What feature is most important?

[Rob]

Hi, everyone.[] I need a notebook for the following purposes:
1) intensive word processing;
2) intensive 2-D graphics with Paint Shop Pro, a graphics-editing program similar to Photoshop;
3) creation of graphics and text book pages with Quark;
4) possible web site creation.
I won't do any gaming or 3-D.

Given these uses, which specs are most important, and which can I compromise on? I'm deciding between notebooks with the following specs:

For graphics:
ATI Radeon Mobility 9600, 64 mb
VS. Nvidia Ge Force 4 440 GO, 64 mb

For hard drive:

4200 rpm VS. 7200 rpm

For memory:

512 vs one gig

For processor:
Intel Pentium M 1.6 ghz, or 735 @1.7 or 745 @ 1.8 ghz
versus
AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 2.20 GHZ

In my situation which is more critical: a better quality graphics processor, more RAM, a faster hard drive, or the kind of CPU? I'd heard the Athlon is better than Pentium for Paint Shop Pro. I haven't found one notebook that has the best of everything...so I have to compromise.

Your opinions will be most welcome!

[Mort]

I think RAM is your new friend. Since you are working with loads of 2D programs RAM is THE factor in getting speed. On second place it will be the CPU and third the HD. Get the RAM first!

[Brian]

I tend to agree. 1GB RAM with a nice Dothan processor should treat you well. The HDD upgrade is a nice to have for dealing with those large files.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

[bootleg2go]

Hi Rob,
Like the others said, get lots of ram if your working with large image files. As far as processors or video go, anything out there will work for you as word processing & website design are not intensive as far as even processors and video controllers of several generations past are concerned and even paintshop pro or photoshop is not cpu intensive for the basic photo editing. You will notice a speed difference if your doing many mathmatically intensive photoshop commands like gaussian blur on a regular basis.

Basically, if your not a hard core gamer, any notebook out there will do what you need, even an old 800Mhz system.

What you should think about is if you need to run off the batteries for more than 1.5 to 2.5 hours at a time and if so get a newer notebook with a Pentium M processor.

good luck
Jack

The color of justice in america is green.
http://pbase.com/joneill

[Rob]

Thanks everyone for the advice -- now I'm headed in the right direction. Another (less important) consideration is heat: I'd like something that runs cool. I also want dual monitor capability. Any suggestions for a specific model? Thanks again.

[Rob]

Forgot one thing: reliability. I want this to last me a long time!

[Run1track]

Look at IBM, Fujitsu, Acer.

You may also want to consider HP/Compaq or Toshiba.

***************************************************
Fujitsu S6210: 1.6Ghz PM ~ 768MB RAM ~ 60GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
***************************************************