Laptop recommendations.

Laptop recommendations:

The wife needs a new laptop used mainly for Internet and online low-res
gaming (java board games *not* Duke nukem and the like) along with the
occasional home business app. Word processor & spread sheet can be had
for free so pre-loaded MS stuff isnt' needed here. It must run Windows
as she seems allergic to Linux and is about as far from a techie as one
can get.

I really don't want to spend more than $500 and she prefers a medium
sized comp in the 14" range as its almost always on her lap rather than
on a desk. She says the 15.6+ sizes are too large and the 10" notebooks
too small.

Good battery life is a concern but more importantly strong WIFI
reception as she is normally uses it on the floor above the home WIFI
modem. I had to hook up a USB antenna receiver to her current laptop (an
old Dell) to get acceptable reception. That can be pain on a laptop as
the antenna is always in the way and prone to getting knocked out of the
port.

A responsive keyboard and mouse pad are also concerns.

Win7 PRO is preferred by me (the reluctant administrator) but I suppose
I could settle for home premium. 4GB RAM seems to the sweet spot for
that operating system. A method of reloading Windows is an absolute must
as she knows nor cares much about viruses (despite my lamentations) and
is usually online 4+ hours per day.

If I can get it for $400 then I could get a backup enclosure & hard
drive for use on both of our comps, so Estata capability to match my
work station would be a plus!

A high density (4GB) smart card port for transferring pictures from
cameras is also a need. Yea, I have a USB adapter but the little bugger
seems to either be hiding somewhere about the house -or- left at home
when she and the computer are out.

To reiterate:

1. 14" laptop
2. Win7 w/ 4GB RAM
3. Esata port
4. HD camera card port
5. Quality keyboard and mouse pad
6. Excellent WIFI reception.
7. Average (business range) graphics and processor.
8. Better than average battery life (4+ hours).
9 $500 or less.
10. And of course the usual accessories like a CD/DVD burner/reader,
USB2 ports, etc.

Any satisfied consumers out there using recently purchased
lappies/notebooks that could satisfy most or all of the above criteria?

Thanks,
John

John wrote:

I really don't want to spend more than $500 and she prefers a medium
sized comp in the 14" range as its almost always on her lap rather than
on a desk. She says the 15.6+ sizes are too large and the 10" notebooks
too small.

Those were my sentiments the last time I was shopping initially for a
netbook but then as small a LT as I could find on sale because I wanted
an optical drive and a bigger keyboard than that for 10".

At that time I was able to find a 14" on sale. I haven't seen a 14" on
sale for a long long time. They are all 15.6. My local Fry's has one of
those today for $258.

Here's the particulars from the Fry's onine where it is unavailable.

http://www.frys.com/product/6568093?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

What I would consider its negatives are the larger size incl 5.5# and
only 2G ram.

You will be doing pretty well if you find 14" and 4G ram and eSATA for
$500, because you will be eliminating a lot of competition at the lower
prices with those requirements.


--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
John wrote:

I really don't want to spend more than $500 and she prefers a medium
sized comp in the 14" range

You will be doing pretty well if you find 14" and 4G ram and eSATA for
$500, because you will be eliminating a lot of competition at the lower
prices with those requirements.

I guess I was wrong about that, because it seems pretty easy to do.

While I was at the Fry's site to give the link to their storefront sale
item, I flipped over to the 14" LTs and found $500 refurbed HP with your
other specs of 4G ram and eSATA.

http://www.frys.com/product/6531503?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG


--
Mike Easter

On Jun 24, 8:07*pm, John wrote:


Any satisfied consumers out there using recently purchased
lappies/notebooks that could satisfy most or all of the above criteria?

Thanks,
John

I like the Lenovo ThinkPad. They are not fancy, but get the job done
and you can pick one up for about $400. The screen is actually around
16".

Your wife is smart about Windows 7 vs. the hobbyware Linux.

RL

On 06/24/2011 02:19 PM, RayLopez99 wrote:
On Jun 24, 8:07 pm, wrote:


Any satisfied consumers out there using recently purchased
lappies/notebooks that could satisfy most or all of the above criteria?

Thanks,
John

I like the Lenovo ThinkPad. They are not fancy, but get the job done
and you can pick one up for about $400. The screen is actually around
16".

Your wife is smart about Windows 7 vs. the hobbyware Linux.

RL

Do you infest every news group with your hatred of Linux?

Please do not reply because then I will need to kill file you and will
not see your more entertaining gaffs.

John

On 06/24/2011 01:52 PM, Mike Easter wrote:
John wrote:

I really don't want to spend more than $500 and she prefers a medium
sized comp in the 14" range as its almost always on her lap rather
than on a desk. She says the 15.6+ sizes are too large and the 10"
notebooks too small.

Those were my sentiments the last time I was shopping initially for a
netbook but then as small a LT as I could find on sale because I wanted
an optical drive and a bigger keyboard than that for 10".

At that time I was able to find a 14" on sale. I haven't seen a 14" on
sale for a long long time. They are all 15.6. My local Fry's has one of
those today for $258.

Here's the particulars from the Fry's onine where it is unavailable.

http://www.frys.com/product/6568093?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

What I would consider its negatives are the larger size incl 5.5# and
only 2G ram.

You will be doing pretty well if you find 14" and 4G ram and eSATA for
$500, because you will be eliminating a lot of competition at the lower
prices with those requirements.



I can live without the esata but 14" is what she wants.

On Jun 24, 11:52*pm, John wrote:

Do you infest every news group with your hatred of Linux?

Please do not reply because then I will need to kill file you and will
not see your more entertaining gaffs.

John

Shutup. Kill file me you communist. Linux lovers are all commies.

RL

On 06/24/2011 01:07 PM, John wrote:
Laptop recommendations:

The wife needs a new laptop used mainly for Internet and online low-res
gaming (java board games *not* Duke nukem and the like) along with the
occasional home business app. Word processor & spread sheet can be had
for free so pre-loaded MS stuff isnt' needed here. It must run Windows
as she seems allergic to Linux and is about as far from a techie as one
can get.

I really don't want to spend more than $500 and she prefers a medium
sized comp in the 14" range as its almost always on her lap rather than
on a desk. She says the 15.6+ sizes are too large and the 10" notebooks
too small.

Good battery life is a concern but more importantly strong WIFI
reception as she is normally uses it on the floor above the home WIFI
modem. I had to hook up a USB antenna receiver to her current laptop (an
old Dell) to get acceptable reception. That can be pain on a laptop as
the antenna is always in the way and prone to getting knocked out of the
port.

A responsive keyboard and mouse pad are also concerns.

Win7 PRO is preferred by me (the reluctant administrator) but I suppose
I could settle for home premium. 4GB RAM seems to the sweet spot for
that operating system. A method of reloading Windows is an absolute must
as she knows nor cares much about viruses (despite my lamentations) and
is usually online 4+ hours per day.

If I can get it for $400 then I could get a backup enclosure & hard
drive for use on both of our comps, so Estata capability to match my
work station would be a plus!

A high density (4GB) smart card port for transferring pictures from
cameras is also a need. Yea, I have a USB adapter but the little bugger
seems to either be hiding somewhere about the house -or- left at home
when she and the computer are out.

To reiterate:

1. 14" laptop
2. Win7 w/ 4GB RAM
3. Esata port
4. HD camera card port
5. Quality keyboard and mouse pad
6. Excellent WIFI reception.
7. Average (business range) graphics and processor.
8. Better than average battery life (4+ hours).
9 $500 or less.
10. And of course the usual accessories like a CD/DVD burner/reader,
USB2 ports, etc.

Any satisfied consumers out there using recently purchased
lappies/notebooks that could satisfy most or all of the above criteria?

Thanks,
John


Found one and bought it at $610 w/shipping. Best price I could find
unfortunately. But it has everything I and more importantly my wife
wanted. Its a 6GB I5 Dell and very quick for a laptop. The screen is
smaller (14") than I would want but she is pleased with it.

Thanks for your input,

John