Need a new laptop... have no idea | Page 6 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Need a new laptop... have no idea

Joe Bass said:
@shanekingsley +1 for the Chromebook
Also, what happened to her PC/ laptop?
Have you looked into the FixMeStick?

I actually just purchased a StartMeStick
~$60 gets me 2 years of use
Turned my Vista based laptop into a "Chromebook"
(Something about a Linux based OS running Chromium)
You put the stick in, run it and go.
Click to expand...
One day she opened the lid of the laptop and there was a bunch of vertical and horizontal lines all over the screen. She can still use it, but I imagine it will get worse - just not sure when. So I think it's just a monitor or connection related issue.

There is a local shop and we will take it there tomorrow and see how much to fix. If it's not too much we will fix it, if it's over $200, then definitely getting a new laptop.

I've never even heard of these FixMeSticks or StartMeSticks before. Costco sells them $90/2 years. Very Interesting!
 
mimico_polak said:
WTF is that? StartMeStick....?
Click to expand...
Basically turns your old, slow laptop/ pc into a web based machine -- ie: a Chromebook

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 
shanekingsley said:
One day she opened the lid of the laptop and there was a bunch of vertical and horizontal lines all over the screen. She can still use it, but I imagine it will get worse - just not sure when. So I think it's just a monitor or connection related issue.

There is a local shop and we will take it there tomorrow and see how much to fix. If it's not too much we will fix it, if it's over $200, then definitely getting a new laptop.

I've never even heard of these FixMeSticks or StartMeSticks before. Costco sells them $90/2 years. Very Interesting!
Click to expand...
I actually wish that the startme worked more like the fixme
Fixme enters the system prior to booting up (bios?) and that's how it clears the viruses, because it gets in before the virus has a chance to do anything (at least that's how I understand it)

The startme has to be opened and run, so you lose a key benefit of a Chromebook: instant on.
And with an old slow computer, that boot up cam take a while.
The workaround right now is to leave the laptop on 24/7 when I will be using it a lot. Battery doesn't hold a charge, so it's always plugged in anyway.
We'll see how long till it craps out.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 
Joe Bass said:
I actually just purchased a StartMeStick
~$60 gets me 2 years of use
Turned my Vista based laptop into a "Chromebook"
Click to expand...
Error, you can download the Neverware Clodready Chomium OS onto a $5 USB stick and have the same thing. I did it a few months ago to an old core2duo dell I had sitting around. You can then transfer it to the local hdd so you don't need the stick and it boots direct.
 
DownUnder said:
Error, you can download the Neverware Clodready Chomium OS onto a $5 USB stick and have the same thing. I did it a few months ago to an old core2duo dell I had sitting around. You can then transfer it to the local hdd so you don't need the stick and it boots direct.
Click to expand...
You can often achieve similar results for less money but your solution required some knowledge. An uninformed person may download the wrong operating system and turn their old laptop into part of a botfarm instead of something good. JB paid to make it simple and have somebody else vet the solution so he didn't have to.
 
DownUnder said:
Error, you can download the Neverware Clodready Chomium OS onto a $5 USB stick and have the same thing. I did it a few months ago to an old core2duo dell I had sitting around. You can then transfer it to the local hdd so you don't need the stick and it boots direct.
Click to expand...
I have no clue what any of that means....but someone told me the same thing at work the other day.
Also sent me a link to a YT video on how to do it.
I'm going to look into it for an old netbook that maybe my kid could use at school.

For a dummy like myself, the stick works.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 
GreyGhost said:
You can often achieve similar results for less money but your solution required some knowledge. An uninformed person may download the wrong operating system and turn their old laptop into part of a botfarm instead of something good. JB paid to make it simple and have somebody else vet the solution so he didn't have to.
Click to expand...
Cloudready is open source and reputable. If you put it on a USB stick it does not affect the hdd or operating system on it. You just enter bios and set boot sequence to start with USB. There are many instructional vids on YouTube.
 
DownUnder said:
Cloudready is open source and reputable. If you put it on a USB stick it does not affect the hdd or operating system on it. You just enter bios and set boot sequence to start with USB. There are many instructional vids on YouTube.
Click to expand...
You know that, but a lot of people have no idea at all. If they can buy a solution in a store, that makes them happier.
 
DownUnder said:
No doubt, but its good to share info.
Click to expand...
I appreciate it.
Just understand that now you WILL be hit up in the "Joe Bass' technology woes" thread when I decide to try it! Lol (not joking)

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 
So i'm sitting here transferring my content off my Note 10+ to a shiny new Iphone 12.

Since i WFH so much and all meetings have moved to Zoom, i can take notes at home or at my desk. Doesn't seem like i'm getting much use out of the functionality i originally bought the phone for. Perhaps short sighted move of mine back last spring, but the deal was too good to pass up.

The last few weeks i've been reading and watching content on Apples current software and i'm willing to give it another shot.

I'm still not completely sold on the proprietary stuff, but the fact that i'm no longer forced to use itunes is a good first step and i note they now have widgets and true multi tasking.

Went with the regular 12 over the Pro and Pro Max because my trip to Africa a few years back with a good camera phone for the time (S9+) showed me that you really need a legit camera for the distance shots and I'm not a hardcore photographer in the day to day anyways.

We shall see. I'm going to get a lot of flak for this move at the office next week.

:sneaky:

@PrivatePilot thanks for giving me some info to chew on to inspire the move.
 
shanekingsley said:
One day she opened the lid of the laptop and there was a bunch of vertical and horizontal lines all over the screen. She can still use it, but I imagine it will get worse - just not sure when. So I think it's just a monitor or connection related issue.

There is a local shop and we will take it there tomorrow and see how much to fix. If it's not too much we will fix it, if it's over $200, then definitely getting a new laptop.
Click to expand...
Bump!
The vertical lines are getting worse on the screen and it's time for a replacement laptop. The local shop said $185 to fix, so I figure I'll buy an off-lease or similar for $300. It's for my 79 yr old mother in law who uses it for emails, some basic web browsing and basic games like solitaire, so doesn't need to be fancy.

Looking for PC laptop with a minimum 14" screen, 8gb RAM, 256GB HDD.

My wife could use one as well, so I would be fine to buy 2 of the same kind at once.
Any suggestions?
 
My vote is for HP or Dell. I have 4 laptops I use in my business.
I got my 86 year old Mom a tablet a few years ago, and I tend to think that as seniors age, migrating them to a tablet makes sense as they are just easier to use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom