Re: Laptop Question (off topic? I don't know)

["Collin Turner" <straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Windows XP Pro supports up to 4GB.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/features.mspx

I would *always* recommend the 7200 RPM hard drive and as much RAM (up
to 4GB) as you can afford.

Go with the advice about separate memory for graphics.

Dell is a good brand, but I've had several of them require service. I
have been hearing good things about Gateways recently and will
probably be buying one myself, soon.

When buying a laptop consider this:
1. Always get the most memory you can afford/the laptop or OS will
support (seriously!)
2. Large, fast HD's will only add to the useful lifespan of your
laptop (fewer upgrades down the road...software isn't getting smaller
or less hungry)
3. If you're traveling, or will be traveling? THINK LIGHT and smaller.
You can always connect a laptop to external keyboards, mice and
monitors.
4. Put your money on your use. What is the main purpose? Concentrate
on that...don't waste money on features you'll never use.
5. Buy a REALLY good bag.
6. Personal preference...I hate the shiny screens.

-Collin
 ________________________________
 collinturner.com
 The unofficial words of a Tech Writer


On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 7:38 AM, Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com> wrote:
> John made a good point about graphics RAM. My Gateway was configured with
> 512 MB of dedicated video RAM for the ATI Radeon interface. When I was
> researching laptops, I also discovered that many stated they had 2 GB of
> RAM, but 0 RAM for the video. Instead, they used shared RAM...so a
> percentage of your system memory would be gobbled up by the video card and
> the amount gobbled would be determined by whatever action you were doing at
> the time. For most Word Processing, the amount would be minimal and the
> affect on system performance marginal. For heavy graphics applications, the
> laptop could slow to a crawl. When you add Vista (a known memory hog) to the
> picture, the speed reduction would be impossible to bear.
>
>
> Al Geist
> Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography
> Office/Msg: 802-872-9091
> Cell: 802-578-3964
> Website: www.geistassociates.com
> See Also:
> Fine Art Photography
> Website: www.geistimages.com
>
> "...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim
> without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each
> day." (Anon.)
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
>
>
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com -dot- 
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/straylightsghost%40gmail.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.