laptops

[woodymarts]

hi ,
how many of u have a laptop and what do u use it for ?
i am thinking about getting one and done know which one to get ?
woodymarts :)

[Shane Watson]

One word.....DELL......

I have one and use it for both home & when travelling. When its at home I just plug a keyboard and a mouse into it so its a little easier to use. The beauty is if I don't want to sit up here in the office I just unplug it and move to where ever I want. And wel using while travelling is self explanatory. Basically I need to keep an eye on these guys ;)

Cheers...

[bitingmidge]

Dell...icious!!

Apple G4 15" PowerBook

eMac G4 as well, both Airport equipped. Wireless networking means I only have to open the PowerBook at either work or home to log on to the nearest network. It's my one-stop music, contacts, diary, email, web, drawing, project management and everything else tool. I have a bluetooth mouse for occasional use with rendering programmes, but the touch pad and keyboard are fine for all else.

Often surf the web wirelessly instead of reading in bed!

Best Value laptop in terms of performance and the software that comes with it standard: iBook G4 for about 800 quid for you.

Best place to buy? Anywhere in the USofA US$1100 with global warranty.

Cheers

P

[Iain]

Mac, not sure of the model as it is a dinasour, at work we are being given Toshiba's but I haven't seen mine yet so I don't know the model.

[Shane Watson]

Hey Midgey,

what costs are involved with that wireless stuff? I mean you must be charged when connecting at public places like the airport...I ask cause I spend a lot of time at airports and various other places that have that facility and have always wondered how they charge you? I guess its like subscribing to a carrier like a mobile phone?

Cheers

[Barry_White]

Since my desktop got zapped by lightning through my ISDN connection I have been using my laptop. I have a full keyboard, optical mouse, 17inch screen and two USB hubs connected to it with Scanner, Zip Drive, CD Burner,ISDN Connection, Camera and Printer hanging of the hubs.

Big rats nest of wires at the back with everything connected but works for me.

When I go away I just disconnect everything and just take the laptop and a phone lead.

[bitingmidge]

Shane,

Wireless Hotspots are where you find 'em, but they are expanding rapidly. I did a quick search and found this Hot Spots Australia (http://www.ezgoal.com/hotspots/wireless/s.asp?qu=Australia) for starters, but many major hotels and most airports (club lounges usually) have access. All Starbucks outlets in the States have them I believe, and I have also heard a rumour (from a couple of Sparks who are doing the installs) that Maccas are installing throughout Australia at the moment.

Usually about $5.00 per hour, which is OK for a broadband setup. I guess they are the next big thing, so watch the prices come down rapidly. Generally cheaper than hotel access rates I have found!

Subscriptions can be like a carrier, or often just metered at the point of connection. (I haven't used these services much, most of my travel (in OZ) these days is to places the internet hasn't arrived!)

I noticed that Harvey Norman had a Belkin card and base station combo for sale this week at $99.00 which seems a bit too cheap!

Mac's come with the hardware stuff installed, and at home I use the eMac as a Base Station, I am typing this wirelessly from my garage "shed".

I have just spent $220 on a new Airport Express (http://www.apple.com.au/) base station which is pretty cool... works with PC's as well, like machinery if you pay a few bucks more you get a bit more bang!

Its a transportable cig-packet sized thing, which will take a usb or ethernet connection, so you can now go wireless anywhere there is a broadband network (providing you can negotiate a "plug-in"), and I use it also to "broadcast" music...have been doing that for years, but previously needed the laptop in the shed next to the amp...

It all sounds gee whizz, but if you have a use for it, it is very simple and reliable. I had five machines wirelessly networked in an old Queenslander five years ago, and saved about half the cost of hard wiring.

[kiwigeo]

hi ,
how many of u have a laptop and what do u use it for ?
i am thinking about getting one and done know which one to get ?
woodymarts :)
First decision to be made is whether to go for an Apple or a PC. Knowing full well that its going to start an all out Apple versus PC firefight here are my reasons why I own a Mac portable:

1. Quality of hardware good and generally better than any PC laptop Ive owned.....
2. Operating system is very stable and bug free compared to Windows. Also less ecurity issues to contend with than with Windows.
3. The Apple machines dont age as fast as PCs. The latest Apple OS can be run on relatively old Apple machines.
4. Backup service and support from Apple is good.
5. A Powerbook is a much better looking machine than any PC portbale Ive seen. When you crack open a powerbook and the cute little apple logo lights up on the back of the screen people LOOK at you.
6. In the movies the baddies generally have PCs and the goodies have Apples.

I use my Mac Powerbook both at home and at work as a geologist in the oil patch and as long as Im not required to use industry specific specialist software (can be done but requires emulation software), compatibility with PC systems is not an issue....the files I produce from MS Office for Mac can be read by people with PC systems and vice versa.

Cost is often bought up as a reason for not going for an Apple but bear in mind that the higher cost of Apple hardware is offest by the fact that you dont have to update them as frequently as you do with PC's.

Hope this helps..Martin

[Grunt]

A few things to consider before getting a Mac. Firstly, is software availablity. 95% of all software titles are for the PC. There are many free software titles on PC. Secondly, is that there are lots of websites that just don't work properly on the Mac. Also, if you use a PC at work it is most likely to be a PC. If this is the case, ask yourself if you want to learn to drive two operating systems?

[kiwigeo]

A few things to consider before getting a Mac. Firstly, is software availablity. 95% of all software titles are for the PC. There are many free software titles on PC. Secondly, is that there are lots of websites that just don't work properly on the Mac. Also, if you use a PC at work it is most likely to be a PC. If this is the case, ask yourself if you want to learn to drive two operating systems?
You make some valid points there Grunt but a few comments:

1. As you rightly state 95% of all software available is for the PC and its something I thought about long and hard before I made the switch. However Ive never been in a situation where I havent been able to find Mac software that cant do the job. The Mac version of MS Office is actually better than the Windows version.
2. If youre a heavy gamer then the Mac probably isnt a good choice.
3. If youre working in a work environmnt where everyone else has PCs and theyre running proprietry software then the Mac might not be a good choice. If its just Office files youre sharing around then the Mac is fully compatible. The only problems Ive had on this issue was where a client was using Word version 2.0 when Word 2000 was the current version.
4. Having to learn to drive the Mac OS is much easier than people think.....you dont have to stuff around with the inner workings of the OS as much as you do with Windows so it really boils down to how fast you can get conversant with the Mac GUI.....I think it took me a couple of hours. I work with both systems in my job and Im not a computer guru and its never been a problem.
5. Ive never had any problems accessing websites using the Mac. Usually such problems relate to the workings of IE (a MS product) rather than the Mac OS. Anyway why would you want to use IE on a Mac, it comes with its own far superior brower (Safari) and there are other choices as well.

[hexbaz]

If you want to go wireless (PC) without extra hardware, look for laptops with Intel 'Centrino' technology - I have an IBM ThinkPad (T40) and have a wireless ADSL connection at home. I've used it in many 'hotspots' in UK and USA (some of which make no charge). We even have wireless connectivity in some of our trains (£5 per hour), which relieves the boredom somewhat!

[namtrak]

I bought a Dell inspiron 1100 and added the wireless setup for a total of around $1300. I bought the laptop online and got some bonus memory with it and stuff. It's only drawback is that with an 'integrated video card' it doesnt play video games :rolleyes: - however that is a minor detraction

Cheers

[kiwigeo]

I bought a Dell inspiron 1100 and added the wireless setup for a total of around $1300. I bought the laptop online and got some bonus memory with it and stuff. It's only drawback is that with an 'integrated video card' it doesnt play video games :rolleyes: - however that is a minor detraction

Cheers
I hope your Dell is better than the one Im forced to use here at work.........a fine machine if ever I saw one. The letters on half the keys have rubbed off (luckily I can touch type), the screen is barely bright enough to be seen and if you type anywhere near the top right corner of the keyboard the whole board bounces up and down. Its almost as bad as the last Compaq portable I owned.

Sounds like you got a reasonable deal though with your machine.

[davo453]

To get back to the original question, I have a laptop and use it regularly but if you are rarely if ever going to move it about to buy one just to sit on the desk is a mistake.

They are more expensive, always slightly older technology (speed etc), damage more easily, are more expensive to repair and very hard to upgrade when compared to a PC.

As a one time (recent) insurance assessor I know that everything bar the main brand names (Toshiba etc) are very hard to find replacement parts for even when as young as 12 months old.

I have assessed and attempted to have fixed many laptops claims, Coffee spills are a favourite, then there's leaving it on top of the car and driving away, dropping it and cracking the screen, leaving it in the sun in the car to cook, theft, fusion through excess heat from blocking the fan with clothing etc and my favourite dropping it while crossing the road and having it run over by a bus.

But if you are a road warrior and even better can deduct it as a business expense go for it.

Cheers

Dave

[Big Clint]

have alook at this website

www.notebookreview.com

It may give you a few pointers and help in your decision making.

[Neil]

HP Pavilion with the name harman/kardon. One of the few PC laptops with a bit of style. Opted not to have centrino, got lots more value for my money that way. 15" monitor pentium 4.3gh processor 1 gig ram 80gig hard drive cd burner and lots more.

I can hook up to the net via phone from almost anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call and can stay on line indefinitely if needed for that one charge. Pays to have a good service provider with a free call number.

Used mainly whilst on the road for programming our Addball, photo editing and online banking. With the odd game of solitaire thrown in for good measure.

Cheers - Neil

[bitingmidge]

6. In the movies the baddies generally have PCs and the goodies have Apples.

Same as in real life!
:D :D :D

You make some valid points there Grunt but a few comments:

1. As you rightly state 95% of all software available is for the PC and its something I thought about long and hard before I made the switch. However Ive never been in a situation where I havent been able to find Mac software that cant do the job. The Mac version of MS Office is actually better than the Windows version.


Same, to distort the stats a bit 100% of all software available will work on a Mac. Sorry but it's true. I have MS Office, but only use it to check formatting of stuff that needs to be sent off in that format, for the main I use much simpler/more elegant spreadsheet and WP software. I stay away from MS products as far as I can and have never had a macro virus problem!

I have only one specialist piece of software that requires a PC operating system and usually use that remotely from a server in another city via remote desktop.
[/QUOTE]

2. If youre a heavy gamer then the Mac probably isnt a good choice.
But if you're of normal weight, it's probably OK?? On the other hand, if you're a heavy gamer...get a life!!

3. If youre working in a work environmnt where everyone else has PCs and theyre running proprietry software then the Mac might not be a good choice.

I've never had a problem, either use Remote Desktop to log onto a server, or "Virtual PC" which gives me whatever version of the OS I need. Interestingly, on a few occasions IT guys have sought out my machine to use when attempting to fix server related problems....something to do with the way the UNIX kernal works...far beyond my understanding I'm afraid.


4. Having to learn to drive the Mac OS is much easier than people think..I..... Im not a computer guru and its never been a problem.

Agree - I used to be fond of saying "I have a computer not a hobby!"


5. Ive never had any problems accessing websites using the Mac. Usually such problems relate to the workings of IE (a MS product) rather than the Mac OS. Anyway why would you want to use IE on a Mac, it comes with its own far superior brower (Safari) and there are other choices as well. Ditto:

Any problem associated with using websites is due to the inadequacies of some web authors and their complete refusal to recognise browsers other than IE. The Safari developers are continuing to work through these issuesas they arise, the Netscape developers seem to have died, and Mac's come with IE anyway, for those who like browsing Retro-style!

Why do Mac users feel so passionately about their stupid computers anyway??? It's a sort of vain superiority, that they get from using something that is really so simple and functional, without having to know what "Control Alt Delete" does.

Cheers,

MacMidge ;)