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qualities in a good laptop?

13 years ago

The grandson announced he will need a new laptop for school, he is taking computer graphics, and I would like to know what might be involved here folks, I need some insight into what price ranges to be looking at, and just exactly is a refurbished laptop anyway?

I have been skimming Tiger direct.com, for the info that I am asking right now, and if I should have more places to look, would be great as well, know I can try BB, but what other sources, and what else should I look into?

Sorry I don't have a lot of info to share, grands don't always share that with the grammas.

Comments (5)

azinoh
13 years ago
"Computer graphics" covers a lot of ground. It would be helpful to know which programs he'll be running. This is probably the right time to recommend that you get a video card in the new computer-something with 512kb video memory or more if available. If funds are available, a faster processor wouldn't hurt either.

"Refurbished" means that someone else already bought the unit and returned it as unsatisfactory (for whatever reason. Maybe something was broken-maybe they just didn't like it)...so it can't be resold as new. Supposedly, these get rechecked and are certified to be like new before being sold as refurbs and MAY OR MAY NOT have the same warranty as new depending on where you get it. Read the fine print before you buy.
genes
13 years ago
Are we talking high school coursing, college??? Need more specifics on exactly what the laptop will be used for...do you have a budget or is the sky the limit???
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actually Big Lots is the one selling the stock from Circuit City which is closing out most of their stores so these are indeed new in the box brand new items just like you would find at the CC stores. I have bought many items computer related there for excellent prices and have been extremely happy with them, The cordless mouse I am currently using, the 3 usb hubs I have connected to my pcs, a memory card reader, some speakers, the kingston flash drives and several of the SD memory cards just to name a few so I personally must say I do and would buy there, with no negatives. My husband loves to go there to see what kind of great buys he can find on tools. when they are the ones handling the liquidation of brand name stores you really can get some great buys then. Recently they had a huge liquidation of Pier One Import items. I regularly shop there which is why I have signed up with their online buzz club to get the advance info for the sales. I have never had to return anything I purchased there. I know that it does depend on which area of the country and which stores but the ones here are all excellent and I would not hesitate to purchase there. IF they do have reconditioned items for sale it says it clearly on the package and also on the sale flyers, they did have some Dyson vacuums a while back which were all labeled as reconditioned. When they did the Eckerds liquidation I stocked up on my diabetes items like the lancets, alcohol pads, and got a great new electronic blood pressure monitor for dirt cheap, same one I had looked at in Eckerds in fact. But that is just my personal shopping experiences. If I did have the spare money I would love the HP lappy unfortunately I just got a new vehicle so I am broke LOL. there will be some awesome sales heading into the Black Friday time period.
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mike_kaiser_gw
13 years ago
Graphics works generally requires screen space, all those tools bars take up space. Certainly nothing smaller than a 15" screen and more likely a 17" screen. Without knowing specific software it's hard to make a recommendation but general the more processing power and memory, the better.

Why not ask him what he would like and compare that with your budget?
bpgreen
13 years ago
"This is probably the right time to recommend that you get a video card in the new computer-something with 512kb video memory or more if available."

I think you probably mean 512 mb, right? I considered a 512kb video card sluggish a5 years ago even for work that wasn't all that graphical.

Many computers share their memory with the video, and this is especially true of laptops, but if you can get a laptop with dedicated video ram that will help with graphics intensive work,

Graphics tend to tax the CPU and the RAM, so get as much RAM and as fast a CPU as you can. Graphics also take up lots of hard drive space, so a big hard drive or a good external drive (or both) would be important.
shaddy101
Original Author
13 years ago
Been offline for several days, but wanting to thank you all for your input in this tough situation. I am clueless as to what is needed, have put pressure on to have grand figure out what he needs, going to art institute, college, and will need more space? for graphics, and programs I believe.
You all have been kind enuf to give me some questions to ask, perhaps he can purchase something thru the school itself to alleviate this big problem, and hope that be the case, meantime, all I can do is help provide the bucks I guess.
Thanks again folks.

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