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Archive through May 27, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Computer Problems? Ask Here (ARCHIVES): Archive through May 27, 2005 users admin

Author Message
Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 7:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nope, I even upgraded my memory for it, very happy with my ME.
just took off a bunch of stuff from my start menu, running so fast now.

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 8:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well people have different experiences. I can also say that I've known some people who have had a very good experience with ME - and if it ain't broke - don't fix it!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 9:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi all you techies. I'm about to buy a laptop for school. I have a few questions that maybe you can help me figure out.

How important is front side bus. I am looking at one model that has a 533 FSB, and one that has a 400 FSB. I like the 400 FSB laptop better overall, but if FSB is REALLY important, then I may change my mind. Both have equal processors and RAM.

Another thing I am trying to figure out is the video card. One has 64 "shared", and the other has 128 shared. What is shared. I haven't seen any without shared.

Final question (for now) is about the Centrino chip. I know the Centrino refers to all THREE components, but not all computer stores show the Centrino logo, but just refer to the three components separately (Pentium M 1.7, 802.11 a/g, and the antenna). If a computer list the three separately, is it not a REAL Centrino, even if it's a Pentium M processor?

I am looking at an HP dv1240, and an HP dv4040 here at Future Shop. I'm not sure if anyone is familiar with these models. Wappy recommended her Toshiba, but I've looked at the Toshibas, and find their keyboards a little too small, especially with a 3 inch border around them, I would think they didn't need to shrink the keyboard so much.

Anyways, if you tech-boys could help me out with some advice, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks in advance!

Kali

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 10:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Eeyoreslament: The FSB means "Front Side Bus" and refers to the speed between the processor and the memory. The faster bus requires faster memory which usually means more expensive. In my opinion, unless your using the fastest processors now available, your not likely to see a huge performance gain on a more expensive system in normal use.

"Shared" memory means any amount used by the video system is taken from the main system memory. If you have 512MB of total system memory, and 128MB is 'Shared', then you are left with the remaining 384MB for programs to run in. This is a variable amount of course, and you probably wouldn't have much problem as long as you have 512MB to begin with. Less system RAM of course could leave you with insufficient memory for your programs. The best option is to have dedicated Video memory if available, which leaves your system memory for your programs to use fully.

According to information I found online, "Centrino is not a processor. Rather in order for a laptop computer to be called "Centrino", it must have the new Pentium M processor, an Intel 855 chipset, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 (802.11b) or Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g) network card.

The main differences I see between the dv4040 & dv1240 are the 4040 has a larger screen, slightly (1.73Ghz vs 1.70Ghz) processor, one additional USB port, faster memory (333Mhz vs 266Mhz), and weighs about 1.2lbs more. On HPs website, the 4040 is $50 less than the other (which seems unusual since the specifications are actually better).

Hope this helps a little.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - 10:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i bought a toshiba about 4 weeks ago, and love love love love it! and there is probably a 3/4" border around the keyboard. the difference that i found (and it really showed up watching a movie) was the monitor part of the laptop. the toshiba is INCREDIBLE. a PC magazine top of the line for the screen. i have a toshiba M35x-s311

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 4:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
So Draheid, if both laptops have 1 G RAM, then the video memory shouldn't be an issue? I don't play any games like Halo 2 that require major video software. At most I would watch a DVD or a video from a website. Should I be wary of the 64MB video card?

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 11:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
With 1GB of RAM, you'll be fine with either video card. Either of those speeds will be fine for the use you are describing, so I would go with the one that looks/feels better to you out of those 2 and/or better matches what you want to spend.

I did not look at either model you listed, so I am just commenting from reading the last few posts.


Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 9:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Update: I've decided to listen to everyone and buy a Toshiba M40. It has the full Centrino label, 1.86G processor, 512 RAM (which I am fine to upgrade), 533 FSB, Nvidia card with 128 DEDICATED video memory, 80G HD(more than enough considering my desktop has 250G if I need storage space), and other goodies.

I went BACK to the store and took a look at the 4040, and it is twice the size of the 1240. Oh!! And the Toshiba is 5lbs, the HPs were both 10 lbs. All in all, I'm happy with my choice.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 10:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have a new question. Battery life. I see online about people complaining about only a 2 hour battery life. Is it REALLY only 2 hours? Or, are those complainers using more intensive applications? If my class is 2 hours long, will my laptop run out of juice in the middle of lecture? Or, if someone is just using MS Word in class, will the battery last longer?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 10:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
the battery that comes with the toshiba is about 2 hours. i never hardly use the battery. i almost always use the power supply. you can buy a larger battery for it from toshiba if you want. i'm so glad you're getting a toshiba. i love love (well ya know from previous posts) mine. also the battery charges really fast. if you have any questions about the toshiba, let me know. i'll be happy to answer them.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 11:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The only thing Landi, is that while I'm sitting in class, there is no power supply. Once I leave class, there are laptop areas where you can "plug in", but it's the times I need to use it without a plug that are a bugger.

The 12cell battery for the one I'm getting is 250 dollars! And that one lasts about 5 hours.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 11:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
did you check the price on toshiba.com? my big battery cost less than half of that price!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 12:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yeah, the M40 is Canadian, so it's on the Toshiba.ca site that I found that price. I tried ebay but found nothing. :-(

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 1:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ahhhh so you're talking canadian dollars, not american. big difference. nebbermind

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 3:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am officially writing from my new laptop. I hate buying new toys before work. It makes me want to call in sick so I can play all night!!

Mind you, I DO feel sick with the final total.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 4:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Eeyores, go look for your battery on froogle.com. $250, even Canadian, seems awfully high to me.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 06, 2005 - 12:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Juju, I'll check it out!

I really need to get used to this touchpad thingy.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, May 06, 2005 - 3:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
do what i did eeyore, and buy a wireless mouse. i couldn't stand the touchpad.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 06, 2005 - 8:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I bought one. I was just too lazy to get it out last night. LOL.

Conejo
Member

08-23-2002

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 5:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Whenever I try to login to my Hotmail account I keep getting a message that says "Cookies must be allowed. Your browser must allow cookies before you can use the Passport Network."

I haven't changed any browser settings and have been using the same Hotmail account for years and have never got this message before.

Suggestions?

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 8:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Conejo: Your problem could be caused one of several things. Most newer firewalls also block cookies. You may need to clear your cookie files and try again. If you're using a computer from an office or other place besides home, the network administrators may be blocking cookies coming into the network. If you upgraded your browser recently (or it updated automatically through auto-update) a new feature may default to security settings that do not allow cookies.

If any of these sound plausible, please post more information such as where your accessing from (home or work) and what browser & firewall, if known, you are using and I'd be happy to try to help.


Conejo
Member

08-23-2002

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 9:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Dra!
I'm accessing the net from work. I'm networking with one other CPU with LinkSys (I think) and we do not have a network administator (small business). We do use Norton AntiVirus and I have had some recent updates lately - not sure what they were. I did find a way around it though - I logged onto login.passort.net and was able to access my hotmail through that site. That's the site where I was being routed when trying to access hotmail and it's a lot of trouble trying to just get my mail.

Thanks again!

Draheid
Moderator

09-09-2001

Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have created a page I hope you will find useful, listing many of the programs which have been recommended here in this thread. You can see the message at the top of this page along with a link to the listing page hosted on the TVCH server. Please also note the disclaimer at the bottom of the message above.

If you have suggestions for additions to this list, please let me know and I will try to add them to the list when I can.

Hope this helps.

ETA: Note, these are for PC/Windows based computers. I have not researched similar utilities for use on other platforms. If you know of any and would like me to include them also, please let me know.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That's fantastic, Dra! Thanks so much!!

Jan
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, May 27, 2005 - 12:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What a great piece of work, Dra. Thanks so much :-):-)