mmmdonuts

Look up the POST beep codes if you haven't already. It should tell you what the problem is.

kensuf

Funny you should mention that, the wife's not sure what she did with my collection of tapes/dvd's...

rkwaki

That good for nothing...
When I moved here I tossed a huge collection, didn't want border patrol to go through and ask what kind of deviant I was, I mean, my wife was...

ridethecliche

Yeah, I did. That's what suggested that. ridic.

kensuf

Just tell them it's approved by Bob and Doug, eh?

ridethecliche

So they came in and fixed the monitor. Just used the laptop a bit today and noticed that some of the trim that surrounds the thing is 'wiggly' as is the metal next to the USB ports. Looks like their new model doesn't have that issue, but it's also 1300 bucks...

I don't know what the heck to do. I think this would just happen again if I sent it back and got another one. Duct tape isn't all that appealing...
I'm tempted to just say eff it all and get the newer one or a mac book pro.

Don't they make a durable laptop anymore with a dedicated graphics card (1gb) that doesn't cost more than 750 all said and done? This is getting ridiculous...
I guess I don't even really play games on a computer all that much anymore. I think my family abroad has a gaming console and I prefer that anyway. I just want to be able to do some photo/video stuff and music production. Games on the backburner.

Gawd...

Here's the issue: https://en.community.dell.com/support.../19385993.aspx

Edit: Should I just take superglue/duct tape to it. Jesus.

mmmdonuts

If you don't like it now you'll probably hate it later. If you have the option send it back and get a Lenovo or HP. I just turned in a work Lenovo that I beat for 5 years and my wife, the tech destroyer, has an HP of about the same age. Both still going strong but feeling slow.

ridethecliche

I like it, I just want the body to behave.

Their new one is unibody, but it's also 1300 bucks which is a bit out of my range...

I had an HP in college. I hated it. It died all the time. Parents have one and friends do too and it works fine. I guess I should reconsider them. Their offerings with my needs are pricier as well :/

mmmdonuts

Yeah, like with most things you get what you pay for. They all make solid gear in the upper range and like bikes their levels have significant jumps in price.

waterrockets 

I don't think there's ever been a new laptop less than $750 worth owning, in any brand. Below that, it's like a road bike with nuts on the axles instead of QR. I think $750 is where the point of diminishing returns starts. Probably about the same for road bikes... (i.g. it's probably actually twice as good as a $375 model, where it's more than half as good as a $1500 model)

ridethecliche

The computer's actually a refurb that cost 900 on their outlet site. The same machine when new on their main site is selling for 1300 in the config that mine has. They're fixing the case tomorrow or day after so lets see how that goes.

I really like the new version of the XPS 15 (unibody construction), but like I said 1300ish is a bit steep. I could swing it if I absolutely had to and I might because I love the look and the performance looks like it'd be slick as well. Mostly, the additional cost would be for the case though. No other features on their really pop out for me. I don't need blu ray on a laptop.

This is what I have:
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineS...&puid=cbef275e

Specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-2620M Processor (2.70 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
XPS 15z
750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT525M 2GB graphics with Optimus

ridethecliche

So if you guys were going to get a new laptop which is portable enough for travel with decent battery life, but still powerful enough to be a workhorse, what would you get?

Thanks!

mmmdonuts

I've been doing some shopping for one recently but haven't pulled the trigger. I don't work with compilers, emulators, analytics or software with a need for raw CPU speed. I do have good GPU's high on my list for any occasional gaming and video/imaging stuff I might want to do.

My list:
1. HP ENVY 17-3270NR - Nice all-rounder at a good price.
2. Samsung Series 7 - Not stylish, but a beast of a machine.
3. lenovo IdeaPad Y580 - Nice working package and bang for the buck but no BD.

Personally I wouldn't buy a GPU lower than GeForce GT 650M (or equivalent) and prefer to have BD player. A lot of the new laptops with Intel chipsets support SRT and have an mSATA slot for an SSD card. The SRT caching can improve overall I/O performance without having to buy a large and expensive SSD. They also claim to extend battery life by reducing the number of HD reads/writes (mode dependent).

ridethecliche

I'm looking for something that's a 15 inch. Thanks for those recs though. I'll look into them.

ridethecliche

I might see if I can get a deal on the Envy 15. There are a few coupons I found online and if they match an old one, I could get it for a little less as well.

Realistically, I don't play that many games. Every now and then I'll get an itch, but I have a PS3 so I don't have to do it on a laptop. I think my cousins have an Xbox. I guess I should really be looking for something that's thin/light, has a 1gb dedicated GPU, and has an optic drive. I hope the Envy fits in.

I doubt I'll upgrade the screen to HD. Probably not worth the 150 for me. The i5 should be plenty sufficient as well for music/photo fun.

Crossing my fingers...

waterrockets 

Did some AF micro adjust today for my two EF lenses. Man, that's a sweet feature. One lens was back-focusing, and the other front-focusing. Now they're both spot-on. My Rebel doesn't have this feature -- luckily my 17-55 is perfect on that body though (lens may never again leave that body).

ridethecliche

FYI, this is a helluva deal: https://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0394503

Going to go check it out this afternoon.

Also a bunch of deals on HPS right now with some codes: https://www.retailmenot.com/view/shopping.hp.com

Flatballer

Does anyone know if an ANT+/Bluetooth bridge device exists yet? TI seems to have a chip, but I can't find where to buy it. All I can find is a development kit, which is $400+.

I'm considering designing something if the market is there and there isn't a competitor yet. I'd love to be able to use my Powertap with my Android. Just a simple dongle that I stick in the saddle bag, my phone connects to the dongle thing, and I can get my power on my phone. Then a normal Bluetooth cycling app on the phone that can use power.

kensuf

Remedy blows.

shovelhd

It blows more for the customers.

rkwaki

That word, much like the word canoe, makes me laugh

rkwaki

I bet she does...

Ultraslide

Why the extra jump to bluetooth? Just go ANT right into the phone. https://www.thisisant.com/pages/devel...ne/android-api

pjcampbell

My company uses HEAT. It's like Remedy fail^3. I think they are related in some way actually.

mmmdonuts

Nice.