Terminalcoffee discussion
Help! I Need Help!
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Computer question/PC nostalgia
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The fan for your CPU could be dead. Generally your CPU is mounted on a heatsink, cooled by a small fan. If that dies, you would see the machine shut down when it overheats.My oldest laptop does the same. Now I just use it for my son's online piano lessons, so it's only on for short periods of time. It works fine for that.
Right now, my pill splitter is propping up the backside of my laptop, letting heat escape from underneath. Not a long-term solution.
If you think it might me getting hot, clean the fans and try using a cool pad. If the fans are on the bottom and your laptop sits on the fans, you might elevate it to get some air flow under it. A computer store, Best Buy, Staples, etc will have all this and will clean the fans for you.
Thanks for the replies. I'll check into cleaning the fans.
On the reliability issue:We have mostly Lenovo laptops at work, and they seem to hold up well. The main problem I see is the right button on the touch pad wears out.
I personally have an Asus netbook, which has been great. I have only had it for 8 months, so its too soon to say how long it will last.
My fourteen year old Toshiba laptop still works fine if plugged in. Not much call to use it, but it has never had a problem. My lead guitarist still has his EIGHTEEN year old Toshiba laptop, which also still works if needed (though again, not much call to use it.)I'm a Mac person these days, but I'd still recommend Toshiba laptops.
Thanks to all of you. I've decided to buy another Toshiba and let my son use this one until it stops for good. It's making me nervous to think it might just die with no notice. I've been shopping online today, and if anyone can answer this question, I'd appreciate it. Do I need an HDMI output? It makes a difference of a couple of hundred dollars in price. I'm looking at an i5 processor with 8 GB memory. Does this make sense? Will it be outdated in a year?
The HDMI output allows what is on your computer screen to be seen on your T.V screen.
Scout wrote: "Thanks to all of you. I've decided to buy another Toshiba and let my son use this one until it stops for good. It's making me nervous to think it might just die with no notice. I've been sho..."
This sounds like an excellent choice.
The i5 is the biggest, newest fastest processor from Intel. 8G is the RAM, which is very good. The more RAM, the longer it will take for the machine to be obsolete, and the longer it will take before it feels too slow.
If you will be streaming video you may want the HDMI connection. It allows you to connect to a TV or monitor in HD. Without it you can still connect with the VGA connection, but that will not be HD.
Thanks, Evie. That helps.I've decided to go for it, Pat. This is a pretty big investment for me, so I really appreciate your taking the time to reply. Hope something good unexpectedly comes your way today.
Scout wrote: "Will it be outdated in a year?"Just for the record, any computer you buy will be outdated in a year. You might as well get the best you can afford, and reconcile yourself to a year of cutting edge and then a few years of productive obsolescence.
Ha!I was just reading about the i7 processor, so the i5 is no longer the big new one.
Obsolete is a subjective thing these days. If it still works and runs the programs you need I say don't sweat it. I have a site I use to evaluate the relative value of machines when making discard decisions. It lists thousands of different CPU configurations.
CPU benchmark list
I was going to point that out Pat, but didn't think it was that big a deal. I just bought a desk top with an i7 processor.
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Just for the record, any computer you buy will be outdated in a year. "
This is only true if you're an early adopter. Or a big gamer or something. For ordinary people most PCs/laptops will be good for much longer.
Lobstergirl wrote: "Sarah Pi wrote: "Scout wrote: "Will it be outdated in a year?"Just for the record, any computer you buy will be outdated in a year. "
This is only true if you're an early adopter. Or a big gamer or something. For ordinary people most PCs/laptops will be good for much longer."
Sorry. I didn't mean that it wouldn't be functional. Just that it would not be cutting edge for very long. My Mac Mini that I got in 2006 had a super fast processor for the time, and a whopping 40 gigs of memory, which seemed like as much as I could ever need when I bought it. I waited and waited for the announcements of the new Minis before buying it, but they announced other stuff instead. Soon after I bought it, the new ones were finally announced.
It still works fine. It just isn't as fast as I'd like it to be, and some data-heavy applications make it struggle, and I had to buy an external hard drive to hold some of my music and photos. It's still fine for my needs.
I did look at an i7 and knew it would be the best choice, but it was out of my price range. Hopefully, the i5 will do what I need for several years.
I'll be hanging around the house tomorrow waiting for laptop delivery. Big deal for me.
That is exciting. I've been using the same Dell Optiplex tower PC since about 2005, with Windows XP SP3. It's getting to be a dinosaur in terms of robust support from Gates & Co., since new software is usually optimized for Windows 7 these days. Every so often it has a big honking crash - mostly related to the limited amount of RAM, I think.I would love a new laptop for home use.
It seems as though with the introduction of the Ipad prices for laptops have come down a bit. The one I have now is by far the cheapest I've ever owned; it's also probably the best, just a completely problem-free machine. Maybe it's a buyer's market.
Félix wrote: "That is exciting. I've been using the same Dell Optiplex tower PC since about 2005, with Windows XP SP3. It's getting to be a dinosaur in terms of robust support from Gates & Co., since new softwar..."My desktop is also a circa 2005 Dell. I have replaced the DVD/CD drive once, and the new one is now wonky. I may spring for a new desktop while Windows 7 is still available. I have not totally decided yet.
At work I recently bought 4 refurb compact Dell GX620 machines for some web based software we run. Sometimes "obsolete" is on my shopping list. I needed something running XP professional so I could set these machines up to match the other 16 stations we already have.
So far we are still getting weekly updates for XP.
Jonathan wrote: "It seems as though with the introduction of the Ipad prices for laptops have come down a bit. The one I have now is by far the cheapest I've ever owned; it's also probably the best, just a complete..."What do you have, Jonathan?
An HP--it looks like they're no longer making this exact model (18 months old), but it's very close to the current Pavilion dm1z, which retails for about $450 in a reasonable configuration. It's slightly larger than the average netbook but smaller and lighter than most laptops, which makes it perfect for what I need, which is mostly a machine for writing and photoediting. I doubt it would be a good pick for gaming, in part because of the small screen.
The laptop arrived yesterday. I spent this afternoon getting it set up and making a few calls to Toshiba and Microsoft. The new Windows program will take some getting used to, and the keyboard is offset to the left, so feels strange. I'm sure there's some research-based reason for the offset. Maybe catering to right-handed users? Anyway, I'm happy to have my first (and probably last for many years) brand new laptop. I beat the UPS guy to the door.
Great Scout. That's one less less to think about.
Scout, why did you beat the poor UPS man? Wow that's really mean. You better hope he doesn't report you.
Especially hope he doesn't report me to the other delivery guys, Felix. I don't want my stuff dumped over the fence!Charley, that's probably it. Plenty of room there on the right side for a mouse (poor lefties). I'm having trouble getting used to the new location of the Delete key, too - one I often use. And Word 2010 is not an improvement in many ways. Takes a couple or three moves to do what one did previously. What the heck? As an example, you can no longer click on the x to close a document. You have to go to file and close, or else the whole program closes. Keep it simple, I say.
Scout wrote: "Especially hope he doesn't report me to the other delivery guys, Felix. I don't want my stuff dumped over the fence!Charley, that's probably it. Plenty of room there on the right side for a mou..."
You can always use the Ctrl+W keyboard shortcut.
Every time I hear "vaseline" it makes me blush.
Speaking of laptop batteries, as of yesterday, mine won't charge. Dead as a doornail. Should I assume it is something to do with the cord/adapter, the jack (nothing seems loose), or the computer? In my past experience, I've had batteries that ceased to hold a charge, but they still worked fine when plugged in.
Since this is a little Toshiba netbook, can I pull out my old power cord from my old Toshiba (which is fourteen and still boots fine) and try that? It looks like the same jack.
Sarah Pi wrote: "Speaking of laptop batteries, as of yesterday, mine won't charge. Dead as a doornail. Should I assume it is something to do with the cord/adapter, the jack (nothing seems loose), or the computer? ..."
Yes you can probably use the cord from your old laptop.
Different voltage chargers have different size plugs, so if it fits it should be OK.
If the charger does not get warm when it is plugged into the laptop/battery, its probably the charger. If the charger gets warm but battery does not, it probably the battery.
If the part in the laptop where the charger plugs in is the problem, you need to get it repaired. If it is an older machine and the power source is part of the mother board, its probably not worth repairing.
This one is slightly less than two years old. It may even still be under warranty. I can't remember if we bought the extended warranty.I appreciate the tangible criteria you present above, Pat. I'll test when I get home.
Just to update, I'm very happy with the Toshiba Satellite laptop. So far, no problems and great performance.
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Use shorter names - or type them in teeny letters. Seriously, wish I knew what you were talking about and could help.
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::twirls moustache::
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Lobstergirl wrote: "Janine! You know I can't reveal that.::twirls moustache::"
You could send me a private message. I need to know!
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*not really, I'm just slandering for the fun of it.
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Recommendations as to reliable brands and models? Preferably something that will last more than TWO YEARS. My Toshiba's been a good one.