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qualities in a good laptop?

15 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.

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Comments (5)

azinoh
15 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
15 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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mike_kaiser_gw
15 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
15 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
15 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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