Laptop & Digital Camcorder Help

~_SKY_~

Two things:

1/ My laptop - a Del Inspiron 1525, is ok for what i need this one for, BUT it runs slow as anything most of the time. What are the ways to speed up laptops and the memory as well? Can you get a - oh god i don't know what you call it - a box that gives you more memory etc?



2/ Im looking to get a new Digital Camcorder soon, but want the best for me, i want it for shooting footage of all kinds, nature, football games, family etc, but also want it to be able to take pictures as well, really clear ones and up close clear ones as well - my digital camera at the moment isn't so great for this and besides, its driving me nuts that it runs off batteries that don't last long, at least with a Digital camcorder i can buy a couple of batteries, they give you longer usage and its just better for me. Not sure if i go into currys or somewhere like that with my money that they will want to give me the best for me and not just try and sell me the dearest or the one they want rid of, esp as im a woman as well.

Any imput would be good.

penrhyn

Adding more memory RAM is the most economical way of improving your computers performance. It depends on how much you have already of course.
Check on the Crucial website:-
http://www.crucial.com/uk/index.aspx?aid=5338677&pid=1264079

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Inspiron%201525

There may be other factors that are slowing your machine, too many programmes running at startup and a fragmented hard disk, build up of temporary and other redundant files. the later may be what you were searching for a name for.

OK_Sauce

Do you want a digital camcorder or a digital stills camera? You must decide which is more important. Digital stills cameras tend to be better at making videos as a secondary function than camcorders are at taking stills as a secondary function. I have a Panasonic Lumix TZ7 which does both very well indeed. It's a second to none compact stills camera BUT it is also a very capable video camera too, taking hi def (720P) video with Dolby digital stereo sound. However it is limited to 15 minutes maximum record time in one continuous take, as if it were able to do more it would be classed as a camcorder and consequently cost more (as camcorders are classed in a different duty bracket). Definately recommended .