Laptop Replacement

[Guest Yachtsman1]

My 4 year on Sansung desktop/laptop is showing signs of possible failure. My budget is £500 & I have selected a number of possible replacements, they are in my wish list in Amazon UK. I would be grateful if the techies among memebrs would give them the once over & let me know what they think.http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=wish_list

Yachtsman1.

[Lin Evans]

Hi Eric,

Can't get into your "wishlist" without some more information..... email me at lin@learntomakeslidshows.net

Best regards,

Lin

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Eric,

Can't get into your "wishlist" without some more information..... email me at lin@learntomakeslidshows.net

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin

It must be Amazon's security system keeping you out. I will copy the urls of the chosen LT's & Email them to you.

Regards Eric

yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

From Lin's post I assume the URL cannot get into my Amazon's wish list?

The shortlist is as follows.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-15-6-inch-notebook-i3-380M-Premium/dp/B004UEP57A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IAYCASC90XO0P&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-EC3S0E-notebook-2-53GHz-Premium/dp/B00452UCKM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1O5ZUSKBD3N8T&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-Satellite-Professional-C660-21U-DVD-SuperMulti/dp/B005E8GCJG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3O91QEJ0QQ6KX&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-TravelMate-Notebook-SuperMulti-Professional/dp/B004O9GIU4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3UQMCQXBDBX7U&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-17-3-inch-notebook-Pentium-2-13Ghz/dp/B004M2J9BS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2EVDXKHM515KB&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-G6-1253SA-Notebook-i3-370M-Processor/dp/B0060TVO3W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1DNVFMIFGUFD3&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Notebook-Pentium-Processor-DVD-Super/dp/B005GYJP1A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1VRQULKWGL4UB&colid=227C4AY4BF4G6

Yachtsman1.

PS Lin the email I sent bounced back?

Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address.

<lin@learntomakeslidshows.net>:

No MX or A records for learntomakeslidshows.net

--- Below this line is a copy of the message.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Still on the laptop hunt, there is a company in the UK called Novatech which will make a laptop with a decent spec. They will also supply it without the OS. I have a copy of Windows 7 Professional 64bit that I got when I bought my desktop. When I asked if they could install it in their laptop, this was their reply (Unfortunately you have an OEM edition of Windows 7 which is only licencesed for use with the PC you originally bought from Fantasy Computers, weather you have uninstalled it or gotten rid of that PC. It would not allow you to use the licence key you have again) Does anyone know if this is factual that I can't install one MS OS on my 2 machines. I still use it on my desktop& can't use both machines at the same time.

Yachtsman1.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/range/nspire2430-blackedition.html

[Ken Cox]

Eric

googled

Does anyone know if this is factual that I can't install one MS OS on my 2 machines. I still use it on my desktop& can't use both machines at the same time.

and got this

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx

ken

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Eric

googled

Does anyone know if this is factual that I can't install one MS OS on my 2 machines. I still use it on my desktop& can't use both machines at the same time.

and got this

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx

ken

Thanks Ken

Had a quick look & it is pretty specific, "NO"

See (

A. Yes. There is nothing illegal about selling a computer system without an operating system. However, getting the operating system preinstalled is your customer's most cost-effective way to acquire a genuine Windows operating system license. A customer who subsequently wants to install a Microsoft Windows desktop operating system on that naked PC will need to acquire it through the retail (full packaged product) channel which is a more costly option. Full Windows operating systems are not available through any Microsoft Volume Licensing program, and an OEM operating system license cannot be transferred from an "old" PC to a new one.)

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

After discounting the big manufacturers products due to their price & my spec' I now have a shortlist of two. Both are custom builders, one is within driving distance one is about £50 cheaper than the other. The spec' of one of them is attached. Comments welcomed.

Yachtsman1.

[Conflow]

Eric,

I had a look at your 'New-Computer Specifications' and it is a very good machine for its price

although its not a 'Top-End' product. This product has a Dual-Processor system where top-end

products have Multiprocessor systems. Having said that, the price more than compensates for the

extras such as the Dual-layer 'Blue-Ray CD-Drive' and the Graphics-Card and 8.Gb RAM etc.

However something concerns me such as the Warranty ?? ~ Like Ireland the United Kingdom has

Consumer-regulations such as your "Sale of Goods & Services Act" whereby a consumer is entitled

to a full "One-Year Product Guarantee" at no cost to yourself except collection/delivery charges.

(Note: Guarantee and Warranty are two distinct and different Legal Contracts)

This Company is mearly offering you a "Warranty" (with conditions) and I certainly dont like their

'Dead-Pixel Warranty' (at your cost).

Display 'Dead-Pixels' are usually sorted at the Display-Factory Q&A level with prolonged Soak-Testing

and certified to at least 2500.Hours MTBF operation and definitely not at your expense within the legal

"Consumer-Guarantee" period.

The above 2 concerns need to be sorted ~ then you have yourself a worthwhile Laptop.

Hope this helps you..

Brian (Conflow)

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Eric,

I had a look at your 'New-Computer Specifications' and it is a very good machine for its price

although its not a 'Top-End' product. This product has a Dual-Processor system where top-end

products have Multiprocessor systems. Having said that, the price more than compensates for the

extras such as the Dual-layer 'Blue-Ray CD-Drive' and the Graphics-Card and 8.Gb RAM etc.

However something concerns me such as the Warranty ?? ~ Like Ireland the United Kingdom has

Consumer-regulations such as your "Sale of Goods & Services Act" whereby a consumer is entitled

to a full "One-Year Product Guarantee" at no cost to yourself except collection/delivery charges.

(Note: Guarantee and Warranty are two distinct and different Legal Contracts)

This Company is mearly offering you a "Warranty" (with conditions) and I certainly dont like their

'Dead-Pixel Warranty' (at your cost).

Display 'Dead-Pixels' are usually sorted at the Display-Factory Q&A level with prolonged Soak-Testing

and certified to at least 2500.Hours MTBF operation and definitely not at your expense within the legal

"Consumer-Guarantee" period.

The above 2 concerns need to be sorted ~ then you have yourself a worthwhile Laptop.

Hope this helps you..

Brian (Conflow)

Hi Brian

The dead pixel extra was an option on their pricing structure, it was only £12 so I thought it wasn't worth not having it. I will have another look at their warranty/guarantee options, the one I chose was their basic so I will check that out later. Thanks for looking

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

I have since been onto the builders wed site & up graded the warranty/guarantee option to

"3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)" glad Brian mentioned it.

Yachtsman1.

[Conflow]

Eric,

Glad to be of help ~ You have made the right choices and may I wish you

the best of luck with your New Laptop.

Brian (Conflow).

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Thanks Brian

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

The company I have shortlisted to supply the new laptop has a forum similar to this. There is a section where you can run your selected spec for comments. Someone has said the graphics card is ott & the CPU under what I should be getting, along with a few other comments. The link to the thread is here, comments welcome.

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?12631-Lap-Top-Suitable-for-AV-shows-using-Pictures-to-Exe

Yachtsman1.

[fh1805]

Having read some of the comments posted in response to your item, I am left wondering whether any of them fully understand what you need the PC for. Not one of them made any specific mention of any experience with PTE. Back your own judgement!

Peter

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Peter

Most of them that frequent the site are young gamers, so I take what they say with a pinch of salt. The only nag I have about my choice is the CPU which isn't up to the spec on my desk top, however knowing the heat that can be generated and the limited cooling of the LT, I will probably stick with what I've chosen especially the graphics card.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1

[Ken Cox]

ERIC

my techie is a gamer big time and when we were seeing how my new [APRIL THIS YEAR -SPECS HAVE BEEN ENTERED TO FORUM] DESKTOP WITH ONBOARD GRAPHICS performed with a 100 mb pte file provided by Lin -- it had some slight problems

- he took a copy home and ran it on his gaming system with no problem - so dont shoot the gamers down, think they know a bit about performance

i maybe should have spent another $200-300 more for a graphics card but it can always be added later

max ram+max processor = performance ))

ken

[Ken Cox]

my note from my new desktop

http://www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?/topic/13064-new-box-specs/page__view__findpost__p__84727

ken

[Lin Evans]

Hi Erik,

After reading the linked thread, it's pretty obvious that the boys over there have no clue about hardware rendering and your needs. PTE is rather unique in that it uses the GPU rather than the CPU which is used by the vast majority of other presentation slideshow software.

What would be a good thing for you to do is to check the specific testing on the GPU you have chosen. The mobile variant is always less powerful than the desktop version. If you click here and look up your card, however:

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/

You will find that the G3D rating on your chosen nVidia card is 1016 which is quite nice and should perform well with about anything we can throw at it with PTE. I believe the advice which the youngsters are giving you on the forum is faulty. Stick with the dedicated GPU if PTE is your primary use.

Best regards,

Lin

The company I have shortlisted to supply the new laptop has a forum similar to this. There is a section where you can run your selected spec for comments. Someone has said the graphics card is ott & the CPU under what I should be getting, along with a few other comments. The link to the thread is here, comments welcome.

http://www.pcspecial...Pictures-to-Exe

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Thanks again Lin.

Kind Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Finally ordered the new machine, well over budget but half the price of the Sony I bought in 2004. Tweaked the spec a little since the last show, new spec'

Chassis & Display Optimus II: 15.6" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-2450M (2.50GHz) 3MB

Memory (RAM) 8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)

Graphics Card nVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M - 2GB DDR3 Video RAM - DirectX® 11

2nd Graphics Card NONE

Memory - 1st Hard Disk 500GB SERIAL ATA II 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)

2nd Hard Disk NONE

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)

Memory Card Reader Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)

Thermal Paste STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING

Sound Card Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack

Network Facilities GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS 802.11N CARD INC. BLUETOOTH 3.0

USB Options 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD

Battery Optimus Series 6 Cell Lithium-ION Battery (48.84WH)

Power Lead & Adaptor 1 x UK Power Lead & 90W Adaptor (GT 540M) / 120W Adaptor (GT 555M)

Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£109)

Office Software NO OFFICE SOFTWARE

Anti-Virus NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Laptop Cooling Stands NONE

Laptop Security NONE

Carry Case NONE

Monitor NONE

Keyboard & Mouse INTEGRATED UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD

Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE

Webcam INTEGRATED 1.3 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM

Warranty 3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)

Dead Pixel Guarantee 30 Day Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs (£12)

Data Recovery NONE

Delivery STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days

Yachtsman1.

[nobeefstu]

Eric,

I also think your video card is a good choice. Please note from the link data there is various builds of the GT 555M.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M - Notebookcheck.net Tech

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-555M.41933.0.html

I just noticed you stepped up to the i5 from the Celeron. Celerons are generally known and used as getting started PC's. The i5 will require/consume a bit more wattage and therefore generate a bit more heat (and also use more battery power) over the Celeron requirements.

But all-in-all the i5 is a very good choice.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Hi Nobeefstu

The 555 is a no option item with this model LT, so there was no other choice & I assume the designer chose this as the best for the spec, well spotted about the CPU upgrade, went as high as I could go budget wise, made a big dent in the pension. The battery drain is not a problem as I will only be using it for public shows with the mains connected, all my build work is done on the desk top.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1

[Conflow]

Eric,

As I said earlier..."I had a look at your 'New-Computer Specifications' and it is a very good machine

for its price although its not a 'Top-End' product. This product has a Dual-Processor system where top

end products have Multiprocessor systems"...unquote.

I'm delighted that you finally went for the "Intel i5.Processor-System" at little extra cost by dropping

the 2nd.Graphic-Card ~ it was a very astute choice and you will find that the "i5" will handle almost

every Graphic format thrown at it and of course this will be further enhanced with the NVidia-Card even

into 3D-Graphics.

Best wishes,

Brian.(Conflow)

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Thanks Brian

I will report on it's performance when I've received it & put it through its paces.

Regards Eric

Yachtsman1.