Tech Question

WalkOnBack wrote:
I have an opportunity to be given something called a "Bowers and Wilkins" CM9 speaker.  The thing is freaking huge!  Is this something I can hook up directly to my new 70 inch television . . . or do I have to have some other kind of equipment for that to work?  Or it that something dumb to hook up to a television.  As you can see, I know nothing about this stuff.

I've had the CM8s for close to a decade, absolutely great speakers… you absolutely need an amp.

Two things:

1.  Thanks.

2.  Holy fuck; the return of Yada

Nice

Help me 930kenobi . . . you're my only hope.

I am a Realtor who needs to buy a new laptop.  I don't need anything exotic or crazy.  I don't need a gamer laptop.  I just want a good laptop to access email / use programs on the internet / use excel and word / porn of course.  What do you recommend under say $500 - $600?  My last one was an HP touchscreen something or other, which I was very happy with. 

Thanks.

These people will be of no help


I had my heart set on an Apple laptop and they crushed my dream


I just bought something cheap I never use.. instead here I am on my iPhone


I am now planning anew to get an Apple  Laptop but know better than to ask around these parts

Crushing Hutch's dreams was written by the Pilgrims in the original Charter of the 9:30 forum, so it's performing as expected
There is no such thing as a low-cost Apple product.  Minimum entry is typical $1100 (although the 2020 Macbook Air 13 inch is on sale in the $840 range…not a bad deal, want me to talk to Santa?)


But sounds like you want windows anyway and need to run Office (so chrome books are 'kinda' out)
When looking for a laptop for my kid, I was impressed by how much of a windows laptop you could get for under $600
These are not the 'netbooks' of ten years ago, this is a full-fledged computer that has the specs to run in a corp environment

Now, I don't love Lenovo, but for budget-conscious, this is a great package
https://www.microcenter.com/product/628648/lenovo-ideapad-flex-5-14-14-2-in-1-laptop-computer---grey

Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 14 14" 2-in-1 Laptop Computer
AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Processor 2.7GHz (first cost savings and it's in the i7 intel range, so it's decent)
8GB RAM (in a perfect world I'd recommend 16, but this will probably suit you)
256GB Solid State Drive (SSD is the only game in town, never buy a HardDrive with moving parts)
AMD Radeon Graphics (decent graphics card)
Microsoft Windows 10 Home in S Mode (this is where some of your cost savings come in.  I think this wouldn't impact you, but there are limitation you can read about)
Bluetooth 5.0 (the latest and greatest, much better with Audio (although not so good to entice Smakie))
14" Full IPS LED-backlit Touch Display  (touch display for sub $600 is very nice, if you are showing clients photos, it's nice to be able to flick the screen)

Side-grifting wrote:
Crushing Hutch's dreams was written by the Pilgrims in the original Charter of the 9:30 forum, so it's performing as expected
There is no such thing as a low-cost Apple product.  Minimum entry is typical $1100 (although the 2020 Macbook Air 13 inch is on sale in the $840 range…not a bad deal, want me to talk to Santa?)


But sounds like you want windows anyway and need to run Office (so chrome books are 'kinda' out)
When looking for a laptop for my kid, I was impressed by how much of a windows laptop you could get for under $600
These are not the 'netbooks' of ten years ago, this is a full-fledged computer that has the specs to run in a corp environment

Now, I don't love Lenovo, but for budget-conscious, this is a great package
https://www.microcenter.com/product/628648/lenovo-ideapad-flex-5-14-14-2-in-1-laptop-computer—grey

Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 14 14" 2-in-1 Laptop Computer
AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Processor 2.7GHz (first cost savings and it's in the i7 intel range, so it's decent)
8GB RAM (in a perfect world I'd recommend 16, but this will probably suit you)
256GB Solid State Drive (SSD is the only game in town, never buy a HardDrive with moving parts)
AMD Radeon Graphics (decent graphics card)
Microsoft Windows 10 Home in S Mode (this is where some of your cost savings come in.  I think this wouldn't impact you, but there are limitation you can read about)
Bluetooth 5.0 (the latest and greatest, much better with Audio (although not so good to entice Smakie))
14" Full IPS LED-backlit Touch Display  (touch display for sub $600 is very nice, if you are showing clients photos, it's nice to be able to flick the screen)

My God, I could have your baby!!  This helped me so much, especially understanding Windows S mode which I knew nothing about and now know to stay away from.  Blessing to you!

WalkOnBack wrote:
My God, I could have your baby!!  This helped me so much, especially understanding Windows S mode which I knew nothing about and now know to stay away from.  Blessing to you!

from what I've read it's free and easy to get to win 10 Pro
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/upgrade-from-windows-10-s
the biggest risk is that the hardware couldn't handle win 10 pro…with that model, I don't think that's an issue

Dear Lord, you, are, amazing. 

Nice thing about Micro Center is that they actually have stores (locally in Fairfax and Rockville), and they're awesome. They're like IKEA but for geeks. Shit tons of DIY stuff.

Damn you all to hell…TO HELL

Side-grifting wrote:
Now, I don't love Lenovo

i for one do at least like lenovo.  i'm currently typing on a 4 or 5 year old lenovo gaming laptop and it's stilll a beast of a machine.  rock-solid, i've had zero problems with it.

per your stated requirements, you don't need a high-performance machine, just something average.  what you may want, and i'm assuming a few things here, is support.  i suspect you won't have a corporate helpdesk to call up when things don't work, so getting some good tech support and a good warrantee/guarantee is something you should consider as part of your purchase - and consider whether it's worth paying extra for it.  when i bought my lappie i got a 3-year no-questions-asked extended warrantee for a good price.  i used it once and it was a breeze.  had my 'puter back to me in 3 or 4 days, i forget.  if you buy from MicroCenter, ask them what support they offer.

I also, endorse both:

Lenovo and
Microcenter.

I can feel the, love.  Hutch, not so much.

Justin wrote:
Nice thing about Micro Center is that they actually have stores (locally in Fairfax and Rockville), and they're awesome. They're like IKEA but for geeks. Shit tons of DIY stuff.

like the only computer store left, I try to stay away as it causes leakage in my wallet

sweetcell wrote:

Side-grifting wrote:
Now, I don't love Lenovo

i for one do at least like lenovo.  …i got a 3-year no-questions-asked extended warrantee for a good price. 
had my 'puter back to me in 3 or 4 days

Actually, support is probably my biggest gripe with Lenovo.  the Depot support where you have mail your laptop in for service is cringy and their phone support was always weak

I've been in the computer support biz for over 20 years, Dell by far has the best support (although now you have to get the 'pro' support package to get that)
If they can't fix it remotely, they send someone to your house to replace no questions asked
But that ends up costing about $100~ in your purchase price

if you buy from MicroCenter, ask them what support they offer.

This might be a better option

Laptops it's always good to get the Accidental support, but at $600 for a new one, not sure it's worth paying $150 for

Hutch…New apple laptops for $750!
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-air-13-3-laptop-with-touch-id-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-space-gray/6366606.p?skuId=6366606

in "Space" gray

Buy a $300ish Chromebook and call it a day.

It will cover all of your forum and youtube needs.

auction anyone?

https://rasmus.com/auctions/9My4e3D64rN9QUjluBHT/a/M30511---MacBook--Laptops---IT-Online-Auction--Computers--Projectors--IT--MacBooks--Laptops--Baltimo 

I agree with Yada…I can't see a single reason why that wouldn't fit the bill for him

I think hutch was burned by a POS netbook almost a decade ago and is once bitten twice shy
But he said he wanted an Apple (hey somebody needs to keep my stocks up) and $750 for a new apple is somewhat unheard

That’s the old model