New Computer Tech: Speed vs Battery Life

[marujo.sortudo]

This is one I came across the other day for about the same amount:

VGN-P788K/N | VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC | Sony | Sony Style USA

If you can deal with the small form factor, it should be great on power. Also, the built-in Verizon wireless + GPS + LED backlit display + solid-state drive should make it an ideal shipboard compy. Anyone got one of these?

[Not Sure]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Hi Folks

I thought I would report back and tell you what eventuated.

I bought the Acer 8 Hour + laptop.

OK I KNEW it wouldn't really go for 8 hours! It goes for about 4 or 5 hours tops, and does take a while to charge.

Thats much better than the 1.5 hours of the old (18 month old) laptop we started with.

The specs of the new are:

Aspire 4810T
Intel Duo CPU
U9400 @ 1.4GHz
Ram 4 GB
64 Bit
320GB hard drive (I think its a static hard drive not a spinny-around one.)
DVD Drive etc
ATI Graphics
Win7

In Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia it cost RM2990 = USD$1,000

It seems to run all the graphics I need for photos, video and charting.
Its better than the old one. The extra battery life is pretty vital for cruising

Mark

Hmmmmmm. Not to rain on your parade, but it's like all the given advice was pretty much ignored....which I suppose is one's prerogative.
I paid $160 USD a few months ago at Office Depot for a 1.6 GHz netbook on sale. 30 watts maximum power consumption, and the thing goes to sleep (and wakes back up) in the wink of an eye, and runs all three(3) 'free' chartplotter programs that are available, + tide prediction software and ssb weather data map display programs....plus email and web browser. And for about $300 I could have bought a full-featured notebook, also on sale. Similar deals are available all the time, literally, if one looks around for them.

I always thought that Malaysia (and the rest of Asia) was where you could get inexpensive computers, since that is where they are made. Yet that same exact Acer can be had here in the USA for about 1/2 of what you paid if one shops around. ($532 at 128 stores online) Acer 4810 - Google Search

By almost all accounts it is always best to buy computers behind the development curve (discontinued or outdated models) and/or models that are on sale to avoid the inevitable price depreciation, and not what reviews or reviewers claim is 'best' at the moment. Find a computer that you like spec-wise, then find a comparable model that is on sale. After all, it's not like Acer is a premium brand like Apple or Sony....or even HP. Acer is pretty much bargain basement, which is why I can't understand the high price paid, especially considering its purchase so near the source of manufacture.

For $1000 USD one could have an entry level Macbook ($999).

[rtbates]

I'm a bit confused about all this talk concerning a laptops battery life. I run a Macbook and it's battery life has never been an issue. Why? Because it spends the vast majority of it's time with the AC battery charger plugged in. When the battery gets low plug it in and treat it like a desktop for as long as it takes to get charged. It's a modern boat, right? How far away from an AC outlet can you get? With a small extension cord I can take the Macbook anywhere I need it all the while plugged in and charging.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Not Sure

I always thought that Malaysia (and the rest of Asia) was where you could get inexpensive computers, since that is where they are made. Yet that same exact Acer can be had here in the USA for about 1/2 of what you paid if one shops around.

There is no doubt in my mind that the USA has a far greater range of all goods and at far better prices than Asia notwithstanding those goods may have been made in Asia. Solar panels are a good example where they are half price in Australia than offered here duty free. Services here are far cheaper, though.

But, yes, I did take your advice, and the advice of others too that was given and I thank you and everyone for it. yes, you are right, I then went and made up my own mind within the parameters discussed here about battery life, and bought what is a reasonable deal here

I also am looking to get davits for the boat. I got a quote here for US$7,500. They are sure a hell of a lot cheaper in the land of Uncle Sam. So for them I will wait till we cruise into Ft Lauderdale


Mark

[Not Sure]

Originally Posted by rtbates

I'm a bit confused about all this talk concerning a laptops battery life. I run a Macbook and it's battery life has never been an issue. Why? Because it spends the vast majority of it's time with the AC battery charger plugged in. When the battery gets low plug it in and treat it like a desktop for as long as it takes to get charged. It's a modern boat, right? How far away from an AC outlet can you get? With a small extension cord I can take the Macbook anywhere I need it all the while plugged in and charging.

Good point. Not to mention that 'battery life' is based on a computer with no operating system simply running 'on'. Add bloatware like Windows7 to an energy efficient computer and it uses up its battery just running Windows7 (or that other POS Vista), which is how one ends up with only half of the rated battery life.

The real irony is that while on battery power the CPU throttles back anyways, so 1.6GHz is now 900MHz or so, and the dog that is Windows7/Vista slows to a sluggish crawl running anything other than itself and a game of Solitaire, which probably accounts for the 4GB RAM.

99.0% of computers, laptops, components, etc., are manufactured in Asia ....much of it in Malaysia itself, so I still don't see how it should have cost so much. Bad Economy, So Acer Drops Price Of Timeline Series « -:: Malaysia Mobile Tech News ::-

[marujo.sortudo]

Not Sure, we have some of the most incredible prices on electronics in the world, often better than even at their points of origin. Why? A lot of this has to do with governments and taxes . It gets even better if you go away from the points of origin. Many Brazilians travel to the US and bring home a laptop. First they might throw a few pics of the family and some software on there, just in case customs takes a look. Then, get home and sell it, and presto, free $900 plane ticket. Heck, bring back a camera, etc. and they can start paying for hotel, etc....

Malaysia has a very complex tariff structure that's made to encourage and restrict and wide range of economic activity, so I wouldn't care to guess what ANYTHING costs over there without asking someone there, like Mark .

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Not Sure

so I still don't see how it should have cost so much. Bad Economy, So Acer Drops Price Of Timeline Series « -:: Malaysia Mobile Tech News ::-

They dropped the price from RM3099 by RM100 to RM2999 but thats what I paid for it RM2999 so I don't see why I'm being ripped off. The price drop of RM100 is just US$33. OK I'm on a budget but its not that tight I have to worry about every last $30. And look at the other one listed with the SU3500 chip, thats the one W32PAMELA said is discontinued so I got the more expensive but new one. NOTE that they still sell the discontinued one here!

Further, I don't want the cheapest computer in the world! Or the one with the squidgy small screen and keyboard, but one with a real screen to watch videos (we dont have a TV) and a DVD drive that most seem to neglect these days. But most importantly I do want Windows 7! I know some more technical people don't like the Microsfot range at all, but I think they have been a world changing series of programs that has been deamed by most to be good enough to make Bill Gates the richest man in the world. Mine was one of the first to have Windows 7 factory installed, not Vista overwritten.

I wanted a new computer with a better battery life without sacrificing speed. Thats what I got. Its even lighter so Nicolle doesn't get sore shoulders when she lugs it through the streets of wherever-the-hell we are.

I think we bought a reasonable brand, with a world network for warantee and the best available price considering our location.
Yes, I could have got an older, slower or smaller one cheaper.

Each person here would have bought a different computer. But thats because the computer stores here are 6 floors! None wich are discounting on price.




At least it works well enough to type this and look at porn.





Mark

[barnakiel]

Power consumption driven mostly by whatever the matrix uses. But a slow processor (e.g. Atom netbook) PC will be less desirable if you run anything graphic / video (incl ECS).

Take both machines, measure the actual Amps used off your system (you will have to kick up the Voltage to get to the laptop / netbook level, which will further influence the consumption) and you are home.

To some extent you can make an educated guess from the labels on their power supply units.

b.

[marujo.sortudo]

The power label on the back can give you a good guess, but it's probably not the draw you'll be experiencing. For example, the back of my laptop says 5A, 15V (75VA or Watts). Of course, with a fully charged battery and normal use (email/web/docs) I usually pull 17-21 Watts. Now, if I'm recharging the battery, watching a DVD, and have several USB devices charging, I might be closing in on that 75W. I don't know, though, cause that hasn't happened, yet, when I've been measuring.

[sv-Mystique]

Mark it's good to see you have your priorities in order! That's what the Admiral believes PC's are good for!!!

[Ex-Calif]

Malaysia has no real deals on computers. Singapore is better. Singapore used to be really good vis a vis the US but the US is a big volume game and with the low volume here it's tough to get a deal.

I picked up 2 of these recently. Quite a good machine and I was able to get them right at around US$500.

Compaq Presario CQ40-516TU Notebook PC (VG495PA) specifications - HP Home & Home Office products

For those who don't care to click...

Compaq Presario CQ40-516TU Notebook PC (VG495PA) -
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 32-bit
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Mobile Processor T4300
• 2.10 GHz, 1 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB
Memory 2048 MB
DDR2 800MHz
Internal drives
320 GB
Optical drive type
LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±RW with Double Layer Support
Memory card device
5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
Network interface
Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
3 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 VGA, 1 RJ-45, 1 Stereo headphone-out, 1 Display size
14.1” Diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display
Display resolution
1280 x 800
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M (shared)
Webcam with Integrated Microphone
Altec Lansing® speakers
101 key compatible
65 W AC Power Adapter
Battery type
6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery
Product weight
2.31 kg

[Not Sure]

I'm sorry to have to say that the relevant facts are thus:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Further, I don't want the cheapest computer in the world!

And yet you got one, an Acer, at twice the cost of it's retail value.

Originally Posted by MarkJ

But thats because the computer stores here are 6 floors!

6 floors of computers and you walk out with an overpriced Acer.

Unfortunately, no amount of PR spin is going to change the above. My suggestion for other readers would be that for folks who don't really know computers or who are unable or unwilling to shop for deals, they should hire someone to purchase a computer for them. Unless of course, they like to pay a bunch of money for what is essentially an inexpensive entry-level computer.

[Solitude]

Originally Posted by Not Sure

I'm sorry to have to say that the relevant facts are thus:
And yet you got one, an Acer, at twice the cost of it's retail value.

6 floors of computers and you walk out with an overpriced Acer.

Unfortunately, no amount of PR spin is going to change the above. My suggestion for other readers would be that for folks who don't really know computers or who are unable or unwilling to shop for deals, they should hire someone to purchase a computer for them. Unless of course, they like to pay a bunch of money for what is essentially an inexpensive entry-level computer.

Hmmm.....

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Not Sure

And yet you got one, an Acer, at twice the cost of it's retail value.

.

Thanks for your opinion. I am sure you are quite right and you have made another friend for life.


Mark

[Not Sure]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Thanks for your opinion. I am sure you are quite right and you have made another friend for life.


Mark

'Making friends' has nothing to do with it whatsoever. You started a thread on 'speed vs. battery life' asking for advice on buying a new computer. Many informative posts were made by numerous people kindly advising you (in so many words), that both computers you were considering were bargain-basement POS, and advising you on better choices. Apparently 'being nice' didn't work though. You basically ignored everything and ....well, we know what you got.

About the only question remaining here is....if someone would have came right out and plainly stated from the get-go that Acer laptops are POS, would you still have gotten one, or would you have chosen better? So much for being 'nice', eh?

Regardless, this thread turned out being a firsthand lesson on how _not_ to go about getting a new laptop, which hopefully others may learn from.