Laptop help

[BrooksTech]

Since GHz is not an accurate representation of speed or power

You need to be careful when you make this claim no matter what you have read... In fact, Apple is looking into using Intel or even AMD CPUs in the future. As they feel taht the G4 has failed to keep up. (As reported by slashdot.org)

An 800mhz G4 is ONLY as fast as a 1.6ghz or even less Intel/AMD chip.

Fact is, you can get a much better deal than that in the PC Market.

BTW: I am not an Apple hater. In fact, my wife uses an iBook...they are just underpowered and over priced for my taste.

 

[Aeolius]

An 800mhz G4 is ONLY as fast as a 1.6ghz or even less Intel/AMD chip.

Granted, it's only a matter of time before the new G5 (IBM 970) makes its way into the Powerbook.

I hope Santa brings me a new 2 GHz dual-processor G5 for christmas...but by then, we'll be less than 6 months away from the 3 GHz systems (per IBM's statements in the WWDC Keynote )

 

[BrooksTech]

I hope Santa brings me a new 2 GHz dual-processor G5 for christmas

Don't tease me

 

[drothgery]

Granted, it's only a matter of time before the new G5 (IBM 970) makes its way into the Powerbook.

I hope Santa brings me a new 2 GHz dual-processor G5 for christmas...but by then, we'll be less than 6 months away from the 3 GHz systems (per IBM's statements in the WWDC Keynote )

It's more likely that the next spin of PowerBooks will have Moto's latest, and last, G4. The G5s are fairly power-hungry, compared to G4s (or Pentium-Ms).

And I have to think that IBM is engaging in wishful thinking in saying that they'll hit 3 GHz by next summer. I'm sure they'd like to. And just maybe, if everything goes right, they'll be able to. But the odds aren't good.

Going much beyond 2 GHz is going to require some redesign to lock the front-side bus; right now it's 1/4 clock speed DDR, and that just won't scale. 500 MHz DDR (advertized as a 1000 MHz FSB, much like Intel's 200 MHz QDR is advertized as an 800 MHz FSB) is pushing what other components can handle. Besides, it's sub-optimal for the memory clock to be out of sync with the front-side bus. But that's pretty trivial.

The more important issues are with manufacturing. There's no way they'll be able to fab a 3 GHz G5 at .13 micron. I'd go so far as to say that it's doubtful they'll be able to fab a 2.5 GHz G5 at .13 micron. And it's unlikely that anyone other than Intel will be making a significant volume of CPUs at .09 micron by mid-2004.

 

[faete]

for some reason the boards keep eating this, but here goes again:

i've got a desktop that also functions as my primary gaming platform. i would rather use it, but am required to have a laptop for classes.

portability is needed, but not to any great degree. it does have to travel daily, but once it arrives, it should almost never move until i leave.

i was pretty sure that i would need SotA, but wanted additional confirmation (i'd gotten differing opinions, this makes a close consensus).

i had seen the info on making sure of the warrenty, as well as the service abilities of the seller. but does the repair ability decrease if you can't take it anywhere onsite for repairs (other than sears, walmart, and some office supply stores, the nearest retail location is for Gateway & thats about 3 hours from me).

also, does anyone know how nonbrand retailers compare with the larger ones as far as service and repair? i can do the software trouble shooting myself, but if something like what PC listed happens, i'd rather a professional do the repair work.

i thank everyone for the advice and links, but if anyone else has something to add, i'd appreciate that also.

-f

 

[BrooksTech]

also, does anyone know how nonbrand retailers compare with the larger ones as far as service and repair? i can do the software trouble shooting myself, but if something like what PC listed happens, i'd rather a professional do the repair work.

Any nobrand retailer should be able to fix any kind of issue you may have.

Fact is, Gateway and Dell do NOT have reps in every "anytown" USA.. The contract out the work to "no name " shops all over the place. .

 

[jdavis]

for some reason the boards keep eating this, but here goes again:

i've got a desktop that also functions as my primary gaming platform. i would rather use it, but am required to have a laptop for classes.

portability is needed, but not to any great degree. it does have to travel daily, but once it arrives, it should almost never move until i leave.

i was pretty sure that i would need SotA, but wanted additional confirmation (i'd gotten differing opinions, this makes a close consensus).

i had seen the info on making sure of the warrenty, as well as the service abilities of the seller. but does the repair ability decrease if you can't take it anywhere onsite for repairs (other than sears, walmart, and some office supply stores, the nearest retail location is for Gateway & thats about 3 hours from me).

also, does anyone know how nonbrand retailers compare with the larger ones as far as service and repair? i can do the software trouble shooting myself, but if something like what PC listed happens, i'd rather a professional do the repair work.

i thank everyone for the advice and links, but if anyone else has something to add, i'd appreciate that also.

-f

Most repair work will be "send it back to us and we will fix it" type of stuff. If my laptop breaks I have to ship it to California for example, they will fix it and if it was a faulty product they will take care of shipping but I still have to mail it to them to get anything done. I don't know about the big names but they probably have authorized dealers or repairmen, although I wouldn't be suprised if they wanted you to ship it back to the factory too.