Which Computer Should I Get? OMG POLL!!!111

[SomePerson]

So I have two main options in replacing my tablet pc which was stolen a few weeks ago... I can either buy one used which is very similar to the one I lost, or I can buy a new one, i.e. the updated version that is now sold in place of the one I lost.

The used one is a lot cheaper, but I'm kind of afraid of buying a used computer. And that computer was nearly 2 years old, and has been in production for nearly twice that long. The newer one is significantly more expensive, but could theoretically last me longer. (provided it doesn't get stolen again, which is a thought that does cross my mind...) I'll compare the two computers as follows:

Old computer
----------
New computer

Price: (including tax/shipping)
$700
----------
$1500
(for reference, the one I lost cost me $2100 two years ago)

CPU:
T2400 Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz
----------
P8600 Core 2 Duo 2.40GHz
This is a fairly significant difference. The one I lost was a T7200 2.00GHz

RAM:
4GB PC5200 (max 4)
----------
1GB PC6400 (max 8)
Now you can buy 4gb ram for $40, and the max of 8 means the new one could last longer

GPU:
Intel 945GM (the one that doesn't run W:A)
----------
Intel 4500MHD
Probably the biggest improvement, the updated version has a FAR better video card, and one that will allow me to play WA for the first time in 2 years.

Display:
12.1" 1400*1050 cathode backlight
----------
12.1" 1280*800 LED backlight
New one has a slightly worse resolution, but the LED backlight can, according to reviews, increase battery life by some 15%.

Hard Disk:
250GB unknown disk speed (probably 5400)
----------
160GB 5400rpm
My old one had 80 - either is plenty.

Other:
3 USB
----------
2 USB
eSATA port
Built-in webcam :rolleyes:
Sturdier Hinge (remember - tablet pc - these things are fragile)
BIOS-level computer tracking (given that I've had one computer stolen, I'm paranoid enough at the moment to use it)

Warranty:
30 day
----------
1 year


Everything else is pretty much the same between the two. They both have firewire, PCMCIA, standard monitor out, etc.

Obviously the newer model is nicer in pretty much every way. The only question is, is it worth paying twice as much? On the other hand though I'm afraid of buying a used computer that's already falling out of date.

I really do need a tablet as well, because I've been using one at uni for nearly 2 years, and to abruptly start taking notes on paper again would drive me crazy - I'm too used to all the tablet features. Furthermore, every time I took notes I'd be reminded of my old computer, and it would drive me crazy that some moron ****ed up my life for his monetary gain. So for the sake of school and for the sake of my mental health, I'm getting a tablet pc in some shape or form. And the other ones I've looked at are rumored to be of poor construction or are way too expensive, so it's down to my model or the modernized version.

[KRD]

GPU:
Intel 945GM (the one that doesn't run W:A)
----------
Intel 4500MHD
Probably the biggest improvement, the updated version has a FAR better video card, and one that will allow me to play WA for the first time in 2 years.


Are you quite sure this is true? Aren't the drivers used by both chips practically the same? I don't actually know, but I think it's definitely something you should investigate before going with either option. If you haven't already.

Along with the longer warranty, the LED-backlit screen on the newer model is the main reason I'm voting for it in the poll. Trust me, the extended battery life will by far not be the only thing you'll notice about it; the colours [their precision, the darkness of the black, the intensity of everything else] should be stunning. Yum.

[Muzer]

I assume they both run Vi$ta?

I would get the new one and upgrade the RAM. 1GB isn't enough for Vista, but I think you'd benefit from W:A.

But what KDE KRD said as well.

[SupSuper]

I agree with Muzer. The new computer is overall better, but you should probably get more RAM for it.

[SomePerson]

Are you quite sure this is true? Aren't the drivers used by both chips practically the same? I don't actually know, but I think it's definitely something you should investigate before going with either option. If you haven't already.

I think you're right. No WA for me either way, looks like.

[MrBunsy]

You can't put XP on it? Or run virtual PC? Thinking of virtual PC and games, the CPU of the new machine is worth baring in mind, it's a lot more powerful than the second hand cpu.

[SupSuper]

WA and Intel graphics don't go hand-to-hand, regardless of OS. Virtual PC might get around that, though not with the best performance.

[Muzer]

WA and Intel graphics don't go hand-to-hand, regardless of OS.
Yes they do. The problem is Intel's shoddy Vista drivers, not the chips themselves. W:A works fine on virtually all XP installations, regardless of hardware.

[Melon]

Hey, guess who got WA working on a laptop with an integrated Intel Chipset and Vista today? :smug:

Supposedly it shouldn't be a problem since the last beta, but nobody told me that earlier. :mad:

[Muzer]

Supposedly it shouldn't be a problem since the last beta, but nobody told me that earlier. http://forum.team17.co.uk/images/newsmilies/mad.gif
BTW, I forgot to mention, the bug only occurs in the Intel Express chipsets.

[SomePerson]

I ended up ordering the older one, even though I was really considering the newer one, mostly because the price dropped to $620, and I mostly use it for school so I don't really need all the bells and whistles of the newer one. I take my notes on it as a tablet pc - games are fun, but they're not the main point - I'd rather buy a new guitar amp than spend $800 more for a better laptop.

Also because I'm less afraid to modify it if it's used and older. With my model they offer an adapter that can put a 2nd hard drive in place of the cd bay, and I'm thinking of getting a solid state drive as the primary drive and moving the 250gb drive that comes with it to the bay which will encourage me to keep my data off the main disk and backed up. The adapter should also mean that this drive is far faster than an external drive, (and being hot swappable, I don't really lose my cd drive - I just can't use both at the same time) and I'll have a probably 32gb solid state drive as my primary OS drive, which should be pretty fast. Just got to wait for SSD's to come down in price a little. :eek: But with the money I save, I have some to spare to buy myself a SSD, which is one of the incentives I gave myself for getting the used one.


I didn't just ignore all your opinions - I was really leaning toward the newer one, but the fact remains I'm a student without a job at the moment, and so I need to be a bit stingy with my money. :(

[SupSuper]

These polls always end up in the person deciding for themselves (usuaully contrary to popular opinion), I love it. :p

[SomePerson]

I really wanted to get the new one, and I almost did, and now I almost wish I had. Ultimately it came down to price, and the fact that the used one dropped down to $620. The $900 difference was money I just don't have - it's not like I was planning to buy a new computer and was wondering if I should splurge - the entire purchase was something I shouldn't have been making, and so this was money I was essentially throwing away.

I got the computer the other day. The machine itself seems to work well enough. I have 30 days to break it under warranty, so I've been running BOINC (http://boinc.berkeley.edu/) 24/7 in an attempt to overwork the machine so that if it breaks, it does so soon. It's passed RAM tests, and all seems to be in decent working order.

But the power adapter the guy sent me was useless. Not only was it a Made in China knockoff that had lower output than the computer should have, but the power cord section of it, the part that plugs into the box from the wall? Wrong connector. As shipped, the cord is useless. Fortunately I had my old power adapter and haven't touched his, but I might look to get some sort of partial refund for the adapter.

Perhaps more interesting, though, is that it appears to be running a pirated copy of Vista Ultimate, which had some sort of program running to block authentication, and which was set to never update. Now the fact that I was sold pirated software kind of ****es me off, but I might be able to hopefully get some form of reimbursement for that, too. I have my old windows disks from my old computer, and in october I did a full image backup of my old system, so I might reload from that and get back to how I was in October. So I really don't need a new copy of windows. I can also get a fresh copy of windows for free with the University. But I feel like I payed far too much to be ripped off with a pirated windows and a useless power cord.

Interestingly, because he sold me pirated software, I feel like the law is on my side, and so if he proves to be a pain in the butt, then I have something on him.


First things first, though, I need to check with Toshiba and the police to make sure that this computer wasn't reported stolen. I'd want someone to do the same for me.

[SomePerson]

Well, it blew up today, so I just wanted to say that I'm a freaking idiot for buying the used one and that you guys were completely right.

That is all.

Part of me wants to try to revive it by paying some $125-150 for a new motherboard. Talk me out of it.

[thomasp]

Talk me out of it.
OK, I will. Get a Mac instead :p

[bonz]

You should have listened to Steve Jobs and bought an iPad.
:rolleyes:

[BetongÅsna]

New = shiny
Fiddling with mobo = boom

Your call.

[Paul.Power]

I was going to say something witty like "get one that doesn't have something loose in it" but having just read the bit about it blowing up, it seems kind of out of place now.

Bad luck :(