Question:
[New Zealander] Would like some help buying my first laptop
Hi, I'm a uni student in NZ looking to buy my first laptop, and would really appreciate some suggestions. I'm mainly looking for something that's fairly light and portable, can handle basic everyday tasks, and isn't too loud/hot/flimsy. I'm not a gamer, so I don't care about the graphics. I have a few laptops that I have my eye on, would really appreciate any recommendations.
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
$1500 NZD preferably.
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Word processing, surfing internet, DVD burning, general use. Need it for school mainly, but will also use for some entertainment.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Taking to different places (classes)
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Not any graphics-intensive games. Just really light gaming - but would like to be able to run Sims 2 comfortably on it.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Not really, but want reasonably well-known brands (so that their warranty is valid internationally and easy to source parts and stuff)
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
Minimum of 2 hours for almost constant word processing.
Would ideally be at least 3 hrs.
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
No, but if buying online, I would prefer to buy from NZ companies or direct from the manufacturing company
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
New Zealand (I selected Australian flag since NZ flag's not available)
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Not much preference.
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
I don't think I've used a resolution above 1024x768, but I don't really mind as long as the text isn't too hard to see. Fairly indifferent to the following:
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Prefer matte/non-glossy.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes, reasonably important.
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Buying now, want it to last for at least a couple of years. I'm not the type to buy new technology stuff often (can't afford it!)
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
At least 60gb
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
Yes, DVD-RW.
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Here are some notebooks that I have my eye on (prices include tax):
Compaq V3019AU - $1398
Lenovo 3000 N100 - $1344
Lenovo Thinkpad R60e - $1476
Toshiba M110 - $1388
Toshiba M100 - $1298
These all have fairly similar specs, I think. Just wanted to know if any model is particularly outdated/crappy, or if any stands out above the rest. I'm leaning towards the Compaq at the moment. Would appreciate any help. Thanks!
Answer:
Re: [New Zealander] Would like some help buying my first laptop
The Thinkpad R60 will have the best build quality of the lot. The Compaq is also a nice model for the money. You can also look at the HP Pavilion dv2000 and/or the HP nc6400. I dont know if the latter would be available in your area though.
Answer:
Re: [New Zealander] Would like some help buying my first laptop
Hi, thanks for the reply. I've decided against the Thinkpad since it's a bit heavy for me and the HP dv2000 and nc6400 are out of my price range in NZ.
I'm currently deciding between the Compaq and the Toshiba M100 - in particular I don't know how a AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 (1.6GHz) processor compares to a Core Duo T2050 (1.6Ghz as well).
I'm figuring if they're both around the same quality, I'll go for the M100 since it's cheaper.
Answer:
Re: [New Zealander] Would like some help buying my first laptop
in general core duo processors are faster than the turion x2, but for your everyday tasks, you will not see much of a difference. one benefit that the turion x2 has over the core duo is that it is a 64-bit processor that will make it more "future-proof".