I haven't ran much on laptops.
I started out on a VT100
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/DEC_VT100_terminal.jpg)
Since then I've run on PCs. Usually a mid-tower case, separate monitor(currently a 24"), keyboard and mouse.
I do have a couple of Panasonic CF-29 Toughbooks that I take hunting to view game camera pics.
(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/panasonic/images/c/c0/CF-29.jpg)
Ahh, the good old DEC days!
Tweren't too good connecting over a 300 baud no handshaking modem. Even with my poor typing skills, waiting on that modem sucked.
In high school my best friend's father worked with the government, and had a DEC terminal at home with a 1200 baud modem. My friend had access to a very limited guest account, so we would log on and play the text-based star trek game. Unbeknownst to me, we were on ARPANET before it became the internet.
I didn't get my VT100 until 1981 when was in college from another student. I used it to connect to the school for my 8080 assembly programming class. I also used it in the 1st class on 6502 SYM-1 Application Programming. After that I really didn't get online much until around 91, when I picked up a used 386, and got online using Archie and Gopher.
My advice is don't buy a new one @sneakypete for that $500 you can get a really good used corporate machine that will serve you well.
Here's just one example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133785229224?hash=item1f263897a8:g:Qw8AAOSwVBNin1Fu&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4FbSgepyF4LfGaPgXYr4rHU5k%2BskHtoHkQV%2FjYsGEvF36OcgZvPkGVRf5My2iK3%2BaOEJr7kW62WisszdrMiERval9DR7bLTPhE86T1sJgYIBMV%2Bqsncan83hCF04fnPMyPQSNQoIVN9390Aq%2Fc5%2FtQpwgH4JwB%2Ft8%2BQ05oV91eJu0RcIXN9aew92TdUqPWXxGlP4nxWUD1tUOS0e%2BbtpWufQ7WPXDMUXlntWQf1v8GiPP5aT5l2Yk3HNdGJfQv2UhN%2FWkKQdrsRQGmskE43GPHa3aQ14kE7fpFdcsVTAx%2Bbd%7Ctkp%3ABFBM4rz05MRg
FWIW, I've had really good luck with HP Probooks Two of them currently in use here.
Personally @sneakypete I wouldn't buy anything but a DELL Inspiron Laptop with an Intel I5 processor/8GB Ram. I put many of my customers on one and they love it. Here's one on EBAY with Win 10 from an Authorized Reseller for $300.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234571904775?hash=item369d933707:g:2akAAOSw0D1ipXx6 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/234571904775?hash=item369d933707:g:2akAAOSw0D1ipXx6)
Personally @sneakypete I wouldn't buy anything but a DELL Inspiron Laptop with an Intel I5 processor/8GB Ram. I put many of my customers on one and they love it. Here's one on EBAY with Win 10 from an Authorized Reseller for $300.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234571904775?hash=item369d933707:g:2akAAOSw0D1ipXx6 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/234571904775?hash=item369d933707:g:2akAAOSw0D1ipXx6)
I used Tosshibas through Win XP, am running an HP now, and have had good results (all laptops current one is an elitebook, I5 with 8GB Ram and a 256 gig SSD).
Almost all of my computers (7 of 10) are business class HP. My last (and now secondary, the one I take with me on service calls) laptop was the last of a long run of HP Elitebooks. My main laptop right now is a Dell inspiron.... The only other non-HPs in the whole place are my main media machine (which is a Dell) and my portable notebook which is a Lenovo Thinkpad of some kind.
You just can't go wrong with business class HP.
@Bigun @Kamaji @Texas Yellow Rose @corbe @roamer_1 @Weird Tolkienish Figure
@Fishrrman
Ok,guys,just pulled the trigger on this one.
Dell Latitude E5530 15.6 Inch Business Laptop, Intel Core i5-3210M up to 3.1GHz, 8G DDR3, 320G, DVD, VGA, HDMI, WiFi, Win 10 Pro 64 Bit Multi-Language Support English/French/Spanish(Renewed)
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E5530-Business-Multi-Language/dp/B00WJTC13O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AUTB373MHH4O&keywords=Dell+Latitude+E5530+15.6+Inch+Business+Laptop%2C+Intel+Core+i5-3210M+up+to+3.1GHz%2C+8G+DDR3%2C+320G%2C+DVD%2C+VGA%2C+HDMI%2C+WiFi%2C+Win+10+Pro+64+Bit+Multi-Language+Support+English%2FFrench%2FSpanish%28Renewed%29&qid=1658631185&sprefix=dell+latitude+e5530+15.6+inch+business+laptop%2C+intel+core+i5-3210m+up+to+3.1ghz%2C+8g+ddr3%2C+320g%2C+dvd%2C+vga%2C+hdmi%2C+wifi%2C+win+10+pro+64+bit+multi-language+support+english%2Ffrench%2Fspanish+renewed+%2Caps%2C528&sr=8-1
Mostly because I am even cheaper than the computer,it is a 15.6 inch Dell,and it has a CD player. I learned a long time ago that I can't play computer games if I also want to waste time doing stupid stuff like eating,sleeping,taking showers,and leaving the house.
99 percent of what I do is buy stuff I need and get it shipped to me to save money on gas and time,and irritating people on TBR. Don't need all the latest and greatest do-dahs to do that,but I am DONE with 14 inch screens.
Might take this HP apart so I can maybe sell the screen to somebody for 20 bucks plus shipping,as well as a few other parts on it. Going to trash the hdd. Damn thing just wants to crash all the time,anyhow. I blame that on Win 11. Probably a faulty install at the factory,but I don't care. There were some really great deals out there on newer 15.6 laptops,but most seemed to have Win-11,and with chemo brain,I am just NOT interested in learning a new op system. The one I just bought has Win-10 Pro installed.
Taking a chance on a used one,but if it even lasts one year I can't see how I went wrong.
I’ve been saving up for an .Apple Mac Book pro.
Am I the only Mac enthusiast here?,
I’ve been saving up for an .Apple Mac Book pro.
Am I the only Mac enthusiast here?,
Nope. I got tired of fighting the malware and viruses of WIN machines. Not that ios products are exempt, but the problem is apparently infinitely less.
I have never owned anything Apple and never will. Their way of doing business soured me on Apple products early on. @Gefn
Viruses are pretty much non-existent since win10. Even spyware and such. I can't even tell you the last time I had an infection of any kind. Years and years.
It will serve you well @sneakypete personally I would have gone with something that had an SSD and 16Gigs of RAM but that's just me. Windows runs in 8 gigs but WAY more better in 16. At least that has been my observation.
I heard that @Bigun :beer:
I own exactly nothing made by apple.
I'm the same way about GM products now after the crap they pulled, and got away with, when Obama was dictator. I'll walk before I drive anything GM.
@Bigun
But an SSD and added RAM are doable. Get recovered a little bit and add more RAM... down the line another couple months, add an SSD...
@sneakypete
Well... I am a Chevy freak. Probably always will be. But I ain't ever bought new, and all my parts tend to be after-market... Chevy ain't making much off a 40 year old truck anyhow.
OH yeah! Of course. But the upgrades will likely cost a bit more than buying a used machine already equipped. @roamer_1
@Bigun
Right. But that expense is over time... and the box is still going to be way affordable. Only thing I don't like is that it has a DVD bay. That's getting kinda old. Might be that it ain't USB3 all the way either... hardware with a DVD often has only one or two USB3 ports, with the rest being USB2...
But it's a right enough box. It will work pretty good the way it is, and will be a hummer with added RAM and SSD.
I heard that @Bigun :beer:
I own exactly nothing made by apple.
@Bigun
But an SSD and added RAM are doable. Get recovered a little bit and add more RAM... down the line another couple months, add an SSD...
@sneakypete
If WIN has made that level of improvements around security, I might convert back. Can't tell you how pissed off I was when I got my wife's last MacBook, and it was devoid of headphone jacks, SD ports, and standard USB connections.
@roamer_1
Part of my plan was to add the RAM from this PC once I strip it. Never done this,but it can't be all that hard to do.
@roamer_1
Part of my plan was to add the RAM from this PC once I strip it. Never done this,but it can't be all that hard to do.
That may or may not be doable @sneakypete depends on if the RAM is compatible and how it's configured but even if you have to buy more it's not that big a deal.
@sneakypete
Might be out of luck on that... All RAM is not the same. and if your current box is new, I will bet it won't work in the refurb. You may be able to sell the ram to buy more ram for the refurb... If it is in 8g sticks or more... But DDR3 ram is around, and cheap, if you can find somebody that is plugged into that local market.
You might just run it by the EEK Squad at the Best Buy and get a quote for upgrading to 16g... That will get you a guaranteed hard number to work with. Then find out if you can beat it on your own. I sure could. But in your position, the deal may be satisfactory and not worth bothering further.
@Bigun
Thanks,I will check into the price of new RAM before I go to the trouble of trying to install the RAM from this one.
@sneakypete There are plenty of UTube videos on how to disassemle a Laptop to upgrade the Ram or install a SSD. Usually just requires a Jewlers phillips screwdriver. Just put the Model # in UTube, ie...Dell Latitude 4345.
@sneakypete There are plenty of UTube videos on how to disassemle a Laptop to upgrade the Ram or install a SSD. Usually just requires a Jewlers phillips screwdriver. Just put the Model # in UTube, ie...Dell Latitude 4345.
An anti-static wrist band or pad is also an advisable accessory, depending on how far into the guts and innards one has to go. I actually did manage to fry a motherboard one time just with static. After that, I always have the anti-static wristband going.
@Kamaji
Never heard of such a thing. Do you have a brand name and/or a source you can give me?
@Kamaji
Never heard of such a thing. Do you have a brand name and/or a source you can give me?
That's why I don't like Apple... Their phones are a perfect example... No auxiliary drive bay. Spend STUPID money, and wind up stuck without enough storage. I paid 150 bucks for my Samsung A-50 and stuffed a big flash card in it the next day. Heck I don't even know how big it is anymore... But I will never worry about it.
For all the money paid for that dang Apple phone, you'd think they could add a mini flash port. Makes me mad.
Their pooters... same thing. They run great, no doubt, but crazy expensive bang-for-buck, and no where near as easy to upgrade. And hardware externals and software too... Just all the way around.
I like the vast and distributed Windows marketplace. Especially when you are talking used. A three year old WinPC can be found for a song. A five year old Apple is still big bread. There is an argument there about retaining value, but the freewheeling market on the Windows side makes that really negligible.
@Kamaji
Never heard of such a thing. Do you have a brand name and/or a source you can give me?
@sneakypete
Sort of like these: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=anti-static+wrist&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0bi7nvKR-QIVJv7jBx0t1g1KEAAYASAAEgKANfD_BwE&hvadid=174231267041&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9067609&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8636382381488605389&hvtargid=kwd-2670500452&hydadcr=24658_9648989&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_92n8b8y6x9_e
Viruses are pretty much non-existent since win10. Even spyware and such. I can't even tell you the last time I had an infection of any kind. Years and years.
catfish:
"If WIN has made that level of improvements around security, I might convert back. Can't tell you how pissed off I was when I got my wife's last MacBook, and it was devoid of headphone jacks, SD ports, and standard USB connections."
Then... YOU DIDN'T BUY THE RIGHT ONE.
Didn't you investigate all the possible models before you bought?
My 2021 MacBook Pro 14" has:
Left side: Magsafe connection, 2 USBc ports, headphone jack
Right side: 1 USBc port, HDMI port, SD card slot.
Inside, the RAM, SSD and [Apple m-series] CPU are all "integrated" into a nonreplaceable single unit design.
Base model of the MBP 14" comes with 16gb RAM and a 512gb SSD. All that I'll need for it...
Runs great. Should last me at least 5-6 years, but could easily last 10 or more.
I gave my 2015 MacBook Pro 13" to my sister.
I still have a 2010 MBP 13" that boots and runs ok...
I'm the same way about GM products now after the crap they pulled, and got away with, when Obama was dictator. I'll walk before I drive anything GM.I have a herd of GM--all pre-Obama, all 20th Century.
I don't use Microsoft Mail, I found it very clunky. Can you use Webmail instead? Is it a gmail or yahoo account?
@Bigun @corbe @catfish1957 @Smokin Joe
Sorry for anybody I left out.
Well,my new/refurbished computer arrived yesterday,and not a moment too soon. MY hp Win. 7 computer is going nuts.
The damn thing looks like a new one,but seems to be a little slower than the Win 11 computer. Might/probably is due to chemo brain. I literally spent months trying to figure out WIN11,and since my memory sucks,I now need learn how to use WIN10 again. I have the professional version.
Even if this one turns out to be slower than the Win 11 computer,I really don't give a damn. It ain't like I am surfing the web for technical stuff,and I have no where to go but to doctors visits,and nothing to do but sit on my ass.
Besides,most of the problems I am having are directly related to Chemo Brain,and the computer has nothing to do with it.
The new/old one is one hell of a lot heavier than the Win 11 computer,and I like that.
BTW,went to the circulation specialist again today after him setting me free a few months ago. Since I can't bend my left knee or raise my left leg more than maybe 6-8 inches,
We got into a discussion about why my left leg continues to leak "water",and was told it was because my heart is too weak to pump the blood back up again.
Going to call me heart doc tomorrow and get an appointment so I can ask him if it is ok for me to stop taking the pills he gave me. My BP is typically low and has been low for the last year or so. NOT going to stop taking them until the heart doc and I have a face to face discussion,though.
I figured there was some good reason for me to fall asleep without warning while watching tv at night. Thanks to the left leg leaking stinking fluid,I have been sleeping sitting up for the last couple of years,and my back is killing me.
I know all this is off-topic,but maybe someone else can learn from my mistakes.
@sneakypete
WRT to the computers, I'm very sure the light W11 computer you like can easily be reverted back to W10. If you can't do it the local shop can do it for you for a few $$$.
Many here can walk you through doing that if you need it.
@Bigun
Thanks for the offer,but doing this stuff makes my head hurt worse than ever. I will be trying to do something,and forget what I am doing while I am doing it.
In other words,fooling with the 14 inch laptop with the silver keys that I absolutely hate is just not worth the grief.
I will never again buy a 14 inch computer,or any computer with silver keys.
I’m looking between a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air.
Anyone here in a Mac platform? Which do you prefer?
Leaning towards the Pro…I’m replacing a Pro from 2011.
I’m looking between a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air.
Anyone here in a Mac platform? Which do you prefer?
Leaning towards the Pro…I’m replacing a Pro from 2011.
I’m looking between a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air.
Anyone here in a Mac platform? Which do you prefer?
Leaning towards the Pro…I’m replacing a Pro from 2011.
Sorry, I don't do Mac.
Sorry, I don't do Mac.
I know you can save a ton if you by a used one 3 or so years old... At least out here, they tend to drop in value around there. Still, figure on paying 2/3 of new...If you can find one.
Which is why I don't do Mac. The bag-for-buck is crazy better on the PC side. A comparable PC would have cost half as much as a Mac to start with, and by 3 or 4 years old, that PC would be worth a third of that.
I had a MacBook Pro once, and I liked it. However, Apple also practices Bloatware, so it became useless after a few years just like a Windows box. Snow Leopard killed my machine dead.
Planned Obsolescence is alive and well at Apple.
I had a MacBook Pro once, and I liked it. However, Apple also practices Bloatware, so it became useless after a few years just like a Windows box. Snow Leopard killed my machine dead.
Planned Obsolescence is alive and well at Apple.
Ok guys,my refubrished Dell 16 inch laptop came in yesterday.
Looks to be perfect in every way.
Have it working properly now,downloaded my anti-virus software and loaded it,and am now trying to access my emails on microsoft mail on this computer,and can't even get the sign-in page to open.
Trying to avoid getting emails on my new used computer at the moment because due to my chemo brain,that would make me even more confused.
Is it me,or are there some problems now with the Microsoft mail system?
That is a lot of laptop for $268 @sneakypete
Win10 and Win11 (all flavors) have an easy and great Restore/Reset feature in the Settings. Open a Microsoft and gmail account to take care of everything except your personal data (docs, pics etc..) you'll have to figure that out and put it on an inexpensive thumb drive, would be my suggestion.
Ok,guys,girls,undecideds,been having trouble with the "new/reconditioned computer" that I bought maybe a year ago this week,and I just don't have the mental facilities or the patience to try to fix it thanks to chemo brain,so I just ordered a 15.6 reconditioned Dell from Amazon for $268 that comes with a fresh reload of Win10 Pro. Given how little 268 bucks buys these days,that's a bargain just because I don't have to figure out how to fix corrupted software.
Plus,it will be screaming fast compared to my old one.
Dell Latitude E6540 15.6in Laptop, Core i7-4600M 2.9GHz, 8GB Ram, 500GB SSD, DVDRW, Windows 10 Pro 64bit (Renewed)
LOT of computer for 268 bucks.
Ok,guys,girls,undecideds,been having trouble with the "new/reconditioned computer" that I bought maybe a year ago this week,and I just don't have the mental facilities or the patience to try to fix it thanks to chemo brain,so I just ordered a 15.6 reconditioned Dell from Amazon for $268 that comes with a fresh reload of Win10 Pro. Given how little 268 bucks buys these days,that's a bargain just because I don't have to figure out how to fix corrupted software.
Plus,it will be screaming fast compared to my old one.
Dell Latitude E6540 15.6in Laptop, Core i7-4600M 2.9GHz, 8GB Ram, 500GB SSD, DVDRW, Windows 10 Pro 64bit (Renewed)
LOT of computer for 268 bucks.
That's why I don't like Apple... Their phones are a perfect example... No auxiliary drive bay. Spend STUPID money, and wind up stuck without enough storage. I paid 150 bucks for my Samsung A-50 and stuffed a big flash card in it the next day. Heck I don't even know how big it is anymore... But I will never worry about it.
For all the money paid for that dang Apple phone, you'd think they could add a mini flash port. Makes me mad.
Their pooters... same thing. They run great, no doubt, but crazy expensive bang-for-buck, and no where near as easy to upgrade. And hardware externals and software too... Just all the way around.
I like the vast and distributed Windows marketplace. Especially when you are talking used. A three year old WinPC can be found for a song. A five year old Apple is still big bread. There is an argument there about retaining value, but the freewheeling market on the Windows side makes that really negligible.
Apple demands total control of what goes in their stuff. A micro SD card slot would make it more susceptible to water damage since they make access to the inside difficult.
:shrug:
So make do with 32 or 64g?
Absolutely not. Not for that kind of money... **nononono*
Nope. I will stick with Droid and as much storage as I can stand, for a quarter of the cost. It ain't no damn piano. It will be junk in another year or so when I go to upgrade again. So why spend big money to put up with it? Makes no sense to me at all.
Just bought a new laptop several weeks back (discussed on another thread). For email, I installed Thunderbird to manage my gmail account, and I am very happy with it. Microsoft can kiss my ass with their monthly charge for Outlook. Thanks again, @roamer_1
Now I am looking for a pdf reader program that can combine pdf files into a single file. That's basically all I need with pdfs. A permanent license from adobe is around $350. Would really like to avoid paying that.
Just bought a new laptop several weeks back (discussed on another thread). For email, I installed Thunderbird to manage my gmail account, and I am very happy with it. Microsoft can kiss my ass with their monthly charge for Outlook. Thanks again, @roamer_1
Now I am looking for a pdf reader program that can combine pdf files into a single file. That's basically all I need with pdfs. A permanent license from adobe is around $350. Would really like to avoid paying that.
Any time I want to convert a scan to PDF, I use the 'Microsoft print to pdf' option, even on pooters that have Adobe. But lets say I'm doing an expense report and I have to scan receipts for each expense. Once completed, I want to take all those pdf files and combine them into one multi-page pdf file. Acrobat has an option for combining pdf files. I want to know if there is a competitor that offers the same thing.
Any time I want to convert a scan to PDF, I use the 'Microsoft print to pdf' option, even on pooters that have Adobe. But lets say I'm doing an expense report and I have to scan receipts for each expense. Once completed, I want to take all those pdf files and combine them into one multi-page pdf file. Acrobat has an option for combining pdf files. I want to know if there is a competitor that offers the same thing.
Thank you, sir.
Just bought a new laptop several weeks back (discussed on another thread). For email, I installed Thunderbird to manage my gmail account, and I am very happy with it. Microsoft can kiss my ass with their monthly charge for Outlook. Thanks again, @roamer_1
@Hoodat
Huh? I have been using MS Outlook for a couple of years,and have yet to get a bill or pay a dime.