep the pc clean it should be able to cope with the next few years of use surely?
I suppose the two things my current model doesn’t have which bug me from time to time are: 1. It has USB 1.0 not USB 2.0 so takes ages to do backups/file transfers and 2. It would be nice to have an internal wireless internet rather than the Wireless card I current have sticking out of the expansion slot.
Also, probably the biggest gripe is that as it is 3 years old the outer shell has been bashed around a bit and is starting to fall apart but I guess I can get a new one from the manufacturer maybe?
Any thoughts? Should I upgrade to a new model or struggle along with the old one? Any encouragement would be appreciated as I could do with a new toy but am having trouble justifying the outlay.
Cheers
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
Tough situation there, it depends really. Factors such as, do you have the budget to get a new one, and if you really think it will break down(physicall I guess?).
Perhaps you can even sell it, such as on eBay, for a bit of cash, which could go towards your funds.
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
Yeah, you should tell us a little about what you're planning to do on your computer. E.g gaming, music, photo processing etc.
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
maybe all you need to do is upgrade your RAM.
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
And your CPU, 1.2 GHz just isn't enough.
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
...a Samsung P10. It’s 3 ½ years old. Spec is: Intel 4M 2.00GHz with 256 MB of RAM 1.20GHz. Looking at the Samsung Q35 as a replacement....
so your laptop has a 2GHz Pentium 4 processor but it has a 1.20GHz what?
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
If the money is not too big of an issue I would say go for it.
Little things only 1 USB, no internal wireless, I'm assuming the battery life has lower over the 3 1/2 years, bad casing..... They would all just annoy me.
A new laptop would have lots of little bells and whistles, and on top of that the performance gain would be noticable.
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
Will you be carrying it around? If so, then you probably get a new one...
But i would think that anyone who needs to ask this question probably don't need a new laptop anyways
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
Thanks for the advice guys. Actually the CPU is 2.00GHz, the 1.2GHz shows up against the RAM when I click on my conputer properties. Not sure what it means.
Yeah - battery life sucks - only about 20mins. I suppose there's lots of small niggly things that bug me that would lead to a new computer in the next few months.
For now, I got a RAM upgrade this morning and it seems snappier.
Cheers
Answer:
Re: Do I actually really need a new laptop?
Thanks for the advice guys. Actually the CPU is 2.00GHz, the 1.2GHz shows up against the RAM when I click on my conputer properties. Not sure what it means.
Yeah - battery life sucks - only about 20mins. I suppose there's lots of small niggly things that bug me that would lead to a new computer in the next few months.
For now, I got a RAM upgrade this morning and it seems snappier.
The CPU automatically downclocks to save power - it will jump up to 2.0GHz if needed.
Your battery life probably is bad because the laptop is 3.5 years old - batteries typically don't last that long.
I think you should be alright with your current machine for a bit yet. All the tasks you do are fairly easy for your system to handle. As long as you keep it maintained and tuned-up like you are doing, it should continue to serve you well.
In my opinion, you've waited this long to think about upgrading (which you don't have to do), so why not wait another half year for Vista? A notebook with a Core 2 Duo and Vista would be a nice upgrade. I don't think it is worth it to buy a new computer right now.