IT help Required. Choosing a notebook & projector

[messy]

Dear all

I am after purchasing a notebook PC and projector and quite honestly, am not sure where to start

The notebook will be used primarily for presentations including powerpoints and video with some word processing use (as back up if my desktop becomes defective). I will need to be able to go on-line, but not necessary whilst out and about. The notebook will need to be resilient in terms of being able to be totally mobile and carried on public transport and so may take a knock or two (rather than being nestled & protected in a car). It will need DVD playing capability. The price should be middle to below average range as I expect to replace it fairly regularly.


The projector needs to be light (excuse the pun) and easily transportable (again by public transport). The output needs to be able overcome daylight conditions where presentations are held in rooms without blinds or curtains. I don't want to hang around too long for it to cool before transporting it home. Obviously, bulbs should last to as close to forever as possible and in any case, be dirt cheap to replace.

Any advice (in HM Queen's English please) would be gratefully received. I would like to obviously like to know you experiences in regards to recommendations and also what models/brands to avoid. Other useful information would be the technical criteria I should use when comparing models, such as(in the case of the notebook) what RAM, memory and speeds am I looking at?. Or in the case of the projector, what power rating I should consider.

Lastly if you can point me in the direction of useful websites - again written in PC babble free English- as there are so many of them it's confusing for IT simple folk such as I!

Thanks

[Davo]

Messy

In regard to laptops, only two things matter nowadays
1- at least 2gigs of RAM
2-Plenty of USB ports 3 as a minimum
All else is just flash

davo

[nearlythere]

Don't forget vertical Keystone Correction.

[CivvyFSO]

Can't help on the projector, but laptops are not particularly resilient to knocks due to how fragile the screens are. There are however specific laptops called 'toughbooks' available which are commonly used by contractors and service engineers etc. Panasonic do a range of toughbooks in various levels of 'toughness'. (The name toughbook might actually be limited to panasonic, but I am sure other manufacturers will make similar kit) The downside for this resilience is price. The alternative is to buy a standard laptop and a durable bag/case for it.

With regards speed, nearly all new computers come with Vista now, so you should be looking for at least 2GB of RAM, and a core 2 duo processor. A duo over 2.0Ghz speed will run very well. If you can get hold of an XP system then it will run well on a considerably slower system.

When you say average to below average, what actual range are you looking at? Around £500 will get you a good one for your purposes. There is an acer, 4gb of RAM, 2.0GHz Duo, with blueray player for about £500. (The blueray will play DVDs)

Is there any reason why you intend to replace it regularly? Providing you don't 'clog it up' with all sorts of crap software it shouldn't slow down too much over the course of a few years. People tend to update their computers too often, when a simple reinstall will often make most computers nice and quick again.

[Mar62]

One fairly good website is laptops direct. Good prices. Just bought one from here last week.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/

[Mar62]

ps. Buy one with Vista Business (not home) with professional XP downgrade.

[John Webb]

I've had two reasonably priced Toshiba laptops over the last 10 years, both of which have performed well and reliably.

A good carrying bag for £20-30 is adequate for transportation and will also carry your DVD(s) and notes into the bargain. A 'Toughbook' or 'ruggedised' laptop is very expensive - it is designed to withstand splashing, steam, extremes of temperature etc as found in an industrial setting - they also weigh a good deal more due to the extra built-in protection.....

If you can get Windows XP running the laptop rather than Vista, I would recommend that you do; it took three major revisions to XP to get it to the present state where it is reasonably reliable; Vista has only just started out on that path and I've heard of many problems with it.

Regret I cannot help out with information on projectors, as I've had very little experience of them.

[Davo]

Messy

If you are absolutely sure that is all you will use it for then keep it simple.

The bit about XP from Martin 672 is sound advice, perhaps not all your clients will have Vista compatability on their kit???


davo

ps never go wireless in public without protective software! You can be hacked.

[Mar62]

A bitter experience with normal Vista taught me that one about buying XP downgrade!!! 

[kurnal]

Hi Messy
I dont know about notebooks, I use a gericom (medion) laptop I bought from Aldi four years ago and its never missed a beat- unlike those much more expensive branded ones I bought for my children and are not a patch on mine for reliability. Mine has 1.7ghz intel mobile pentium, a meg of ram and 80gigs drive. I have found it fine for videos and slideshows.

I have a very compact  optoma ezpro DLP projector. Its very light and small but at 1500 lumens its fine in most situations, but not quite enough for the biggest venues or for use in conservatories for training courses. Conservatories are extreme but not uncommon locations for training in care homes. I have never yet needed a bulb- when I do it is about £400 so will then trade up to a projector with at least 2000 lumens.

You will need a decent set of speakers. These are heavy. I have a set of Roland 15 watts per channel  RMS speakers for the bigger venues, for smaller venues I use a pair of creative inspire T10 5 watts RMS per channel. These are the minimum- be sure to check for RMS and not PMPO ratings. Speakers are heavy.

What will you do about a screen if you are using public transport?

I can fit my laptop, projector and speakers into one of those large project briefcases on wheels. All in all the bag is uncomfortably heavy to carry long distances - and thats without handouts, props etc.

[CivvyFSO]

Re: Vista and XP, bear in mind that "Windows 7" is on the horizon and that Vista may become the next Windows Millenium, if anybody remembers that marvel of non-supported software devoid of good drivers. (Especially if the commercial sector doesn't take to Vista before Windows 7 is released.)

[GregC]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149715

might be an option unless you need a big screen, they are shockproof and come with XP, in fact XP was due to be phased out but due to the popularity of these little laptops they have to keep supporting it, Vista wont run as they cant fit the required memory, stay away from anything Vista other than 64bit and then have 4mb ram at least.

You would need an external drive though such as http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130748

3xUSB and a vga output as standard

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138928 should be good enough for the projector.

We always use ebuyer and havent had any problems with them as yet, equipment always fails but their service is 1st class for us.

[jokar]

Messy,

If you are only using the laptop for presentations and occasional use you may do well o purchase a Toshiba web book, small, compact, running XP professional with 120 GB hard drive.  Currently in Carphone Warehouse for
£260.

[messy]

Blimey. I had no idea yesterday where to start, now I have several options

Time to hit Google for some research

*****Thanks to all*******

(Kurnal - I intend to make enquiries re the availability of a plain wall in any potential venue as I have no intention of driving to C London or carrying a screen on the tube. In fact, I am not sure you would get more than 50m in C London carrying a long tube on your shoulder before you were mown down by over zealous copper thinking it was a SAM missile launcher )

[kurnal]

Well in that case Messy I would advise you to take his photograph and tell him you are reporting him to the newspapers  for being a jobsworth. That should sort it.

Seriously if you are projecting onto walls look for the most powerful projector you can- it can make a 1500 lumen unit look like a 1000 - the screen is much more reflective.