Question:
Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
Hi all,
I've been looking to buy a laptop for a while now, and asked for advice on this forum a few weeks back, and have been thinking about it since then. I was basically looking at laptops like the HP nc8430 and Lenovo(IBM) Z61p. Now I am not so sure whether to buy now or to wait due to reasons below, and was wondering if anyone else was having a similar dilemma...
I saw this post on this forum, regarding the introduction of a Windows Vista Premium PC Label, to be made compulsory for mobile PCs by June 2007:
Here is another few articles refering to the new labeling standards. Articles refering to this new standard are quite hard to find due to the amount of discussion and ambiguity regarding terms like Vista Premium/Capable etc:
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/12/hy...vista_premium/
http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2842
As I see it there are a number of reasons for waiting a few months before buying a new computer (assuming, like in my case, it's not required immediately):
1: Give Microsoft a few months to iron out most of the flaws and compatibility issues that will inevitably come with the Vista release.
2: Give Manufacturers time to iron out issues with Vista.
3: A number of new mobile technologies seem on the verge of being introduced to mainstream laptops. I think-I don't know much about the dates these will become available, but am assuming most of them will be available in mainstream laptops by June. These are:
DirectX 10 Grapics Cards
802.11n standard wireless cards
Hybrid Hard Drives (ie HD's with integrated flash memory)
Intel Santa Rosa Chipset (Centrino Pro)
Possibly OLED Displays
Possibly cheaper Blu-Ray/HD-Dvd drives
Is anyone else is a similar frame of mind? Or has anyone been in the similar position and decided to buy now/wait? Is there anything else to add to the points above?
Cheers
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
I don't know much about the dates these will become available, but am assuming most of them will be available in mainstream laptops by June.
That's probably a bit of a stretch. As always with new technology it will trickle out at first then a wider selection will become available later. If you need then buy because there is always something better coming.
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
I was going to buy now but for the same reasons you listed I have decided to wait. While one could argue that there will always be something better right around the bend, there are too many huge changes coming in the next few months to ignore. Most laptops are not designed correctly to allow a simple video card swap out and Directx 10 support would be very good to go along with Vista Premium. Speaking of Vista I would wait for the pre installed version instead of the upgrade if you remember what a pain the XP upgrade was. AMD and Intel are also currently trying to one up each other with new processors aimed at Vista. CES is in a few days and we should have a better idea of the road map for the next year soon. I vote to wait if you can.
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
I guess the whole 'wait as long as you can, then buy' thing with buying laptops applies here. I don't NEED a new laptop at the moment, and am prepared to wait until August at the latest to purchase.
From what I gather:
Vista Release=Jan31
Santa Rosa=Feb/Mar
Two manufacturers have already announced Hybrid HDs. I would guess available in laptops by around June (to coincide with Vista Premium logo deadline)
NVidia DirectX 10 video cards are currently available for desktops, and announced for laptops, so hopefully this means availability in top range vista laptops by June/July, and filtering down to cheaper systems by around Sept.
Unless I get offered an excellent deal on a Z61p ir HP nc8430, I think I'll wait for a wee bit, if only to see how difficult the transition to Vista is, and to get a firmer idea on when new hardware options will be available.
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
Just found this bit of information also. http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/03/s...cheaper-faster
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Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
Bottom line is, we all buy it precisely when we need it if we're smart, and not a moment before or after =P Big changes are coming, but anything made today won't be obsolete. I'm personally not excited about Vista. If you buy a SantaRosa notebook with EFI instead of a Bios.. I'm supposing you'll either need to run windows 2003 server, XP-64 or Vista. Many will come with Vista pre-installed, but I guess it will still have to be seen ---> Will Microsoft experience it's usual growing pains? *shudder*
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
if you're prepared to wait till August, then wait, but I promise you that once August rolls around, a whole new list of future upgrades will be just beyond the horizon.
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Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
Definitely wait to buy a laptop - we're on the cusp of a new era right now, per se - Windows Vista is coming out in less than a month, and the Santa Rosa Centrino Pro platform will follow shortly after. Centrino Pro brings a host of upgraded and new technologies alike.
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
The changes just keep coming, I can 't wait until the CES announcements.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/03/a...cklit-laptops/
Answer:
Re: Discussion: TO BUY OR TO WAIT??
When I was shopping for components for my new desktop PC two years ago, I was told mighty new stuff would be out in just two months - and that I should wait for them. I thought about all the pluses of the new technologies, and their inherit higher costs/bugs, and decided against waiting. Let me tell you! Six months later, half the stuff announced had not yet come out!! A couple items never even came out...they became forgotten technology.
Hence, when it comes to electronics, my advice is always "save enough money to meet your needs/wants, and buy it". There will always be better stuff later.