New laptop

[Sploosh]

Please give me your opinion.

I'm probably buying a new laptop in the next 2 or 3 weeks, to replace my 6 year old Dell. The ASUS brand has been recommended by just about every shop person I speak to, and it seems reasonable, I guess.

Currently, there are two models I will probably choose between;

Both are $1,799.

Option 1 (GoodGuys shop)
Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz
1 GB RAM
120 G HDD
128 Graphics

Option 2 (I.T. Warehouse)
Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz
1 GB RAM
80 G HDD
512 Graphics

So, for the same price, I can get either a bigger HDD (option 1) or a better graphics card (option 2).

I mainly want to do standard internet/word processing etc, so either would be fine. But I also want to edit video that I've recorded and then burn to DVDs etc. For that, would a better graphics card be more important, or should I go for the bigger HDD?

Of course, there is a better model, with a 2GHz chip, 2G RAM, 512 graphics and 120 HDD all on the one computer, but that is $2299, so it's pretty tough to justify spending an extra $500.

What do you think? Option 1 or 2? Or, is there something else I haven't thought of yet?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

[bosvit]

80G is quite a lot if you are organised and HDD are cheaper for laptops than a decent graphics card I think? And there is a BIG difference between the graphics cards you have mentioned

Also are the FSB speeds the same?

And are the RAM speeds the same?

Cheers Big Ears

[TroyGFC]

I have option 2 one from JB's $1448. Okay but having trouble that computer is slower than my typing and words delay coming up on screen. (probably something software though??)

[bosvit]

Just remember if your processor is only doing one thing at once duo cores are actually very slow eg a 1.6 is actually two 0.8's together so if it is only processing one thing at a time its right up there with 2001 technology.......

duo cores were invented for people who burn movies, browse the net, and pretend to work all at the same time.

But hey such is technology

[Psyber]

Graphic performance is usually the bottle neck in lap tops - I'd always go for thre one with the best affordable indepedent graphics card - a replaceable one if possible - even if it meant a smaller HDD.

[Sploosh]

Hmmm...thanks for those replies... I guess the specs on ANYTHING these days are far better than my 6 year old Win ME laptop, so probably anything will be ok, but I'd still like to get the best bang for my buck, so to speak...

Anyone know how long laptops have had seperate graphics cards?

[Psyber]

Hmmm...thanks for those replies... I guess the specs on ANYTHING these days are far better than my 6 year old Win ME laptop, so probably anything will be ok, but I'd still like to get the best bang for my buck, so to speak...

Anyone know how long laptops have had seperate graphics cards?

I'm not sure if they do have replaceable ones yet, but I would get one if they do. Separate graphic cards or chips with their own higher speed RAM, not sharing system RAM have been around for several years.

My year 2001 P4 2.4GHz with integrated graphics and 512MB RAM and 800x600 17" screen is well superceded - I'd like to replace it. It was top of the range when I bought it.

Some of these by a local maker in Melbourne appeal to me, and one mentions PCI-e graphics which suggests it may be replaceable/upgradable. My old one is one of the HiGrade models - made in UK - and just goes on working.

http://qditech.com.au/notebooks.php

[WhiteTips]

Nar the laptops dont have replaceable graphics cards yet, just alot of them are dedicated and dont steal away the ram like the ram hungry munchers they are

dont forget if your buying an acer, with an 80gig HDD, your going to really get about 74.5 to start off with, then asus will probably partition that into 2 and hog another couple of gig for a recovery partition, so id be suprised if you ended up with more than 70gig straight off the boat!!

id go the bigger HDD option for sure, things are only going to get larger and larger as the internet gets quicker!