Guys please help an ignoramus out

I am in the market for a new desktop replacement notebook and every computer I have purchased in the past ten years has been a Dell. After getting a price quote yesterday and reading this forum and other places like CNet.com I think I am going to go with a HP or a Compaq... I'm just not sure which model yet.

Up until now I have only used my laptop about four times a year when I am out of town and need internet access but now I am planning to buy a professional digital camcorder in order to record sports news press conferences and then upload them up to a ftp server and on my website. Also, I do not play video games at all.

I would like a DVD burner
Wireless and Bluetooth capability
I need Microsoft office basic… for Microsoft word

My questions are…

1. I have read on this board that the ATI video card is better than the nVidia but when I configure an HP it only comes with Nivedia while the Compaq R3000T comes with the ATI…. Am I configuring wrong?

2. Do I necessarily need the widescreen?

3. what are the performance differences between the HP and Compaq? Is HP supposed to be the Cadillac while Compaq is the Chevy? The Compaq is much easier to configure online…

4. What is the difference in the models for small business versus the ones for home/office?

5. Are there any extended service plans or whatever that are definitely worth purchasing?

6. when it comes to memory what is the differece between having two 512 slots versus 1 1024 slot? 1 1024 is more expensive but will they do the same thing?


If I record a 40 minute press conference with the camcorder, what are the minimums I need in features on a laptop in order to edit, upload to a ftp server, etc..

Minimums in ram, hard drive, video card, processing power, etc... I do not play video games and this laptop will only be used for the videos, photoshopping still images and signing on the internet out of town.

Thanks in advance for all advice.

 

ATI vs. nVidia is largely a religious argument. I prefer nVidia because they traditionally have better drivers and they have way better Linux support. Since you're not going to be playing games, either will do so long as it's a dedicated chip and not integrated video.

Widescreen vs. regular is a matter of personal preference. I like widescreens.

HP vs. Compaq is cosmetic and marketing. Buy whichever provides the configuration you want for the lowest price.

Small Business vs. home/office... I'd buy whichever provides the configuration you want, and that's probably going to be in the home/office line. I think "business" lines are mostly to extract additional $$$ from customers (that was most definitely the case with Dell), but I'm cynical on this subject.

I distrust service plans. You're never absolutely sure they'll actually cover things when/if they break. Then again, I do nearly all my own tech support.

Only one of the two memory slots is "user accessable". If you're comfortable with taking the notebook apart you can get to the internal slot easily enough (I did). For your purposes a pair of 512MB sticks is probably about right, and if that falls short you could swap one for a 1GB stick later. I have a pair of 512's.

I don't remember the storage requirements for uncompressed DV, but big HDs are definitely your friend. You might even consider adding an external USB2.0 7200RPM HD for storing raw video and using the internal drive for edited/encoded video. Beyond that, you need lots of RAM (1GB is about the best bang/buck but you can never have too much) and a powerful CPU to do encoding.

I'd go with a HP zv5000z or Compaq R3000z (same guts) with Athlon 64 3400+ CPU (you will most definitely be able to take advantage of 64-bit WinXP when it ships late this year), the 64MB video option, 12 cell battery, 1680x1050 widescreen, 802.11g and Bluetooth, DVD burner (or use an external burner, HP's burners only do + format and you really want - for video, I just swapped a Toshiba 4x dual format burner into my zv5000z), pair of 512MB SODIMMs, biggest HD you want to pay for (or swap in a 60GB 7200RPM Hitachi drive if you're technically adept, I did), and... I think that's everything.

 

Although that you might not want to use laptop for gaming. you might want to configure the specs as if it were a gaming laptop. Since you said you will not be playing video games or anything like that , you should think about a smaller hard drive. Now reguarding the dual memory sticks..... when yot take a dual 512(512X2) that means there will be an extra person (like an assistant) doing all your tasks. Your computer will go much faster. If you take the single 1GB ram than that means there will be a 1 GB person doing all the work by himself..... kind of a baby explanation but it works [:I]

When someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles to frown about it but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and punch the crap out of them

 

Another question... I went to Best Buy yesterday and they were offering 1 year interest free... today it went up to two years. Do you guys know if you can get as specific when configuring an HP or compaq at Best Buy as you can with Hp.com? hp.com is offering one year interest free.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by SupraSkylineSTI

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Cajun_Mike