10-01-2003, 12:40 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Doug Will Be Waiting Forever for That Laptop
Doug Mohney over at The Inquirer has written up a lively column talking about his quest for a new laptop, but that quest seems continually on hold as he waits for new technologies. The same could be said of PDAs - something better is always around the corner. If you're always waiting for the "next big thing", you'll never get new hardware or software. At the point when your current hardware can no longer do what you need, you buy something new that does - it's that simple. Getting caught up in the never-ending waiting game for "what's next" is a losing proposition. Improvements are always happening, but they're not always as dramatic as we'd like to hope for.
Still, when I look at my new laptop and compare it to my old one (a Lifebook E Series), I can see definite improvements: 10+ hours of battery life vs. five hours (both had dual batteries), CD-R vs. no CD-R, 1280 x 768 vs. 1024 x 768 resolution, 900 Mhz Pentium 4-M CPU with a 1 MB cache vs. a 750 Mhz Pentium III, integrated 802.11g vs. no wireless, Firewire vs. no Firewire, USB 2.0 vs. USB 1.1...and the list goes on. Laptop technology has improved a great deal in the past two years, and it seems a bit sensationalistic to claim otherwise. Here's a blurb from Doug's article:
"Some year I'm going to buy a replacement for my laptop, but there's no real incentive for me to run out and get a new one tomorrow. Average pricing and weight of units continues to drop with the only drawback being power consumption. Further, there's no "Great leap" out there like we had back in the days of the x86 to Pentium races. Depending on the shill-of-the-month, there are a lot of new goodies in the R&D pipelines that would make today's laptop much better. Methanol fuel cells seem to be at the top of the list of near-term goodies, but they won't be out in quantity until the end of '04 and it should be interesting to see if there will be plug-and-play units to replace existing batteries. Hopefully airline safety won't freak out about methanol fuel cartridges that are likely twice as flammable as the miniatures on the drink cart. I don't know if this will be the death knell for batteries, but I suspect enviros will make a case that a methanol fuel cell is "greener" than a Lithium or NiCad."
How do you decide when to buy new technology? What drives your decision to purchase a new Pocket PC, laptop, or mobile phone?
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10-01-2003, 12:57 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 298
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What drives me? Whatever I need it to do.
I'm selling the Intermec HPC because it no longer suits my needs. Too many limitations. Biggest one: it will not sync subfolders in my Outlook Inbox. I need a full version of MS Office for grad school, and also wanted a DVD player. Essentially, I want to replace my desktop with a mobile solution.
So I bought a new laptop. Rather than wait for new technology, or spend an extra $1000 to get the latest slim and light wonderbox, I got a good value laptop. My reasoning is that I'll probably be replacing it with something "newer, faster, better" in a year anyway; so save my money now.
Bought a Dell Inspiron 1100. Got a great deal, and it's gotten some great reviews. Free 256 mb upgrade, free cdrw/dvd, $753 shipped, no tax.
15" XGA LCD
2.0 Ghz Celeron Mobile
256 mb DDR SDRAM (1 DIMM, 1 slot open)
20 GB HD
24X CDRW/DVD
4 hour extended battery
The only thing I might not like is that it's a tad heavy, about middle of the road for laptop weight. But I can't justify $1000 more for a slower laptop just because it weighs less.
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10-01-2003, 12:59 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 298
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PS - Nice laptop Jason! That's what I was considering, were it not for the Dell being faster and only half the price! 
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10-01-2003, 01:03 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4
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MONEY!!!!
Whether I buy a new PPC or laptop... or anything that I already have... money!!!!! if I have the money I can buy it.
It can be the best out of the box goody.... but if there isn't enough money can't buy it :? :? :? :?
Never way for the next newest goody..... you'll be waiting for eternity!!!
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10-01-2003, 01:03 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 42
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When it comes to laptops (a large purchase compared to most PDAs and cell phones, both of which I buy and sell frequently) I typically only buy when I "need" to... Case in point, 2 months ago I spilled an entire bottle of water on my Dell Inspiron 8000.... Aside from poor battery life the thing worked fine... The water took care of that... Now I've got a Toshiba Satellite Pro with a 1.4GHz Pentium M and some other goodies...
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10-01-2003, 01:05 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 258
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I got a new laptop not too long ago - and now I get to brag about it! 
2.66Ghz Pentium 4
512MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive
15" Screen
It's a Toshiba Satellite A25-S207 - and I got it all for $1200 at Circuit City. 8)
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10-01-2003, 01:31 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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For me it's simple: I buy new technology when I can afford it.
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10-01-2003, 01:34 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,264
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Newsboy
Bought a Dell Inspiron 1100. Got a great deal, and it's gotten some great reviews. Free 256 mb upgrade, free cdrw/dvd, $753 shipped, no tax.
15" XGA LCD
2.0 Ghz Celeron Mobile
256 mb DDR SDRAM (1 DIMM, 1 slot open)
20 GB HD
24X CDRW/DVD
4 hour extended battery
The only thing I might not like is that it's a tad heavy, about middle of the road for laptop weight. But I can't justify $1000 more for a slower laptop just because it weighs less.
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I have a similarly equiped Compaq laptop that I got for $699. I would rather buy the value end laptop and be able to replace it more often. Frankly though, the laptop does everything I need and everything I can forsee doing for a while.
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10-01-2003, 02:06 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 298
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Precisely. Not to mention the value end laptop will have better resale value, ironically. Doesn't depriciate as fast as the "latest and greatest". I only play games on my XBOX now. Mmmm...XBOX...gotta go! Gotta play Rainbow Six 3!!!!
Still can't believe I got all that for $753 though. 8O
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10-01-2003, 02:16 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5
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There are a few things i look for when i buy new technology, 1 mainly being price. Another is the developing market. Back then when the DVD players came out they were expensive and plus there were no DVDs, so it was pointless. As you mentions i look for features, but most of the times i just buy the product with the most features that i never use.
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