Laptops

Underdog

I'm trying to find a laptop to replace my mom's dying one and I've come across a few that seem promising but I don't really know laptops that well. She's a life insurance agent and mostly just needs it for business (not graphics heavy at all, almost all text) and checking email. So we're looking for affordable and not too heavy since my mom is small.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10134014&logon=&langid=EN

That's the first one that caught my eye. Everything seems ok and price is decent ($600). What does it mean when it says UMA for the vid card though?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10132131&catid=

This is the other one that I found. Same price and pretty much same specs all around but it actually tells me what vid card it has. Plus, it's available in store which is preferable to purchasing over the net.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10131717&catid=#

Then I came across this one. Specs look similar but it's $50 cheaper and a bit lighter. Is it much of a downgrade? Is MSI a good company? It doesn't have as much loaded software but I assume that's not that big a deal.

How's windows 7 home by the way? My mom is not tech savy so it'd be good if it was easily navigable.

Does this belong here or should I throw it into the computer build thread? Thanks a lot guys.

kuhlmeye

The ones you linked look pretty good, esp if it doesn't need amazing graphics. I actually work in computer department at a US Best Buy, and if you don't need the 500gb HDD, we have the same ASUS model as the first one except it has 320 GB, and its 499. It weighs under 6 pounds too, so thats a plus.

This model: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Pentium%26%23174%3B+Processor+-+Midnight+Blue/9555992.p?id=1218124206463&skuId=9555992
is the one I was talking about. It has integrated graphics, but if its not going to be used for gaming, it will do just fine.

Win7 is excellent. Its by far the most user friendly version of windows yet. Its also the fastest, with XP coming in at a close second.

Improvolone

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+1005ha&x=0&y=0

My step-mom is nearing 60 and needs glasses and the screen is not too small for her. It's like, two pounds, depending on which model you get the battery can be 7.5-10.5 hrs, its cheap, its awesome. The question really becomes why not an Eee 1005ha?

edit: I don't even know if newegg ships to Canada. Probably not, but the product must still be purchaseable in the great white north.

Djeet

Underdog wrote: »

What does it mean when it says UMA for the vid card though?

Onboard video, most likely the Intel GMA 4500M which will be fine for office productivity use and video playback, but not great for gaming. Not sure if it will run Aero, if that's important you might want a machine with a decent discrete graphics chip.

I like Win 7, but I've only used Professional and Ultimate. It did take me a week or 2 to get used to window layout and where everything was. If she's familiar with Vista she'll figure it out quickly; if she's coming from XP it'll take her a little longer. UAC is much less intrusive in 7.

kuhlmeye

I have one of the eee1000 models, and I love it for what I use it for. I think, however, that I would grow increasingly frustrated with it if it were my primary computer. Especially if I were doing a significant amount of typing. The EEEs are great for internetting and occasional typing(what I use mine for), but for ~100 more you can have a much more capable computer. You get a much larger screen, more memory, a (much) better processor, a DVD drive, and a 6" bigger screen. You also get a built in 10 key pad, which I assume as an insurance agent she will be making use of.

Just my 2 cents, if she thinks shell be happy with the Netbook, go for it. I just dont recommend it as a primary computer. Also, I believe they sell the 1005 at Best Buy/Futureshop.

Underdog

Improvolone wrote: »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+1005ha&x=0&y=0

My step-mom is nearing 60 and needs glasses and the screen is not too small for her. It's like, two pounds, depending on which model you get the battery can be 7.5-10.5 hrs, its cheap, its awesome. The question really becomes why not an Eee 1005ha?

edit: I don't even know if newegg ships to Canada. Probably not, but the product must still be purchaseable in the great white north.

Uh which one are you talking about specifically? Because the link you gave me just brings me to a search result page. The first one? Or any of them? Oh I just realized they're all 10.1" She wants the bigger screen because she wants to have a keypad at the side. She has to punch in a lot of numbers and she hates having to use the numbers at the top. And before you tell me that you can just hit caps lock and use UIO JKL as the number pad, please keep in mind that this is a woman who despite being shown how to attach a file to her email about 100 times, still can't do it from memory. But those ones really are pretty cool. Maybe if I can sell her on the caps lock number pad I'll consider it. That is if I can find somewhere that sells it...

kuhlmeye; the 320 gb hdd is much more appropriate but I can't seem to find it in stock on the bestbuy.ca website. Gonna poke around and see if some other place might sell it though.

Improvolone

Yea, you could get a bigger computer with more stuff, but you lose a fucking 10 hour battery.

edit: Ah, she wants a number pad. Well, they do sell externals... I use a 901 as my primary computer (smaller than the models I linked) and love it. 2 lbs? Huge battery? I'd rather deal with the benefits of a netbook + an external number pad, but I do understand if she doesn't.

kuhlmeye

Underdog wrote: »

Improvolone wrote: »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+1005ha&x=0&y=0

My step-mom is nearing 60 and needs glasses and the screen is not too small for her. It's like, two pounds, depending on which model you get the battery can be 7.5-10.5 hrs, its cheap, its awesome. The question really becomes why not an Eee 1005ha?

edit: I don't even know if newegg ships to Canada. Probably not, but the product must still be purchaseable in the great white north.

kuhlmeye; the 320 gb hdd is much more appropriate but I can't seem to find it in stock on the bestbuy.ca website. Gonna poke around and see if some other place might sell it though.

Yeah, I didn't see it on the .ca website either. Looks like it could be US only, which is stupid. I believe Best Buy is the only retail shop that sells ASUS full sized laptops, though you could try looking on newegg, but they don't ship to Canada, so never mind... :P

They ASUS comps you did list are good computers for what you need, though its unfortunate you cant save the $100 by getting a smaller HDD.

Underdog

kuhlmeye wrote: »

Underdog wrote: »

Improvolone wrote: »

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+1005ha&x=0&y=0

My step-mom is nearing 60 and needs glasses and the screen is not too small for her. It's like, two pounds, depending on which model you get the battery can be 7.5-10.5 hrs, its cheap, its awesome. The question really becomes why not an Eee 1005ha?

edit: I don't even know if newegg ships to Canada. Probably not, but the product must still be purchaseable in the great white north.

kuhlmeye; the 320 gb hdd is much more appropriate but I can't seem to find it in stock on the bestbuy.ca website. Gonna poke around and see if some other place might sell it though.

Yeah, I didn't see it on the .ca website either. Looks like it could be US only, which is stupid. I believe Best Buy is the only retail shop that sells ASUS full sized laptops, though you could try looking on newegg, but they don't ship to Canada, so never mind... :P

They ASUS comps you did list are good computers for what you need, though its unfortunate you cant save the $100 by getting a smaller HDD.

Yeah it would've been the perfect purchase I think.

Anyone know anything about the third link I gave? The MSI laptop? I've never heard of the company before, I wonder if they're any good.

kuhlmeye

I know I've bought/seen MSI branded video cards before... As far as the quality of laptops they might make, not too sure.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-Star_International

They've been making random components for some time it seems. I would go with them over ACER/gateway, as they are pretty much in the same boat as ASUS.

Underdog

kuhlmeye wrote: »

I know I've bought/seen MSI branded video cards before... As far as the quality of laptops they might make, not too sure.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-Star_International

They've been making random components for some time it seems. I would go with them over ACER/gateway, as they are pretty much in the same boat as ASUS.

I trust Asus and if you're saying MSI is on par with them, I might go with theirs since we save $50.