Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Confused Canadian]

Not having bought a new computer for 3-4 years, I'm way out of touch with what specs I need, especially when it comes to laptops.

I'm hoping some of the tech gurus from Dave's can help me narrow down my search.

Basically, we're looking for a second computer to accompany our desktop (an ancient P4 2.4 GHz that has done us well over the years). The new notebook will mainly be used for surfing the Internet (duh!) and editing pictures and digital (home) videos. We won't be playing games or watching DVD's on it, not primarily anyways.

We don't need a huge screen; a 14 inch screen (or thereabouts) should be fine. Would be happy with Windows XP (it's familiar) and basically, I can't be bothered to figure out Vista in Korean. Of course, I'll want to network the notebook with the desktop (more storage space). I'm guessing I'll need a router for that, or can it simply be done with our Internet connection?

Finding something with a built in webcam is preferable. A DVD burner (preferably Lightscribe, but not 100% necessary) is a must.

I don't want to break the bank, but I also don't want to buy an already 'ancient' computer. We're hoping to find something for under a million won (cheaper, if possible) that will suit our needs and keep us going for a few years.

So, can anyone offer some baseline specs, or better yet, some possible models? All help/suggestions greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

[JustJohn]

Well the first thing is to get one with as much RAM as you can afford. If your budget goes up to 1 mill won you should be thinking at least 2GB. Next most important thing will probably be hard drive speed. Laptops usually have slow hard drives. Try to find one that goes at 7200 RPM and has 8 megs of cache or more.

You'll probably be fine with an integrated video card, and you'll probably want a decent processor, as that will be handy with the video editing. Maybe one of the lower end core 2 duos.

[Confused Canadian]

Thanks for the input. I'd figured on 2 GB of RAM. However, after taking a brief look on line, I'm having trouble finding hard drives faster than 5400 RPM, especially for under a million won.

Should I limit myself the the Core 2 Duo processors, or will a Core Duo be enough? Or would that just be buying a dinosaur?

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[bassexpander]

Seriously check out www.dell.co.kr

You can order with English Windows Vista. Be sure to get the Premium version (Not the entry Home version). It's worth the upgrade, as the most basic version is missing a lot. I don't think it even has Windows Media Player (not that I ever use it anymore).

You should try to get a Core2Duo, although a CoreDuo computer can be had for cheaper. If you're spending over 900,000 , then you should expect nothing less than a Core2Duo, as it is possible to get such a set-up for that price. Both, including the AMDX2, are plenty fast enough.

I have had good luck with my HP computer, and the screen is gorgeous (if you like glossy screens, as I do). They sell a lot of HP's with the AMDx2 processors in Korea. Honestly, anything dual-core will suffice. After that, get 2 gigs of Ram, and you're all set. 7200 RPM hard drive? Yeah, that's a nice idea and all, but they're hard to get in your price range. Most notebooks are 5600 these days.

I suggest you go to Yongsan's Sun-in building (I think that's how it's pronounced) and just walk around to see what you like the best. There is a guy there who sells HP stuff that speaks good English. I have helped friends purchase Compaq/HP before, and he has sold at a fair price. He's on the left side, about 50 meters in from the front door of that building. HP are the computers with lightscribe. I have an HP with an expanded base unit, and I like it. Lightscribe is interesting, but takes too long to make the image, IMHO. I use the Normal setting, because BEST doesn't make much difference, and takes too long. It helps to boost the contrast levels of your photo to overly-dark levels before you use it in lightscribe. Then it will burn a better/darker image in the disc.

You can get English windows, if you ask.

[Confused Canadian]

bassexpander,

Thanks for the input.

I've spent some time poking around on the Dell site, and they've currently got some good deals on until the 18th of this month. Looks like I can get most of what I want for just about 1,000,000, including a core 2 duo, 2 GBs of RAM, a DVD burner, a 160 GB HD (7200 RPMs), English Vista Premium, and a built in webcam.

BTW, the options on Vista are for:

Home Basic
Business
Ultimate

Is the Business version enough, or should I spend the extra 50,000 on the Ultimate?

The model I'm looking at is the Dell Vostro 1400 (customized to the above specs).

The only thing missing is the Lightscribe drive, but since I have that on my desk top, it's not a big deal. I can still burn DVD's with the Dell, just not the Lightscribe ones. Of course, I guess there'd be nothing stopping me burning the files on the Dell and doing the labels on the desktop...hmmm.

Gonna call and clarify a few things tomorrow, but hopefully I should be able to get something that'll suit my needs and last me for a few years.

Thanks again to both of you!

[JustJohn]

Rumor has it that if you get Vista you should get Ultimate. I'd lean toward installing your old XP copy on it (assuming your other machine is running XP) since Vista is bloated and hasn't really been optimized yet.

[bassexpander]

Just a warning that most name-brand machines use the bios to block an install of any OS that's not from them.

They do this mainly as a selling-point to bloatware people. They don't want you to install a clean copy of Windows, thereby deleting all of the advertising/bloatware they have on their notebook.

[eamo]

[cubanlord]

[Confused Canadian]

Slight snag with the Dell Vostro..turns out it's only for businesses (need a business registration number to order one) , so it's back to the drawing board.

I'm currently looking at the Latitude D531 (AMD� TurionTM 64 X2 Dual Core ) and the Latitude D520 (Intel Core 2 Duo).

Both can be customized with Windows XP (have heard too many warnings about Vista both here and elsewhere online), 2 GB of RAM (get 1 GB free if I order by this Sunday), DVD burner, and a decent hard drive (+100 GB). Hard drive is not a big issue, as I've got a 300 GB hard drive on the current desktop (of course, planning to network the two...will be back asking for advice on that in a couple of weeks... ).

So, basically, it comes down to the processors. As I stated earlier, the most intensive thing I'll be doing is editing home videos. Now I know that eats up system resources, but am I going to see a 'big' difference between the two processors, assuming 2GB of RAM for either?

Unfortunately, neither seems to come with a built in web cam option...unfortunate, but not the end of the world.

I MAY make it down to Yongsan, but not sure if I can get there before Sunday (when the Dell discount and free GB of RAM offer ends).

Again, I really appreciate the input / advice from everyone.

[JustJohn]

Need to know the model numbers on the processors to know how much difference it will make. Don't even know which one is better from what you said...

[Confused Canadian]

Note sure if this will help you out...

The 520: Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 (2.0GHz, 4MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)

The 531: AMD� TurionTM 64 X2 Dual Core processor - 최대 TL60(2.0GHz), AMD� SempronTM 3600+ Sempron processor (1.8GHz)

And then to complicate matters, the wife got this HP offer from CJ Mall in her inbox today...

http://www.cjmall.com/prd/detail_cate.jsp?item_cd=10870667&chn_cd=30001008&joinmall=Y

HP Pavillion DV6602TU

Intel Core2 Duo T5250 (1.5 GHz / FSB 667 MHz / L2 Cache 2 MB)
(Full Specs in English are available towards the bottom of the page).

I'd probably go with the 120 GB hard drive. The stand, wireless keyboard and mouse are extras I wasn't really considering, but I do like the built in web cam.

The only downside here is that it comes with Korean Vista Premium. IF I go with Vista, I'd like to get the English version, just so I can figure it out. I can do what I need to with Korean XP, but it's been a long learning process.

I can get any of the 3 computers for just under 1.1 million won. I'm not sure if I could do much better in Yongsan. On one hand, I like being able to get exactly what I want, but on the other hand, sometimes too much choice is a bad thing...I'm almost more confused / lost now than I was in the beginning!

[ulsanchris]

Macbook does all what you want. It even has the web cam built in. IF you don't like the mac os, you can install either windows or linux and run one of them.

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

It's Sunday, so, I'm wondering whether Confused Canadian's bought a new machine yet...?

In March I bought an HP Pavilion dv2000, Core Duo, 1.73 GHz, 0.99 GB, with the built in webcam and mics, and the fancy looking wireless keyboard, mouse and bass with built in speakers... and vista home basic.

What a load of shite. Major warning...!

If I'm playing music or a video clip where I want good sound, I plug in external speakers which cost about w10,000, or w20,000 tops;
I've had to replace the drivers for the webcam, and maybe I'm doing something wrong but the mic constantly feeds back, so whosoever I'm chatting with and I are always riding the volume controls;
the wireless mouse chews through batteries, so I don't use it anymore, I bought a cheapo with a wire that works great;
but the main things is - I bought this whole setup so as to upload video clips of my students to YouTube or such. Windows Movie Maker simply doesn't work.

Can anyone tell me if it's simply a matter of increasing RAM to 2 GBs, or upgrading to Home Premium, or both, or something else as well, or what?!

Or, do I need to keep this machine for showing off by surfing at Starbucks, and get an oldy but a goody for using an older version of .WMM for those HDD handcam clips?