Which of these two notebooks?

PMKeates · 2 Nov 2006 at 10:34

I am need of a laptop to do most things BUT play games. This includes large spreadsheet work, emails, browsing, databases etc. I will have to carry this laptop on the train with me 3/4 days a week but will be working with it mostly on a desk.

Out of the following two otpions, which would you choose? Both are the same price with similar battery life and branding:

Option 1
--------

Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz
1GB 533MHz DDR2 Single Channel
80GB 5400rpm HDD
12.1" WXGA (1280x800)
Intel GMA950

30cmx21cmx3.7cm, 1.85kg

Option 2
--------

Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz
1GB 667MHz DDR2 Dual Channel
120GB 5400rpm HDD
14.1" Glossy WSXGA (1440x900)
Intel GMA950

33cmx24cmx3.9cm, 2.6kg

Clearly the choice here is the portability of the lighter unit vs. the features of the clunkier one. Has anyone faced the same choice before? Regretted a choice? Any opinions welcome pls!

mikeymike · 2 Nov 2006 at 11:04

more features every time

unless weight is a really bad issue, anyway 2.6kg isnt heavy at all imo, i think my first laptop weighed bout 10kg

doubled as a brick if i ever needed to smash any windows

*edit* plus 14 inch desktop looks so much nicer than 12 inch, especially if you have a few windows open at the same time

meghatronic · 2 Nov 2006 at 12:04

Yeah, *IF* you are *ONLY* going to be using it on a desk - bigger = better.

J.B · 2 Nov 2006 at 12:34

Gotta go with more features! you know it makes sence!

PMKeates · 2 Nov 2006 at 17:21

Okay, thanks guys. I regularly work with few hundred column and thousand-row spreadsheets, so I suppose desktop real estate is at a premium!

One thing in particular though is these "glossy" screens. How useful are they? Are they difficult to work with and only suited to DVD watching etc.?

achitophel · 2 Nov 2006 at 18:35

I have a Sony S2 XP which does have the X-Black screen. I'd actually say that I've had no trouble with the screen for day to day working (and I also use Excel / Word quite a bit). However, in low light conditions if you are watching DVDs etc, then you do tend to notice reflections more.

My tuppenceworth

tazimodo · 2 Nov 2006 at 19:20

I would go with the highest spec machine (option 2), and the larger screen size is a bonus. As for the 'glossy screen' the store i work in has rows of bright lights so reflection is a mild irritation however at home with normal lighting it actually looks nicer than the 'matt' style screen.

Mitch007 · 3 Nov 2006 at 15:34

I just bought a HP DV8333EA 999 quid,

7600Go card in this kit makes gaming possible, comes with DAB TV card also
Cor Duo
160gig HD
1gig memory
1440x900 glossy widescreen
also cd/dvd read writer can write pictures onto DVD's saves all those horrid sticky labels

I'm well pleased with it, and i think best on market for the price.

Smurfy · 3 Nov 2006 at 18:04

This is really dependent on your prioritys, i recently purchased a Dell XPS M1210, i have to say its my first laptop and im stunned by it, seriously amazing how far they have come.

Basic specs are
T7200 @ 2 Ghz( core 2 duo)
2Gb of ram
7400 Go
12.1" widescreen Glossy screen
wireless and all that good stuff.

It can play q4 quite hapily and has infact replaced my gaming rig (albeit temporarily untill kentsfield is relased) and is doing an awsome job linked up to a 22" crt for higher res gaming. Certainly i cant play Q4 at 1600 x 1200 maxxed out but i play mainly multiplayer with settings turned down anyway.

For me the most imporant thing was size & weight, i dont want to be carrying around a suitcase to hold the laptop, i want to be able to chuck it in a backback at the minimum, this allows me to do it and i got it for around 1100 which is imo a stonking deal for such a cracking peice of hardware, i would not trade this model for anything thats bigger or more expensive despite it having less graphical grunt.