Computer geeks! Help me compare specs

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I am going to redeem some United miles for a laptop. I have never actually owned a laptop before (if you can believe that). For one thing, when I travel, I actually like getting away from my e-mail and all the crap I usually look at the web. And a laptop is just one more thing to carry and worry about. But, I could use one now in my consulting work at this point, and it would be handy to have another one around the house. I am considering the following two. They are both Toshibas.

My take is as follows:

LAPTOP 1:  PLUSES: It has better specs, is a little higher end, nicer keyboard, and has a built-in LAN card: MINUSES: Requires about 20,000 more miles, has a little smaller screen, and lacks a DVD drive

LAPTOP 2: PLUSES: Has a larger screen, DVD drive MINUSES: Has no LAN card, specs are not quite as good

I/we will use this mostly for internet, e-mail, and some basic Word, Excel, Powerpoint and viewing photos. I will also likely use it for occasional Photoshop. However I don't need a lot of speed or power, and will not be doing extensive Photoshop or much in the way of games.

Aside from these considerations, do you think there is any compelling reason to choose one over the other?

Since Laptop 2 does not have a LAN card built in, what would I need to do to get one? Isn't this a fairly cheap add-on that plugs into a USB slot???

Anyway, info is below. Thanks for any advice!


LAPTOP 1 http://www.mileageplusawards.com/ualoyrewards/productdetails?productCode=PRD110163&categoryCode=SHPCAT87&channelCode=&t=1367624682297#.UYRL9D56V8E

Features:

Intel Core i3-3227U 1.9GHz Processor
3MB Cache
4GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM (16GB max.)
500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive & 32GB (system use only) Solid state Drive Cache
14" diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT LED-Backlit LCD display (1366 x 768, 16:9)
Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 32MB-1664MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200 2x2 802.11 b/g/n
10/100 Ethernet LAN
HD webcam and Microphone
Multi-in-1 Memory Card Reader
Premium Raised Tile Keyboard & ClickPad with Multi-touch Control
Built-in Stereo Speaker with SRS Premium Sound 3D


LAPTOP 2 http://www.mileageplusawards.com/ualoyrewards/productdetails?productCode=PRD109053&categoryCode=SHPCAT87&channelCode=&t=1367625587347#.UYRPeD56V8E

Working on the go or from home has never been so easy. The Toshiba satellite notebook computer features a 15.6" TruBrite display with LED backlighting, SRS Premium Sound HD, a 6-cell/48Wh lithium-ion battery pack, Intel® celeron dual-core processor, and built-in webcam. Also equipped with Windows 8 Home, a touch pad, and a memory card reader to transfer files easily from your digital camera, camcorder, MP3 player or smart phone, sharing home movies and playlists with SD cards, and Memory Sticks. In addition, the notebook has 320GB storage, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz (max 8GB) memory, a DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats, and an AC adapter. Includes protective neoprene sleeve.

[Holden]

Some points:

Intel Core i3 -SLOW and seriously outdated. i7 is the current flavour. Intel Celeron is even slower.

4Gb DDR3 RAM - also SLOW compared to the 8Gb and 16 Gb now offered but will do OK

DVD drive - who uses those any more apart from watching movies? USB 3.0 Flash thumb drives are all the go.

This is already outdated technology though that might not matter to you.

I/we will use this mostly for internet, e-mail, and some basic Word, Excel, Powerpoint and viewing photos. I will also likely use it for occasional Photoshop. However I don't need a lot of speed or power, and will not be doing extensive Photoshop or much in the way of games.

Sounds like you need an iPad or tablet. Does United rewards run to them? They don't cost any more than those two laptops. Like the 2nd laptop you will need an LAN adaptor like airport express for this laptop if you are operating outside of your home. Inside, just use a wireless network via something like a wireless router. You've probably got it already

After all that, the first laptop has better computing power as the Celeron dual core processor is even slower than the i3 and you get the inbuilt LAN if you think you need it. The screen is slightly smaller but it's negligible.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks Holden. I have had my current desktop computer (Vista, 4GB RAM, quad core processor, 640GB drive) for nearly five years, and it is perfectly functional for everything I do (including Photoshop, Lightroom and Illustrator). Aside from adding a couple of external drives and an upgraded graphics card, I have done nothing to upgrade in five years. Nevertheless it is seems fast enough for just about everything I do. Just the other day I was creating/editing a 760MB  file in Photoshop, and had no problems.

So, I think either laptop would be fine for us. I have decided to get the first one partly on your recommendation. I would not go with a tablet right now, because I do want Photoshop, Word, Excel on there (will probably upgrade to 8 or 16 GB RAM), and do like a traditional keyboard and mouse. 

A tablet is in my future, mostly for reading books...way too many books around here.

Thanks again!

[ibanezmonster]

Since Laptop 2 does not have a LAN card built in, what would I need to do to get one? Isn't this a fairly cheap add-on that plugs into a USB slot???

Something like this should be good:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=A3668862&dgc=ST&cid=262075&lid=4742361&acd=1230980794501410

I would say get anything 802.11 b/g/n, so you can be sure to pick up any wireless signal, though this one seems to have good reviews.

[drogulus]

     Between the 2 you linked I would get the 14".

     Asus has some very nice 13.3" models. I'm using an 11.6" that seems to be adequate for routine tasks like watching Mad Men and insulting market monetarists.

[Parsifal]

Thanks Holden. I have had my current desktop computer (Vista, 4GB RAM, quad core processor, 640GB drive) for nearly five years, and it is perfectly functional for everything I do (including Photoshop, Lightroom and Illustrator). Aside from adding a couple of external drives and an upgraded graphics card, I have done nothing to upgrade in five years. Nevertheless it is seems fast enough for just about everything I do. Just the other day I was creating/editing a 760MB  file in Photoshop, and had no problems.

You don't say what type of quad-core processor you have in your desktop.  The Intel Celeron is really slow, supposedly energy efficient for laptops but drains your battery anyway.  I think those laptops might feel way slower than your desktop.   If the task is just  browsing you should consider an iPad.  If you need to do stuff with it, a laptop with a better processor is a wise investment.  If you get a computer that barely works with current software it will be unusable when bloated updates become necessary.

[Holden]

Thanks Holden. I have had my current desktop computer (Vista, 4GB RAM, quad core processor, 640GB drive) for nearly five years, and it is perfectly functional for everything I do (including Photoshop, Lightroom and Illustrator).

I also have a quad core and it's an i7 processor. This is one of the main reasons for the speed and I suspect that yours is similar. Processing is a breeze.

I use a Belkin N300 router to connect wirelessly from my PC and it works in all parts of the house. The neighbour can detect it as well. You might get away with an N150 but the N300 will certainly do the job. The beauty of it is that it's plug 'n play.