R. P. wrote:
> <gary_hendricks_mail******.com> wrote:
>> Hi Rudy,
>>
>> I think HP laptops are pretty good - the only thing is the AMD Turion
>> 64 X2 dual core. Personally, I'd prefer an Intel dual core - I think
>> Intel makes slightly better chips.
>
> Hm, that's interesting as one can hear the Intel/AMD argument both
> ways. One of the reasons I lean toward AMD is because it's a true
> 64-bit processor and even though initially I would use it in 32-bit
> mode, I think soon most apps will be 64-bit and then I would be ready
> for it. I am also planning to dual-boot to Linux where I could
> already use the 64-bit capability.
>
>> To answer your other questions:
>> 1) The notebook BIOs these days usually allow you to boot from the
>> DVD drive or USB, so I don't think you need to worry there.
>
> That's good.
>
>> 2) Again, CD and DVD drives in the very latest laptops usually read
>> both + and - types of CDs and DVDs.
>
> My question was about the CDG (or CD+G) capability which is not the
> same that you answered.
>
>> 3) I believe Microsoft would give you the Windows updates once you
>> purchase the machine from HP.
>
> That's good, too. My major draw to HP is that they seem to have a lot
> of different models and often at more attractive prices for the same
> config than many others. I feel I am more likely to find the features
> I am looking for in an HP notebook than in others. But I am concerned
> about their support. I also see some Asus notebooks I like but I am
> even more concerned about support from them.
>
>> Hope this helps and do let me know if you have more questions.
>
> Yes it does help and thanks for it.
>
> Rudy
I have bought a Toshiba (wife), Dell (daughter), Macbook w/intel (youngest
daughter) all in the last 2 years. I myself build my own computers. I just
purchased a HP on sale($699) at Best Buy after Christmas w/AMD Turion 64 x2
1.9ghz , 160gb 5400rpm sata hdd,buit-in webcam w/mic, altec lansing
speakers, a touchpad I can actually use without difficulty, Pioneer Dvd
writer w/lightscribe (which I won't use), express remote control unit, dual
headphone jacks, 5-1 ricoh card reader, 1 gig of ram, which I replaced a
week later with Corsair 4gb $85(Newegg.com) Came with Vista home premium,
tried to downgrade to XP, but it has a nVidia chipset and the Vista drivers
were superior, so I spent a few hours tweaking and I love this notebook! I
use it for mostly photoshop in the comfort of my living room. To each their
own. My advice to you is find a laptop, touch it, feel it, and read as much
about it as you can. Reviews from real owners probably mean more than
most.Owners who have owned it longer the better. Remember companies do
improve and some companies get wealthy and get worse. The only problems I
have had with any of these brands was the battery made by Sony in the
Toshiba whose customer service was excellent. The mac to me was the most
overpriced but the operating sytem came with so much more software than
Windows offers. I did put on "bootcamp" and my daughter runs windows XP for
games and IM.