Remember last summer? I helped a guy and his wife buy an S.U.V.? No?
Anyway. Well I got a call from him. Seems that he's very happy with the Lexus truck I helped him buy and wanted to put my skills to work on a different scale.
Seems his young cousin (17 yrs young to be exact) has come to town in order to spend her spring break with some family. Turns out her PC at home is an old fart and she badly needs some new computing power for her school work.
So, he's hired me to help her find a laptop.
Trick: She leaves in 2 days.
Shite! She lives in Montreal.
Eff Me!! She had saved only $500 to go towards this thing.
Okay. So the problem here also becomes that I can't use as many of my online resources and troll for a great refurbished deal because of worries over lmited warranties and such so far away from home.. We couldn't order a laptop online and recieve it on time for her to go back to school.
Our best bet was to go local.
This couldn't be so bad (or so I thought).
My first task was to chat her up a bit. Get to see what her interests were and exactly how powerful a computer she would need. I found out 4 very important things:
1. She was into photography
2. She loved to write
3. She spent LOTS of time on Facebook
4. She wanted her new computer... to be pink. (Ugh!)
In talking with her, I found that I was thoroughly impressed with this young lady. I mean, she was brilliant. She could have a conversation that would put most people to shame. This girl could run a country with what she knew of history, economics... social sciences. I suppose the Candadians seem to be doing something right.
After getting to know her, I felt like she deserved something great.
So... Off I went to do some research.
What I found was a little disappointing. Unlike the summer before, many laptop prices had gone north. Be it because of new technology, (Dual-Core processors) or because of high sales (tax refunds were starting to hit bank accounts. This was going to be no easy task.
I searched a handful sites for local stores and came up with 3 low cost options at 3 local chain stores that would do a good job of suiting her needs. We took a trip to all 3 stores so that she could get some hands on.
Option 1. Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804 15.4” Laptop $499
Mid-size laptop: The Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804 is a mid-size laptop, with above-average processing power and everything most people need for basic computing, entertainment and online communication. This model features a powerful dual-core processor as well as premium features such as a DVD SuperMulti drive and Windows Vista Home Premium.
Dual core processing: The 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 processor has two processing engines that work in tandem, providing much more power than traditional 1.6GHz single-core models.
· This laptop features 1GB of DDR2 system memory—enough to handle everyday computing needs. DDR2 is slightly faster than DDR, the previous standard in system memory.
· Data travels to the processor along the frontside bus. The faster data travels, the faster everything works. This laptop features a 533MHz frontside bus.
· Processors search for the same data over and over. L2 caches keep this data neat, organized, and nearby so it can be retrieved more quickly. This 1MB cache gives the processor a little boost.
Hard drive: This hard drive features a 120GB capacity—more than enough storage space for the average user. This drive’s data disks spin at 4200rpm. The faster they spin, the faster the data is read and written.
Go wireless: Built-in 802.11g wireless LAN gives you a fast connection to a wide range of networks and peripherals. 802.11g is backwards-compatible with 802.11b, so you can connect using the two most popular wireless standards.
DVD SuperMulti drive: Use this drive to burn DVDs and CDs to share your files, music mixes or home movies. You can even burn DVD-RAM discs—specially-formatted discs that let you drag and drop, or write and rewrite your files up to 100,000 times.
Widescreen display: This laptop features a bright 15.4" high-definition widescreen display with 1280 x 800 pixel (WXGA) resolution. Your documents and movies will look fantastic.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium: Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for homes with advanced computer needs. And Vista Premium features the elegant new Aero interface. You’ll be able to use your laptop more effectively and enjoy new entertainment experiences—all with the benefit of added security and reliability.
Audio/Video: This laptop features Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 and 251MB of shared video memory, which is drawn from the main system memory. This video memory is perfect for everyday activities like casual movie watching or gaming. The built-in stereo speakers give your multimedia some extra kick.
ExpressCard/54 slot: This laptop supports ExpressCard, an emerging standard in smaller, faster PC card solutions. This slot is compatible with ExpressCard/54 as well as ExpressCard/34—use it to add memory, graphics upgrades, security devices and more.
Average Customer Service Rating: 4.2 Stars
I tried to like this computer. I really did. It’s like this laptop wants to be cute, but it just can’t. Like the designers seem to be nearsighted. It looks like it was put together with spare parts from the Apple and Dell reject bin.
Powerwise. It was only O.K.
The 15.4 inch screen was perfect. However, it only had 1GB of RAM only upgradable to 2GB, most if not all of which would be used up by Vista. And to be honest, for a young college student photographer? Without a external drive? She would be through.
I wouldn’t use this, plus it was barely under her budget. She’d have to upgrade in only a couple of years. She agreed.
Next!
Option 2: Compaq Presario F750US 15.4" Widescreen Laptop $499
Features
Mid-size laptop: The Compaq Presario F750US is a mid-size laptop, with above-average processing power and everything most people need for basic computing, entertainment and online communication. This model features a powerful dual-core processor as well as premium features including a SuperMulti drive to burn DVDs and CDs, DVD Play for entertainment at the touch of a button and Windows Vista Home Premium.
Dual core/64-bit processing: This laptop features the dual-core 1.9GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 processor. The Athlon 64 X2 has two processing engines that work together, giving this processor much more power than standard 1.9GHz processors. This processor is also capable of processing 64 bits of information at once, twice as much as older 32-bit processors.
· This laptop features 1GB of DDR2 system memory—enough for all but the most demanding users, gamers and multimedia professionals. DDR2 is slightly faster than DDR, the previous standard in system memory.
· HyperTransport technology works like a fully-integrated frontside bus that increases bandwidth, reduces bottlenecks and enables processors to work more efficiently.
· Processors search for the same data over and over. L2 caches keep this data neat, organized, and nearby so it can be retrieved more quickly. This 512KB cache gives the processor a little boost.
Hard drive: This hard drive features a 120GB capacity—more than enough storage space for the average user. This drive’s data disks spin at 5400rpm. The faster they spin, the faster the data is read and written.
Go wireless: Built-in 802.11g wireless LAN gives you a fast connection to a wide range of networks and peripherals. 802.11g is backwards-compatible with 802.11b, so you can connect using the two most popular wireless standards.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium: Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for homes with advanced computer needs. And Vista Premium features the elegant new Aero interface. You’ll be able to use your laptop more effectively and enjoy new entertainment experiences—all with the benefit of added security and reliability.
DVD SuperMulti drive: Use this drive to burn DVDs and CDs to share your files, music mixes or home movies. You can even burn DVD-RAM discs—specially-formatted discs that let you drag and drop, or write and rewrite your files up to 100,000 times.
Widescreen display: This laptop features a gorgeous 15.4" high-definition widescreen display with 1280 x 800 pixel (WXGA) resolution.
Audio/video: This laptop features NVIDIA GeForce 7000M graphics and 287MB of shared video memory, which is drawn from the main system memory. This video memory is perfect for everyday activities like casual movie watching or gaming. The built-in Altec Lansing speakers provide compelling 3D sound.
DVD Play: This feature lets you enjoy DVDs and digital music at the touch of a button.
Stylish design: This laptop delivers a striking design whose overall rectilinear shape is repeated in patterns throughout the system, from the cut-out speaker grill to the vents on the bottom casing. With this handsome surface that resembles matte steel, this laptop stands apart.
Average Customer Service Rating: 4.4 Stars
Like the above. it was underpowered. Style wise, I did like it. It was simple and understated in a masculine sort of way. Yep! She hated it.
Option 3: Acer Aspire AS4720-4721 14.1" Widescreen Laptop $529
Thin-and-light: The Acer Aspire AS4720-4721 is a thin-and-light laptop, at 5.4 pounds and built to travel. This laptop includes premium features such as a DVD SuperMulti drive, media card reader, built-in webcam and Windows Vista Home Premium.
Dual core processing: The 1.66GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2330 processor has two processing engines that work in tandem, providing much more power than traditional 1.66GHz single-core models.
· This laptop features 1GB of DDR2 system memory—enough to easily handle everyday activities. DDR2 is slightly faster than DDR, the previous standard in system memory.
· Data travels to the processor along the frontside bus. The faster data travels, the faster everything works. This laptop features a 533MHz frontside bus.
· Processors search for the same data over and over. L2 caches keep this data neat, organized, and nearby so it can be retrieved more quickly. This 1MB cache gives the processor a little boost.
Hard drive: This hard drive features a 160GB capacity—more than enough storage space for the average multimedia collection. This drive’s data disks spin at 5400rpm. The faster they spin, the faster the data is read and written.
Go wireless: Built-in 802.11g wireless LAN gives you a fast connection to a wide range of networks and peripherals. 802.11g is backwards-compatible with 802.11b, so you can connect using the two most popular wireless standards.
DVD SuperMulti drive: Use this drive to burn DVDs and CDs to share your files, music mixes or home movies. You can even burn DVD-RAM discs—specially-formatted discs that let you drag and drop, or write and rewrite your files up to 100,000 times.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium: This is the operating system for homes with advanced computer needs. And Vista Home Premium features the elegant new Aero interface. You’ll be able to use your laptop more effectively and enjoy new entertainment experiences—all with the benefit of added security and reliability.
Widescreen display: This laptop features a bright 14.1" high-definition widescreen display with 1280 x 800 pixel (WXGA) resolution.
Video memory: This laptop features Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 and 358MB of shared video memory, which is drawn from the main system memory. This video memory is perfect for everyday activities like casual movie watching or gaming.
Media card reader: Seamlessly transfer images from your digital camera or camcorder. This 5-in-1 reader is compatible with Secure Digital, xD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and MultiMedia Card.
ExpressCard/54 slot: This laptop supports ExpressCard, an emerging standard in smaller, faster PC card solutions. This slot is compatible with ExpressCard/54 as well as ExpressCard/34—use it to add memory, graphics upgrades, security devices and more.
Built-in camera/mic: Stay connected to family, friends or business associates wherever you go. Video chatting face-to-face is easy with the integrated Acer CrystalEye webcam featuring Acer PrimaLite technology and a built-in microphone.
Average Customer Service Rating: 4.4 Stars
She liked it. It was pretty in a clean white feminine sort of way. It had a bit larger hard drive which was good. But to be honest, she really didn’t love it. Plus, it was over budget.
Well, when it came time for us to decide, this is what we chose.
The Winner?
The HP Pavilion DV6701US 15.4" Widescreen Laptop $599
Features
Mid-size notebook: The HP Pavilion dv6701us is a mid-size laptop that will provide everything most people need for basic computing, entertainment and online communication. This model features a powerful dual-core processor and premium features such as a DVD SuperMulti drive, a built-in webcam and Windows Vista Home Premium.
Dual core/64-bit processing: The 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 processor has two processing engines that work in tandem, providing much more power than traditional 1.6GHz single-core models.
This notebook features 2GB of DDR2 system memory—enough for all but the most demanding users, gamers and multimedia professionals. DDR2 is slightly faster than DDR, the previous standard in system memory. Data travels to the processor along the frontside bus. The faster data travels, the faster everything works. This laptop features a 533MHz frontside bus.
Processors search for the same data over and over. L2 caches keep this data neat, organized, and nearby so it can be retrieved more quickly. This 1MB cache gives the processor a little boost.
Hard drive: This hard drive features a 160GB capacity
Widescreen display: 15.4" high-definition widescreen display with 1280 x 800 pixel (WXGA) resolution.
Audio/video: This laptop features Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 and 358MB of shared video memory, which is drawn from the main system memory.
Media card reader: This 5-in-1 reader is compatible with Secure Digital, xD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and MultiMedia Card.
ExpressCard/54 slot: This notebook supports ExpressCard, an emerging standard in smaller, faster PC card solutions. This slot is also compatible ExpressCard/34—use it to add memory, graphics upgrades, security devices and more.
Average Customer Service Rating: 4.5 Stars
Yea. I know, I know. This isn’t one of the three laptops we considered above.
Here’s what went down.
I called the cousin that referred me. I let him know that for the money, I wasn’t happy with any of the choices that were available out there. Not for her. He said he would contact me in a little while with a solution.
When he called back, he advised that he and another cousin would be putting in an additional. Wait for it… Wait for it.. $250 towards the purchase of the computer and the young ladies mom has offered to put in half.
In the end, that meant that Brainiac only had to put in $100 of her own cash!
Wow. That worked out great. I love it when a plan comes together.
The only thing is... It's not pink. All of the pink PC's available (in store) were waaay out of her price range. I suggested that she chose something different to get her pink style.
Remember these?
Hmmm. Nyce! I want one of these for my PC.
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