Help me buy a laptop, nerds! [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

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Yerdaddy

03-08-2007, 08:39 AM

I'm finally in a country where new laptops are relatively cheap and apparently used laptops are available in the same marketplace here in Kuala Lumpur. So I'm going shopping in the next couple of days. I don't really know shit about computers and I sure as shit don't know about the latest in computers. I don't even really know what I need and don't need, other than an education. So tell me what I need to know.I need cheap. I'm willing to spend up to $500 on a used or $1000 for a new (with warranty) laptop.I know I need a tough computer. On the way here from Bangkok my backpacks fell out of back of the bus on the freeway. I don't know if any laptop would have survived, but that's the kind of thing I'm going to have to expect because I'll always be travelling. I've heard the IBMs are the toughest cases and they've got anti-shock doohickies for the hardware inside. How old can I go before the IBMs aren't that tough? When did the anti-shock stuff come in? Is IBM the only durable laptop?I need reliable. I'm probably going to be in the third world - probably Yemen most of the time and I don't want to rely on the locals to provide service and parts any more than necessary. I don't want this fucker breaking down on me. Also computer parts and accessories are expensive in Yemen because the bribes for customs officials on expensive products get passed on to the customer. I don't need an operating system. I paid $0.75 for Windows XP in Yemen, and the about a dollar for Photoshop. Pirates rule!I'm going to be working as a journalist. I need to be able to type and use PDFs, Word, photos... old fashioned stuff. I don't play games and don't need all the new-fangled software/hardware for that shit. I need a DVD player because I'm a movie junkie, but I don't think I need a DVD burner. Do I? That's about all the relevant information I can think of. I'm sure there's lots to the modern laptop that I'm not considering or never heard of. What else do I need to know?

Yerdaddy

03-08-2007, 07:59 PM

Nobody knows anything about laptops? Nobody?

Fallon

03-08-2007, 08:01 PM

Yerdaddy wrote: Nobody knows anything about laptops? Nobody? They're portable?

Andomray

03-08-2007, 08:02 PM

Fallon wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: Nobody knows anything about laptops? Nobody?  They're portable?And magical!

Fez4PrezN2008

03-08-2007, 08:12 PM

Not sure you can find <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2004-07-02-laptop_x.htm" target="_blank">this</a> in KL, and its gonna cost yerdaddy more than a G. See if you can hook up with some Army buddies over there and maybe they can arrange for one to "fall off" the back of their humvee for a G... Good lucky buddy.

Team_Ramrod

03-08-2007, 08:23 PM

Laptops get hot when they sit on your lap.Sometimes it feels like you're going to start on fire!  (my chick won't give up her anus)

Yerdaddy

03-08-2007, 08:41 PM

The Midnight Ramrod wrote: Laptops get hot when they sit on your lap.Sometimes it feels like you're going to start on fire!  (my chick won't give up her anus)Oh yeah! That's another question: I was told there's a certain level of Pentium - 4, or something later - that doesn't run as hot so it doesn't burn your lap (you have to stick to candlewax and Asian hookers for that) and it doesn't use as much power making the battery last much longer. Anyone know what level Pentium chip that is?  (the anus is never free. try buying her a puppy)

reeshy

03-08-2007, 08:46 PM

Pentium 4 laptops always run hot...what you should do is have the anus packed in ice!!!!

Team_Ramrod

03-08-2007, 08:51 PM

Yerdaddy wrote: The Midnight Ramrod wrote: Laptops get hot when they sit on your lap.Sometimes it feels like you're going to start on fire!  (my chick won't give up her anus)Oh yeah! That's another question: I was told there's a certain level of Pentium - 4, or something later - that doesn't run as hot so it doesn't burn your lap (you have to stick to candlewax and Asian hookers for that) and it doesn't use as much power making the battery last much longer. Anyone know what level Pentium chip that is?  (the anus is never free. try buying her a puppy)I bought her a bulldog last April, that little bastard set me back $1500. I didn't see any reciprocal gains from that.Besides, I go back to work on Monday for 20 days and little does she know my 8 days home after that will determine whether or not I take Rose up on her offer to move in with her and raise pot belly pigs.I haven't heard that a processor will reduce the heat that is put out but I do know that there have been some laptops that came out recently that are supposed to burn 2+ times cooler.

reeshy

03-08-2007, 09:29 PM

So now you got 2 chicks in your place?????? Nice!!!!!!!

satan-2

03-08-2007, 09:33 PM

lap dances cost roughly $20 bucks. $500 gets you into the VIP rooms :)

Yerdaddy

03-08-2007, 10:23 PM

satan-2 wrote: lap dances cost roughly $20 bucks. $500 gets you into the VIP rooms <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> not where I'm at!

Yerdaddy

03-08-2007, 10:28 PM

The Midnight Ramrod wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: The Midnight Ramrod wrote: Laptops get hot when they sit on your lap.Sometimes it feels like you're going to start on fire!  (my chick won't give up her anus)Oh yeah! That's another question: I was told there's a certain level of Pentium - 4, or something later - that doesn't run as hot so it doesn't burn your lap (you have to stick to candlewax and Asian hookers for that) and it doesn't use as much power making the battery last much longer. Anyone know what level Pentium chip that is?  (the anus is never free. try buying her a puppy)I bought her a bulldog last April, that little bastard set me back $1500. I didn't see any reciprocal gains from that.Besides, I go back to work on Monday for 20 days and little does she know my 8 days home after that will determine whether or not I take Rose up on her offer to move in with her and raise pot belly pigs.I haven't heard that a processor will reduce the heat that is put out but I do know that there have been some laptops that came out recently that are supposed to burn 2+ times cooler.OK. Then your chances of gettin the balloon-knot are about the same as me getting good advice in this thread.

satan-2

03-08-2007, 11:30 PM

Yerdaddy wrote: satan-2 wrote: lap dances cost roughly $20 bucks. $500 gets you into the VIP rooms <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> not where I'm at! really how much?? :)

patsopinion

03-09-2007, 02:15 AM

buy amd dual processoroutside of that look at what retail prices of specified laptop would be but thats what i but computers oni have 2 amd computers and 3 or 4 intel comps and i will never go back

Yerdaddy

03-09-2007, 05:36 AM

satan-2 wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: satan-2 wrote: lap dances cost roughly $20 bucks. $500 gets you into the VIP rooms <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> not where I'm at! really how much?? <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" />  Well, back in Bangkok you could get yourself a Thai girl anytime you want - bar girls - and you just pay for their food and drinks generally, but sometimes you pay nothing. Western men are just a hot commodity. Or you could pay a hooker $20 or $30 for the night, but I'd reccomend paying her to get the hell out when you're done. You don't want to fall asleep before she does or she'll rob you and anyone in your hotel who's dumb enough not to lock their doors at night.

Yerdaddy

03-09-2007, 05:41 AM

patsopinion wrote: buy amd dual processoroutside of that look at what retail prices of specified laptop would be but thats what i but computers oni have 2 amd computers and 3 or 4 intel comps and i will never go back I think that's what I found today. Correct me if I'm wrong: I found an IBM X41 with two 30GB HDD. Is that the same as the "dual processor"?

patsopinion

03-09-2007, 03:03 PM

..................oh...................yea, sure

Ritalin

03-09-2007, 03:42 PM

I love this yerdaddy board character. Yeah, I bought my operating system for $.50 in Mississippi, too. How does that translate into bhat or dinar? Listen, I'm down with your whole bit, but just because you have a current world atlas and a list of world currency doesn't mean that I'm falling for your rap, "yerdaddy" - if that's <strike>your</strike> yer real name.

boeman

03-09-2007, 04:28 PM

I won't help if your going to call me names...

Yerdaddy

03-09-2007, 05:00 PM

Ritalin wrote: I love this yerdaddy board character. Yeah, I bought my operating system for $.50 in Mississippi, too. How does that translate into bhat or dinar? Listen, I'm down with your whole bit, but just because you have a current world atlas and a list of world currency doesn't mean that I'm falling for your rap, "yerdaddy" - if that's <strike>your</strike> yer real name.What? You're not buying the whole talking in the first person thing? Well that's too bad because that's the way I roll. I find it natural and comfortable to talk about myself in the first person. And I like to capitalize the first words of sentences and proper names only. It feels natural to me.

Yerdaddy

03-09-2007, 05:15 PM

boeman wrote: I won't help if your going to call me names... <img src="http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/large/HolyGrail145.jpg" border="0" width="600" height="331" /> You must go out and find me a laptop or I shall say NI! a second time!

johnniewalker

03-09-2007, 06:51 PM

Yerdaddy wrote: satan-2 wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: satan-2 wrote: lap dances cost roughly $20 bucks. $500 gets you into the VIP rooms <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> not where I'm at! really how much?? <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smile.gif" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Well, back in Bangkok you could get yourself a Thai girl anytime you want - bar girls - and you just pay for their food and drinks generally, but sometimes you pay nothing. Western men are just a hot commodity. Or you could pay a hooker $20 or $30 for the night, but I'd reccomend paying her to get the hell out when you're done. You don't want to fall asleep before she does or she'll rob you and anyone in your hotel who's dumb enough not to lock their doors at night. Can't you cuddle with hand cuffs?

Gvac

03-10-2007, 04:52 AM

I apologize for derailing the thread back on topic, but I'd suggest getting a DVD burner Yerdaddy.  If you have a lot of data to back up (such as pictures) DVDs can hold a lot more info than CDs.  A burnable CD holds about 700 mbs whereas a DVD can hold about 4.7 gigs.

LordJezo

03-10-2007, 05:15 AM

Yerdaddy wrote: patsopinion wrote: buy amd dual processoroutside of that look at what retail prices of specified laptop would be but thats what i but computers oni have 2 amd computers and 3 or 4 intel comps and i will never go back I think that's what I found today. Correct me if I'm wrong: I found an IBM X41 with two 30GB HDD. Is that the same as the "dual processor"? That's an older model Thinkpad, I think Pat might have meant dual core, not dual processor.  A laptop with two chips in it would be a battery hog.  All ne laptops are switching to have dual core chips in them, but you want something rugged that can fall out of a bus and not get too damaged. For the price range, have you looked into finding an older Toshiba Toughbook?  Those things are supposedly tanks, a new "low end" one here costs about $1500, maybe you can get an older model in your range.

Ritalin

03-10-2007, 05:57 AM

Yerdaddy wrote: Ritalin wrote: I love this yerdaddy board character. Yeah, I bought my operating system for $.50 in Mississippi, too. How does that translate into bhat or dinar? Listen, I'm down with your whole bit, but just because you have a current world atlas and a list of world currency doesn't mean that I'm falling for your rap, "yerdaddy" - if that's <strike>your</strike> yer real name.What? You're not buying the whole talking in the first person thing? Well that's too bad because that's the way I roll. I find it natural and comfortable to talk about myself in the first person. And I like to capitalize the first words of sentences and proper names only. It feels natural to me.Funny

fohat

03-10-2007, 06:03 AM

If you are going to get a new laptop, I;ve seen info stating that Windows Vista needs at least 1 Gigabyte of Memory to run nicely, and 2 gigs if you have everything turned on. The more Ram the better for Vista, as it uses alot for Caching, that is, giving it the ability to bring things up a little faster. I don't really know how important that is for you, I would go with at least a gig of Ram. Processor, you definitely want something like an Intel Core 2 Duo or the equivilent AMD dual core chip, they use up less power and put out less heat. If you are going with an older laptop, look for a Centrino which was developed around the sam concepts. Hard Drive: get as big a drive as you can afford. Laptop drives dont go too far beyond 100 Gigabytes, so normally you want to get atleast a 60 or 80 Gig hard drive (try to get a model with the 7200RPM Serial ATA drive as they are faster)DVD's: pretty much all the laptops out there now will play dvd's, look for one that has a combo drive to watch dvd and burn cd's.  Burning DVD is nice to have, but up to you if you need the ability to back up 4.5 gigs of data here and there.  Dual Layer DVD burner's can write on disks up to 8.5 gigabytes.  It's good for backing up projects, so if you do alot with huge pictures and video, you may want to consider a dvd burner.  Now with that said, I recently bought the lowest end Macbook, which can run Windows XP if you need that, it's a core 2 duo 1.87GHz and comes with 512MB memory and a 60Gig Hard disk, and 13.3" widescreen. This thing is sexy as hell and runs like a dream. It's not super cool but it's very quiet. Hope that helps you in some small fashion! Edited to add the dvd bit  

This message was edited by fohat on 3-10-07 @ 10:09 AM

Yerdaddy

03-15-2007, 04:21 AM

Ritalin wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: Ritalin wrote: I love this yerdaddy board character. Yeah, I bought my operating system for $.50 in Mississippi, too. How does that translate into bhat or dinar? Listen, I'm down with your whole bit, but just because you have a current world atlas and a list of world currency doesn't mean that I'm falling for your rap, "yerdaddy" - if that's <strike>your</strike> yer real name.What? You're not buying the whole talking in the first person thing? Well that's too bad because that's the way I roll. I find it natural and comfortable to talk about myself in the first person. And I like to capitalize the first words of sentences and proper names only. It feels natural to me.Funny I thought this was funnier:boeman wrote: I won't help if your going to call me names... <img src="http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/large/HolyGrail145.jpg" border="0" width="600" height="331" /> You must go out and find me a laptop or I shall say NI! a second time!

Yerdaddy

03-15-2007, 04:25 AM

Gvac wrote: I apologize for derailing the thread back on topic, but I'd suggest getting a DVD burner Yerdaddy.  If you have a lot of data to back up (such as pictures) DVDs can hold a lot more info than CDs.  A burnable CD holds about 700 mbs whereas a DVD can hold about 4.7 gigs.   Thanks for rerailing the thread, G. I did end up with a DVD burner. Question now is: are DVDs re-writable yet?

Yerdaddy

03-15-2007, 04:55 AM

This thing is sexy as hell and runs like a dream. It's not super cool but it's very quiet.Are you having sex with Florence Griffith-Joyner's dead body???

sailor

03-15-2007, 05:22 AM

<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2080546/" target="_blank">itronix</a>

Yerdaddy

03-15-2007, 06:10 AM

Finally my week-long dream has come true! Right now I'm sitting in a Starbucks drinking a $4 caramel Frapacino and surfing the internet on their free wireless thus saving myself $3 on the internet cafe. I'm THAT guy! Finally! I bought my laptop almost a week ago. I was told the place to buy a computer in Kuala Lumpur was a giant fancy mall called Time Square, or more specifically the lower-cost Low Yat mall across the street. I checked both of them out and the obvious difference is Time Square is for rich people and offer such high-falootin extravaganes as authentic brand names and warranties and legality. Tisk! Tisk! to all that, I say! Because I can't afford it of course. Low Yat is more the Wild West of computer shopping anyway, and if I'm anything it's a wild shopper. The place is full of kiosks covered in all the name brand posters - Ipod, Microsoft, Sony, IBM - and all of the naim brand merchandise - Ipud, Microhard, Sonee, ICM. At least it's hard to know what's real and what's not. I had talked to the sales reps in the nice mall to get a bit of information I could trust. Mainly I knew that IBM was the strongest computer I was going to find so I could limit my search to those. Then I went to the Yat and pulled the specs on all the refurbished IMBs I could find. That's when I started this thread - having no idea what those specs meant. The one I liked was the IBM ThinkPad X41. Mainly I liked it because it was smaller than the others and I thought it was cute. I'm basically a chick when it comes to buying shit like this, is what I'm saying. I checked out the same computer on EBay that night and found the cheapest equivalent from a reputable seller was about $1100. My guy was asking $600. Next day I run back there first thing in the morning to buy it because an Indian guy and a Chinese kid (both of whom were obvious computer geeks) had asked about the thing and the sales guy said they might come by to buy it. That old gag! I raced in anyway. I checked the thing out to see that it was all original parts and not been replaced with ICM parts and that everything worked, then I talked the kid down to $550 and bought it. I was happy. I stopped at the Starbucks near my hotel to celebrate with an overpriced oversugared coffee-like substance and to set up my new computer in front of me so people would think I was as cool as the other guys who work on their laptops in Starbucks'. So I'm sitting there playing Minesweeper because I didn't have anything else on the thing yet and one of the employees came by and apologized for the wireless being down today. "Wireless?" I said. "What's that?" She looked at the laptop and back at me and said something about a white douchebag and then, louder, that it was the internet connection that they have for free. Sweet! Next day I come back and set up my table in a highly-visible section of the store with my $39 cup of coffee next to my cute laptop and opened up Explorer and... nothing. I start asking the Asian kids who work there if the wireless is working and how to get it to work on my computer and pretty soon I'm surrounded by Asian kids who all knew exactly how to make this thing work. That's the great thing about being in Asia - everybody's a computer geek! They couldn't get it to work though. They said I needed to go back to where I bought it and get the drivers for the wifi (whatever that is). So next day I take it back. And the next day. And the next. And you get the picture. I had bought it from a small kiosk run by a couple of Pakistani guys who were nice guys but awful salesmen. They had no reason to allow me to haggle them down that extra $50 but I suspected they had to come down a little from their original price. But the other two guys would have paid the $600 sooner or later. This is why I trusted them originally. Customer service in every country I've been in so far is entirely opti

Yerdaddy

03-15-2007, 11:42 PM

Yerdaddy wrote: So here's what I got:IBM ThinkPad X41Intel Pentium M 1.60GHz processor590 MHz504 MB RAM2 x 30GB HDDDVD burnerWiFiand maybe some other shit I haven't discovered yet. Couple of questions:The battery meter says it lasts over four hours, is that possible for this thing?Pentium M - is this the same as Centrino? And if so does that mean it's the kind that runs cooler and saves battery space?I'm sure I'll have more questions as I hammer away at this thing like the chimps of 2001: A Space Oddessy.Anything? Hello?

Jaysin

03-16-2007, 12:51 AM

Yerdaddy wrote: Yerdaddy wrote: So here's what I got:IBM ThinkPad X41Intel Pentium M 1.60GHz processor590 MHz504 MB RAM2 x 30GB HDDDVD burnerWiFiand maybe some other shit I haven't discovered yet. Couple of questions:The battery meter says it lasts over four hours, is that possible for this thing?Pentium M - is this the same as Centrino? And if so does that mean it's the kind that runs cooler and saves battery space?I'm sure I'll have more questions as I hammer away at this thing like the chimps of 2001: A Space Oddessy.Anything? Hello? shit dood, you paid how much for that???? 550????? good lord i would have sold you my 3.4 ghz processor 1 gig ram 60 gig hd cdrw/dvd ati 9700 graphics Dell xps for like $700