Laptop, buy now vs. Vista Shake up

scottbeattie · 16th June 2006, 9:36 PM

Ok ... I know that at the end of the day if you wait a little bit longer there is always some new hardware, better faster smaller cheaper on the scope. I guess what I would be interested in is everyones comments on the following.

How much do you think the release of Vista will shake up the laptop market. Considering that it appears (from the beta) to chew a fair hole in even the best spec'd PC.

I figure the best "real" laptop, ie. no a dekstop replacement 3kg+ currently is a dual core, ~2ghz.... not sure what the best GPU is for a laptop...

Anyway i think from my raving you guys get the drift ... comments please

ZaK1 · 17th June 2006, 10:28 AM

My laptop is a Pentium M 1.73gz with 1 gig ram and shit video card, and it runs Vista with no complaints, although I don't have the full aero glass setup on.

If you can wait, wait for the Duo 2 Core from Intel, they will provide a dramatic boost in processor power. Best lappie video card I believe is the 7900GTX or two of them :P

That's when I will get a new laptop. Please apple put a fast video card in your mac book pro instead of always the middle of the range.

my 2 cents

SLATYE · 17th June 2006, 12:26 PM

Some of Dell's laptops (the Latitude D620, for example) are already designed to be Vista-compatible. However, it's probably worth waiting for Core2 just because it's quicker and you get 64-bit support.

Apparently even GMA950 will run Aero - although it probably won't do a very good job.

steve86 · 17th June 2006, 5:45 PM

[QUOTE=ZaK1
If you can wait, wait for the Duo 2 Core from Intel,[/QUOTE]

Just a note - You can wack a Merom (Core Duo) into laptops with the current Duo processor, so in a years time or whatever and the Duo doesn't cut it for you instead of buying a new laptop this can be done instead.

ZaK1 · 18th June 2006, 7:12 PM

Steve, yeah read that recently. Very interesting. I'm looking to get a new laptop at the end of the year, so I'll keep researching

Menthu_Rae · 18th June 2006, 7:16 PM

I have a Centrino Duo 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, 256MB X1600 Mobility... (ASUS A6Ja)

Runs Vista WITH aero 100%, smooth as silk

mordy · 18th June 2006, 8:31 PM

dont buy a core duo, wait a month or 2 for the core 2 duo with emt64. imho its the most important chip from intel this millenium, and its well worth the wait seeing how its pre-release editions have smoked amds best.

stmok · 19th June 2006, 3:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve86

Just a note - You can wack a Merom (Core 2 Duo) into laptops with the current Duo processor, so in a years time or whatever and the Duo doesn't cut it for you instead of buying a new laptop this can be done instead.

You can't just blindly whack in a Core 2 series CPU into current Core infrastructure for two reasons.

(1) There is a possibility that the mobo being used, does NOT properly support Core 2 in an electrical sense. (Which is the very likely excuse used by the notebook manufacturer OR Intel to get people to buy new hardware). But don't be surprised of this possibility.

(2) You need BIOS support from the notebook manufacturer. (as in a BIOS update). If they don't provide one...Tough $hit. Without a BIOS update, I don't think its boots up with a Core 2 CPU. (Unless you know how to modify the firmware and add the right changes in yourself.)

To simplify it...If you have no use for 64bit and are impatient, then buy a Core series now. If you do have use for EM64T capability, then wait for Core 2 series.

YYK · 21st June 2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordy

dont buy a core duo, wait a month or 2 for the core 2 duo with emt64. imho its the most important chip from intel this millenium, and its well worth the wait seeing how its pre-release editions have smoked amds best.

when's the expected release date? i'm in the market for a new laptop though might wait for vitsa to be released... but better to have all the information now

tin · 21st June 2006, 1:19 PM

December... No wait, January, or maybe feb or march.
Who knows really. Googling tells me December but I thought it had slipped to January. It could move further away... Remember how late 98 was?

If you need the hardware now, buy it now. Vista's too far off to wait.

Varuna · 21st June 2006, 3:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordy

dont buy a core duo, wait a month or 2 for the core 2 duo with emt64. imho its the most important chip from intel this millenium, and its well worth the wait seeing how its pre-release editions have smoked amds best.

I'd buy a minimalist Core Duo system with lots of ram now while their prices are being slashed to make way for september stock, and then buy a retail Core 2 Duo, 200GB HD w/256MB flash buffer, and HDDVD drive when their prices come down next year.

Varuna · 21st June 2006, 3:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tin

Googling tells me December but I thought it had slipped to January. It could move further away...

There were plans to start shipping to OEMs early december, but these seem to have slipped a few weeks. Retail release (pending any nasty show stoppers found in beta review) is still being planned for late January.

Varuna · 21st June 2006, 3:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmok

(2) You need BIOS support from the notebook manufacturer. (as in a BIOS update). If they don't provide one...Tough $hit. Without a BIOS update, I don't think its boots up with a Core 2 CPU. (Unless you know how to modify the firmware and add the right changes in yourself.)

Asus have said that they will be offering bios patches for all of their Core Duo units. I have a sneaking suspicion that they plan on rereleasing the exact same machines with switched CPU SKU's. Dell doing the same for the Inspiron 6450 (guess on the name) and 9450 wouldn't surprise me either.

SLATYE · 21st June 2006, 3:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYK

when's the expected release date? i'm in the market for a new laptop though might wait for vitsa to be released... but better to have all the information now

Currently, Pioneer Computers (www.pioneercomputers.com.au) are listing the Core2 Duo as being available in July - for fairly nice prices too (the 2Ghz T7200 Core2 Duo is about $100 more than the 2Ghz T2500 Core Duo).

caudex · 21st June 2006, 4:45 PM

i think MS said specifically that the corporate edition of vista will be released in Q4 2006, while the general consumer version will be scheduled for Q1 2007 release date.

and yeh, i agree, wait for the core2duo to release, but if you can't, the current core duo are pretty damn fast already, and besides, theres not much performance increase you can get out of 64bit computing for everyday tasks. Most apps now don't even support 64 bit, and most games now also still don't support 64 bit. Only reason why you'd go 64bit as a general consumer, from what i hear from people, is if you plan on having more then 4 gig of ram, which is highly unlikely for a laptop.

16th June 2006, 9:36 PM	#1
scottbeattie Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: BNE Posts: 173	Laptop, buy now vs. Vista Shake up Ok ... I know that at the end of the day if you wait a little bit longer there is always some new hardware, better faster smaller cheaper on the scope. I guess what I would be interested in is everyones comments on the following. How much do you think the release of Vista will shake up the laptop market. Considering that it appears (from the beta) to chew a fair hole in even the best spec'd PC. I figure the best "real" laptop, ie. no a dekstop replacement 3kg+ currently is a dual core, ~2ghz.... not sure what the best GPU is for a laptop... Anyway i think from my raving you guys get the drift ... comments please __________________ FS: Ahanix HTPC Case [Camera] Canon 350D, 17-85 IS USM, 50mm f/1.4, Manfrotto 055Pro B / 141RC, Speedlite 430EX and not a clue in the world how to put it all together. [Pc] Mac Mini - 1.66Ghz Intel Duo, 2Gb Memory, 100Gb 7200rpm, 320Gb Lacie Mini Drive, iSight, Dell 24" Monitor, Mighty Mouse and Wireless Keyboard.

17th June 2006, 12:26 PM	#3
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 21,040	Some of Dell's laptops (the Latitude D620, for example) are already designed to be Vista-compatible. However, it's probably worth waiting for Core2 just because it's quicker and you get 64-bit support. Apparently even GMA950 will run Aero - although it probably won't do a very good job. __________________ Main system: Pentium-D 805 \| 1GB (2x 512MB) PQI DDR400 \| Gigabyte 8I865GMK-775 \| Xtreama Radeon 9800Pro with Zalman ZM-80HP-D \| 320GB WD SATA HDD \| Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

18th June 2006, 7:16 PM	#6
Menthu_Rae Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney Posts: 3,826	I have a Centrino Duo 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, 256MB X1600 Mobility... (ASUS A6Ja) Runs Vista WITH aero 100%, smooth as silk __________________ System Specs: Q6600 G0 @ 3.2GHz (8 x 400MHz), TR Ultra 120EX, 4GB G-Skill PI PC2-8500 w/Dominator Fan, Asus P5K Premium, 768MB XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra, Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum Pro, 1x 150GB WD Raptor, 2x 750GB/1x 1TB/1x 1.5TB Seagate 7200.11 HDDs, 2x Pioneer DVR-212BKs, 2x Zalman ZMMFC-1 Plus, BenQ FP241W 24" LCD, Logitech Z-680 5.1 Speakers, Lian Li PC-A71B, 8x Scythe SFF21G, 850W Silverstone DA850 PSU. Over 40 Trades.

21st June 2006, 1:19 PM	#10
tin Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Narrabri NSW Posts: 4,909	December... No wait, January, or maybe feb or march. Who knows really. Googling tells me December but I thought it had slipped to January. It could move further away... Remember how late 98 was? If you need the hardware now, buy it now. Vista's too far off to wait. __________________ ©®£¤¥±²³¶µ»«¼½¾¿§ The software required Win95 or better, so I installed Linux. Question marks are the new full stop?

21st June 2006, 4:45 PM	#15
caudex Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,479	i think MS said specifically that the corporate edition of vista will be released in Q4 2006, while the general consumer version will be scheduled for Q1 2007 release date. and yeh, i agree, wait for the core2duo to release, but if you can't, the current core duo are pretty damn fast already, and besides, theres not much performance increase you can get out of 64bit computing for everyday tasks. Most apps now don't even support 64 bit, and most games now also still don't support 64 bit. Only reason why you'd go 64bit as a general consumer, from what i hear from people, is if you plan on having more then 4 gig of ram, which is highly unlikely for a laptop. __________________ Sucessful sales with ArTy, Amfibius, Lolami, CaeSiuM-X, jaster1mereel and SaTaN.

17th June 2006, 10:28 AM	#2
ZaK1 Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 259	My laptop is a Pentium M 1.73gz with 1 gig ram and shit video card, and it runs Vista with no complaints, although I don't have the full aero glass setup on. If you can wait, wait for the Duo 2 Core from Intel, they will provide a dramatic boost in processor power. Best lappie video card I believe is the 7900GTX or two of them :P That's when I will get a new laptop. Please apple put a fast video card in your mac book pro instead of always the middle of the range. my 2 cents

17th June 2006, 5:45 PM	#4
steve86 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 148	[QUOTE=ZaK1 If you can wait, wait for the Duo 2 Core from Intel,[/QUOTE] Just a note - You can wack a Merom (Core Duo) into laptops with the current Duo processor, so in a years time or whatever and the Duo doesn't cut it for you instead of buying a new laptop this can be done instead.

18th June 2006, 7:12 PM	#5
ZaK1 Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 259	Steve, yeah read that recently. Very interesting. I'm looking to get a new laptop at the end of the year, so I'll keep researching

18th June 2006, 8:31 PM	#7
mordy Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: melb Posts: 5,070	dont buy a core duo, wait a month or 2 for the core 2 duo with emt64. imho its the most important chip from intel this millenium, and its well worth the wait seeing how its pre-release editions have smoked amds best.