help buying a laptop, please!!

[EssexGirl]

Hi,
I am in the process of buying a laptop and need help on what type to get. I'm not very technical when it comes to specs so I have listed a coupld and would be grateful if someone could tell me if either are any good:

TOSHIBA - AMD Athlon TK57 Dual Core processor. 1Gb RAM. 120Gb hard drive. 15.4ins TFT WXGA TruBrite Screen.

ACER - AMD Athlon 64 TK-55 1.8GHz processor. 1Gb DDR2 RAM. 80Gb Hard Drive. 17 ins TFT widescreen display with CrystalBrite Technology.

HI GRADE - Intel Core Duo T2130 (1.86Ghz) processor. 1Gb DDR2 RAM. 120Gb hard drive. 15.4in TFT widescreen colour display. DVD-RW/CD-RW/DVD/CD drive allows files to be saved onto DVD. Integrated graphics. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic. Wireless b/g. Windows Live One Care 90-day free trial. External VGA monitor port, 3x USB 2 ports, audio out, mic-in. Open Office suite included. 2.9kg.

Basically it will not have the internet and will be used mostly for games i.e Sims, Managing Games etc.

[vehelpfulguy]

You have not really told us HOW this laptop will be used, at the same place all the the time, or carried around with you.

The reason I ask is that your first laptop has a 15.4" screen and the second a 17" screen.

While a 15.4" screen will allow a laptop to be easily carried around a 17" screen will make the laptop rather large and difficult to carry around.

A 17" is of course better for viewing, but not better for lugging around.

Can you give us an idea how you plan to use it.

[EssexGirl]

Sorry, it will be used at home and if taken anywhere it would be via car to a mates house etc.

So 95% of the time at home.

Thanks for your help. I'm not good with the processor speeds etc for playing games etc, nightmare!!!

[vehelpfulguy]

One suggestion: DONT buy a PC with Vista Home Basic on it (your 3rd laptop).

Home Basic really is basic and comes without many useful Windows applications like Photo Gallery.

If possible go for Vista Home Premium.

Other Vista versions are Business (which you should also avoid) and Ultimate (which is good but not often included on laptops)

So to sum up: Go for Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate.

[vehelpfulguy]

All three of the laptops you have listed have 1Gb of memory.

While this is probably just about OK for Vista most people think that it is better to have 2Gb.

Memory is fairly cheap nowadays so even cheaper loptops can offer 2Gb of memory.

Memory can be added to a laptop fairly easily, but to save the hassle it is probably better to go for 2Gb in the fitst place.

Having 2Gb also future proofs your laptop, making it able to cope with any games or programs that come out in the next few years.

[vehelpfulguy]

>I'm not good with the processor speeds etc for
>playing games etc, nightmare!!!

I am not to very clued up on games, but do know enough to know that the gaphics card is very important when it comes to playing games (possiblry more important than the processor).

With games on the PC there are I think two main types: Those that really stretch the computer, and those that dont not really stretch it (like the Sims in your example).

If you want to play really powerful games then to be honest a laptop is not the best device for playing games, a desktop PC is far better.

Some cheaper laptops come with very basic graphics cards that are only really suitable for "office" work (word processing, e-mail etc).

If you want to play games then you do need a laptop with a fairly decent graphics card.

Some companies do offer their laptops as "entertainment laptops" or "gaming laptops" so maybe have a look round for them.

Or in the description of the laptop see if it highlights the fact it is a better than average graphics card.

Maybe someone who is more clued up than me on games can suggest what graphics to look for in a laptop.

[Ethel]

Dedicated gaming laptops are hugely expensive and none of the laptops you have quoted will be up to the job.
As Vehelpfulguy states, look for specific gaming laptops.

[EssexGirl]

Many thanks for all your help, will shop around and see what I can find.

You have both been very helpful.