Going to be geting a laptop soon but had a few quetions.

I was thinking bout upgrading (only $50 more) to a bluray dvd player. Is it worth it? Are the bluray movies better visually as they claim as well as better audio?

On HP`s website it says this and I am at a loss of understanding what it means.

"Blu-ray movies will only play through the Blu-ray player software. Advanced Access Content System (AACS) keys are integrated into your PC for copy protection purposes. Occasional renewal of the AACS key is required, and easily done by connecting to the internet"

What is the AACS for? Is it required to just watch bluray dvd`s or is it for something else? I dont think its a program to watch the movies but I want to be sure because I was not getting internet setup on it since its for movies and viewing PDF format manuals.

One last question I have heard both good and bad abut Dell but never had one and was wondering what was some usual common problems with them?

I will probably end up with HP since I can get a 17.4" high def screen with bluray and 4GB ram for the same price of a 15.4" high def screen bluray and 2GB ram Dell laptop but I am open to weighing both options though I have owned a HP before so just need to know about dell`s laptops.

 

The AACS will have to be renewed from time to time and will do it automatically if the laptop is hooked up to an internet connection. It should have a wireless card though so if you can find a wireless access point, it will update itself.

The Blu-Ray discs are worth every penny. The quality is a lot better than standard and is worth it in my opinion.

As for Dell...In all, I've got 12 of them and they have been flawless. Never had to return any of them for anything. We have four laptops here at the house and eight more for the wife's businesses. Always had excellent service out of them.

 

The laptop I was looking at comes standard with a Wireless G card. Dont know how good it is and I wasnt really planning on having internet access put on, but f I have to have the AACS I wonder if I could do like my sister did for her kids and put one of those cards that piggyback off the wireless internet signals. Either that or simply take and figure out a way to plug the DSL on this pc into the laptop to update/renew itself.

But you wouldnt happen to know wat AACS is needed for or what it does would you?

 

Here is a link to the AACS site. It is software that enhances the usage of the Blu-ray discs. From what I've read on it, without it, the Blu-Ray will not function correctly so it needs to be updated from time to time. Kind of like when Windows downloads updates.

Overview : AACS - Advanced Access Content System

If the laptop you're looking at has a wireless-G card, that's all you'll need to pick up a wireless signal from a router as long as the signal being received is G or comparable.

And, you can hook up the DSL cable from your desktop to your laptop to update. You shouldn't need any additional wireless card to piggyback as long as you have the built in wireless-G card.

 

Ah ok, so basically is just a program that updates your "drivers" to play all forms of bluray that they come out after you get the computer. Well I guess it wouldnt be too much trouble to just unplug the dsl from this pc and plug it into the laptop just to update it. The wireless though I am not sure about that if I would have to pay to have service or just having the wireless-g card would allow me to wirelessly connect to my dsl through the desktop unit.

But atleast I am learning about this, cause I am not that good on matching computer components or doing anything with computers other than just using them lol.

 

First I would have to say that, for me, Blu ray is a waste of money...

You can only view them on a bluray player..

It should be able to play regular DVD's also, but what are you going to watch more of?? If you use it to view your current DVD movies then you are wasting your money.. Even if it is only $50 bucks..

Dells makes a good laptop... I would recommend getting a mid priced one not the $499 special...

Also I would recommend the service plan.. Laptops are expensive to repair if they need it.. Your more likely to drop it or bang it around if you are using it to travel around with..

If it just gonna sit on a desk most of the time then you can probably get away without it..


My 2 cents

 

I have heard that about bluray. But I have also heard that eventually bluray is going to replace the current dvd`s. But if I got it with the bluray player I wouldnt be buying regular dvd`s anymore I would be getting bluray dvd`s.

Traveling around will be done but I am never rough with what I have, I tend to be careful with it. But I do like the advice, I was planing on getting the exteded warranty on it for accidental damages.

 

One thing to remember on extended warranties, some will actually cover a replacement battery pack.

The wireless card on the laptop will need to send and receive to a wireless router. They will not be able to connect to your desktop wirelessly. Basically if you want to go wireless you will need to purchase a wireless router that you plug into the dsl modem that you get service thru now. Then the desktop plugs into that and the laptop connects to the router.

The other way is if someone in your area has a wireless router set up you can get on the web thru that. (as long as they do not have it blocked)

For the extra $50, if you can afford it I wouldn't hesitate to go the blue-ray player. That is a good price for that upgrade.

 

Thanks, I recently been sold on the wireless router. Going to end up getting one that can support multiple wireless connections as well as having a security option to prevent other local families from using my signal.

The warranty doesnt say anything about the battery pack on the HP one I was looking at. But under the extended it said this.

" Accidental Damage Protection with Pick Up and Return "

But it seems what ever I go with be it HP or Dell, I will be picking up a wireless router, extended warranty on it as well as the bluray upgrade. The processor I dont think I will upgrade, I think the one that put the price at $900 is enough since its a 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz) and this desktop is just a 3200 athlon 2.20GHz.

 

The wireless routers will all have the security option. The problem is not everyone knows about them and they seem to hide the info on the quick install guides and don't seem to make it easy for the average joe to set it up with security.
When you do go with one make sure you set it up normal and make sure the laptop can get on the web and then backtrack and add security and such. It is amazing how many people have them and are using them with no security.

 

It is amazing, cousin of mine got on someones internet service and was online through their router. At the time didnt know what he was talking bout but he was saying something bout how they need to lock down their router. I guess he was talking bout enabling the security feature.

 

Wireless routers have built in security that can be activated. WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and WPA/WPA2 Wi-Fi Protected Access - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I use a Linksys router;Linksys by Cisco Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54G2 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10242723 and run Comodo Firewall protection. Security setup is really quite easy. The most important thing is to have a security code that you can remember.

I recommend this laptop for you. It has everything that most people need or want; Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor T3400 - L305-S5944 For this price it can't be beat. I'm buying one today for my daughter.

 

Personally, I have no use for "BluRay" or whatever the name is, on a pc.

Buy whatever you need to do the laptop's intended job is, not for watching DVDs.

Spend your money on processor speed, RAM and hdd space, first.

As for Dell. . . .
While I don't have a Dell laptop (I have several HP laptops and a Sony laptop), I do have a Dell 'desktop' (tower, actually) that I bought for my wife.
Everyone claims that Dell has such good service.

Nah.
My wife had a problem with the pc, and so therefor, I had a problem with the pc.
I looked inside of the documentation packet for the 'included' CDs and lo and behold, the "Operating System CD" was not in the 'SEALED' package!
I contacted Dell for a 'replacement set' (their website claims that they will send ONE replacement set, free!), for that 'replacement' set.

Since the pc is out of warranty, they REFUSE to send a CD that was never in the package, to begin with!
Several e-mails between me and Dell and they promised a quick resolution.
Dell has stopped responding.
As of this post, there has been no resolution.

With EVERY e-mail that they send, they state (and I quote, directly from one e-mail):
"I sincerely apologize for all the inconvenience caused to you, however please be assured, I will personally look into the issue and resolve it to the best of your satisfaction.

We immensely value our relationship and consider it a privilege to serve you. We value you as a customer and your satisfaction is our highest priority."


That quote (above) was sent and recieved by me on March 29, 2009.
That was the last that I've heard from Dell. . . and I've written them 3 additonal times, to see what their decision is/was.

I wouldn't consider a Dell.
I won't ever buy another Dell. Not after the hemmorhoid that I've experienced with them.

Sidenote: For what it's worth, I did fix that pc.
There is a 'hidden partition' on the harddrive, where when you boot the machine, the "Dell" splashscreen comes up, press Cntrl + F11 and a "Restore" program launches.
(Make sure to back up your data before doing this!!! It WIPES OUT the hdd!)
This 'Restore' program restores the pc to the original configuration, as it was delivered, or left the store.

Fortunately, I was able to back up years of tax information, photos, college papers and other work, before running this program.



Pass on the Dell!

I apologize for the long post and the hi-jack.

We return to our regularly scheduled programming. . . . . . . . . .

 

There are also devises that can extend the range of your wireless, if you ever needed to use someone elses wireless access. But we won't go into how I know.
I hope you have fun with the laptop.

 

Thanks for the information, thats the kind of stuff I havent heard about dell. I have only heard how good their pc`s are.

As far as the purpose of this laptop its mainly for taking when I am away from home. Theres a tradition here where all holidays and sundays are spent at the eldest`s house. But its not for hardcore gamming like I orignally plannedI just dont play games or have an interest in it but HP is offering free upgrades which is what had me add in the bluray.

It comes standard with 2GB ramand 250GB harddrive but they offer a free upgrade to 4GB ram and 350GB harddrive. I dont know if I will get the hard drive upgrade considering I have 200GB hard drive here and dont even have it halfways filled up. The processor how ever on the one I was looking at was a 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz). I dont know how much more advanced that is than the one I have but I guess I need to check and see where it ranks compared to my current one on performance.

But besides that I do agree on the memory, processor speed, and hard drive space though.