if you are going to use it for playing the sims i would defo go for something with a reasonable ammount of RAM as these games are highly dependant on it and tend to freeze up your putor without it.

you can always buy more from www.crucial.com

WBB

Thanks for the link

cheers

no problem, i have bought RAM twice from crucial, they deliver quickly and are about the cheapest around.

good luck.

anybody got any experience of computer buying in Hong Kong?

I'm travelling via HK and was thinking of buy a name brand laptop there.

any good IT malls like Singapore?

Hi all,

I'm still trying to decide what laptop to buy, when, and where.

Being a techno-ignoramus (think I made that up but at least you'll hopefully know what I mean ) I'm not sure I fully understand the specs I've read on the links people have posted.

So, 1) please can anyone help with suggestions on the best laptop for me according to my requirements below?

The next questions are 2) when and 3) where.

I'm off to Adelaide via Singapore (no stop over though so only duty free shopping available) on a validation trip in February; I'm planning to migrate in August but would ideally like to be back on the internet pretty much immediately for contact with family (and of course you guys!)

So should I buy my laptop in Feb, and if so, here in the UK, in Singapore (outbound), in Aus or Singapore (return)?

Is there anyway I can compare prices before I set off once I've decided on a particular model?

My requirements for a laptop:

Budget - ideally up to £1,000

To run - Word, excel, powerpoint, internet/email. Not games or fancy graphics, maybe straightforward clip art type stuff. Will probably use for study/working from home (if I can work from home) so as an accountant I often need to run spreadsheets and word concurrently, sometimes powerpoint too.

Internet connection - as simple as poss - don't understand wireless/bluetooth/etc

Must be lightweight

Reasonable battery life (no idea what is reasonable though!)

I know I should have worked this out for myself by now but with a million things to sort out before August my head is very muddled!

Thanks for any advice,

Elaine

A consideration with laptops is the warranty. The parts are much more expensive and are often only made by the manufacturer. We use Dell at work and take the 3 year on site with parts. Once you have made it past the clueless Indian call centre the service is good. Batteries should last 4 hours.

www.dell.co.uk
www.dell.com.au

I have a problem with DVD regions and only 5 changes being available on the computer. So easy to use up the changes by playing a new one from the local store, then playing favourite brought from home again.

I've had a look at computer forum comments on ways to get around the regional problem, but what works for one doesn't seem to work for everyone, and some will wreck the computer altogether!

One way to fix it, is to reformat the Hard Drive and then reload everything again. It then resets and gives you 5 again.

I just did it, for a different reason though.

For some DVDs the region code is set in the firmware and no amount of reformatting HDDs will do anything to change that.

for those that need it.

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks

For all the info on region free pc dvd players -

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/articles/region.html


I thank you




Scottm

Try posting this in just under 3 months' time <g>

I would never get something like a computer in HK.

Unless you are very clued up there are all sorts of considerations that, especially when jetlagged, in a hurry and confused by the noise and sales pressure, you can and will miss.

Software, warranty, help backup, price like-for-like are some that spring to mind.

In all likelihood you will end up paying much the same as in Oz or the UK - and will pay Oz customs on top!

Bringing this to the top as I'm still confused

Anyone any suggestions on a good model with international warranty?

Then maybe I'll know what to lok for when comparing prices!

Thanks,

Elaine

TRY GATEWAY, BIG IN OZ AND ALSO OFFER LEASE !!