New Lappy

[RED-DOG]

I need one.

My old one has developed a fault. It seems like a dodgy connection, a dry joint, or perhaps even a crack in the motherboard. Symptoms are zig zag lines/herringbone patterns on the screen. They seem to be triggered by moving or flexing or tapping the computer. but are frustratingly intermittent.

My computer savvy friend has had a look inside the case, but everything seems to be properly plugged in.


Anyway, I will probably buy a new machine. my criteria are...

QUIET: This is a biggie, I hate noisy lappies where a Hoover type fan kicks in every few minutes.

Easily available

Reliable

I would like a big, but conventionally shaped screen. I don't like widescreen for poker, and I don't like that reflective, glass-like finish either.

I don't much fancy Vista and would probably install XP

I will use it for poker, surfing and streaming, as well as photograph manipulation and storage.

Thanks in advance.

[Dingdell]

thinly veiled 'I play a lot of poker' brag post imho.....

[Newmanseye]

PM sent Tom

[Longines]

I would like a big, but conventionally shaped screen. I don't like widescreen for poker, and I don't like that reflective, glass-like finish either.

That's the real biggie. Conventional 4:3 laptops are now rare as rocking horse ****. Your best bet is probably to Google for SXGA+ (1400x1050) and UXGA (1600x1200) and ignore resolutions that start with "W".

[RED-DOG]

I would like a big, but conventionally shaped screen. I don't like widescreen for poker, and I don't like that reflective, glass-like finish either.

That's the real biggie. Conventional 4:3 laptops are now rare as rocking horse ****. Your best bet is probably to Google for SXGA+ (1400x1050) and UXGA (1600x1200) and ignore resolutions that start with "W".

So this (for example) is wide screen? http://www.europc.co.uk/pages/ProductPage.aspx?PID=113517

[Nem]

Buy a Dell.

Longines, what is the difference between a WUXGA screen and a UXGA screen?

[Suited_Jock]

Buy a Dell.

Longines, what is the difference between a WUXGA screen and a UXGA screen?

W = widescreen

[kinboshi]

I would like a big, but conventionally shaped screen. I don't like widescreen for poker, and I don't like that reflective, glass-like finish either.

That's the real biggie. Conventional 4:3 laptops are now rare as rocking horse ****. Your best bet is probably to Google for SXGA+ (1400x1050) and UXGA (1600x1200) and ignore resolutions that start with "W".

So this (for example) is wide screen? http://www.europc.co.uk/pages/ProductPage.aspx?PID=113517

Yes it is.

You'll find that most are now, so really you want to find one with the largest possible resoultion, so that you get as many pixels as possible.

Of course, if you aren't using the laptop 'on the go', you can always purchase separate monitor and run off two screens - which is probably your best bet anyway.

[Grier78]

Just don't get an Advent whatever you do.

[Longines]

So this (for example) is wide screen? http://www.europc.co.uk/pages/ProductPage.aspx?PID=113517

Correct.

"Screen Type: WXGA"
"Video Output / Max Resolution (external): 1280 x 800"

As Jock says, anything starting with a W is widescreen.

[Longines]

As an illustration, www.dabs.com have 350 different laptops for sale.

Only 22 of them have 4:3 screens.

Just 3 of those don't have an XGA (1024x768) screen, a resolution that was current last century...

They are a £1760 Sony (AR71ZU), a £1700 Lenovo (T61P) and a £665 Samsung http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4SSF.

If you play 4 or more tables frequently then more pixels is going to make sense - and in the current market that means widescreen. You can get a WSXGA+ (1680x1050) from around £550 http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4LMZ. WUXGA (1920x1200) laptops are mostly over a grand.

[kinboshi]

The 1680x1050 resolution is good for everything, except multi-tabling on poker rooms that don't allow resizeable tables (and even on those that do).   But like Longines said, unless you go over a grand you aren't going to get one that is 1200 pixels high (which is what you want for multi-tabling) - and the reason they cost that much is probably because of the screens (and they usually have a decent spec in terms of processor, memory, etc. to go with it).

If you wanted to multi-table on the move with no overlap, that's really your only option.  If you don't want to spend that much, and it's not for when you're 'mobile', then getting a second screen for a 'normal' laptop is probably a better bet.

Also, I think a lot (most?) of the higher-end laptops have the reflective screens that you don't like.  They're very nice in the right conditions, but I guess they're no good in the wrong ones such as outside in the blaring sun.

[RED-DOG]

Thanks guys.

Kin. I live in a caravan. No room for a second screen.

Multi-tabling. I actually prefer some overlap so that the tables requiring attention come to the top. What I do like is choice of seating position.

[LLevan]

If buying a Dell, which I would personally recommend as being a reliable sturdy machine, visit their UK website then look for the link to their factory outlet where you will find new machines that were overruns or unwanted by companies at a pretty substantial discount. I think you will find the link you used in original post is probably stock from the factory outlet with the supplier Europc putting on their margin, with Dell buy direct from the manufacturer. Also if buying a Dell the next day business warranty is the dogs bollox if anything goes wrong unlike buying from PC world or elsewhere whos warranty usually means sending your lappy off for 2 to 3 weeks for repair. Dell business warranty sends a man out to your home/business to fix it the next day.

[kinboshi]

Kin. I live in a caravan. No room for a second screen.

It has walls - doesn't it?  Wall-mount the second screen.