Looking at Laptops

[Daniel]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at getting a laptop preferably under $800 and i don't care whether it is second hand (off trade me)
There are a few i am looking at that have Vista. Does FS 8 or 9 work with it? I have heard a few concerns about it.
Can anyone please give me advice on what to get. I probably want a minimum of 60 GB and 512 RAM (i can buy more cheaply) and a 1.7 GHZ processor.
I would use it for FS, Homework and aviation things.

Thanks
Daniel

[Anthony]

Summary, because this post is unnecessarily long:
New: Compaq C731TU from Dick Smith is $750 including cashback. It fits your needs pretty well.
Second hand: Almost anything, but stick to your specs and double check for damage and other things.

Brands to look at: Compaq, HP, IBM, Lenovo
Maybe: Sony, Toshiba, Dell, maybe Samsung
No: Fujitsu, Acer, Gateway, and anything you haven't heard of

Get at least 1 GB (1024 MB) of RAM for Vista.
FS 9 will run on Vista, FS 8 should do.

I would maybe suggest the Asus EEE PC, which is small and cheap (maybe $500 or $600), but not great for gaming/FS.

Post back what you end up buying.

Looking at new laptops, DSE have lots for around $850 from Compaq.
This one (the link will die soon, so it's the Compaq Presario C731TU) is $750 including a $100 cashback. It comes with 512 MB of RAM, but it has an upgrade included in the price for a total of 1 GB.

Specifications:
1.86 GHz Intel Celeron, 1GB RAM total, 80GB HDD, 15.4 inch screen, DVD writer.

The only thing that may stop you for FS is the graphics - it only has the Intel GMA 950, which is rubbish integrated graphics.
FS 8 and FS 9 should run on it, but it might not be particularly great.
Like I think I told you once at school, FS 8 should run pretty much the same like it did on your comp at home.

I have heard occasionally that the Compaq laptops have heat problems, build problems and quality control problems.
Then again, that's only some people's experience, and bad experiences always get more press than good ones so it probably okay.

Second hand, almost anything should be good as your requirements aren't huge, but don't get anything less than what you said.
The thing with computers from TradeMe is to check they haven't been dropped or otherwise damaged, like the owner spilling liquid into the keyboard.
It may not have completely killed it, but it may have damaged it and the warranty will certainly be voided.
Also add the standard warnings about buying anything second hand, blah blah

Having said that, get at least a gig of RAM for Vista - it's a bloated, resource hungry OS at the best of times.
This applies for new laptops too. Windows XP, if you can get it, is better for a lower powered computer.

Brands I have heard bad things about or would stay away from include Acer and maybe even Dell. I personally wouldn't go near Fujitsu, because they just aren't a well known computer manufacturer.
But Compaq and HP are usually pretty good. I haven't heard much about Toshiba, but they're probably okay. Asus is good, and they build a lot of laptops for the other companies anyway. IBM has great build quality, Lenovo is ok, Sony is overpriced but there isn't anything wrong with them.

FS 9 should definitely work with Vista, and I don't see any reason why FS 8 shouldn't although no guarantees.

[brownbox]

for that much money you should be able to pick up something decent. U want atleast 1 gb of ram if its going to have vista on it. Also i wouldnt advise getting a dell. Just keep well away. I had a bad experience previously so yea. You should look for something running xp if you want some good performance on a cheap machine and if you in for something running vista you will want something with a bit more power. Hope this helps

[Kelburn]

Why no to Acer?

They are good.
HP rips you off for their lower model and to an extent Compaq does (you "pay" for the brand name)

Reading the Consumer, Sony was the best (but expensive).
For your needs Compaq will be cheapest but if you go a bit more in $$$ and you should be able to get an Acer or Asus or maybe Toshiba for around the same amount as an HP worth $500 more.

I got FS9 working on this machine:

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefron...uct/View/XC4739

(although this is the newer model of my machine)

How about this one:

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefron...uct/View/XC4118

nvidia graphics, dual core...

or this one:

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefron...uct/View/XC4117

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefron.../View/XC4117RAM

If I were you I'd go for an Acer (though I am loyal since I am a user)

[benwynn]

Acers Suck..Fullstop...

Acers just break down, chunky, heavy, and look bad.

Toshiba invented the Laptop, therefore IMO Make the best laptops.

HP is the same as Compaq now, so Compaq is just the budget HP Market. Good design, not a bad price either.

Perhaps look on trade-me?? On ebay Australia- I can get a brand new Toshiba Tecra A7 (Check out those awesome Specs!!) with Visa Home Premium, for about $900 AUD. Seeing as you guys dont get a good exchange rate, im not sure if you could pick up something similar- But definently check out Toshiba!

Asus- Good Laptops, crappy customer service though. Usually a wee bit expensive too
Sony- Yeah, good laptops aswell- Very Pricey though, not worth it.

BTW- IBM and Lenovo same same now, Crappy laptops though. Well, not as bad as acer

[Daniel]

Ended up getting a Compaq with a 1.73 MHZ processor, 80 GB Hardrive and 512 RAM.
I will probably buy another 512 of RAM to speed things up. It's running Vista home basic.
I also managed to get FS2004 working great on it. Thanks for the advice guys.

[benwynn]

Hey Daniel,

is that a Celeron or a core 2/duo processor? Yeah, 1GB minimum for Vista, Ram is really cheap these days- So try and go for 2GB if you can part with the extra.

[Daniel]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Jul 7 2008, 08:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Daniel,

is that a Celeron or a core 2/duo processor? Yeah, 1GB minimum for Vista, Ram is really cheap these days- So try and go for 2GB if you can part with the extra.

It's a Celeron processor. Does the job fine.
When I have a bit more money I will get a bit of RAM
Might look at putting it up to 2GB rather than 1 GB.

[benwynn]

How Much did you pay Daniel?? Celeron is really old technology- Core 2 Duo is the way to go now. Celeron is just so much slower!

Celeron also uses more battery power.

[Daniel]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Jul 8 2008, 08:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How Much did you pay Daniel?? Celeron is really old technology- Core 2 Duo is the way to go now. Celeron is just so much slower!

Celeron also uses more battery power.

$460 with a laptop bag and wireless mouse.
FS2004 works fantastic. I first didn't think the graphics would survive.

[benwynn]

for $460 mate, thats a bargin

Yeah, FS2004 works fine on all my laptops that just have graphics accelerators (integrated) I think FSX would die on it though

[Anthony]

Celeron might be old, but it's fine for this sort of application in my opinion.
Especially for less than $500 it's pretty good.

If you put it up to 2GB, try and get dual channel RAM, which is where the RAM is a matched pair - two 1 GB sticks of the same model, timings, etc.. It's not necessary but it certainly doesn't hurt.
Under certain circumstances, dual channel RAM can improve performance slightly and it helps with the integrated graphics on low end laptops.
This is because the integrated graphics accelerators like the Intel GMA950 or X3100 share the same RAM as the rest of the system and their performance can be increased marginally with dual channel RAM.

[brownbox]

celerons are fine for fs9. Its fs x that needs better cpus. Hey did u get that real cheap acer laptop thats for sale everywhere? If so thats a great machine

[Ian Warren]

can i ask .. ? A laptop is designed for biz ? .. not really designed for FS9/FSX are they ....

[creator2003]

Pretty true though you cant tell some people that ,i have a good friend that went out and got the best of the best laptop even with higher specs than my desktop to mount in his patrol car in the US ,LOL yes he even has a ps2 under the seat and the rudder pedals in the boot next to the heavy ammo and road spikes ,anyway he trys to run FSX and can never get what we can on our desktops ,they are for business not really for Fsims ..
ill try get a pic of his full setup next time we talk ,its one of those priceless shots


LOL you can imagine what that looks like with fsx joystick and rudder pedals in the front seat ,,we are trying to get him to mount a cam up to the laptop so we can see him do his car chases ,we can only hear them due to the bluetooth

now laptops are ok for these type of things

[Ian Warren]

JEEPERS CREEPERS .. i new what i was talking about .. but did not realize I NEW what i was talking about .. ha ha .... maybe

[creator2003]

Nah lol i think you do i got a laptop from OZ and there is just no way id ever run FSim on it ,i got it for editing photos out after doing photo shoots and making sure thats the ones i wanted ,as for everything else ill leave that to my mean machine ,
Id say laptops are for those who have 4 biz/school / limited space or just like a i pod or phone want one because everyone else has one ,i know mine was just because i wanted one ,didnt really need it dont really use it but its nice to have one

oh i payed $0 dollars for it anyway was a hand me down so i cant really talk about the costs of having to buy one ,but if i did have to id still invest it to a desktop instead ..
Ah im sure we all went into this with BB back in the day and im sure he ended up with a desktop in the end ?

[HardCorePawn]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jul 8 2008, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

can i ask .. ? A laptop is designed for biz ? .. not really designed for FS9/FSX are they ....

Not necessarily... true, most laptops are aimed at biz, but there are gaming laptops... it is the reason why nVidia and ATI created the mobile graphics ranges... they are quite expensive for a decent one, but more than capable of running games...

FSX on the other hand... well, nothing is really capable of running FSX to its full potential

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (HardCorePawn @ Jul 9 2008, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FSX on the other hand... well, nothing is really capable of running FSX to its full potential

Then on saying that .. when a system with all the bells and whistles comes out to run FSX Microsoft will release their new version of Flightsim FS11 the best one yet !

round and round and round and

[Daniel]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jul 9 2008, 12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Then on saying that .. when a system with all the bells and whistles comes out to run FSX Microsoft will release their new version of Flightsim FS11 the best one yet !

round and round and round and

Heck the system requirements will be crazy for FS11
Just imagine what FSX is currently doing to our computers currently and what it will be like with FS11.