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General discussion

laptop needed, but don't need the best and fastest

Nov 16, 2004 12:58AM PST

Hello, I am new here, I need a laptop for mainly bookkeeping, internet searching,some playing of DVD's, it does not have to have a DVD burner, as I have a good one on my desktop. I do like the new ultra bright screens that I have seen in stores. A 40 or 60 gig HD is plenty. Battery life is important but I will be close to power most of the time. I would like to use it wireless in the house and when traveling. My problem is that when I go the stores to shop, the salesman always tell me I need the biggest and best and always $1500.00 to $2000.00. Somebody please tell me what would be good in a 1300.00 to 1700.00 price range. It does not have to be the cheapest thing out there either. Thanks in advance, Gary

Discussion is locked

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Re: laptop needed, but don't need the best and fastest
Nov 16, 2004 1:44AM PST

The battery life for non-desktop replacement models always hugs the 2 to 6 hour region DEPENDING on use. Doom 3 (a game) will drag it down to a few hours, DVD play will be in the near four hours and simple web browsing will get the most hours for most people. Outside of models you can fit larger batteries ($$$) there isn't any big winner here.

Also, a word of caution on these batteries. At 18 months or about 500 charges they are a shadow of when they were new. You'll get to replace it to get the same number of hours.

In these forums are discussions about various "1000" model laptops. Have you read them?
Bob

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Re: Battery Life
Nov 16, 2004 4:40AM PST

Bob, what's the mechanics on running the laptop for a day on the AC Adapter with the battery fully charged? Does that count as one charge or what?

Would it be profitable to take out the battery when you're going to use it for an extended period and then re-charge it (with the computer off) when you're going to go out and use it on battery?

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No firm results.
Nov 16, 2004 6:35AM PST

People have tried it, but today's charging systems prevent any big payoff from leaving the battery out.

Bob

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Re: No firm results.
Nov 16, 2004 11:57AM PST

Cool. Today's battery placements also make it a pain to remove them. Thanks.