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Laptop Goodness

Discussion in 'General Open/Public Discussion' started by Strygun, 18 May 2006.


Page 3 of 4
  1. Daleon

    Daleon

    I would spend some time over the weekend at best buy, circuit city, etc checking out some models. I've never used a tablet before so I don't know what it feels like writing on one and how good the recognition is. I know my hand writing so bad enough to never bother with using it.
     
    Daleon, 26 May 2006
    #41
  2. Strygun

    Strygun

    Anyone see any problems with this?

     
    Strygun, 28 May 2006
    #42
  3. Aeternus

    Aeternus DragonWolf

    see if u can't upgrade the OS to XP Pro...

    other that that it looks good to me :) :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: 28 May 2006
    Aeternus, 28 May 2006
    #43
  4. Sentrosi

    Sentrosi Protocol Officer Officer

    Officer
    I agree. If you can upgrade the os to XP Pro then I say go for it. It's not a deal breaker, but it would be really nice to have XP Pro in your lappy.
     
    Sentrosi, 29 May 2006
    #44
  5. Strygun

    Strygun

    oh yeah, XP pro isn't a problem. What's the difference, though?

    Also, I have a choice to make: I can either go with 1 100GB 7200RPM hard drive, or I can get 2 100GB 5400RPM hard drives. IMO, I can just stick with the 100gb... maybe if I had Windows XP Media Center and the TV tuner thing, i'd get more space to record shows... (which man, I really want to do...)
     
    Last edited: 29 May 2006
    Strygun, 29 May 2006
    #45
  6. Aeternus

    Aeternus DragonWolf

    i'd stick with the 7200 rpm...if u really want more storage space...see if u can get an external HD, or try to use that double layer burner to greatest advantage for data storage/backup
     
    Aeternus, 29 May 2006
    #46
  7. Strygun

    Strygun

    i'm pretty close to buying this laptop. The only reservation that I have is that its an HP, but, well, maybe that's OK. The warranty looks solid.

    Ohhhh I'm so close! Any other comments?
     
    Strygun, 29 May 2006
    #47
  8. ChrisMOG

    ChrisMOG

    ChrisMOG, 30 May 2006
    #48
  9. Daleon

    Daleon

    How much does that last HP spec cost?

    They don't offer a XP Media Center and Tuner\TV version?

    I still personally like the XPS's alot. But a comparable one with a T2600, 2 Gigs of ram, 100 gig 7200 rpm drive, better video though would be around $3700. Probably a big difference and would only have 1yr warranty, which these things usually break right after that first year.
     
    Daleon, 30 May 2006
    #49
  10. Strygun

    Strygun

    Yeah, they do have a media center/tv tuner option. I just don't know if I should get it. Would it really be worth it? And do I really need windows media center?
     
    Strygun, 30 May 2006
    #50
  11. Strygun

    Strygun

    Ok, sorry for the double post but it wouldn't be smart to edit the previous post.


    I've kind of been looking at Windows Media Center a little more. I think it would be really cool to be able to watch TV on my laptop in my dorm room, especially if my roommate is watching something I don't want to. It is also basically a DVR. (Which is really cool, never had that before.) I'm just worried that because it's media center, that it will bog down my PC with lots of unneeded programs. Also, because it's Media Center, would that keep me from games or anything? Like.. I've never seen on a game's system requirements list that Windows XP Media Center is listed. It's always just Windows XP Home/Professional. Weigh in please!

    My only concern is this: Would recording TV shows on my laptop require me to get a larger/dual hard drives? Or could I get by with just burning them to DVDs? I mean... it seems like it would be much easier to just store it on the laptop.

    Specific question for Marsman: would it be plausible to record the shows and then reencode them in NSV (or something similar) to make them a lot smaller? Also... can TV shows be compressed using something like WinZip or WinRAR? Would that help?

    What do you guys think about the DVR option. It seems really cool and convenient, especially for a college student. The only thing is I guess I would have to get a coax splitter from the wall, one to the TV and one to the TV tuner in my laptop.


    Technical stuff for Mars (or others):
     
    Last edited: 31 May 2006
    Strygun, 31 May 2006
    #51
  12. Marsman

    Marsman

    Sure you could. I doubt you'd gain much savings from trying to zip or rar however as the video compression already has the data pretty tightly packed. Re-encoding would be the only real option there for saving space. As for the Media Center - you shouldn't run into any compatability issues. It's basically XP with extras specifically designed for multimedia such as tuner support, etc...
     
    Marsman, 31 May 2006
    #52
  13. Strygun

    Strygun

    Is getting this tv tuner from HP and forcing MCE going to be the best option? I did a google search for analog tv tuners and there are lots out there, apparently a lot that don't require MCE, either.

    If I were to buy the tv tuner from HP (the one that requires a coaxial cable hookup..) I could then just buy an analog antenna and hook it into that too, right? So I could plug it up in my dorm and then take the antenna with me when I'm not in the dorm?
     
    Strygun, 1 Jun 2006
    #53
  14. Daleon

    Daleon

    From what I can tell there is not a lot of difference with MCE. You get a MCE eicon that takes you into a suite of apps it appears. Rest of it just looks like XP. If it ties into the tuner a little more natively I'd get it as a package.
     
    Daleon, 2 Jun 2006
    #54
  15. Strygun

    Strygun

    Yeah I think I'm going to buy this laptop. TODAY!!! yeahhhhhhh
     
    Strygun, 2 Jun 2006
    #55
  16. Strygun

    Strygun

    Still havn't bought it... it's a tough purchase.

    I've come up with one more question:
    Here's a listing of all ports on the laptop:
    1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
    1 Type I/II 32-bit card bus (also support 16-bit)
    1 IEEE 1394 Firewire Port
    4 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0)
    TV-Out (S-video)
    Integrated Consumer IR (remote control receiver)
    Microphone in
    1 RJ-11 (modem)
    1 Expansion Port 2 Connector
    1 RJ -45 (LAN)
    1 VGA port



    My question is.. where is the headphones/sound out port? Surely it has headphone/sound out support......tell me it's true!
     
    Strygun, 3 Jun 2006
    #56
  17. Marsman

    Marsman

    Gheesh I would expect it would - mic in mentioned, hard to believe there is no headphone out - that's pretty much standard.
     
    Marsman, 3 Jun 2006
    #57
  18. Strygun

    Strygun

    Well, I think that's it then. I'm going to order it. The ONLY downside I now have with it is that it's 8.1lbs. Still, that's carryable and with a backpack that's not so bad.

    Here goes nothing!
     
    Strygun, 3 Jun 2006
    #58
  19. Aeternus

    Aeternus DragonWolf

    GL :)
     
    Aeternus, 3 Jun 2006
    #59
  20. Strygun

    Strygun

    IT IS FINISHED! AHHHHHHH IT'S DONE!

    :eek: :D :cool: :p :ralf: :thumbsup: :jawdrop: :ayb: :rofl: :lol: :asmo: popcorn: :hi: :moon: :hamma: :groovy:
     
    Strygun, 3 Jun 2006
    #60
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