ATTN: Computer people I need help.

[JoshT]

Hey hope this gets results from the folk I need rather than just your average computer "know enough to get me by" user. There's nothing wrong with the average user, I just looking for more technical advice.

Reason I need help:
I got informed today that I'm probably headed to Las Vegas, NV for a 2 week paid vacation (aka TDY training class) at the beginning of February. For reasons that are hopefully obvious I can't pack up my desktop to take along. I've been thinking about getting a laptop for a while anyway and this I think clinches it. So I'm hitting up websites looking for something along the lines of what I want and I think I found it, but want second opinions.

Details:
ASUS F3SV-X4
Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2G
15.4" WXGA
1GB DDR2
160GB
DVD Super Multi
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
256MB
Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
14.2" x 10.5" x 1.1-1.6"
6.5 lbs.
Intel Turbo Memory 1GB

Link:
ASUS F3SV-X4 on Newegg.com

FWIW I believe I will qualify for their 12 month no payment. Sure can pay it off now, but obviously would like to wait until after the trip. The way I figure it is since it's a 12 month no payment, I can go ahead and pay off the 3000 left on my motorcycle in the next 2-3 months which will save me almost $300 in interest. Then there will still be close to 9 months left before I am required to make the first payment on the computer, and I can easily make the payment in that time, there by saving that interest as well.

Thanks in advance!
-Josh

 

[baadboy11]

160 GB of memory isn't huge, and vista is still a pain in the ass from what I've heard, just my .02.

 

[JoshT]

I'm not worried about hard drive size or memory so much as I'm perfectly capable of upgrading those myself in the future. As for vista I gotta get my introduction to it from somewhere, besides I'll still have the desktop with XP. I was still running 98 when XP was introduced and I heard the same stuff type stuff about XP back then, I adapted to XP I can adapt to Vista.

Pretty much in order to get a decent (atleast what I'd call decent) processor and graphics card in a laptop I'm stuck with Vista according to my searches.

 

[srteach]

Good system. I would look at putting another 1GB (total 2GB) ram in. Vista usually uses and needs 1GB by itself. Any added programs need more on top of 1GB. Resolution is a bit low, should be 1200x1024 for true widescreen (but it will work).

I would go for it, with 2GB ram.

 

[WingsOfSaturn]

ASUS - never heard of it! And I have been around computers since Tandy had its own OS.

Go with a name brand, easier to upgrade, get repaired and usually more reliable.

 

[smokey]

You picked a nice laptop spec wise. Asus reviews for their laptops are all highly rated and the free one year accidental breakage warrenty is outstanding.
Asus is a top name in video cards and from all I have read they make a good laptop.
Only advice get more memory in it.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

ASUS - never heard of it! And I have been around computers since Tandy had its own OS.

Go with a name brand, easier to upgrade, get repaired and usually more reliable.

Dude, they're huge. Asus has been in business a long time. They are most famous for there excellent motherboards.

Anyway, Josh that sounds like a good deal. I would go with 2Gigs of RAM from experience. I have Vista on my desktop and it makes a HUGE difference. It runs very smoothly with 2Gigs. That's gonna be a powerful laptop, so make sure it has plenty of space and cooling. They tend to overheat because so much is packed into them. I recommend buying one of those laptop cooling platforms. You can even get them in travel size. They do make a difference.

 

[almostclueless]

ASUS - never heard of it! And I have been around computers since Tandy had its own OS.

Go with a name brand, easier to upgrade, get repaired and usually more reliable.

I hope you're not serious.


Best motherboard manufacturer out there.


Step away from the register lights and magnetic drum storage.....it's a brave new world, computer hippee.

 

[Destroyer000]

when i bought my pc with vista i was told to not get anything lower than 2gb memory.. vista takes up so much memory as it is an if you were to multi task with anything less than 2 gb i was told it would freeze..

mines got 2gb of memory an came with 320 gb hard drive.. it now has 3 hard drives 720 gigs of free space lol

 

[CJREX]

JMHO and I'll probably get flamed...

But if I were spending $1000+, I would definitely get a Macbook.

The argument used to be that Windows machines had more software. Now the Mac holds that title. With the free inclusion of bootcamp and the ability to get Parallels for free when you buy a Macbook, you can boot into Leopard or Windows. With Parallels you boot into Leopard and run Windows in a virtual machine.

I personally find OSX a more pleasant computing experience. And that's from an MCSE

Just something to think about.

The link below will take you to MacMall, my favorite place to get Mac stuff. The prices for Macs are basically the same everywhere, but MacMall throws in extras such as the free Parallels and a printer.

Macbooks Here

 

[Insanejughead]

I've got a Compaq Presario w/
WinXP,
Amd Athlon 64 +3500 processor,
1gb ram,
a 250gb hdrive,
a 320gb hdrive,
Nvidia GeForce 8800,
Diamond 7.1 sound card,
Mad Dog 18x Megastor DVD+rw,
and a 700 watt power supply for all that.


I'm pretty pleased with it except for that I'm running Xp. I have always preferred Win2000, but it won't run on the 64bit processor. If I get some more ram I'm sure I'll be able to play Call Of Duty 4 without ANY lag at full specs.

As for helping you choose a laptop... I can't help you. I'm a hardcore desktop tower kind of person.

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo,
Another problem I have found is with some laptop manufacturers, If you ordered the laptop with Vista, it is also ingrained into the BIOS, so it will not let you "downgrade" to XP even if you wanted to. If you get a laptop comming with XP, you can always upgrade to vista should you feel so inclined.

Oh yeah, and ASUS is only the largest MB manufactuer in the world.

 

[gettle03FX4LevelII]

i recommend ACER for a lap top. They are a very good brand and they are built and tested one at a time not just mass produced like many other brands. I build my own computer i by no means consider myself an expert but the computer guy i go to he suggested it to me for some one else. I like the AMD processor in my mind intel is way over priced and AMD runs the same speeds as INTEL at a lower clock speed. I would get a dual core just the newer technology. Like with trucks goes the same with PC's there will always be the lemon out there but for the most part in my opinion ACER is good quality.

 

[JoshT]

I've got a Compaq Presario w/
WinXP,
Amd Athlon 64 +3500 processor,
1gb ram,
a 250gb hdrive,
a 320gb hdrive,
Nvidia GeForce 8800,
Diamond 7.1 sound card,
Mad Dog 18x Megastor DVD+rw,
and a 700 watt power supply for all that.

As for helping you choose a laptop... I can't help you. I'm a hardcore desktop tower kind of person.

That's my problem, more of a desktop person myself. Just getting to the point where a laptop will show it's worth. Heck like yourself I built the desktop I currently have, but did so over a number of years. Not everything is up to date in it but it gets me by. the specs on it are as follows:

Windows XP
Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz w/HT (not sure of the family but it's no dual core)
2gb DDR2 ram
2x 250gb SATA HDD
Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT
Sound Blaster X-fi Xtreme Audio
Mad Dog Sure power 550W
1 OEM Dell CD-RW Drive (PC died leading to this one)
1 OEM Dell DVD Drive (same as above)
1 AOpen DVD-RW Drive

 

[JoshT]

ASUS - never heard of it! And I have been around computers since Tandy had its own OS.

Go with a name brand, easier to upgrade, get repaired and usually more reliable.

You must still be running that Tandy with it's own operating system.



On other note since I keep hearing 1GB of ram isn't enough I guess I'll also throw in an additional 2GB module for a total of 3GB. I know it won't have the advantages offered by running two of the same size, but 3 is better than 2 which is better than 1 right?

Ok my grocery list at the moment:
ASUS F3SV-X4
Targus 15.4" notebook backpack (practically free w/laptop)
2GB DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) memory
Notebook cooler/stand (any suggestions, needs to travel easily)
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator - Retail

I'll probably have to get productivity software (IE: Microsoft Office) on my own as most computers now only seem to come with trial versions.