Need Help re Laptop Spec

Ms_Chocaholic

Hi

My son needs a new laptop and I've offered to get him one. He's told me what he will need to use it which is as follows:

Normal internet browsing
Word, Excel etc
Memory to store music
DVD re-writer
Ability to copy video footage from camcorder onto DVDs
Wireless capability

The things I'm particularly stuck on is the memory to store music and the ability to copy video footage.

I've no idea where to begin to look or what I need so would welcome as much info as you can give. Please can you reply in the simplest terms to give me some idea of what you're talking about, sorry I'm clueless when it comes to computers.

Many thanks.

Ms C xx

Tech_guy_4

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Normal internet browsing
Word, Excel etc
Memory to store music
DVD re-writer
Ability to copy video footage from camcorder onto DVDs
Wireless capability

The things I'm particularly stuck on is the memory to store music and the ability to copy video footage.

By memory to store music, what this mean is the size of the hard drive, not the memory (RAM).

Nothing exceptional there, most budget laptop would do all this fine. If you/he has a current copy of windows XP then great as laptops come with Vista nowadays, which requires a more expensive laptop to run on, and IMO not worth it at all.

What kind of budget are we talking here?

Ms_Chocaholic

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think we have a current copy of Windows XP - I have XP on my own PC here at home but that's all. His previous laptop had it too but is now kaput!

Budget - no more than say £500 if possible, would prefer it if I could get one round the £300 mark tho, though not sure how feasible that is.

Thanks

Ms C x

Tech_guy_4

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think we have a current copy of Windows XP - I have XP on my own PC here at home but that's all. His previous laptop had it too but is now kaput!

Budget - no more than say £500 if possible, would prefer it if I could get one round the £300 mark tho, though not sure how feasible that is.

Thanks

Ms C x

The XP from the old kaput machine can be used on the new laptop. Like I say, most new computers come with Vista, which unless you spend £500+ will run slow, and the extra you will spend to have a Vista 'capable' machine will be a waste from the requirements listed.

Make sure your potential choices have 1gb RAM or more, 80gb hardrive AND a DVD burner (when the hardrive is full, you can store stuff on the DVD's. I would list hardware priorities in the following order:-

1st) 1gb RAM
2nd) Processor specification
3rd) 80gb hardrive
4th ) more RAM
5th) processor again
6th) hardrive size again.

Graphics cards can be important to, but only if doing certain things, like Editing the video footage you mention, watching movies and especially playing games.

Set a budget of £400, then the machine will last a good few years, £300 is pushing it, a year from now I'm sure the extra £100 will be a good money saving investment.

Have a look around, post some links to machines you like the look of and I'm sure people will evaluate them for you. I sure you don't wish to read a thousand words on machine hardware specifications and others don't want to type them.

For £400 you'll get a good machine which will last a good few years, £300 and you might be making this thread again! hehe

Ms_Chocaholic

Tech_guy wrote: »

Make sure your potential choices have 1gb RAM or more, 80gb hardrive AND a DVD burner (when the hardrive is full, you can store stuff on the DVD's. I would list hardware priorities in the following order:-

1st) 1gb RAM
2nd) Processor specification
3rd) 80gb hardrive
4th ) more RAM
5th) processor again
6th) hardrive size again.

Graphics cards can be important to, but only if doing certain things, like Editing the video footage you mention, watching movies and especially playing games.

Set a budget of £400, then the machine will last a good few years, £300 is pushing it, a year from now I'm sure the extra £100 will be a good money saving investment.

Have a look around, post some links to machines you like the look of and I'm sure people will evaluate them for you. I sure you don't wish to read a thousand words on machine hardware specifications and others don't want to type them.

For £400 you'll get a good machine which will last a good few years, £300 and you might be making this thread again! hehe:)

Thanks for your reply. I understood most of this and will start to look round once I understand the bit below a tadge more.

Tech_guy wrote: »

The XP from the old kaput machine can be used on the new laptop. Like I say, most new computers come with Vista, which unless you spend £500+ will run slow, and the extra you will spend to have a Vista 'capable' machine will be a waste from the requirements listed.

I really don't understand this bit at all ... I don't think DS has Windows XP disc for his old laptop. Even if he did, how would I buy a laptop without Vista? If I managed to buy one without Vista, how on earth would I get XP onto it.

Can I buy laptops with XP already on?

The motherboard on the old laptop has gone so I don't suppose I can get XP off there .. not even sure if you could anyway, just a stab in the dark at that one, sorry !

Thank you so much for the advice, I'd be lost without you.

Cheers
Ms Cx

weegie.geek

If he's going to be using it for editing video from a camcorder make sure it has firewire. You can add firewire later, but it's extra expense, and won't be as seamless as built-in firewire.

Ms_Chocaholic

I don't think he will be using it for editing, can just about manage the copying, but I'll double check with him when I see him tomorrow.

Cheers.

Ms_Chocaholic

Bump - can anyone help

albertross_2

http://www.dmxdimension.com/dell-uk/inspiron-1525-deals-vouchers-codes/

N0652503 onwards

You need to clarify if you need firewire really (don't think the one above does, but others in the range do), not all laptops have it, and it adds to the cost.

It is used for transferring high quality video from a DV camera (not for editing only.)

GunJack

Ms Choc - I got a refurb lappy from pcworld for £260 which will easily cover what your ds wants to do. Very nice advent with a full 12-month warranty. Check out their refurbs on their website.

Also, if old lappy's mobo is duff but HDD is okay, you should be able to use that to stick xp onto new one without cd.

p.s. the only thing mine aint got is a firewire port - check he really needs one, as albert says, it does increase cost slightly.

p.p.s. if he's storing his music on the hdd, remind him he could do with backing it up..another good use for the hdd from the old lappy

Ms_Chocaholic

albertross wrote: »

It is used for transferring high quality video from a DV camera (not for editing only.)

Re: Firewire

DS would use the laptop to transfer video footage of sports events (indoor) that he was competing in onto DVDs. The video-ing is usually done by either me/my OH or a friend so not exactly good quality and he only usually uses the footage to watch himself to improve his skills in his chosen sport.

Not sure of the quality of the transfer of the footage without firewire but, given his use, do you think we would use it?

Many thanks.
Ms C x