What to look for in a laptop

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Belgarath

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Say one is looking to buy a laptop (notebook) and the budget is about R5000-R6000; what specifications (CPU, Mobo, RAM) should one be looking for.

Can someone also explain to me shortly the differences between the various CPU models (C2D, Dual core, T-series??? ...) available for a laptop.
 
Depends on what you want to do with it? What are the most important attributes to you?
At that price point, you're not going to get superb battery life along with the ability to calculate the math behind the big bang within two seconds flat, so you're going to have to make a trade-off. Same goes for hard drive space. If you want a 500gb drive, be prepared to settle for less RAM, for instance.
 
Hi...

1stly you need to decide if it will be used mainly on the road (away from power outlets) or on a desk plugged in most of the time.
Then you need to ascertain what your primary use of it is going to be... home admin, email, gaming, etc...
This will then determine what the specs of the notebook will need to be.

Here is a quick run-down of notebook CPU's...
http://compreviews.about.com/od/cpus/a/NoteCPUSpec.htm

Makro has a special at the moment for R4999 for a really mid-spec notebook with the older dual core CPU which is fine for mostly everything except gaming...
there are a few for R4999... but this one has a 250GB HDD...
http://www.makro.co.za/live/content...t=1201&ProdId=23491&Sku=000000000000169208|EA

FUJITSU Amilo (Li3710) Intel Pentium Dual Core 2,1GHz (T4300)
(17 Oct 2009 - 26 Oct 2009)

  • features
  • 2GB RAM
  • 250GB Hard Drive
  • Connectivity: WLAN/LAN
  • Dual Layer DVD writer
  • Writer/Card reader
  • Display: 15.6"
  • Webcam
  • Windows 7 Premium
Click to expand...
 
It's for a colleague and she is just going to do basic word processing.

Battery life is not really an issue.

Could you also please explain to me the adv and disadv. of the C2D, dual core Celeron or other ranges found in laptops.
 
Last edited:
alf101 said:
For the graphics card make sure its either Nvidia or ATI, other cards are not that useful.
Click to expand...

Ummm... for basic word processing student stuff, the integrated Intel would be just fine....
 
alf101 said:
For the graphics card make sure its either Nvidia or ATI, other cards are not that useful.
Click to expand...

It doesn't need to be useful for word processing... :confused:

Anyway, right. For her laptop, I'd suggest 2+GB of RAM and a C2D processor - the fastest one you can find within your budget. You should be able to get a 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz without much trouble, 2GHz if you're willing to make a bit of effort and look around.
I wouldn't worry about hard drive space as documents aren't really big.
 
Some quotations I have is for:

Samsung Notebook dual core T3400 2.16GHz, 2 GB DDR2 RAM. R6155

Lenovo dual core T3400, 3GB RAM. R6499

DELL Vostro Celeron dual core T1500, 2GB RAM. R5699
 
Look at HP as well. I bought a HP530 (Not great, but it'll work fine for her) about a year and a half ago, with a 1.6GHz C2D, for R5000.
Also, look in the Hardware Bargains thread. Karyn from Digital Planet has a fairly decent price on a machine as well.
 
Belgarath said:
Some quotations I have is for:

Samsung Notebook dual core T3400 2.16GHz, 2 GB DDR2 RAM. R6155

Lenovo dual core T3400, 3GB RAM. R6499

DELL Vostro Celeron dual core T1500, 2GB RAM. R5699
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I still think the Makro deal I mentioned above is better value for money...
 
Last edited:
Lenovo G530 Series Notebook NSH24ZA (4446-22G)
Intel Pentium Dual Core T3400 2.16Ghz 667Mhz FSB 1MB L2 Cache, 3072MB DDR2-667 SO-Dimm Memory (1x2048,1x1024), 250GB SATA 5400rpm Hard Drive, 15.4" WXGA VibrantView (1280x800 resolution) TFT LCD Display, Intel GMA 4500M with shared graphics, DVD writer Dual Layer optical drive, 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 6 cell battery, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, Camera, 4 in 1 card reader,Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, 1 year carry in warranty

R 5914

http://www.comx.co.za/Buy-Notebooks-Laptops-NSH24ZA-Lenovo-G530-Notebook-lp-26758.php

They deliver...
 
Messugga said:
It doesn't need to be useful for word processing... :confused:

Anyway, right. For her laptop, I'd suggest 2+GB of RAM and a C2D processor - the fastest one you can find within your budget. You should be able to get a 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz without much trouble, 2GHz if you're willing to make a bit of effort and look around.
I wouldn't worry about hard drive space as documents aren't really big.
Click to expand...

That's how it starts, but later she or someone else may want to run a game or something on it, and will find that an Intel or whatever chip can't run it.

Which will be rather annoying.
 
SAMSUNG R519 Series Notebook - R5,328.95

Intel® Pentium Dual Core T4200 2.0GHz Processor
2GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (1x 2GB - 2 Slots)
250GB 5400RPM 2.5" SATA HDD
8x DVD Super Multi Writer
15.6" HD Ready (1366x768) SuperBright Widescreen
1.3 MPixel Webcam
Intel® GL40 Express Mobile Chipset
Intel GMA X4500M Graphics
Integrated Gigabit LAN
Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n @ 300Mbps
AC Adaptor, 6 Cell Battery
Samsung Battery Manager
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 32-Bit
1 Year Global Warranty

http://www.kalahari.net/electronics/Samsung-R519-XA05ZA-Notebook/42969/34755479.aspx
 
alf101 said:
That's how it starts, but later she or someone else may want to run a game or something on it, and will find that an Intel or whatever chip can't run it.

Which will be rather annoying.
Click to expand...

You're not going to find one for less than R6000 anyway.
 
Kalahari.net has another great special it seems...

Lenovo G530 Intel T3400 Notebook - Now R5,669.95
Dual Core T3400 (2.16GHz, 667MHz, 1MBL2, 35W)
3 GB RAM
250GB HDD
DVD±RW DL
Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD (GL40)
15.4"" WXGA glossy
4-in-1 Media-card Reader Camera
10/100, Wireless B & G
6 cell battery
Vista Home Premium
Ports:
4xUSB 2.0
ExpressCard 54
RJ-11
RJ-45
4-in-1 card reader (SD/MS/MS pro /XD)
VGA

http://www.kalahari.net/electronics/Lenovo-G530-Intel-T3400-Notebook/1/34508616.aspx
 
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