About laptops and tablets...

[flighter]

...and as the continuation of chat with Xacoon.

I said I hate tablets. Well, "hate" is not the most accurate term. Not that I really hate them, no reason for that. However, they are not suitable for the type of activities I usually have on the computer. That involves a lot of typing, using mouse (because the touchpad doesn't provide quickly enough results accurate enough). I also need a lot of memory (8GB on this syste is often utilised over 60%, sometimes up to 90%), a lot of hard disk space and especially a lot of processing power. So, tablets are not for me.

[Kiyevanie]

They're great for mobile use - surfing the interwebs while sitting in a cafe, as a mobile reader on vacation (before I had my tablet I always had problems with my luggage weight cause half of my suitcase was filled with books) and for showing pictures.

They're a complete fail for serious work.

So I have my tablet additionally... I'd never give up my laptop and desktop though.

[flighter]

Check Sony VAIO Duo... it is a convetible,between the mini laptop and a tablet, it work both ways. Just that... it is not as light as average tablet and doesn't look durable enough to me.

http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/SONY-S ... ?langId=-3

In my humble opinion, it is not good value for money, because specifications are relatively low, for a very high price.

[flighter]

A question (for Kiy and Elyris)... I am likely to get my new laptop when I come over in December... The issue is, I need it with UK or US keyboard, but it is exceptionaly hard to find in Germany, if not impossible. I don't mind travelling around a bit to get it, if only I know where to go...

So far, Saturn, Media Markt (which both, I hear, belong to the same owner now), ARLT and few others can't provide it... So, any suggestion? Keep in mind, I am looking for a specific model, not just any system with the particular keyboard.

[Kiyevanie]

Check Sony VAIO Duo... it is a convetible,between the mini laptop and a tablet, it work both ways. Just that... it is not as light as average tablet and doesn't look durable enough to me.

http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/SONY-S ... ?langId=-3

In my humble opinion, it is not good value for money, because specifications are relatively low, for a very high price.

*looks at price*
*faints*

Too expensive and as you said, too big and heavy for a tablet. I rather have two items who do their job right than one that tries to be everything and fails at it... for a way too high price.

At the moment I'm quite happy with my 3.5 year old Acer laptop I paid around 800 € for (was a special model, one of the first with a ssd drive) and in addition my iPad that cost me only 100 cause I could get it instead of a replacement phone for my existing mobile phone contract.


@Laptop with UK interface: Sorry, I have absolutely no idea there

[flighter]

Well, I will try and negotiate with Saturn and Sony.de... there is enough time for it.

[Elyris]

I think I got a problem.

About two days ago out of a combination of bad luck and stupidity I dropped my laptop (in other words: it fell to the ground - maybe 1 metre).

Stupid - but it continued to work like it used to. It didn't make any weird noises, the ventilation didn't start to behave crazy and all other functions (at least as far as I could see it) worked like they did before. Nothing broken, nothing lost.

Now to my problem: The day after that little clash with gravity I tried to play some Aion. I had problems with it before but this time it was just crazy. It lead me to the log in screen - lacking background sound and background - and I could neither log in at all (not even write in the fields for it or even click into them) nor could I get out of that. The windows key didn't work and the escape key didn't either. So I had to 'cold stop' the whole laptop. I was angry but - oh well. Later tat day i tried to play Guild Wars 2. Loh in OK, character activation OK. About ten minutes into the game everything simply stopped. The last sounds were on loop I couldn't move, I couldn't click on anything an again windows key out of order, escaoe key out of order. Closing hte screen to let it go into stand by seemed to work at first, but after lifting the screen again I couldn't start it regularly (also like before). So I had to do the same again and just shut it down cold.

By now I am pretty much annoyed by this and I simply don't know if it's a hardware problem, a software problem, a provider problem, an internal problem, an external problem, caused by the accident or a cause of the laptop not beign the youngest anymore or the memory being a little full (I cleaned the memory tough and everything is in the green).

Anyone got an idea here?

[Kiyevanie]

I'm no expert, far from it... but maybe something with the video card? Those games need a heck of computing power, and what might be okay for normal use might fail if really every last percentage of power is needed.

[flighter]

Laptop. So, most likely, no separate video card. If there is one, it is tightly screwed and connected to the rest of it with a flat cable. Based on your symptoms, My guess is:

Either a hard disk has moved, or a memory card.

If you are comfortable using basic tools, you would have to:

1. get a star-screwdriver

2. Switch the laptop off, disconnect the charger, and remove the battery

3. At the bottom side of the laptop, locate 2 panels. One covers the hard disk, and the other one the memory and maybe other components. Remove the screws for these 2 panels (each panel should have not more screws.

4. Make sure hard disk is connected properly (if it didn't obviously fall out of the socket, it's fine)

5. Make sure the memory stick is in its position properly. You could remove it and put back easily, no special tools required once the panel covering it is removed.

5a. If you are not comfortable removing the memory, just push it back 2-3 times, to "refresh" possibly affected contacts.

6. Close the bottom panels and put the screws back properly, then tighten them lightly.

7. Put back the laptop battery, optionally connect the charger.

8. Turn the laptop on.

If you give me the exact model of your laptop, I could lcoate step-by-step instructions online for you.

[Elyris]

It's an Asus Bamboo (I think form 2010, but I'll have to look it up in the bills).

Interestingly enough I played the Sims 3 for over two hours today without any problems (something also requiring a handfull of graphic processing power) - I thought I might as well try that to see if it still works.

[flighter]

Elyris, are you still having the same issue?

[Elyris]

Yes.
I tried to open it yesterday, but the 'lid' wouldn't come off (all the screws did though ... and one was left over in the end although checked, re-checked and re-re-checked with the help of mum that all screws were where they should be, so .... uhhhm).
Now it is at a 'pc garage'. Hopefully I'll know more tomorrow.
Thanks for your help .

[flighter]

I wonder how much my colleagues in Germany charge for such service. I hope the cost won't be too high.

[Elyris]

Last time I went there it wasn't expensive at all. It's a nice guy a fast and friendly repairing service

[Elyris]

Update: Got my laptop back. Apparently the harddrive was toast, so the guy exchanged it wiht a new one. Cost me 100 bucks - quite decent I'd say.

[flighter]

Awwww, sorry for your loss.

Did he manage to save your existing files from the old hard drive?

[Kiyevanie]

That's been the first thing coming to my mind too... hardware can be replaced, but losing all the files? Ugh, no...

[Elyris]

Yeah, it's all still there (at least as far as i had a look into). The 'saving' was part of the wor khe did. When he called me that I need a new harddrive he said it was down to 67% performance and in the end it was down to 2%. But I guess as the original harddrive was still not totally dead it wasn't that hard to safe all the files.

But I'll still have to test out some things.

[flighter]

My guess is, he did not.

Well, Elyris, if you have any urgent need for the files, back at home a company can do that for approx. 300 EUR, maybe 360 or so, to retrieve all the data.

[Elyris]

Why shouldn't he?