I've been using a Laptop for a few years now, and unfortunately it got dropped about 12 months ago. Since then it's been slowly coming up with more and more faults.
The battery is screwed, and now it won't work unless it's plugged-in to the mains.
Even when plugged in it won't boot the first, or usually second time. Sometimes you've got to power it up 3 times before it kicks in.
You can't re-boot it. For the same reason as above.
The screen first developed a fault where there was static all over it. I rigged something to hold the earthstrap closer to the screen and it worked for a while, but now it just wont have it.
And the hinges on the screen itself have fallen apart. So now the screen is actually loose from the base. I've got it held in place with a little mechano borrowed from my sons kit. So It looks liek a little construction site with cranes is holding my screen to the base. (Yes Mecano really is useful stuff).
So, all in all, it's fucked.
I've been convincing myself that it's still fine, and useable. And it is... If this was a post-apocalyptic world and this was the last computer on the planet, it'd be worth an absolute fortune. It still 'works' it's just not a useful or aesthetically pleasing as it used to be.
So... after lengthy discussions with the better half... I bit the bullet and ordered myself a new one.
And here it is: (note this isn't mine, just a review photo, of someone overclocking one)
Acer 16in AS6920
Intel Core 2 Duo T5900 processor
3Gb RAM
250Gb hard drive
16in WXGA Acer CineBrite TFT LCD display
DVD SuperMulti double-layer drive
NVidia GeForce 8600GT graphics
802.11 a/b/g/n WIFi
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
0.3Mp CrystalEye webcam
Fingerprint reader
6 in 1 card reader
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium.
So why did I choose this one?
Well...
Dual Core 2Ghz processor (Nice)
3Gb Ram (Not bad to start with, and easy and cheap to upgrade)
250GB HDD (Drive size wasn't considered as I have a server PC too)
16" Screen (Not the 17" that I have now, but a nice screen, and a sturdy looking build)
DVD Writer (Meh, a writer's a writer for my needs)
NVidia 8699GT (Nice reviews on this, decent performance, and the only alternative laptop had a 9300m which although 'better' only actually performs roughly the same)
WiFi (It's WiFi, who cares)
BlueTooth (Not considered, but a nice extra)
WebCam (Not considered, I don't use them often, but as long as it's got one built in it'd do)
Fingerprint Reader (WTF? A nice 'geeky' extra, not sure if I'll use it though)
6in1 Card Reader (IMHO A requirement on laptops nowadays)
Vista (This will be removed as soon as I receive it, and replaced with Windows 7)
HDMI Output (Handy although not essential)
Dolby Approved Speakers (Very Nice, My current Laptop sucks ass in this department)
Touch-Sensitive Media Controls (I like these, and they glow blue.. how cool is that!)
The downsides - Shiny screens and cases are Fingerprint magnets, but I can live with that. Battery life probably won't be great (Meh, as long as I can actually walk away from my sofa occasionally it's an upgrade). No FireWire (I dont have this on my current Laptop, but was hoping for it on my new system. I do use it occasionally).
The new rig should arrive on Monday, so expect to see me online and happy at some point.
So what to do with my Old Laptop?
Well I currently have an old desktop PC in my sons room, which I use as a server, and he uses for surfing and playing the odd game.
I'm going to donate that to a family member, and then put my old laptop in his room as my new server. I'll probably detach the broken screen and use a spare LCD monitor I have instead.
It'll make an unorthodox type of server, but it'll even have it's own built-in UPS (since the battery will last upto 30 mins on it's own). And because it's knackered anyway, I'm not too worried about it overheating.
So I get a new Laptop, my Son gets a PC upgrade in his room, my server improves, and my sister-in-law gets my old PC which makes her, and Mrs Smythy, happier.
On the very downside it's £55 a month for the next year.... Bugger.
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