WHICH LAPTOP for around $600

[blinky88]

Comments from members would be greatly appreciated. I'm an oldie and know nothing about Laptops, that said, I would like Windows XP 32 bit OS not 64 bit. What is the best screen LCD or LED???

[hech54]

Finding one with XP (and not Windows 7 - the latest operating system) is going to be tough. Not impossible...but tough.

[MJA]

Microsoft store got very good deals almost every week.
I helped my friend get this one last week for $449

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/243309

newegg is selling the Acer AMD Phenom II Triple-Core N830 for $399,I read somewhere the battery doesn't last too long

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/243967

[TBoneit]

Comments from members would be greatly appreciated. I'm an oldie and no nothing about Laptops, that said, I would like Windows XP 32 bit OS not 64 bit. What is the best screen LCD or LED???

What you are calling LED is still a LCD Screen with a LED backlight instead of a LCD with a CCFL backlight.

The advantage of the LED screen is less power used by the lighting. In theory this will allow longer battery life or else a smaller lighter battery, that's up to the designer.

You should use Windows 7. Many of the new laptops won't work properly with XP assuming you can find the drivers for all the hardware.

[blinky88]

Many thanks to the members who responded.

Windows 7, Blue-ray, 64 Bit OS seems to be standard with new laptops so I decided to have a look on eBay.

Has to be my lucky day .... I bought a really nice Laptop. A HP Compaq Pavilion dv5 1232TX, 4gb \ 400gb \ Vista. It is only 12-18 months old and has a remaining 12 months warranty Feb 2012, looks new, unmarked, $600 plus postage. I have no idea what the retail price was when they were available ..but.. it ticks all the boxes for me ..ie.. except Vista, I prefer XP\2.

Thanks again everyone, thank you, appreciated.

[blinky88]

Hi All, it appears it can prove difficult to downgrade from Vista to XP\2 because of a driver issue, have to handle that problem when I receive it. I would really appreciate if a member can throw some advise my way.

[Moontrash]

theres a forum out there, laptop oriented, that gives the driver details of most common laptops so u can download them and use them when u install xp. I've used it a few times a few years ago to downgrade from vista to xp...it worked fine

cant remember the name of the forum though

[drjtech]

I would like Windows XP 32 bit OS not 64 bit.

Any particular reason for not wanting 64-bit? Just about any laptop in the $600 range these days is going to come standard with 64-bit Win 7, so 64-bit is becoming more and more mainstream.

-drjtech

[blinky88]

I have been using XP\2 for many years and have never had a problem of any description and from the comments I've read about Vista, I'll stick with the devil I know.

[blinky88]

Moontrash, really be helpful if you could remember the name.

[drjtech]

I have been using XP\2 for many years and have never had a problem of any description and from the comments I've read about Vista, I'll stick with the devil I know.

Two things to consider:

1. Windows 7 is definitely not Vista.

2. Modern laptops are not designed to support XP. If you intend to run XP make certain the drivers you need are actually available before you make your purchase.

-drjtech

[blinky88]

Hi drjtech,

The laptop I bought is not new perhaps 18 months old.

I have only heard good things about Windows 7 and I am giving that a lot of thought.

Thanks for your comment, appreciated.

[hydra3333]

. snip due to insulting post below. Speaking of feeble, "your" should have been "you're".

[blinky88]

Every village has one, too bad you're an Aussie.

[hydra3333]

that's funny, given what you bought and your questions.

[blinky88]

I thought it was appropriate for the comment you made BEFORE your edit.

[blinky88]

Thank you to all members who have taken time out to respond, appreciated.

Conclusion: I finished up buying a HP dv5 1232TX which had Vista installed. I found Vista to be a monster and have downgraded to XP\3. The laptop really is a nice piece of gear and is running like a dream, no problems whatsoever.