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Geek Culture / A new laptop?

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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 27th Apr 2009 09:46
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I need a new laptop. I spend alot of time at my local library doing homework, and other school related things. The problem is that i can't do anything else there! my current laptop is a hand me down from 2003. I can kind of use it to program and play games, but it's very laggy, and the headphone and microphone jacks are broken, so that really puts a damper on watching videos and stuff like that. Really, most any laptop would be a huge improvement from this one.
I have a budget of about $1100 USD, give or take. I need both a parallel and serial port (well, im into circuitry now, and i have equipment for installing a bootloader via a parallel port, and then using that bootloader to communicate with the computer via a serial port). I'll primarily be using it for programming, videos, and casual gaming. Weight really isn't a concern, i'd actually prefer it not to be light (more weight usually means less flimsiness).

Im looking at these laptops: http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m1730?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
The second from the left seems like a really good deal, and looks like exactly what im looking for.

Anyone have any suggestions?
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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 27th Apr 2009 10:37
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Good luck finding either a parallel port or serial port now. Not only does nobody really use them, they're too big to integrate into many laptop designs now. I do believe that you can get USB adaptors.

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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 28th Apr 2009 01:12
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actually, i guess im not gettin rid of my old laptop, and programming apps whose only output is in ones and zeros isn't very computionally taxing, so i can use that one to program it.

Yeah i think im going to gt that computer (the second one from the left in the link above), upgraded from 2.1 to 2.4 GHZ, and from a 160 gig hard drive to a 250 gig for $100 extra (total).

Heres what i have picked out right now, ad most likely what i'll buy.
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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 28th Apr 2009 01:44
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oh right, the warranty and wireless card are both mandatory, nt upgrades, i can also choose between mcafee virus protection and norton... i think i'll go with norton. It gets in the way sometimes but its still good.
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Roxas
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Posted: 28th Apr 2009 01:54
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If you already have Windows, especially vista. Why would you buy another license? It adds about 300~ euros to that laptop price especially ultimate edition.

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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 28th Apr 2009 06:30
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it was the only option (there were several others, but those were more expensive anyways)
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bitJericho
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Posted: 29th Apr 2009 11:43
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I'd get neither a/v as they're crap. Get nod32 or stick with the free avast If you have to choose between norton and symantec, I'd choose symantec as the lesser of two evils.

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Jeku
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Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 29th Apr 2009 23:48
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Quote: "If you have to choose between norton and symantec, I'd choose symantec as the lesser of two evils."


Isn't Norton and Symantec the same company?

North Korea 2007 Tour Pictures
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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 30th Apr 2009 00:49
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I thought so too.

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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 30th Apr 2009 01:35
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i meant McAfee
Anyways, it seems like a good choice to me, and no one has any comments, i think i'll get it

now it's just a matter of saving up a bit more.
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The Fps Creator rocks!
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Posted: 30th Apr 2009 20:57
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Got o http://www.ibuypower.com or http://www.cyberpowerpc.com

I want a new computer!
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David R
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Posted: 30th Apr 2009 21:58
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Quote: "Isn't Norton and Symantec the same company?"


I think Symantec also make an AV branded as just "Symantec Protection" or something for corporate use etc. so that's what he may have meant (versus Norton being the consumer version, obviously)


09-f9-11-02-9d-74-e3-5b-d8-41-56-c5-63-56-88-c0
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Neuro Fuzzy
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Posted: 1st May 2009 01:31 Edited at: 1st May 2009 01:32
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i had meant to say "McAffee security", i just had symantec on the brain (I had a virus hiding out pretending to be a symantec security update).

Anyways, wow, those laptops from ibuypower.com look way better! I came accross a setup that was very similar to the dell one i chose above, and the price was ~$850! Plus it has a serial port, which is good. (it requires some extra setup on my part, but i got a chip that can convert the signals, so no biggie)

Nothing's set in stone yet though, so i guess i'll keep shopping around.
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