Laptop Questions [Archive] - Southern Maryland Community Forums

sanchezf

12-03-2008, 03:08 PM

Wanna get my son a laptop for Christmas

Main use school work, games and email

Do I need to go with a name brand expensive one?
How much Ram is enough/How much is too little?
How big a hard drive?
Any Stay away froms?

Any help would be great..

sanchezf

12-03-2008, 03:21 PM

Your CQ50Z series

<TABLE class=fl style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=5 width="95%" align=left border=0><TBODY><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Operating system</TD><TD>Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1 (32-bit) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_0','0');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_0','0');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Processor</TD><TD>AMD Athlon(TM) X2 Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs QL-60 (1.9GHz) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_1','1');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_1','1');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Display</TD><TD>15.4" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_2','2');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_2','2');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Memory</TD><TD>FREE Upgrade to 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_3','3');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_3','3');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Graphics card</TD><TD>NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_4','4');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_4','4');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Hard drive</TD><TD>FREE Upgrade to 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive from 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_5','5');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_5','5');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Personalization</TD><TD>Microphone (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_6','6');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_6','6');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Keyboard</TD><TD>HP Color Matching Keyboard (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_7','7');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_7','7');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Networking</TD><TD>802.11b/g WLAN (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_8','8');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_8','8');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Primary DVD/CD drive</TD><TD>SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_9','9');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_9','9');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Primary battery</TD><TD>6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_10','10');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_10','10');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Adapter</TD><TD>65W Adapter (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_11','11');)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

pcjohnnyb

12-03-2008, 04:12 PM

How old is your son? :shrug:

sanchezf

12-03-2008, 04:14 PM

How old is your son? :shrug:

12 years old

Gwydion

12-03-2008, 04:57 PM

12 years old

...

http://forums.somd.com/computers-technology-internet/162058-laptop-middle-school-child.html

I'll say it again, just to reverberate.

You should not get your son a laptop. Get him a desktop.

clevalley

12-03-2008, 04:58 PM

Your CQ50Z series

<TABLE class=fl style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=5 width="95%" align=left border=0><TBODY><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Operating system</TD><TD>Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1 (32-bit) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_0','0');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_0','0');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Processor</TD><TD>AMD Athlon(TM) X2 Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs QL-60 (1.9GHz) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_1','1');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_1','1');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Display</TD><TD>15.4" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_2','2');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_2','2');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Memory</TD><TD>FREE Upgrade to 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_3','3');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_3','3');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Graphics card</TD><TD>NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_4','4');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_4','4');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Hard drive</TD><TD>FREE Upgrade to 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive from 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_5','5');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_5','5');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Personalization</TD><TD>Microphone (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_6','6');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_6','6');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Keyboard</TD><TD>HP Color Matching Keyboard (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_7','7');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_7','7');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Networking</TD><TD>802.11b/g WLAN (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_8','8');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_8','8');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Primary DVD/CD drive</TD><TD>SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_9','9');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_9','9');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Primary battery</TD><TD>6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_10','10');)</TD><TD>edit (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_10','10');)</TD></TR><TR class=colorFFFFFFbg><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Adapter</TD><TD>65W Adapter (http://javascript:_tabBar.moveToTab('tab0','m_c_11','11');)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The only thing I would try to do is get the drive to a 7200RPM drive, it does make a difference. It would not be a deal breaker as for him being 12 it would be a good start.

My son is 12 1/2 and uses a laptop - I would rather him have that than a desktop in his room. He sits downstairs in the living room and I can see where he goes and what he is doing. :yay:

sanchezf

12-03-2008, 09:53 PM

The only thing I would try to do is get the drive to a 7200RPM drive, it does make a difference. It would not be a deal breaker as for him being 12 it would be a good start.

My son is 12 1/2 and uses a laptop - I would rather him have that than a desktop in his room. He sits downstairs in the living room and I can see where he goes and what he is doing. :yay:

we have 2 desktops in the house. I also wanted a laptop for this reason, so I can watch what he does. He's take a Info tech class in school to learn to type and how to use word, excel and power point so I think this could help him out...

G1G4

12-03-2008, 11:51 PM

If you can, ask whoever spec'd out your computer if they can downgrade Vista to XP. I say that because I'm pretty sure the school systems haven't updated their computers, and it's alot easier for a kid to use something their familiar with than something completely different as Vista.

sanchezf

12-04-2008, 12:35 PM

If you can, ask whoever spec'd out your computer if they can downgrade Vista to XP. I say that because I'm pretty sure the school systems haven't updated their computers, and it's alot easier for a kid to use something their familiar with than something completely different as Vista.

I agree, I hate vista anyway. Thank you I will ask if it can be done