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-- It's LAPTOP time! Help me out guys!


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-18-2008 08:24:

It's LAPTOP time! Help me out guys!

Ok, so I want to get another laptop. I'm looking at the Toshiba M300/700, and it looks pretty good.

Do any of you guys/gals own one, or know someone with one? Any issues, pros or cons?

It is only available with Vista here, but the first thing we'll be doing is getting XP on there, as a dual boot Vista/XP if possible?

The price will be $1200 AUD (obviously, the pricing in the US and anywhere else will be very different, so saying OMG $1200 is too expensive lololol isn't gonna make shit-all difference ).

Thoughts? Comments? Especially on the dual-boot Vista/XP part?

I know there are some smart motherfuckers on here, so I'm interested in any feedback.

The specs are:

* SCREEN: 14.1� *CSV* WIDE-SCREEN (1280x800) LCD/TFT
* CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz - 667MHz-FSB
* RAM: 2GB/2048MB DDR2 RAM
* HDD: 200GB @ 5400RPM SATA HDD
* ODD: Dual Layer DVD+/-RW + CD-R/RW Drive
* VIDEO: SMA Intel X3100 (GM965 - 128MB+) Video Card
* OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
* OTHER FEATURES: 10/100-LAN, 802.11G, 1394-FireWire, 56k Modem, Web-Cam.

Cheers


Posted by Halcyon+On+On on Oct-18-2008 09:05:

2 Gigs of ram and Vista makes me wince.


Posted by Teezdalien on Oct-18-2008 09:30:

I found this post in the NI user forums. I don't mean to put you off or anything but you should probably look into this in any case.

Toshiba Laptops and Traktor - Cautionary information
We've been tracking a number of users in recent weeks with a Variety of late model Toshiba Core2Duo laptop who are experiencing significant audio difficulties dropouts, pops and clicks when playing using Traktor and several other pro or realtime audio applications. A number of users have delved into their problems and the combined consensus is that the root cause of the issue is the Fan controller for the laptop. Several users have reported workarounds with varying degrees of success most notably changing the Computer type in Windows Device Manager to Multiprocessor with results in complete loss of ACPI control but forces the fan to run always. This _could_ lead to other problems so proceeed with caution.

Toshiba are aware of the issue and several attempts to ellicit guidance and help were ignored or rebuffed by totally disinterested engineers who were totally unwilling to make any attempt at help at all. There presently is no fix from Toshiba for the problem and recent BIOS fixes released by Toshiba do NOT address this issue, as reported by actual users. It affects both Windows XP and Vista users.

This problem affects a number of different models of the Toshiba Laptop line, A complete list is not available but if you have a laptop you know to be affected by this issue please post your model number to this thread. One that is known to be an issue is Toshiba A135-S4407.

In the meantime if you have just purchased a Toshiba laptop with the intent of using it for Traktor then you should immediately ascertain whether you laptop is one that is affected and you should consider returning it to obtain a laptop that is not affected. As stated there is no help from Toshiba forthcoming and no guidance at all on when / if a fix is coming.

If you are presently contemplating a new laptop purchase and want to avoid these problems then you should not include Toshiba in your list of candidate brands, at least until this issue is fully resloved.

Other Laptop brands that have yielded execllent results of Late

Lenovo
Dell
HP
Acer
ASUS
Alienware
Sony
Fujitsu
Apple

(As a qualifier for this: Until about 3 weeks ago Toshiba was in my top 3 laptop brands I recommended, I now actively discourage all potential buyers from purchasing Toshiba for this very reason. On average I would recommend 25-30 brand / models a month to people.)

More Info:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-euro...8631&sta rt=0
http://forums.computers.toshiba-euro...threadID=22582


Posted by shuni on Oct-18-2008 09:57:

that toshiba sound nice, but forget about vista


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-18-2008 10:20:

quote:
Originally posted by Teezdalien
I found this post in the NI user forums. I don't mean to put you off or anything but you should probably look into this in any case.

Toshiba Laptops and Traktor - Cautionary information
We've been tracking a number of users in recent weeks with a Variety of late model Toshiba Core2Duo laptop who are experiencing significant audio difficulties dropouts, pops and clicks when playing using Traktor and several other pro or realtime audio applications. A number of users have delved into their problems and the combined consensus is that the root cause of the issue is the Fan controller for the laptop. Several users have reported workarounds with varying degrees of success most notably changing the Computer type in Windows Device Manager to Multiprocessor with results in complete loss of ACPI control but forces the fan to run always. This _could_ lead to other problems so proceeed with caution.

Toshiba are aware of the issue and several attempts to ellicit guidance and help were ignored or rebuffed by totally disinterested engineers who were totally unwilling to make any attempt at help at all. There presently is no fix from Toshiba for the problem and recent BIOS fixes released by Toshiba do NOT address this issue, as reported by actual users. It affects both Windows XP and Vista users.

This problem affects a number of different models of the Toshiba Laptop line, A complete list is not available but if you have a laptop you know to be affected by this issue please post your model number to this thread. One that is known to be an issue is Toshiba A135-S4407.

In the meantime if you have just purchased a Toshiba laptop with the intent of using it for Traktor then you should immediately ascertain whether you laptop is one that is affected and you should consider returning it to obtain a laptop that is not affected. As stated there is no help from Toshiba forthcoming and no guidance at all on when / if a fix is coming.

If you are presently contemplating a new laptop purchase and want to avoid these problems then you should not include Toshiba in your list of candidate brands, at least until this issue is fully resloved.

Other Laptop brands that have yielded execllent results of Late

Lenovo
Dell
HP
Acer
ASUS
Alienware
Sony
Fujitsu
Apple

(As a qualifier for this: Until about 3 weeks ago Toshiba was in my top 3 laptop brands I recommended, I now actively discourage all potential buyers from purchasing Toshiba for this very reason. On average I would recommend 25-30 brand / models a month to people.)

More Info:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-euro...8631&sta rt=0
http://forums.computers.toshiba-euro...threadID=22582


I'm no DJ. Not even close. Traktor issues will not be a problem.


Posted by Teezdalien on Oct-18-2008 10:32:

Ok. Just thought you may have been using it for laptop DJing. Probably poses no problems for other apps.
Actually sounds like a decent computer from the specs, apart from vista which I also have stability problems with on mine.


Posted by Cloudburst on Oct-18-2008 10:49:

If you want to install XP on it you need to make sure there are XP drivers available, which is not always the case with new laptops. If there are drivers, then you can just partition your hard drive and install XP on the other partition. Right click on Computer and choose Manage and take it from there.

Although if you install XP after Vista, XP's boot loader will overwrite/fuck up Vista's newer and better so you will only be able to start up XP. You will need to fix Vista's loader. Usually you just start up with the Vista DVD and select "fix boot loader", but some more things may have to be done. See google.


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-18-2008 10:56:

quote:
Originally posted by Cloudburst
If you want to install XP on it you need to make sure there are XP drivers available, which is not always the case with new laptops. If there are drivers, then you can just partition your hard drive and install XP on the other partition. Right click on Computer and choose Manage and take it from there.

Although if you install XP after Vista, XP's boot loader will overwrite/fuck up Vista's newer and better so you will only be able to start up XP. You will need to fix Vista's loader. Usually you just start up with the Vista DVD and select "fix boot loader", but some more things may have to be done. See google.


Thanks for the info Looking into it.


Posted by Capitalizt on Oct-18-2008 11:07:

better specs and $500 less:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...c=DNDWJA3&s=dhs


Posted by Fledz on Oct-18-2008 11:44:

Vista + 128mb card = not good.

XP is cool though, get that if you can. What's your primary use for this lappy going to be?


Posted by Fledz on Oct-18-2008 11:45:

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
better specs and $500 less:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...c=DNDWJA3&s=dhs


He's buying from the Au store, not US store. That link won't help him much.


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-18-2008 12:04:

quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
better specs and $500 less:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...c=DNDWJA3&s=dhs


quote:
Originally posted by Sushipunk obviously, the pricing in the US and anywhere else will be very different, so saying OMG $1200 is too expensive lololol isn't gonna make shit-all difference


quote:
Originally posted by Fledz
He's buying from the Au store, not US store. That link won't help him much.







To answer your question Fledz, it's going to be a very general computer. We already have other high-end gear, so there's not too much pressure on this machine. But, for portability and backup, I wouldn't mind somewhat decent.


Posted by Gauss on Oct-18-2008 12:10:

Everything's alright minus the OS and video card.


Posted by whiskers on Oct-18-2008 14:17:

quote:
Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
2 Gigs of ram and Vista makes me wince.


2 gigs is just fine, AFAIK. so is the video card, unless you plan on gaming much.
quick search did no provide reliable results on whether you can downgrade to xp, so look into this before you get it, thinking you can downgrade. Like Cloudburst said, drivers may not be available. Also, if you turn fancy stuff off, Vista is not too bad of an OS, I hear. I had some experience with it and it's OK, apart from everything, like the settings and such, being in a different place, it's not too bad. I wouldn't use it myself but if you're stuck with it, you probably won't hate it. And if you do, just go linux.


Posted by Cloudburst on Oct-18-2008 14:24:

Yeah, I've only had good experience from Vista too. It has worked much better than XP for me. People who have problem usually get their computers filled with shit programs from the manufacturer right of the bat, so the first time they start it's just... ugh.


Posted by Dj Nacht on Oct-18-2008 14:49:

why would u leave vista on ur laptop with a partition... wtf? just format the entire pos and install xp pro. Just make sure you go grab the drivers for everything and burn em onto cd before u format. Once you format install the drivers you want and not all the bullshit they install and boom ur laptop is a happy camper.


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-19-2008 07:13:

quote:
Originally posted by Dj Nacht
why would u leave vista on ur laptop with a partition... wtf? just format the entire pos and install xp pro. Just make sure you go grab the drivers for everything and burn em onto cd before u format. Once you format install the drivers you want and not all the bullshit they install and boom ur laptop is a happy camper.


I wanted a Vista partition because a couple of the new wide format printers I'm looking at getting for my business don't have XP drivers (yet, anyway). I don't want to take the risk that they won't ever make XP drivers. If they do, I'll get rid of the Vista partition and make it a totally XP machine.

.....so yeah, I ended up spending a bit more than planned, and got a Toshiba A300/C01 instead. Pretty fucking happy with it

Thanks for the bits and pieces of advice guys


Posted by Ek0nomik on Oct-19-2008 07:21:

vista/xp boot is odd, but your reasoning makes sense I suppose. I'd go down the route of linux/some windows myself.


Posted by Sushipunk on Oct-19-2008 07:55:

quote:
Originally posted by Ek0nomik
vista/xp boot is odd, but your reasoning makes sense I suppose. I'd go down the route of linux/some windows myself.


Yeah, it is weird. It can be done though (fuck, I hope). Going through those motions at the moment.


Posted by Cloudburst on Oct-19-2008 11:14:

I got Vista x64/Xp x86 going. It's really not hard if you got all working drivers.


Posted by zoogla on Nov-22-2008 22:13:

My sis wants one of those new 13" MacBooks with the new NVIDIA graphics card, $1,399. I bought my other sis a white MacBook last boxing day on a rare inventory clear-out of previous year's model, with a $300 discount at $1,099 at that time.

Apparently, the mgr of a store in a local mall told me yesterday that there may be a one-day only sale at that location next Friday only. Whole story behind why there was a discount on Dec. 26/07, i can get into it if anyone wants to hear.

I would rather use my Sony points and get her a VAIO laptop for free. I have always been against Sony computing because I felt it was the MAC version of PCs, with over-glitzed products that are just a waste of money. But these are girls we are talking about (my sis) and I'd rather get it for free, lol, and save some cash this xmas (more $$$ for airplane tickets to Slylee LMAO). But she's leaning on the MacBook, anyway...I thought I'd share my research, in case anyone has anything to add:

VGNFW235DH - $1,099.99 (Fahad�s fave, best value)
- 2 MB cache / 4 GB ram / 250 GB HD
- 16.4�
- BT
- Up to 5.5 hrs battery
- 6.3 lbs.
- http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...9n100299n100490


New MacBook - $1,399 (sister�s fave) (minus $200 student discount)
- 3MB cache / 2 GB ram / 160 GB HD
- 13.3�
- BT
- New NVIDIA graphics card
- Up to 5 hrs battery
- 4.5 lbs
- http://www.apple.com/ca/macbook/specs.html

VGNNS150DS - $849.99
- 2 MB cache / 4 GB ram / 250 GB HD
- 15.4�
- No BT
- Up to 4 hrs battery
- 5.7 lbs
- http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...9n100299n100525

VGNCS110DW - $999.99
- 2 MB cache / 3 GB ram / 250 GB HD
- 14.4�
- BT
- Up to 4 hrs battery
- 5.7 lbs
- http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...9n100299n100520

MacBook White - $1,149 (minus $200 student discount)
- 2.1 GHz (0.1 GHz faster than the others)
- 3 MB cache / 1 GB ram / 120 GB HD
- 13.3�
- Old graphics card
- No BT
- Up to 4.5 hrs battery
- 5 lbs
- http://www.apple.com/ca/macbook/white/specs.html


Posted by Sushipunk on Nov-22-2008 22:18:

Hey, my thread's back

Yay, the printers in question have now released drivers for XP, so I fucked Vista off immediately



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