Possible Laptop Upgrade

For anyone that knows computers, I'm thinking of getting a new laptop but I don't know if I can get one thats a serious step up from the one I have now. Right now I have an Emachine with a 1.6ghz Mobile AMD Sempron Processor 2800, 512 RAM, and 60gb hard drive. I am looking at a Sony or HP with a 1.7ghz Intel® Core™ Duo processor, 1gb or possible 2gb or RAM, and atleast a 80gb hard drive. My current laptop is a little less than 2 years old. The only real hardware problem is when I run a Bittorent program and RealPlayer, realplayer skips a lot. Would adding an extra 256mb of RAM fix that. Would a new laptop be worth it.

If you want to stretch out your current system adding memory will help, if you can get up to 1gb total you should see a noticeable difference. I won't build or spec anything for myself with less than 2gb currently.

Upgrading to the new core duo or core duo 2 systems will be a nice leap but again if you want something that will last you save a bit then go for it.

You might also just need to clean up your laptop and it may be just fine for you again. scan it for spyware, viruses and DEFRAG!! I can't tell you how many times a simple defragment makes a world of difference for people.

If you have questions on any of the specific suggestions let us know, I'm sure some folks will jump in here with their suggestions as to which programs and such they like. I have some I like as well...a big part of my job is keeping end users up and running as efficiently as possible.

Here is a great resource for info on notebooks: www.notebookforums.com

(I think I can post that I have in the past and I am not affiliated with the site other than being a member, and it also has nothing to do with reptiles :P )

Being that I work in the computer manufacturing industry - I would highly recommend a Dell they require their suppliers to meet the highest quality levels. Dell requires more testing and higher quality than any of our other OEM's.

Sony is still up in the top 10 though.

Just a thought:)

Good luck!

how funny! I was a Dell certified Tech for a few years!

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

how funny! I was a Dell certified Tech for a few years!

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DCSE guilt is awful ain't it?

It's almost like a confession . . .

I know that this laptop can have up to 768mb of ram. Im thinking of just upgrading the RAM to 768 mb and doing a complete system restore. Would that clean up everything. I do defrags once every 2 months usually. What is the best brand for RAM.

Kingston makes very good ram, but I've never added ram to a laptop.

How old is your laptop?

Its about one and a half years old.

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Originally Posted by greenmonkey51

The only real hardware problem is when I run a Bittorent program and RealPlayer, realplayer skips a lot. Would adding an extra 256mb of RAM fix that. Would a new laptop be worth it.

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more RAM would help with this problem.

If you're computer is only a year and a half old, and if this is the only reason you want to upgrade, I wouldn't do it.

It's much easier to upgrade a desktop as opposed to a laptop. Is there a specific reason you want another laptop?

It was originally for school, but it got troublesome to carry it around so I stopped using it at school. But I really like being able to carry it around the house, taking it on trips, but basically not being chained down to a desk. Plus it helps when Im typing papers to sit in a comfortable place and not get sore from an uncomfortable chair. If I start doing some serious media stuff and games a desktop is in the future but for now a laptop if fine.