Solve : What do I need? (Laptop Question)?

1.	Solve : What do I need? (Laptop Question)?
Answer» Hi everyone. Let me first say I am not technical. I am a single mom if a toddler. (with a deadbeat ex-husband) I use Ebay as my way of supporting my self and little girl. Anyway, while I am out & about I FIND things that I think would be good sellers. The problem is I can not check until I get home to my PC. If the item seems to sell often on Ebay, I have to double back to go and buy it. (GAS & TIME WASTER!!) I would love to get a laptop. My issue: I DO NOT want/need a laptop for games or music or even movies. I just need something with a decent size screen (over 14"-15" prefered) which is able to get quick internet access while I am out on the road searching for goodies to sell. (WITHOUT spending a big paycheck that I do not have) Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon.com etc. all have nice laptops but they do way more than I need. I am terrified of 'Refurbished' great Ebay deals. (But I am Tempted!!!) I do not know much about 'GIGS', 'Ram' & 'Ram' and all that other IMPORTANT stuff either. I would think the prices have to be high because of what is inside the machine. Can ANYONE out there explain a way or a place that I can get a Laptop for little money which only needs to have the internet access installed on it. (Does this even exist?) Also, what do you think about refurbs or even excellent used condition on Ebay?? Is there any specific hidden THINGS i must look with these AUCTIONS or anything to avoid? MANY THANKS GUYS!! I can help you with choosing a laptop, but I have a quick question. Quote I just need something with a decent size screen (over 14"-15" prefered) which is able.... 15" Screen laptop? My laptop has a 15" screen and it is one of the biggest laptops I have seen in my school. Are you sure you want something that big for just checking the internet?Hi there, I really don't know. I just don't want a screen so small that the entire spage will either not fit on the screen without having to scroll left & right etc. OR I have to strain to see. If you say 15" is not small, I am open to any help. THANKS!!!All right. I would head down to your local computer store and just have a look at the computers on display and see what you like best (so you have an idea what you would like to get and what size you would like it to be). As for the specifications ("RAM and Gigs and stuff"), Here is a brief run-down on what you may want. Note: New computer would most likely be Windows Vista. Used computer may be Windows XP. RAM - Random Access Memory --> Depending on the Operating System, the laptop should have at least 512mb for Windows XP and 1GB for Windows Vista. Hard Drive --> For what you said you will be doing, you don't need much. My laptop only has an 80GB hard drive and although I would like more, it's plenty. (You may want to consider more than 80GB for Windows Vista) Processor --> At least 1.6Hz recommended for Windows XP and 2.2GHz for Windows Vista. That is based on what you said about wanting the laptop just to use the internet. When you go looking for laptops, there may be more information (like Video Card, Sound Card, CD Drive, Wireless, ect...). Feel free to ask about any of them here. Example: My laptop http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3391&review=Lenovo+C200Wow! Good info. Thanks. I had purchased a mini tower HP with Vista and hated it. I returned it. Will I have a problem or have only a few years of use if I choose XP over Vista??? Or will XP be around for a long time. ?? Also, I was reading Ebay auctions and one looked nice. It had a 'Docking Station". What is that and do I need one? So many laptops on Ebay state the battery is not guaranteed to hold a charge. What is that about? Are they very costly?? DeeCheck-->Here You battery is usually so expensive, if you get a used laptop then a battery, you could have bought a new laptop.Just to answer a few more questions of yours. Not sure exactly when, but Windows XP support is supposed to stop in 2011 or something, not sure. Don't worry, I don't plan on changing Operating Systems any time soon. I am sure XP will be around for a long time, the same way people still use Windows 2000. Quote Also, I was reading Ebay auctions and one looked nice. It had a 'Docking Station". What is that and do I need one? Can I see the link please. Personally, I don't see the need for docking stations. You're probably only going to have it in your house and never move it. Quote So many laptops on Ebay state the battery is not guaranteed to hold a charge. What is that about? Are they very costly?? Not sure. It is true batteries may lose their efficiency, but I don't see that being an issue (at least not for me). Batteries can be pricey though.... 2014 actually. Story HereThanks Patio.You got it.

Answer»

Hi everyone.

Let me first say I am not technical.

I am a single mom if a toddler. (with a deadbeat ex-husband) I use Ebay as my way of supporting my self and little girl. Anyway, while I am out & about I FIND things that I think would be good sellers. The problem is I can not check until I get home to my PC. If the item seems to sell often on Ebay, I have to double back to go and buy it. (GAS & TIME WASTER!!) I would love to get a laptop.

My issue: I DO NOT want/need a laptop for games or music or even movies. I just need something with a decent size screen (over 14"-15" prefered) which is able to get quick internet access while I am out on the road searching for goodies to sell. (WITHOUT spending a big paycheck that I do not have)

Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon.com etc. all have nice laptops but they do way more than I need. I am terrified of 'Refurbished' great Ebay deals. (But I am Tempted!!!) I do not know much about 'GIGS', 'Ram' & 'Ram' and all that other IMPORTANT stuff either.

I would think the prices have to be high because of what is inside the machine. Can ANYONE out there explain a way or a place that I can get a Laptop for little money which only needs to have the internet access installed on it. (Does this even exist?) Also, what do you think about refurbs or even excellent used condition on Ebay?? Is there any specific hidden THINGS i must look with these AUCTIONS or anything to avoid?

MANY THANKS GUYS!!
I can help you with choosing a laptop, but I have a quick question.

Quote

I just need something with a decent size screen (over 14"-15" prefered) which is able....

15" Screen laptop?
My laptop has a 15" screen and it is one of the biggest laptops I have seen in my school.
Are you sure you want something that big for just checking the internet?Hi there,

I really don't know. I just don't want a screen so small that the entire spage will either not fit on the screen without having to scroll left & right etc. OR I have to strain to see. If you say 15" is not small, I am open to any help.

THANKS!!!All right.

I would head down to your local computer store and just have a look at the computers on display and see what you like best (so you have an idea what you would like to get and what size you would like it to be).

As for the specifications ("RAM and Gigs and stuff"), Here is a brief run-down on what you may want.

Note: New computer would most likely be Windows Vista. Used computer may be Windows XP.

RAM - Random Access Memory --> Depending on the Operating System, the laptop should have at least 512mb for Windows XP and 1GB for Windows Vista.

Hard Drive --> For what you said you will be doing, you don't need much. My laptop only has an 80GB hard drive and although I would like more, it's plenty. (You may want to consider more than 80GB for Windows Vista)

Processor --> At least 1.6Hz recommended for Windows XP and 2.2GHz for Windows Vista.

That is based on what you said about wanting the laptop just to use the internet.
When you go looking for laptops, there may be more information (like Video Card, Sound Card, CD Drive, Wireless, ect...). Feel free to ask about any of them here.

Example: My laptop http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3391&review=Lenovo+C200Wow! Good info. Thanks.

I had purchased a mini tower HP with Vista and hated it. I returned it. Will I have a problem or have only a few years of use if I choose XP over Vista??? Or will XP be around for a long time. ??

Also, I was reading Ebay auctions and one looked nice. It had a 'Docking Station". What is that and do I need one?

So many laptops on Ebay state the battery is not guaranteed to hold a charge. What is that about? Are they very costly??

DeeCheck-->Here

You battery is usually so expensive, if you get a used laptop then a battery,
you could have bought a new laptop.Just to answer a few more questions of yours.

Not sure exactly when, but Windows XP support is supposed to stop in 2011 or something, not sure. Don't worry, I don't plan on changing Operating Systems any time soon.
I am sure XP will be around for a long time, the same way people still use Windows 2000.

Quote

Also, I was reading Ebay auctions and one looked nice. It had a 'Docking Station". What is that and do I need one?

Can I see the link please.
Personally, I don't see the need for docking stations. You're probably only going to have it in your house and never move it.
Quote

So many laptops on Ebay state the battery is not guaranteed to hold a charge. What is that about? Are they very costly??

Not sure. It is true batteries may lose their efficiency, but I don't see that being an issue (at least not for me). Batteries can be pricey though....

2014 actually.

Story HereThanks Patio.You got it.

Solve : What do I need? (Laptop Question)?

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