Curse

r a m e n x 1 · Jan 23, 2006, 12:49 AM // 00:49

yea...
i didn't know where this topic was supposed to go so i just put it in the spam section
anyways, my parents want to buy a laptop and i didn't know which one was better so i was wondering if you guys can help me
they'll mostly just be going to sites and using the webcam to converse with our relatives
so, here are the 2 laptops
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999948600050004&type=product&pro ductCategoryId=pcmcat39100050016&id=pcmprd48800050 004
and
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/603...opspecs7dz.jpg

oh yea, and you guys can recommend better ones but only if its around 1000 US dollars

oh, and the store has to be in or around los angles

thx guys =]

Argen · Jan 23, 2006, 01:33 AM // 01:33

We'll trying to play Guild Wars on either one would be entertaining... watching your Direct Draw capability implode makes for an interesting trip through Pre-Searing...

Anyways, my personal recommendation is the Gateway offered by Best Buy... if they are not particularly computer savvy, I recommend that they purchase the extended warranty as well or find a relative that offers tech support for free meals. I have seen many people have good luck with Gateways and swear by their warranties which I believe are part of Best Buy's service plan. I know a few people have had complaints with Best Buy techs but in the end the customer normally gets the better end of the deal. I myself have ended up going from a 166 MhZ P1 to 450 MhZ P2 after they "fixed" my PC... back in the day. Its always nice to have someone to go yell at face to face when you have a problem...

Beyond that, the Gateway has the widescreen XGA display which is a plus, and what I have on my laptop.

I'm not sure of Fujitsu's warranty, but I always prefer a manufacturer that I know. And isn't Fujitsu the name of a martial arts style?

Hope this helps!

awesome sauce · Jan 23, 2006, 01:48 AM // 01:48

My favorite computer-store chain is compusa.

Here's a laptop about within your price range that should run gw on medium graphics

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...241&pfp=BROWSE

The bestbuy one you showed was pretty good, but this one has twice as much ram, twice the video memory, and a slightly better processor.

Shortly put... definitely don't but the fijitsu

.

Alias_X · Jan 23, 2006, 02:01 AM // 02:01

Those laptops would play Guild Wars.

I really don't believe in specs or benchmarks, because my computer:
256mb of OLD SLOW RAM
64mb GeForce 2 MX vid card
Intel Pentium 4 1.7ghz processor
should never have been able to run Guild Wars, all the benchmarks said it wouldn't.

I could play it on MAX with that computer.

I upgraded the video card to an ATI Radeon 9550, and now I can play Battlefield 2 on MAX with only lag when I reload sometimes, and perfect on medium.

Screw benchmarks, those should run it... but don't hold me to my word, it is sort of random, if they don't run it, then my computer is insane lol.

Argen · Jan 23, 2006, 02:09 AM // 02:09

I agree with you on the fact that a desktop will run programs that are beyond their capabilities. The primary problem with most laptops is that they have shared video ram... which creates many issues with direct draw. Though its entertaining to see the world flickering and flashing, I believe it would decrease the overall enjoyability.

awesome sauce · Jan 23, 2006, 02:12 AM // 02:12

hmm.. my other computer is similar to yours and it would get 5 frames per second plus some 10 second lag spikes on GW, wierd. I would definitely trust specs over finding a freak computer, lol.

Shattered_Glass · Jan 23, 2006, 04:28 AM // 04:28

well if ur looking at buying a laptop cheap i bought an Inspiron 9300 w/ a 2.13 ghz Pentium M 512 ddr2 ram and a 6800Go, i paid 1200$ for this beast w/ a few dell coupons u should look into this, also the inspirons have nice screens and mine came stock with a 60gig 7200 hd

toric brightblade · Jan 23, 2006, 04:32 AM // 04:32

k, jsut bought a laptop here and it runs GW with literaly no lag. it's a compaq. 512 mb of ram, 128mb ati radeon xtreme graphics, and its great. 800 dollars canadian. enjoy!. (ps, go to staples

)

pegasux · Jan 23, 2006, 01:39 PM // 13:39

I definately would not buy a Dell laptop unless it is the XPS Series. The Insperion line is muddled with cheap unreliable HD's just google it. I have a stack of bad Inspiron HD's behind me. I used to work for Compaq/hp as a windows consultant and let me tell you word around work was NEVER buy a Presario laptop! EVER! ALmast as bad as buying a Dell Inspiron. Presarion laptops do not crash BUT their screens have a bad tendancy to go bad after 2 years. This was 3 years ago though so things may have changed since then. We have Dells, Gateways, Toshiba's, IBM's and Compaq Evo laptops running around here and the most reliable are the IBM's even though they are ugly, then the Compaq Evo's...think they are call NX series now <I've had 3 and they run great...but must be the business line!> then the Gateways, Dell's, then Toshiba's...never ever buy Toshiba guys if you want support. They have a 29 minute limit on ALL calls even if you pick up their most expensive support offering. They WILL hang up on you. Hope that helps.

r a m e n x 1 · Jan 25, 2006, 03:14 AM // 03:14

wow, toshiba ppl are mean >.>
anyways, thx for helping me guys =]

Shattered_Glass · Jan 25, 2006, 05:17 AM // 05:17

alright why would u spend 4,300$ on a xps when my inspiron 9300 costed 1200$ and nowis just as good as a xps

i have 2.13ghz Pentium M and now have installed a 7800GO, yes i had to open the laptop and change a few things and flash with hacked bios, and this laptop thanks to dell has a 7200 rpm 80gig now same as the xps