Computers & Networking

[dragracer719]

I'm looking for a new laptop. I want one that has a good price, has alot of memory, and is good with music. I would like the price to be under 1,000 but I'm not sure that wish can come true. I want ideas on what kind of laptop I should buy.

Thanks!!

[Drew-Intel]

hi dragracer. welcome to the forums.

i think, based off of your wish list, we can definitely find you a laptop that works for you. some follow-up questions to your initial post ..

- how big of a laptop are you looking for? something with a screensize around 15.6" or so? bigger? smaller?

- what kind of battery life expecations do you have? 2-3 hours? or more like 4-5?

- what other kinds of things will you be doing with the laptop aside from the music focus? any gaming or movie making/editing?

[dragracer719]

-id say around a 16 inch screen

-probly around 4-5 hour battery life

-well, music, pictures, movies, and on my dragster theres a computer but in order for more information on the passes we make, i have to transfer the data to another computer. So I'll need alot of memory

-and if its possible i would like a built in webcam as a plus, but i can live without that

[Entropy]

Sounds like you need a lot of hard drive space, not memory.  There's a difference.  RAM is used by running applications, hard drive is for data storage.

Can you provide more information on your data analysis package?  How much data is generated per run?  How many runs do you make per month?  How long do you need "ready" access to the data before it is archived (to DVD or to external hard drive)?

The good news is that unless you're playing 3D games, even basic laptops are quite capable.  3D gaming is what sets expensive laptops apart from the rest.

[Drew-Intel]

here are three laptops that may suit your needs well.

1) sony VGN-NW150J/W: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9379558&type=product&id=1218095151965

2) asus UX50V-RX05: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366544&type=product&id=1218092153204

3) hp dv6-1245dx: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9371262&type=product&id=1218093384107

all three notebooks:

- fall within your price range

- have a 15.5"-16" screen

- have 4gb of system memory

- have a built-in webcam

- have some sort of media card reader (for transferring any pictures that you take before/during/after the passes)

- have large hard drives (sony, hp = 320gb, asus = 500gb)

all sport intel core 2 processors, so you have a lot of processing power at your fingertips, and all three machines have a battery life upwards of 5 hours (with the asus machine nearing 6 hours).

let me know what you think of those.

[dragracer719]

AWESOME! Those were great sugestions! Thank you!!!

I'll eather buy the Sony or the Asus. Wich would you suggest?

[Entropy]

I'm generally not a fan of Sony on principle.

Asus has a very good reputation and is, IMO, an excellent brand.

[Drew-Intel]

in terms of specs, i'd probably go with the asus because it has a larger hard drive.

and while i've never owned an asus laptop, i've used their motherboards in desktop builds that i've done for myself and my friends, and i've been nothing but happy with the results.

[shrrtrver10]

The ASUS UX50 will proably be the best one for you.

[JM885]

Just one more shamless bump for the Asus brand. As someone else has said when building desktops I have used Asus boards exclusively and had no issues.