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24Jan/122

NEED LAPTOP ADVICE! Can anybody help me before I make a huge purchase?

slingbox
by Matt Biddulph

Question by CharlieAS: NEED LAPTOP ADVICE! Can anybody help me before I make a huge purchase?
I'm about to buy a laptop but I'm not sure 'how much' laptop I need and I'm paranoid about blowing over 00 on computer that won't fit all my needs. I want a laptop that's not going to be absolutely out-of-date a year from now (for example, Windows 7 is coming out soon). I think I've narrowed my choices down to the HP HDX 16t (or 18t) Premium Series or the Sony VAIO AW Series.

I want a laptop with one of the newest (and fastest) processors, a LOT of RAM and hard drive size, an amazing graphics card, Blu-ray drive, TV tuner, HDMI, fingerprint reader (not 100% necessary), and DEFINITELY a decent # of ports (eSata, Firewire, USB)... some generous expansion ports would be ideal as well.

Basically, I want a laptop that will be my business and entertainment hub, one that is NOT going to slow down when I open up a bunch of programs, Internet tabs, edit movies, burn cd's/dvd's or store thousands of mp3s and pictures. I NEED it to be upgradeable so I'm not complaining a year or two from now that the damn laptop is obsolete. I'm also planning on hooking it up to my HDTV and/or using a Slingbox to control my TV needs from my laptop via wireless.

Alright, can ANYBODY provide some guidance before I take the plunge? Are there other laptops out there that offer these same functions that I'm not seeing, is there a computer coming out in the next few weeks or months that will blow all the current ones away, or am I just asking too much out of laptop?

*P.S. Does anybody know if you can use a wireless Internet service card on your laptop at home? and if so, will it still work if there is already Internet service (with a router) in the home? I only ask because the person in question DOES NOT feel like upgrading our Internet service to something faster, and I don't want to buy a 00 laptop and have it connected to an ISP which moves as slow as a turtle.

Best answer:

Answer by RubberBiscuit
Ever thought of Apple? Most reliable laptop I have ever had. Their entry level ones are about 00 but if you check the specs they are higher than many computers on the market. You will not get things like Blu Ray, HDMI, and TV tuners for under a 1000.

What do you think? Answer below!

19Jan/120

If I am going for endurance as far as long lasting which brand is the best for a laptop?

Question by tom s: If I am going for endurance as far as long lasting which brand is the best for a laptop?
Hi I am trying to customize a laptop that I will be using for everydayday use, a good amount of downloading, Slingbox(for college), and it will be plugged into a TV most of the time with an HDMI cable. I really am leaning towards a Sony Vaio(with i5 Processor) rather than a mac or any other brand. If you have any advice please help. My reasoning is that I am used to PCs and I can get more memory, a better processor ad blue ray disc for about 200 bucks cheaper with the vaio. I am planning on getting good security for the vaio if i get it.

Also if you can help would upgrading the harddrive from 5400 rpm to 7200 rpm make a difference in how long te computer lasts?

Thanks so much fr all your help!

Best answer:

Answer by John Thom
Laptops are being made far better than years ago the older models did last yet over the long haul the wear and tear on the CPU and the ports was seen.
Looking at newer makes and models they last far better and they offer way more in the long run also the quality of the CPU is far superior and faster as well. The motherboards are amazing the have placed more and more and they do last. It does come down to taking care of the laptop such as heat and cold, dust, liquids, etc. just take care of the unit and it will last you far longer.

As for the hard drive yes a 7,200RPM is better however I have seen even a 5,400 one being used for video editing and worked well. If you can afford that yeah we like faster drives and all the RAM we can get the most out of the unit. Would it make it last longer for the end run, not really.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

15Jan/120

How to record & watch tv on my laptop?

slingbox
by Jeremy Toeman

Question by wmarie: How to record & watch tv on my laptop?
Okay, I want to use my laptop to record tv shows and such. BUT, I am completely confused by all of the products that are on the market and I find it extremely difficult to decide exactly what I need.

Here's what I have:
A HP pavilion dv6000 entertainment notebook
wireless internet/router
Windows Vista
Here's where it gets confusing: My family has Charter cable in every room in our house. But the only room with a box is in the den. The rest of the rooms just have "extended basic" cable and we connect with a coaxial cable in the back of the TV.

I would prefer to have whatever device I buy located in my bedroom, so what would I need to be compatible with just the coaxial connection? Or, would it be better just connect to the box in the den? But then, would it interfere with the den's TV in any way? And would my computer have to be in the den?

My laptop came with preloaded software to work with a product called a Slingbox. Would the cable in my room be compatible with this? Here's a link: http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox-solo-connections

I know it's a lot, but please help me out! What all do I need, and what would ya'll suggest?

Best answer:

Answer by Karz
You just need a TV tuner so that you could connect to CATV coax.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr950q.html

http://www.everythingusb.com/pinnacle_pctv_hd_pro_stick.html

Give your answer to this question below!

10Jan/124

What would be the best laptop for my needs under $1,000?

slingbox
by nino63004

Question by : What would be the best laptop for my needs under ,000?
Requirements:
Price: anything under ,000
Screen: Needs to be very bright and vivid because I stream netflix and tv via slingbox. Also very large. Screen is probably the most important factor
Speed: Something that will let me browse the internet with my 15 mbps connection swiftly. Also should be great at handling HD video (netflix streaming, slingbox, youtube, NO editing). Internet browsing and streaming video are what I will mostly be doing.
Design: Don't care that much about design although the prettier the better obviously
Battery life: not important
Gaming: not important
Brand: not important
Portability: not important
Any help will be greatly appreciated. 10 points to best answer!

Best answer:

Answer by Pengu45
If the screen is the most important thing then you might want to look into buying the computer itself(like the motherboard and all that jazz) and the screen separate. As far as streaming videos, it really comes down to your internet connection and what kind of graphics card. Sorry thats kind of where my experience ends and i don't want to give you bad info so I hope that helps answer at least half your question. As far as graphics cards go look under ATI and GEFORCE models as those are generally the best and most affordable.

Add your own answer in the comments!

8Dec/112

Want – laptop with these features?

Question by 421: Want - laptop with these features?
Intel Core 2 Duo
Expandable RAM to 4GB
DVI or HDMI output (so I connect to hometheater to use slingbox)
dual monitor capability
wireless 802.11 N built in
HD DVD or Bluray player
Windows Vista Business or Ultimate pre-installed

I think a docking station might help with some of these things .. if you know of a good laptop and the complimentary docking station let me know.

*would be nice -- HD DVD or BluRay burner

Best answer:

Answer by frime
can't see that Dell can deliver a HD or Bluray DVD, not even on the XPS M1710.
the laptop that comes closest to your demands is the HP dv9000t. it has all except the wireless 802.11n (until now i've not seen this feature built in in a laptop).

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=dv9000t_series&tab_switch=true&a1=Usage&v1=Entertainment&tab=specs

What do you think? Answer below!

5Dec/110

CC Everything, Laptop, IPad, PC, Mac, Mobile from my home

Slingbox
Video Rating: 5 / 5

4Dec/111

Verizon’s laptop connect card question….?

Question by tomdabomba006: Verizon's laptop connect card question....?
I'm looking at verizon's laptop connect cards and they have two different types. One with 5 GB allowance and one with 50 MB allowance. What does that mean? Does it mean you can only be on the internet for so long or what. The reason I want it is so I can hook up a slingbox and watch tv wherever I go. thanks

Best answer:

Answer by janshine04
Well that interesting watching TV where ever you go! I have the sprint air card it works great I've had it for one year it's unlimited for a locked monthly fee.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

4Nov/111

Question about Wifi and Laptop?

slingbox
by jackace

Question by : Question about Wifi and Laptop?
If I put my computer in sleep will it still receive WIFI and send it to my bridged Slingbox.

Best answer:

Answer by Jenny Norris
It should. Unless your computer is fucked up.

Give your answer to this question below!

11Oct/111

i want to be able to set tv up on my laptop?

Question by Russel: i want to be able to set tv up on my laptop?
i want to do this for under one hundred dollars but whenerver i go to a circuit city they recomend a slingbox system. is there any tv tuner that will work entirely by itself
(i'm a bit lenient on the price)

Best answer:

Answer by djluckyonline
http://www.hauppauge.com/ has an ENTIRE line of tv tuners for all kinds of computers, including your laptop. The WinTV-HVR-950 is exactly 99 dollars, so good luck friend.

What do you think? Answer below!

Tagged as: , , 1 Comment
6Oct/110

Laptop on TV – How to Stay Current

How to stay current using Modern Technology while travelling overseas. Take Monitor Cable, Composite, HDMi and Ehternet Cable.. wherever your go!

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