topic Re: need new lap top in Electronics

need new lap top

goldensrbest — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:15:18 GMT

Hoping john will see this, my laptop is 7 yrs. old,or more,a dell, it is very slow, think it is time to update, i don't want a i pad, i want a new lap top, what would be a good choice, for me,i use it for banking, surfing the interent,my e mails, and chatting.

Re: need new lap top

millieshops — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:08:15 GMT

@goldensrbestMe, too. My laptop is slowing down and is too old to be worth paying much to speed it up.

When I shopped for this one, starting at Apple, I ended up with a Dell from Costco. Spent less than 2/3 of the cost of a similarly sized Apple - so I still have enough to pay for at least two more laptops as long as they're not Apples. I

I will buy new soon - to get speed and to move to Windows 10 since Microsoft isn't totally supporting 7 any longer (I think). Just am not sure what I'll buy, but I'll watch the answers you get here. Glad you asked the question.

Re: need new lap top

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:11:49 GMT

Based on what you said you want to use it for, you may want to consider a netbook or a Chromebook instead of a laptop. A Chromebook allows you to access the internt for all the things you listed. Any files you save are stored in the cloud and not on the device. It won't have Office with Word, Excel, etc, but you can use Google Docs or Sheets to create documents and store them online.

A laptop comes with local storage for you files, allows you to burn CDs and run programs you may have on a CD/DVD. Laptops are better for things like photo editing than a Chrombook is, but you didn't list any kind of media editing/creation.

Chromebooks are considerably less expensive than laptops and less powerful. They're good for internet access, but not for running huge programs or graphics-intensive games. The one downslide of a Chromebook is that it needs internet access to work. If you travel a lot or go places where you have no internet/wifi access, that would be an issue.

Something to consider, as it sounds like a Chromebook may well be enough for your listed needs and would save you money.

Re: need new lap top

millieshops — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:22:30 GMT

@ChynnaBlueQuestion re the Chromebook. You say it's not great for big websites like gaming which I don't do (solitaire doesn't count I assume!). It feels to me as if several of my financial sites are getting bigger and bigger with more and more pages and charts and colors, etc. Will a Chromebook deal with them?

Re: need new lap top

geezerette — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:31:35 GMT

I'm in the same boat and need a new computer. Mine is six years old and fading. I'm not thrilled with the idea of Windows 10, either to have to learn how to use it or because of Microsoft automatically updating without my control. (I'd love this if they actually would update things without breaking them!) I also don't like how they've tried to shove Win10 down everyone's throat. But all that is my opinion and not the subject here.

I don't use the computer for much anymore, but I do need at least Word and a printer since I do print a lot of stuff off the internet and I'd like a CD player as well. I would already have made the switch to Apple, despite the cost difference, except it's a 100 mile round trip for me to the nearest Apple store. Everything in the small town I live in is geared to Windows. And I need to be able to get to someone for help, especially now that I'm getting older and learning new things is getting harder!

I'm probably going to order a laptop directly from Dell. The few stores we have here are not offering much anymore in the way of laptops. At least that way I can get the few features that are important to me. I've had Dells for years and have had pretty good luck with them lasting, although I do tend to have more computer than I need. Then I'll get the other things I need to go with it and have someone set them all up for me.

Re: need new lap top

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:37:39 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@ChynnaBlueQuestion re the Chromebook. You say it's not great for big websites like gaming which I don't do (solitaire doesn't count I assume!). It feels to me as if several of my financial sites are getting bigger and bigger with more and more pages and charts and colors, etc. Will a Chromebook deal with them?

Absolutely, @millieshops. Those are all going to be fine for a chrome book. They're designed for the average user's computer and most of them know they even have to be able to serve data up on a mobile phone these days.

Re: need new lap top

goldensrbest — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:38:51 GMT

I am thinking a apple laptop, but also wonder if it is too much of a computer for me, i have nothing apple,and those that have phones, i pad ,computers just rave about them.

Re: need new lap top

NickNack — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:43:20 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
I am thinking a apple laptop, but also wonder if it is too much of a computer for me, i have nothing apple,and those that have phones, i pad ,computers just rave about them.

@goldensrbest I bought an Apple laptop last December and love it. I was going back and forth about what to buy. I'm so glad I spent the extra money and went with Apple. I bought a MacBook Air. They're extremely helpful in the Apple store, too.

Re: need new lap top

goldensrbest — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:45:25 GMT

I don't know how to download my stuff from this laptop,to another , how does that work?

Re: need new lap top

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:03:47 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
I don't know how to download my stuff from this laptop,to another , how does that work?

It depends on what "stuff" you're talking about.

Re: need new lap top

goldensrbest — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:13:41 GMT

MY pictures, anti virus ,that kind of thing.

Re: need new lap top

Moonchilde — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:35:51 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
MY pictures, anti virus ,that kind of thing.

You can't transfer programs, like anti-virus. You need to reload them, from the internet or a CD/DVD. You can only transfer files - photos, documents, music, etc.

Most people buy a combo pack item like Laplink that contains a cable and software that can be accessed either as a CD or downloaded frim a website.

Laplink is expensive for what it does and the tech involved (I thought). Based on recommendations on Amazon I chose a product that was half the price of Laplink and it worked very well. You can only use it once (the software).

The one I bought was called Plugable (name of company) Windows transfer cable with Bravura software. It's rated 4.5/5.

If your other computer is Windows 8 you can do it another way - easier I believe.

And BTW - you could not transfer any files to a Chromebook. It has very minimal HD space. You could transfer *some*, but not a lot. You would have to upload all of your files to Google Docs, Dropbox or some other cloud storage snd your photos to Google Photos, Flickr, or something like that and be able to access them only with wi-fi or 4G (though the 4G for photos would cost a fortune).

Re: need new lap top

millieshops — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 01:06:20 GMT

@ChynnaBlueTY - great information for me.

Re: need new lap top

Nuttmeg — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 12:09:47 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
MY pictures, anti virus ,that kind of thing.

You can't transfer programs, like anti-virus. You need to reload them, from the internet or a CD/DVD. You can only transfer files - photos, documents, music, etc.

Most people buy a combo pack item like Laplink that contains a cable and software that can be accessed either as a CD or downloaded frim a website.

Laplink is expensive for what it does and the tech involved (I thought). Based on recommendations on Amazon I chose a product that was half the price of Laplink and it worked very well. You can only use it once (the software).

The one I bought was called Plugable (name of company) Windows transfer cable with Bravura software. It's rated 4.5/5.

If your other computer is Windows 8 you can do it another way - easier I believe.

And BTW - you could not transfer any files to a Chromebook. It has very minimal HD space. You could transfer *some*, but not a lot. You would have to upload all of your files to Google Docs, Dropbox or some other cloud storage snd your photos to Google Photos, Flickr, or something like that and be able to access them only with wi-fi or 4G (though the 4G for photos would cost a fortune).

I used a USB transfer cable from Monoprice. This cable has the software built in. Monoprice has great tech support. You can buy this cable at Walmart or MP for $18-19.

Today, I use a USB 3.0 portable HD from Western Digital. I like this drive, because it has a 3 year warranty.

Re: need new lap top

apple1964 — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 14:07:15 GMT

My daughter who is away at college needed a new computer. She wanted a inexpensive one. We got her a Acer and she loves it. We never owned a Acer product till recently. And she swears by this product. Hope this helps O/P.

Re: need new lap top

goldensrbest — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:02:36 GMT

For those that know about apple computers, best buy has model MJVE2LL/A, i can't do links, would like advice on it,if you have the time,thank you.

Re: need new lap top

NickNack — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:25:14 GMT

@goldensrbest I'm not really the one to answer questions about computers. I just wanted to say that I have the 13" MacBook Air and love it. I bought it last year so am not sure if the one you're looking at is a newer model than the one that I have. I'm extremely happy with mine. If you get it from the Apple store they'll set it up for you and help you get started.

Re: need new lap top

goldensrbest — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:52:21 GMT

Thanks, my son thinks i should get it from best buy, the nearest apple store is 35 minutes away, he said i should get the geek squad to set it up, and buy the protection plan from best buy, i just don't know.

Re: need new lap top

NickNack — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 19:49:51 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
Thanks, my son thinks i should get it from best buy, the nearest apple store is 35 minutes away, he said i should get the geek squad to set it up, and buy the protection plan from best buy, i just don't know.

@goldensrbest You can get a protection plan from Apple, too. It's three years from the time you buy your computer. Also, you can go into the store any time to ask questions or take classes for free. I don't know if you could do the classes if you didn't buy it from the Apple store. I guess it depends on if you think you'd use the benefits from buying it there or not.

Re: need new lap top

NickNack — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 19:52:52 GMT

@goldensrbest I just went to Best Buy and looked at their Protection Plan. They're selling the Apple Care protection plan, which is the same one that you get when you buy from Apple. It looks like you would still need to go to the Apple store for service.