Jul 27 2010

Portable Presents

Category: Personal — ChrisM @ 2:20 am

Once I’ve finished writing these posts, and at least drafted a fair few more of Anna’s photos and video entries, I need to make sure I look through the list of laptops that are currently available from local retailers. Irina still seems reasonably happy with hers, and I can’t justify buying one for myself, but someone in Irina’s family has a birthday soon. Actually as she doesn’t read English, and probably knows already what she is getting, I can reveal it is Ira’s Mum. She doesn’t want a full size desktop-replacement laptop, nor something from the limited range of netbooks that you can find in Kazakhstan. She would like something reasonably powerful, not too heavy to cart around, and it will mainly be used to access the internet and manipulate her photos, as she doesn’t get much time usually to go all the way to the top floor and use the normal PC in our bedroom. I have a basic idea of what to aim for, but I need to check which technologies have made it here to Astana, and aren’t overpriced either.

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5 Responses to “Portable Presents”

  1. Alex C says:
    July 29th, 2010 2:24 am

    Hey, what about the MacBook Air? It’s super lightweight and has superlong battery life too.
    I’ve been talking to a lot of people and am slowing coming round to the idea that my next computer will be a Mac. Think I might get an iphone next (unless you have any reason why I shouldn’t and recommend domething else).

    • Oleg Frantsuzov says:
      July 29th, 2010 2:05 pm

      Air has two major drawbacks: 1) it has one USB and nothing else and 2) the display doesn’t go all the way back.

      That means you can’t easily connect it to a wired LAN, you can’t connect two key drives at the same time, you’ll have a hard time plugging in an external monitor. So it looks like Air was designed to be used for lazy surfing, as you are relaxing in your armchair. But you’re unable to do that because you can’t open the laptop wide.

      All this is highly subjective, of course. And I believe that MacBook Pro 13″ is a really good laptop. But not the Air.

    • ChrisM says:
      August 3rd, 2010 10:44 pm

      @Alex
      I’d not recommend a Mac to Ira’s Mum for two major reasons…
      1) My experience of trouble shooting macs is about seven years out of date at least, so any problems would have to be sorted by a paid local expert.
      2) The costs of Macs.

      For you? What does it matter, you’ll probably end up following your friend’s suggestions and going all Jobs-worshipping on me d-; Seriously, Macs seem over priced, owned by people with difficulties admitting their weaknesses (I prefer PCs but don’t argue that they come 2nd place sometimes, in certain circumstances.
      Getting an iphone as well? Fair enough, just look into jailbreaking so you get more options when it comes to apps, please? I’d recommend a WM phone or Android as you’re not attached to WM particularly, but I suspect an iphone might be what you want.

      Thanks to Oleg for the info on the Air.

  2. Alex C says:
    August 4th, 2010 3:52 am

    Ooh, nice feedback, thanks Chris. I’m glad we agree the MacBookPro is supposed to be good. I wouldn’t get an Air either for the same reasons as you said. I only recommended it for Irina’s mum cos of the weight and figured she might not need all the extra stuff that you and I do.

    Interesting that you say it’s for people who can’t admit their weaknesses, lol. I’m not much good at repairing PCs but my one argument to people who are pro Mac was that I know nothing about Macs so in the event of a problem I would be screwed. Their answer? “imagine a world where your computer doesn’t go wrong!” Hmm, I’m a bit sceptical of claims of perfection but I must admit it sounds tempting. As for price, AU$2,700 for the beefed up 15″ seems quite reasonable so all I can say is PCs must have dropped in price a hell of a lot since I last bought one.

    Anyway, when I said I was thinking about it, I was realistically looking at in a year or so. Nothing imminent on the cards due to lack of funds and necessity. Although I must admit it would be soooo nice to be able to surf the net side by side with Mat it really isn’t too much of an issue to wait until he’s doing something else.

    What’s Jobs-worshipping? (scuse my ignorance).

    re. iphone – again, not something I’m set on. I just need something to replace my ancient SPV C600 which recently refused to boot anymore – a windows mobile problem I’m sure of it – and (almost) everyone is raving about the iphone! Actually, I was at college last night and someone recommended the google phone. I’m not sure of the name, she was under the impression it went by different ones depending on which network it was with… aha, just googled the google phone, lol, and it is the Android that you also recommend so based on other people’s opinions (one that I’ve known years and trust to make good techy decisions, and one that I’ve known a few weeks but put forward a very good case) I reckon an Android is top of the list right now. Especially as it has a big bonus – wait for it – it’s connection lead is a standard mini usb thing (technica term?) same as on my old SPV so I can charge it straight from the computer and car. I do DETEST all these companies that make different chargers for everything. It’s downright rediculous.

    What’s a WM and why should I be attached to it, or not?

    Yay, sorry, waffle. But I feel better for finally coming to a decision I feel more comfortable about. There was something nasty niggling at the back of my brain about the iphone. No matter how many people raved about it it just didn’t feel right, like it was against all my instincts. Anyway, still a fair way to go. Need to decide whether to get a phone plan or stick to my PAYG. Do all the functions of these new mobile devices still work if I’m on a pre-pay do you know?

    • ChrisM says:
      August 9th, 2010 2:12 am

      Oleg said the MacBook Pro was good.

      Imagine a world where your computer doesn’t go wrong? LMAO. Check out a few Mac forums before drinking the kool aid.

      Steve Jobs. Apple head honcho.

      Don’t throw the C600 away, I’ll have a go at restoring it, or flashing a new ROM (6.1 based probably). Might fix it, useful as a backup phone for you (or 2nd SIM card whilst in UK next time), or I’ll take it off your hands. A “Windows Mobile” problem, you’re sure? Please do elaborate exactly what process you went through to get to this conclusion. “I’m not much good at repairing PCs “. Or phones, quite possible ;-P The google phone? She probably meant a phone that runs the Android OS, like others run WM, or Symbian or whatever. There are a few different models, and like HTC’s WM phones, are sometimes rebranded by each mobile network that sells them.

      WM= Windows Mobile.

      All the functions of these new mobiles devices? Well without knowing which interest you, I’ll stick my neck out and say yes. Probably. LMAO. You may find there aren’t as many attractive (price wise) data plans available on PAYG, but it will totally depend on the strategies of the mobile phone network companies down there. Other than that, not sure what else would be different.