Computers. What a brutal purchase to make. I don't need much from my computer, but our laptops were next to dead. Even if we cleaned off all the programs and shit we didn't need, we still got about 15 minutes of battery time. The cost of upgrading ram and buying a new battery, maybe getting Windows 7, makes you think twice. You might as well buy a new computer. That's the brutal part. A laptop is outdated so fast you don't even have time to pay off your credit card before you're considering a new one. The cost of getting the newest operating system, enough ram to run it decently and a new laptop battery can almost equal the price of an entry level laptop. So, to Future Shop we go...We decided on Future Shop because I had a $100 GC to put towards the purchase. I messed around with the laptops for a while, checking out my options. The sales dude that finally approached me said, "that's a great laptop". I had decided by this point that it was indeed a good option, but i wonder if he would have said that if I was looking at their biggest piece of shit. Anyways, I agreed with him, so we chatted computers. The processors are the part I have no clue about. I went in thinking I was looking for a "dual core processor", but before you know it we've doubled that. I just don't understand computers enough to be able to appreciate what difference jumping from one processor to another does. Processors should be rated on some sort of industry standard that the average consumer can understand. Like the amount of time it will take to convert video from format A to B in program X while you're playing tunes in program Y and streaming video from site Z - all while running a virus scan with program ZZ. I want to know if the computer is going to be surprisingly fast, cooperative, a little delayed, or make me want to donate it to the Salvation Army.
Sales dude explained processors a little, but not in any way that allowed me to appreciate what the latest intel chip would do for me compared to last years. We were focused at this point on the computer I would eventually buy. He explained to me that it has Beats Audio, and right away said it was a bit gimmicky. I was really appreciative that he wasn't gonna try to sell me on a gimmick. It's this stupid Dr. Dre endorsed program, or hardware, or something or other that delivers better audio. You can turn it on and off with fn + B. You turn it off and the laptop sounds like a goddamn Game Boy. Turn it on and the audio sounds good, even above average. So, why would you turn it off? Save power? No.. it's just a way of making it a gimmick, making it appear like you're buying above average greatness with the available Beats Audio option.
So, we bought the comp. I own Beats Audio. Sweet. But, not for long!! We're returning this computer asap. And Beats Audio is not the key reason.
This laptop powers down the graphics processor to a lower level when you're running on battery. The problem is, when you run low on batteries and need to plug back in, Firefox goes blank and cannot be recovered. you lose whatever you were doing and need to re-start the web browser. I like the idea of power conservation while using the battery, but this issue is definitely not one I can tolerate in a brand new laptop. And I don't want to adjust the power settings to either have the processor running super low or full out all the time. We're going to return the computer this weekend.
So, I guess the question is, do we buy a Mac?...
Value: 6/10
Integrity: 5/10
Performance: 4/10
Overall Rating: 5/10
Not sure what I'm going to look at next. I've got some ideas. We'll see.
aw man, went through some trouble with a new laptop recently. Too much trouble. Just wanted something cheap.
ReplyDeleteThey come with wondows 7, Ubuntu doesn't have the drivers for anything in them yet, and windows xp isn't compatible with a mobile type of HD.
So fuck it, I got a tablet. Xoom. Better than pad, I like it. No more computer trouble.
I have xp running on my computer at home.
Laptops are a shit show. I'd go for a mac. Not the mac pro though.
So, do you use the tablet for most everyday use? Like email and general browsing? Is there anything you wish the tablet could do better? I ask cause we've been talking tablet as well as a second comp. I think the touch keyboard would be the big thing to get used to.. but not a big deal, i mean i use one that's much smaller on my phone. we still haven't returned the laptop. This weekend probably.
ReplyDeleteI can do everything on the xoom except torrents. I can download xvids from sites and watch, hard drive is 32 gb and theres a sd card slot but it doesn't work yet (they say they need to update the operating system.)
ReplyDeleteIt's good for books and graphic novels. So i don't have to buy them.
As for laptops what I forgot to say is what I always do is either get rid of all the stuff on them (extra stuff like beats) and just get down to the OS, or I reformat with an OS disk that you'll probably have to make yourself from a torrent. But you have a key on your laptop. Then I install the drivers from the laptop makers site, usually they have an automatic thing to detect what you're missing (make sure you put your wireless LAN driver on a usb before you do this though cause windows might not have one.)
but if you get a tablet you need a computer to load it up with stuff you get from torrents. So I'd get a desktop with parts from newegg and have someone or them assemble it for you and load on windows xp or cracked windows 7, and get a tablet maybe.
ReplyDeleteAs for the typing on the tablet, it's ok, but I don't type much when I'm not at work, the real tough thing is moving your curser around with no mouse but I think you can get a bluray mouse. and you can def get a bluray keyboard.
And if you don't go apple you can get anything. Like to hook it up to tv I just needed a mini hdmi which was 10 bucks.