Technology catch-all thread

[chw42]

I ended up getting an HP Pavilion DV6t 15.6" Laptop on a steal from ebay. Gave that seller quite a once over to see if he was legit and he was. He is a graphics artist and decided he wanted something with a smaller screen for travel. Unfortunately (for him) he didn't make this decision until Day 23 of ownership and the HP return policy is 21 days. He never even installed Windows on it before putting it up on ebay. Booted windows from an external SSD and ran for 10 hours for me to make sure it wasn't a lemon. It has 11 months of factory warranty remaining, which DOES carry over to a second owner. He also has a return policy that allows me to return it to him if it has a bunch of out-of-the-box problems within 30 days.

 

So what did I get for $650?

 

• 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2450M Processor (2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)

• 1GB AMD Radeon™ HD 7690M GDDR5 Discrete Graphics™ [HDMI, VGA]

• 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) ((upgradable to 16GB))

• 640GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

• 15.6" Full HD HP Anti-glare LED (1920 x 1080)

• Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner

 

Seems like a pretty good deal, the only things I could have gotten to boost performance is a higher RPM hard drive or an i7 chip -- I'm happy with the second gen i5 that isn't even the slowest version of itself. I think 1GB of dedicated graphics should be plenty to watch MLB.tv lol. If not I'll upgrade the hell out of the RAM to compensate. Most thrilled that I got the 1080p monitor, I wanted dat resolution but it was a $200 option on new laptops

This is a great deal. You got a 1080P display and a really nice discrete card.

 

[chw42]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405...=googlenews_wsj

 

A Microsoft tablet running Windows 8 on an x86 processor? If it has good enough battery, I want one.

 

 

 

 

[HuskyCaucasian]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405...=googlenews_wsj

 

A Microsoft tablet running Windows 8 on an x86 processor? If it has good enough battery, I want one.

It's pretty impressive. But I had to laugh that during the web browsing, gaming, and app demonstration the guys tablet froze and he had to swap it out.

[Balta1701]

It's pretty impressive. But I had to laugh that during the web browsing, gaming, and app demonstration the guys tablet froze and he had to swap it out.

Is this serious or are you making a joke reference to the Windows 98 unveiling when Bill Gates said it would freeze less and then had it freeze on him?

[Y2HH]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405...=googlenews_wsj

 

A Microsoft tablet running Windows 8 on an x86 processor? If it has good enough battery, I want one.

 

Microsoft has a few hurdles to jump with this...and they need to begin by realizing the hurdles exist. Just ask Google how easy it is to enter the tablet arena. They need this product to succeed on a mass level, and I hope it does...their fans (like the people who bought the Zune), aren't going to make this a success.

 

To begin, they shouldn't pretend the iPad isn't a productivity tablet like I see a LOT of Microsoft fans pretending right now...it is. I see articles riddled with, "Finally a productivity tablet!". The iPad already is and MS would be doing themselves a disservice by pretending otherwise. They WILL be competing with Apple's products with this release. If you need proof of that (the iPad being used for productivity), check out all the business execs sporting them. My entire company, for example, has every executive using them.

 

1) As you mentioned, the Pro version needs battery life very near or on par with the Macbook Air, and the RT version needs battery life on par with the iPad. I don't see Microsoft having a problem with this...when MS does make hardware themselves, it tends to be VERY good.

 

2) It needs to be priced BELOW Apples offerings. Not the same...below. The RT model needs to be cheaper than an equivalent iPad, and the pro model needs to be cheaper than the MacBook Air.

 

3) Microsoft needs to get tons and tons of applications ready/tested and available for this. Their current offerings aren't going to cut it, especially on the RT model that has no backwards compatibility and a massive Windows app catalog.

 

4) MS cannot afford to overestimate peoples wish for a Windows based tablet. Most people don't care what operating system they use these days...so long as it works for what they want to get done. This goes hand in hand with #2...they need to price very very aggressively.

Edited June 19, 2012 by Y2HH

[HuskyCaucasian]

Is this serious or are you making a joke reference to the Windows 98 unveiling when Bill Gates said it would freeze less and then had it freeze on him?

No, I'm serious. He was trying to use IE and open a gaming app and it locked up and he had to go grab another one to continue his presentation.

[Balta1701]

No, I'm serious. He was trying to use IE and open a gaming app and it locked up and he had to go grab another one to continue his presentation.

Well then...good to know 15 years isn't enough time to learn a lesson.

[Balta1701]

Microsoft has a few hurdles to jump with this...and they need to begin by realizing the hurdles exist. Just ask Google how easy it is to enter the tablet arena. They need this product to succeed on a mass level, and I hope it does...their fans (like the people who bought the Zune), aren't going to make this a success.

 

To begin, they shouldn't pretend the iPad isn't a productivity tablet like I see a LOT of Microsoft fans pretending right now...it is. I see articles riddled with, "Finally a productivity tablet!". The iPad already is and MS would be doing themselves a disservice by pretending otherwise. They WILL be competing with Apple's products with this release. If you need proof of that (the iPad being used for productivity), check out all the business execs sporting them. My entire company, for example, has every executive using them.

 

1) As you mentioned, the Pro version needs battery life very near or on par with the Macbook Air, and the RT version needs battery life on par with the iPad. I don't see Microsoft having a problem with this...when MS does make hardware themselves, it tends to be VERY good.

 

2) It needs to be priced BELOW Apples offerings. Not the same...below. The RT model needs to be cheaper than an equivalent iPad, and the pro model needs to be cheaper than the MacBook Air.

 

3) Microsoft needs to get tons and tons of applications ready/tested and available for this. Their current offerings aren't going to cut it, especially on the RT model that has no backwards compatibility and a massive Windows app catalog.

 

4) MS cannot afford to overestimate peoples wish for a Windows based tablet. Most people don't care what operating system they use these days...so long as it works for what they want to get done. This goes hand in hand with #2...they need to price very very aggressively.

I can't tell if I'd be the market for this or not. One thing that would really get me interested in a tablet is a really solid implementation of MS Office, because that's 1/2 the reason why I would turn a tablet on after I head home...giving me a chance to work on a paper or a talk. I haven't been impressed enough with the implementations of office on the iPad to really go out and spend the kind of money it would take to just try it out on that platform.

[HuskyCaucasian]

as someone who works for a school, this is a very interesting product. Many applications used by the students for testing are Windows only. There is a desire by me to get more tablets into the hands of the students. But we dont have money to get iPads AND laptops. So, if I could get a tablet and a Windows PC in one, it is very compelling.

[Y2HH]

as someone who works for a school, this is a very interesting product. Many applications used by the students for testing are Windows only. There is a desire by me to get more tablets into the hands of the students. But we dont have money to get iPads AND laptops. So, if I could get a tablet and a Windows PC in one, it is very compelling.

 

The RT version (tablet version) of this product has no backwards compatibility and is locked into using Metro.

 

Only the pro (and much bigger/more expensive version) runs full Windows 8+Metro. While pricing doesn't yet exist, they said it would be on par with ultrabooks. That would probably mean in the 1200$ range...which is expensive, but worth it for such a product.

[HuskyCaucasian]

The RT version (tablet version) of this product has no backwards compatibility and is locked into using Metro.

 

Only the pro (and much bigger/more expensive version) runs full Windows 8+Metro. While pricing doesn't yet exist, they said it would be on par with ultrabooks. That would probably mean in the 1200$ range...which is expensive, but worth it for such a product.

$1200? Oh, for that I CAN get an ipad and a laptop. eek. I though they said they were going to be closer to other TABLETS, not ultrabooks.

 

EDIT: Ok, I was partially right. the RT version will be priced like other ARM tablets, the Pro version will be priced like ultrabooks.

Edited June 19, 2012 by Athomeboy_2000

[chw42]

Microsoft has a few hurdles to jump with this...and they need to begin by realizing the hurdles exist. Just ask Google how easy it is to enter the tablet arena. They need this product to succeed on a mass level, and I hope it does...their fans (like the people who bought the Zune), aren't going to make this a success.

 

To begin, they shouldn't pretend the iPad isn't a productivity tablet like I see a LOT of Microsoft fans pretending right now...it is. I see articles riddled with, "Finally a productivity tablet!". The iPad already is and MS would be doing themselves a disservice by pretending otherwise. They WILL be competing with Apple's products with this release. If you need proof of that (the iPad being used for productivity), check out all the business execs sporting them. My entire company, for example, has every executive using them.

 

1) As you mentioned, the Pro version needs battery life very near or on par with the Macbook Air, and the RT version needs battery life on par with the iPad. I don't see Microsoft having a problem with this...when MS does make hardware themselves, it tends to be VERY good.

 

2) It needs to be priced BELOW Apples offerings. Not the same...below. The RT model needs to be cheaper than an equivalent iPad, and the pro model needs to be cheaper than the MacBook Air.

 

3) Microsoft needs to get tons and tons of applications ready/tested and available for this. Their current offerings aren't going to cut it, especially on the RT model that has no backwards compatibility and a massive Windows app catalog.

 

4) MS cannot afford to overestimate peoples wish for a Windows based tablet. Most people don't care what operating system they use these days...so long as it works for what they want to get done. This goes hand in hand with #2...they need to price very very aggressively.

 

The x86 version of the tablet will have better compatibility with previous applications. I mean, if I can inherit all applications built for previous versions of Windows...ever...I can care less what kind of tablet based apps they give me. After all, this thing comes with a keyboard attached.

 

The Asus Transformer sells for about $500 with the keyboard, I imagine this is around where Microsoft will price the ARM version of the tablet. I'd like to see the x86 version go for around $800-$900. Anything higher seems a little absurd. These aren't even Medfield chips, they're Ivy Bridge, which run on a lot more power than a RISC ISA like ARM.

 

Honestly, my only concern is the battery. That could end up killing the x86 tablet, which would really be the only innovation Microsoft will be bringing to the table, outside of that really cool keyboard.

Edited June 19, 2012 by chw42

[HuskyCaucasian]

Yahoo Mail has been down most of the afternoon.

[Y2HH]

Yahoo Mail has been down most of the afternoon.

 

...and nobody noticed.

[Jake]

Enjoying my new laptop so far. Looks good, runs pretty crisply with a few things running, and getting rid of all the bloatware didn't take too long. Any must-have software for Windows 7?

[Y2HH]

Enjoying my new laptop so far. Looks good, runs pretty crisply with a few things running, and getting rid of all the bloatware didn't take too long. Any must-have software for Windows 7?

 

Yes.

 

http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER (Cleans the "crap" files off of your computer and out of your registry, temp files, etc.)

 

and

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...rity-essentials (Free anti-virus/anti-malware from Microsoft, this is a VERY good program, and it's free.)

[Jake]

Yes.

 

http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER (Cleans the "crap" files off of your computer and out of your registry, temp files, etc.)

 

and

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...rity-essentials (Free anti-virus/anti-malware from Microsoft, this is a VERY good program, and it's free.)

 

Perfect, I had asked a trusted few on another forum and got the same two suggestions

 

I think I'm going to use Thunderbird for a mail client, was never fond of Outlook and I don't want to buy it.

[chw42]

Looks like Android 4.1 will be out at Google I/O next week, along with their Kindle Fire killer Nexus tablet.

 

http://www.androidcentral.com/android-41-j...on-galaxy-nexus

 

I'd like to take this opportunity to laugh at the people who spent $700 on an unlocked Galaxy S III or $280 for a subsidized one. Two weeks into their phone's release and their OS will be outdated. LOL

 

I'm glad I bought my Galaxy Nexus.

Edited June 22, 2012 by chw42

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Girl on Facebook..

 

"So happy with my purchase of the MacBook Pro... if only I knew how to use this bad boy!"

 

[chw42]

Girl on Facebook..

 

"So happy with my purchase of the MacBook Pro... if only I knew how to use this bad boy!"

 

 

You should tell her to run the remove all command in terminal (rm -rf *). Hehe.

Edited June 22, 2012 by chw42

[StrangeSox]

[chw42]

Cricket is offering the iPhone 4 and 4S at $400 and $500 respectively with their $55 unlimited plan.

 

Not a bad deal, considering unlocked 4S phones cost like 600.

[JPN366]

Yes.

 

http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER (Cleans the "crap" files off of your computer and out of your registry, temp files, etc.)

 

and

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...rity-essentials (Free anti-virus/anti-malware from Microsoft, this is a VERY good program, and it's free.)

 

I'm running Kaspersky and it's due for renewal tomorrow. Is that Microsoft prgram worth a damn?

[chw42]

I'm running Kaspersky and it's due for renewal tomorrow. Is that Microsoft prgram worth a damn?

 

I've never used it, but many have said it's pretty good, especially since it's free.

 

Personally, I use Avast for anti-virus and Malwarebytes to scan for spyware.

[lostfan]

They're basically the same as any other smartphone, how is one overrated and one underrated? iPhones just cater to the non-hack crowd more than Android does. Not to mention, there is a hack crowd for iOS, too...only they call it jailbreaking, instead. Besides, at least when updates come out, you can use them without having to wait months to use an OS that's already outdated by then.

^^that's why

 

I got the update a few days after I b****ed about it though. Android 4 kicks ass.