andy & jayne

Hi there!

We are wanting to purchase a new or used laptop to take with us to Oz. We would only require it for emailing, storing photos, web cam, possibly that SKYPE thing and not much else.

What laptop do you think we need bearing in mind we are coming over to Australia. How many GB?

Thanks for your answers, much appreciated!

Jayne

DunRoaminTheUK

I think the decision to buy or not should hinge on how you answer this question?

"Is the smooth plastic rounded object with two or more clicking panels and a long wire attached to it (a) a foot-pedal or (b) a mouse?"

wargod

furkew

Hi Jayne.

on top of all the helpful comments, I will add my bit

I would recommend for what you are needing the laptop for, second hand should be no problem. The only downfall with second hand can be the battery life. If you are planning to always use it on the mains, again no prob.

Minimum requirements I would say are :

Pentium 3 minimum 800MHZ min
128 MB (256 preferred)
10 gig harddisk ( for photo back up I would suggest buying a portable mini harddisk, which are not too dear now. About 40 - 60 GB)
Windows XP operating system.
CD or DVD burner (for putting photo's on disk.)

Everything else doesnt matter too much. This is a pretty basic laptop, which won't cost too much. If you prefer new, I would say the cheapest from any manufacturer will suffice. They will always be a lot better specs than above. If you are looking at new, built in wireless network is an option that I would recommend for lappys nowadays.

Hope this helps.

Paul.

Scotty123

I would advise getting a Sony Vaio, my family has 4 of them :P and no problems ever.... the look stylish and have good specs... and are also pretty cheap depending on what spec of one u get.

kris maynard

Hi Another techno phobic here

This whole wireless network thing can someone explain please!!

Ie if its wireless will it work virtually anywhere as in if I bought a built in wireless laptop would it work in my house or do I have to have a router or somthing !!!

Sorry I know I sound proper thick!!!(im from essex so its allowed!!)

kris

brian0

Think of a laptop on a wireless data network as the handset of a wireless phone (not a cell phone, but the wireless phones you use in your house). The handset doesn't work without the base station which needs to be plugged into the phone line in your house. The handset is simply a receiver. So, in the same way as you need a base station for your phone you need a wireless access point (WAP) to create the wireless network within your house. Many WAPs are combination router and WAP, which means you can plug wired computer products into them (usually they have 4 ports) and also use them for wireless devices like laptops. They tend to run <$100 US for a 4 port combo router/WAP.

Now, if you were lucky and maybe had clueless neighbours you might be able to get wireless networking for free if your neighbours have a WAP and it is not secured and you live close enough to them. The range on most WAPs tends to be ~100 feet, but that varies depending on how many obstructions the signal has to go through (walls and such).

The big advantage of having wireless in a laptop is if you travel a lot. You can get wireless access in places like airports, some hotels, and many coffee shops these days. Makes accessing email/surfing the web much easier when travelling.

Hope that helps!
Brian

steve`o

this defiantly works when we are all on line ( 3 PC`s in our house ) our connection slows so i connect via next doors broadband

easy peasy

regards Steve

snowbunny

iBook. I'm a computer professional and this is my favourite; but it's also a hell of a lot easier to use than any PC. For the uses you require, you don't need Microsuck/Intel compatibility.

With AppleCare, you get support for everything from user questions to hardware repair. If you truly want easy, this is the way to go.

kris maynard

I now understand !!

Thank you

kris xx

furkew

I agree with you, but as you say you are a computer professional. I recently installed and set up a imac G5 for a friend, and it's the first time i've actually worked with a mac, and I must say I was very very impressed. Only prob is that you need to have a reasonable basic knowledge to work with them. I think that within a couple of weeks, you will have no probs with a mac, but you need to know the basics to get started.

On the wireless subject, I would recommend if you have a wireless modem / router, get somebody local to set up the security options to stop people leeching your connection. (if you know what I mean Steve O )

steve`o

what me
i`m innocent guv onest

furkew

Of course you are sonny.

Now would you just try these bracelets on please.

steve`o

its a fair cop guv
i`ll go back onto my own broadband router

skywalker

Good on yer!
She doesn't need sony vaio, there are cheaper notebooks for what she needs!