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| What's in today's post ... (Source) |
"This" being the blog, between work, shopping for a new laptop, and going out to eat with friends (the only good thing I have planned on Tuesday) I am at a deficit for ticks on the clock to give you anything meaningful or interesting.
Laptop shopping: The Naviguesser recommended one after I asked him "What do you think of this one?" Sort of an offer/counter-offer kind of thing.
I liked my suggestion as it had a nice big hard drive, solid state as a matter of fact, very fast, very big. Son didn't like it as it had a lesser quality graphics card.
I looked into his, many poor reviews, mostly along the lines of the thing overheats too fast.
So I thought I'd made my choice ...
Upon further review, the one I selected also had a lot of bad reviews for overheating.
Mind you, my last laptop died because of, you guessed it, overheating. So yeah, once burned, twice shy. (Almost literally, the heat fried the motherboard.)
Work was frustrating beyond relief on Tuesday, so thoughts are straying to retiring early. So "the three bad days in a row" rule must be invoked.
Any suggestions for a good gaming laptop? Asking for a friend. 🙄
See you tomorrow.
Maybe ...¹
¹ We'll see how dinner with our friends went on Tuesday night.
No comment on laptop make model
ReplyDeleteBut whatever you get, run them with a cooling pad whenever you can
You can pick them up for less than $20 @ Bezo Mart
Definitely getting a cooling pad for this go-round.
DeleteA new gaming laptop? Oh man, good luck with all the options out there Sarge, some serious coin can disappear from the wallet. Look for reviews not just on the seller's site on the particular model before buying.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I have a friend in the business to guide my choices. Still a tough pick.
DeleteTimely....my desktop computer decided to quit working yesterday. Just..... stopped.... screen went dark.... turn it off, turn it on and it makes the initial start up sounds then nothing.
ReplyDeleteCrud.
I feel your pain, literally.
DeleteRemember the Y2K panic? I was not worried. My IBM PC had thought it was 1981 ever since the real-time clock battery had died. On the late afternoon of New Year's Eve Dec 31, 1999, the monitor burned out. My first thought was "How did it KNOW"?
DeleteHahaha!
DeleteI've been thinking of going back to a desk top and keeping this laptop for when I travel, I think a couple of monitors might be better for me now that just this one.
ReplyDeleteAs to a gaming laptop, I'd go to google and search "best gaming laptops 2024", then check what they show for you're needs, the reviews for overheating and what your expert thinks of your choices.
I think the cooling pad for a laptop is a fine idea!
Good luck!
Word on the street is that the 2024 models don't provide any significant boost in performance, but they are more pricey. But in essence, that's what I've been doing. My expert and I are actually looking at Lenovo laptops, which I am hesitant about due to their being made in the PRC.
DeleteI have a Lenovo "Ideapad flex 5", works great & it's fast but I'm not a gamer.. FWIW my solid state 1 TB harddrive crapped out... I rearraigned where store things and do back up more often...
DeleteThe HD death was preceded by random times having the computer just decide to go to a safe screen and I'd have to reboot it. The few people I talked to about it had any real suggestions... if that started again I'd back up my important stuff and get a new HD put in (cost me $125 AFTER the old one died).
I'm seriously looking at a Lenovo gaming laptop. Yeah, having the HD crap out is a bother. I keep my important stuff on an external HD (not solid state) and the really important stuff on various thumb drives. My son suggested Google Docs or the Cloud for storage, I just don't trust them. If there's a buck to be made selling something of mine, they will.
DeleteMy 7-yr-old Acer laptop (SSD) was never turned on but when it was sitting on its double fan pad finally started going wonky; looked into replacements (everything, but I didn't need gaming); decided since I wasn't travelling much at all these days went with the small Acer desktop (fully ventilated) sitting on the floor next to my 4.5 sq ft desk (if that looks like a lot, it boils down to ~ 21"x31": the laptop with the large monitor (myopia wins out) foot took up about 90% of the space leaving ~2 sq" for writing on a scrap of paper.
DeleteCouldn't be happier.
Visits to the kids and grandkids will increase with retirement. So I need a laptop or not blog while I'm on travel.
DeleteNot blogging to me is akin to saying "not breathing." As Lex said, " Blogito ergo sum."
@ OldAFSarge
Deleteslightly off topic, but ...
Has America changed that much?
I (and my cousins --- my friends as well) went to visit my/their grandparents: not vice versa - (if this sentence makes sense; there are times my English gets tangled); like Little Red Riding Hood.
Bear in mind that my tribe is scattered to the four winds, i.e. Maryland and California. It's easier for Grandma and me to travel to them. For their parts they would have to arrange for care for their dogs/cats/rabbits while away, there is also a need to bundle multiple kids into a car (if coming from Maryland, once from California, yes, my son is nuts) or onto an aircraft. It's far easier for us to travel than it is for them.
DeleteSo yes, America has changed in that respect. When I was nobbut a lad the grandparents (both sets) lived within a half hour drive. Families are more spread out.
All this talk of computer failure has me very, very nervous.
ReplyDeleteI first remember when I saw a solid state drive - it was 2018. Man, it was a remarkable thing. Sadly, that also seems to be the time they started eliminating built in DVD drives, which was actually more of a pain than I thought it would be.
Rob's "Back to Desk Top" is an interesting idea, especially if one does not travel a great deal.
I have debated the back to desktop thing, buying a separate, fairly simple, laptop for travel. (I don't game much when I'm visiting the kids.) But there are so many choices it's tough to pick one. Reading reviews can be deceiving. Reviewers will have the laptop for not very long, my laptop died after a year and a half, and they often review the low-end model of whatever I've looked at.
DeleteIt's a chore, but hey, first world problems, right?
I'm looking at the cheap/used desk tops you find on Amazon... not real spendy until I start adding BIG monitors! :-)
DeleteYes, the BIG monitors, while nice, can really be pricey.
DeleteI've got a basic HP laptop (bought on-line for about $300) and it works for word processing and other stupid carp. Once you reduce the need for speed and graphics the price comes down immensely. Bought the next higher grade for Mrs. Andrew when her laptop pooped out as she needs lighted keyboards. About a $100 jump in price. Been using HPs for years and short of dropping them on the floor or actually using them directly on my lap where the fans suck in dog hair, they're pretty bullet proof. Same with Dells.
DeleteYou can get a nice box and monitor from a computer repair shop for a lot less than a custom job.
Computer repair shop? What are those? Occasionally some bright lad/lass right out of college will open one of those. They go out of business pretty quickly. No one uses those around here that I know of. We used to have one, about twenty years ago.
DeleteBut the HP tip is a good one, I'll look at those as well.
A lighted key board is on my list of "gotta have" for the last 2 laptops.
DeleteThose are nice.
DeleteMore than several years back Walmart had a day of Thanksgiving sales starting at 5pm. One of the items was a 28" TV/Monitor going for $50. I bought 4 (their limit). Both kids got one for Christmas and I kept two. Still using the same one I first opened. Other never been used.
DeleteSweet!
DeleteWell, being the seeker of top of the line, newest, biggest, fastest former technology guy that I am, my computer is a Dell 7010. Which according to this site came out in 2012. That having been said and any recommendations from me having lost all reliability, the only thing I can recommend is dual wide screen monitors. Very nice to have multiple web pages open for reference and working simultaneously. Other than that, get the largest amount of ram and the biggest hard drive you can afford. I also recommend a USB hard drive to back up your very important files and be able to grab and go if needed.
ReplyDeletejuvat
USB HD = what I call a thumb drive. (I have two handy and two someplace I can't remember where but could find if I really applied myself) I don't really need multiple monitors in my general day to day routine. (Not saying I don't want that, just saying I don't need that.) Yup, lots of RAM, big HD and most especially a really good graphics card, all are in the list of things to look at. Cooling in gaming machines is also really important, desktops included. I saw one laptop that piqued my interest until the reviewer said that the cooling fans were really loud. Argh.
DeleteI was actually talking about a 500 GB portable hard drive. So I can back up everything on my HD. They also have programs that will automate the backup which makes it pretty much a piece of cake. I have multiple thumb drives that I use for transferring data or keeping an important file that needs transporting somewhere.
Deletejuvat
Ah ! Gomen nasai!
DeleteI do have a multi-TB external drive. It's where I keep most things non-gaming and my not speed intensive games. My first laptop only had a 2 TB drive, I filled it up pretty fast. So I got the external, been happy with it.
First- you better grab that last bag of bagels on the shelf. Looks like they're popular! Second, I can't help with a computer. I bought an inexpensive HP at Christmas for my browsing, Office products, and occasional blogging, and I hate it- ticky tacky keyboard, doesn't wake up that I can tell so I wind up accidently hard rebooting constantly, or it shuts down with no warning. I didn't check reviews. Seems that a guy that builds missile system software could build one himself maybe? Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOn second thought, nobody builds laptops, only desktops, if that's even a thing anymore.
DeleteI don't build missile system software, just test it. I wouldn't attempt to build my own, even my son, the genius, won't do that anymore.
DeleteBut choosing the right machine is important.
I added sticky rubber feet to the bottom of my flaky antique laptop to aid air flow. I get most of my computers from Microcenter's refurb section.
DeleteMy son recommended getting a machine I like and not worry about the size of the HD, one can "easily" upgrade that in most laptops. SSD HDs have gotten cheaper since I last bought a HD.
DeleteRitchie - I really like adding a bit more "breathing room" under the laptop with the booster feet. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteDid the same for my laptop, and I use a lap-table/tray for using it on as I use my combonculator while in bed and thus the laptop isn't actually laying directly on my lap or on my bedding.
DeleteI typically use my laptop on a TV tray or a desk. When at home the laptop is has my wireless mouse and keyboard connected as well as a separate (bigger) monitor. I never use the laptop on my, ya know, lap or on any soft surface.
DeleteI do CAD for a living. As far as a laptop goes I'd recommend a high end Dell or HP if you are heavily into gaming or CAD. If you are not and just have a problem with overheating there's a few things that you can do. Once a week vacuum the vents on the back and the bottom of your laptop. VACCUM do not blow them out! Use a ShopVac or the hose attachment on your sweeper. Blowing them out just pushes stuff further into your computer. Another thing is to make sure that the fan is running. You would be surprised how many fans get gummed up and quit. With that being said, one of the biggest problems with laptops is air flow. Many sit less than 1/8" off of the surface. Buy yourself some self-adhering rubber feet that are about 1/4" tall and put them on the bottom of your laptop. These steps should eliminate the overheating issue. Right now I'm in the process of changing laptops. I'm not changing because of a mechanical failure, I'm changing because my five year old laptop can't handle the new versions of the software that I use.
ReplyDelete"CAD for a living," dang, that's equivalent to high end gaming, CAD needs (and will use) lots of resources. Thanks for the tip. I plan on getting the wee extender feet AND a cooling pad this time around. One thing I did neglect on that first laptop was vacuuming out the fans, I should have known better!
DeleteThanks Jim!
https://www.sagernotebook.com/home.php. Aren't cheap. I've only ever been able to afford one in my lifetime and that was nearly 20 years ago. I still miss it but it outlived it usefulness. No idea if they're still up to the same standard today.
ReplyDeleteThey have some nice looking machines! Thanks for the tip!
DeleteFirst let me say I know pretty close to zip about computers...secondly let me say I had my 25 yr old laptop die this past fall, and yes, it was traumatic...the hinge wore out and the little bitty cord to the the screen broke. I saved it until I went to MI for a visit, because there is a computer repair shop there run by one of the nicest fellows ya will ever meet. He knows enough computer-ise to be able to speak English to me. He refurbishes Dells, so I bought one with a 15" screen for $300. And it has been awesome, so far. Is nice and quick. He also was able to transfer all my files from the old laptop to the new one included in that price. I have had other machines from him--2 desk tops and a laptop for my ex...all were Dell, all are still going strong, been a few years now.
ReplyDeleteI do ALWAYS use it on a hard surface--either a laptop pad, which I like cause it is tipped just a bit forward, easier on the wrists/hands; or I have a large cutting board 26x30 so I can use the mouse, which I usually use with my work laptop. That way my lap doesn't get overheated, I can sit on the couch, or in the recliner chair or in bed and I'm not burning anything up. My IT gal at work said that air flow is important--just like breathing is important...she must get so tired of working with a bunch of nurses...lol
So, I guess my suggestion is to find a computer repair shop and see if they sell refurbished Dells. I have been very happy with my Dell Latitude. I just don't remember how much hard drive and RAM it has in it, but I remember thinking it was a bunch. And it is great for traveling with, except the 13" screen will fit better into your computer case/bag...my 15" one fits, but it takes some convincing...
Suz
Alas, the paucity of repair shops around here is notable. Well, ones you can trust anyway.
DeleteDell does sell gaming laptops, their Alienware line, but they have a semi-bad reputation in many of the reviews I've seen. We use Dell monitors and HP laptops at work, so they must be doing something right!
There's always something to do besides blogging. I've almost ceased, and I still don't have the time to play golf.
ReplyDeleteI have so many hobbies to pursue, plus work, that I can scarce find the time to sleep! But I manage.
Delete