question about laptop processors

[Conveyor Belt]

Can someone give me a crash course on laptop processors? I still haven't bought one yet, but it looks like it's going to be the easiest way to get things done at school. I was hoping I'd get out without having to write much this semester, but I'm going to have a few projects going on.

Anyhow, the laptop descriptions usually list a model processor, but no speed. Which ones are better/faster?

I'm going to be running MS office and doing some internet stuff, and that's pretty much it. Maybe some graphic work, but nothing with moving pictures. I think I may have to do something with powerpoint in the future.

thanks for your help.

[aaron]

You want an Intel Core 2 Duo. If you can afford it, get the 2 Ghz. If you can't, get the 1.8 which drop the price about $200.

[Conveyor Belt]

I'm on a tight, under $400 budget. What'll that get me?

[58ford]

Look for a pentium M processor, runs cooler than most other processors & greatly improves battery life.
If I'm wrong about this somebody call me on it cause I'm not a computer geek.
But, my bus. partner has a Pent. 4 & he only gets about 30min of battery life, I have a Pent. M & I get from 1.5 to 3.5 hrs. Batt. life depending on screen brightness & wireless connection (I think wireless eats a lot of juice, but I'm not sure)

[58ford]

CB,
I got a refurbished Dell Latitude 600 off Ebay for $370.
Runs like a champ. Afriend of mine Got one W/similar features off Ebay for $400 & is very happy with it.
Browse around ebay there are some pretty good deals.

[aaron]

I'm on a tight, under $400 budget. What'll that get me?

A 14-inch screen and a Celeron M or AMD Sempron processor. I'd go with the AMD.

[Astra]

I second Aaron's recommendation. My school laptop is a baby budget Acer running an AMD Sempron 3000+ (the 3000+ means that the processor runs about as efficiently as a 3.0Ghz Intel, although it really runs at a lower speed). It's a good little computer and runs internet and Office applications easily. Only thing it can't do is game well, but most laptops choke on that anyway due to the onboard video chips as opposed to independent video cards.

[wilebill]

You want an Intel Core 2 Duo. If you can afford it, get the 2 Ghz. If you can't, get the 1.8 which drop the price about $200.aaron just wants to play with this one if you get it. :)

[aaron]

aaron just wants to play with this one if you get it. :)

I just got my dad one :)

[carsalesguy]

CB-

I have a toshiba Satelite A85-A. first and last piece that i bought at Best Buy. but that's another topic.

This machine has a Celeron M processor @ 1.4 GHz. i upgraded from the 256 onboard to 512 before i even booted the thing. 15" screen, built in DVD, 4 usb and one PCMCIA. has wireless built in as well as RJ-45 and Cat5 ethernet connections.

absolutely the best portable PC i ever bought. plus, after rebates it was something around $350. i only waited 3 weeks for all the rebates, and it came with a lexmark injet for free that i just gave away......

mine has been dropped, slung, spilled on, taken from indoors to cold outdoors back to cold indoors, and everywhere between. great speakers and graphics for the machine. the keyboard has actual sized keys, and it is easy to type. great feel of response out of the keys, and your fingers aren't cramped up on the keyboards.

i would look for a toshiba each and every time. i've owned compaqs and dells---actually i bought michelle a pent. 4 compaq at a pawn shop for $250. it was a model that we sold at radioshack. twice as thick as this one, but it works great also.

i chose toshiba because of the port where you plug the A/c adapter in. most have the adapter pins soldered into the motherboard. when someone walks buy and jars it, or you accidentally yank on it because you ran out of cord, then it become loose, to the point that it will actually break inside.

toshiba "kinda" solved the problem by separating the jack from the motherboard. when my broke, i took it apart in about 20 mins, hot glued the "jack block" back to the bottom half of the laptop, and it has been fine ever since.

as long as i have been working on computers, i would say toshiba and IBM have been by far the most reliable and durable built PCs out there. i have practically replaced my desktop for this PC.

[carsalesguy]

BTW i take it to work everyday, and with all the travel, it's a little scratched, but never have had a problem yet.