Laptop advice please!

TheSwede · 28 Oct 2009 at 01:44

Hi all,

Thinking about getting myself a laptop and like the specs on these two, but since I am a total n00b when it comes to laptops, I thought I ask you guys here since some of you are experts!

Acer AS8930G
Intel Core2 Duo processor T6600
3GB RAM
320GB Hard Drive
18.4-in Full HD 1080p Acer CineCrystal LCD
4x Blu-Ray Combo
NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT
DVB-TV Tuner + Remote
Finger print reader
Full HD
HD webcam
Windows Vista Home Premium

HP DV7-2045EA
AMD Turion Ultra ZM-84 processor
ATI Radeon HD4530 graphics
Integrated WiFi
4GB of RAM
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
250GB (5400 RPM) hard drive
DVD RW Super Multi Drive with Lightscribe
17.3in display

Which one of the above two would you pick, or would you choose something else entirely? I will be using it for the normal stuff, browsing, some work (word mostly, maybe some basic web design), some gaming i.e. SimCity4, AoE III and similar, plus watching movies away from home (mostly when working nights since the TV selection is crap during nights!)

If anyone has other suggetsions, I am all ear, but would prefer a minimum of 2GB memory, 250GB HDD, 15inch screen (preferably 17' or 18'). ohhh and decent battery life, although I guess most new ones these days has that!

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions/advice!

Edit: Forgot to ask, even if the laptop is supplied with a Vista OS, you can get that upgraded to a Windows 7 OS instead, right?!?

TheSwede · 28 Oct 2009 at 19:37

Hmmm after been looking around a bit more it does seem like Acer has bad customer service.. I appreciate your advices about the Dell, only trouble is that the only time I had a laptop in the past I was recommended Dell, bought one but when I had trouble with it their customer support was awful.. then again that's 9 years ago so it probably has changed by now.. ohh and it was in another country as well! In the end I bought a Compaq for my trip...

I did like the specs in the Acer as well, was actually leaning towards it before your comments here.. seems like it will be the HP.. unless I do go for Dell instead.. *sigh* Why can't it never be straight forward and easy?

To make it more confusing, what about the Samsung, are they any good? And compared with the HP, which one is the better one?

Samsung R720
Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 processor
4Gb DDR2 RAM
320Gb SATA hard drive
17.3in LED HD+ (1600 x 900, 16:9) display
Bluray read and DVD multi R/W drive
ATI Radeon HD4330 512Mb graphics
1.3Mp webcam
802.11 b/g/n MIMO WiFi
4USB
3-in-1 slot
HDMI
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Sorry for forgetting the budget last time.. uhmm would prefer not to have to go over £700 but might if its tempting enough!

TheSwede · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:29

Thanks for your advice iaind, still not decided yet.. in regards to the RPM on the HDD, not sure if I will be effected that much but will bare it in mind.. might upgrade to a new HDD later on and if so get a 7200RPM one..

Got another question in regards to laptops.. trying to figure out which one is the better card between a ATI Radeon HD4530/HD4330 (guessing the 4530 is slightly better then the 4330, no?) and a GeForce 9300M GS graphics card.. any ideas? :confused:

TheSwede · 28 Oct 2009 at 22:58

Thanks iaind, so according to that site both the ATI cards are better then the nVidia.. hmmm interesting.. and on a sire note.. the Acer graphics card comes on 42th place at the same site.. but then again, by the sounds of things their build quality is not the best.. Seems like it will be the HP then by looks of things..

Ohhh if I do get the HP which has a normal DVD drive, can I on a later date change it to a BlueRay drive? I know with RAM and HDD's I can.. not sure about the drives though..

Edit: Forgot to ask, when it comes to battery life.. is more cells better? An example is the HP has a 8-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery and the Samsung has a 6 Cell (something, don't say on their website..) but would I be correct to assume that the battery life on the HP would be better?!?