IEEE Ports?

[Omega 600]

Hi all you tech savvy dudes, I'm stuck.
I have to get a new laptop, but I'm having trouble making my decisions of what to get. Existing laptop (5 yrs old) has
Pentium M 725 processer
1.6 GHz
400 MHz
2 MB L2 cache
15" screen
80 GB HDD
DVD+-RW
512 MB DDR
One thing I'd like on a new computer is an IEEE port as my camcorder (SONY) connects best that way to create DVD's. I can't seem to find many with that port on it anymore. Is there a solution to get around that on today's newer laptops as well?

 

[nihilism]

the port you are referring to is IEEE 1394 aka Firewire. It is not used much any more. Technology is moving towards Esata, and USB 3.0 . You could always pickup a 1394 card for the laptop you are purchasing.

 

[Omega 600]

the port you are referring to is IEEE 1394 aka Firewire. It is not used much any more. Technology is moving towards Esata, and USB 3.0 . You could always pickup a 1394 card for the laptop you are purchasing.

Thanks nihilism, would that be a slide-in card into a slot? I don't think such an animal would exist via USB

 

[onthebottom]

Thanks nihilism, would that be a slide-in card into a slot? I don't think such an animal would exist via USB

Something like: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex&#...bolsp-app04-09?id=1213399750057&skuId=8909657

OTB

 

[Rockslinger]

One thing I'd like on a new computer is an IEEE port as my camcorder (SONY) connects best that way to create DVD's.

My Lord, how OLD is your camcorder?

 

[nihilism]

Thanks nihilism, would that be a slide-in card into a slot? I don't think such an animal would exist via USB

yes a slide in card. Similar to the one OTB posted.

 

[Omega 600]

My Lord, how OLD is your camcorder?

5 yrs old or so. At the time, it appeared that firewire was the way to go. I just wish that a technology would stick around for a while. I hate having all this outdated stuff hanging around that is compatible with one thing, but no longer compatible with another.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I hate having all this outdated stuff hanging around that is compatible with one thing, but no longer compatible with another.

That's the name of the game.
They are always updating and forcing you to buy new stuff to replace old stuff that works fine but is incompatible with newer stuff...

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

5 yrs old or so. At the time, it appeared that firewire was the way to go. I just wish that a technology would stick around for a while. I hate having all this outdated stuff hanging around that is compatible with one thing, but no longer compatible with another.

Apple and the fanbois were telling the world Firewire(IEEE1394) was the way to go, how superior it was to USB spec. Sony jumped on the Apple firewire bandwagon for a short while too, but we all know today how popular Apples firewire really is

 

[onthebottom]

Apple and the fanbois were telling the world Firewire(IEEE1394) was the way to go, how superior it was to USB spec. Sony jumped on the Apple firewire bandwagon for a short while too, but we all know today how popular Apples firewire really is

I would agree, the only 1394 device I have is one 800 2gb Hard Drive and a card reader....

OTB

 

[Powershot]

USB 2.0 didn't come out until 2000.. USB 1.1 was not sufficient for digital video transfer or external storage... thus the late 90's era of firewire/1394a where it caught on in a few applications. Chances are if you have/had a mini-dv camcorder it has a firewire port.

 

[Anynym]

the port you are referring to is IEEE 1394 aka Firewire. It is not used much any more. Technology is moving towards Esata, and USB 3.0 . You could always pickup a 1394 card for the laptop you are purchasing.

Thank-you.

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why a camcorder would use an IEEE-488 port.

 

[larry]

seems obvious to me, but maybe not to others...using an old camcorder interface as a factor in computer selection is a bad idea. that camcorder can be replaced for a few hundred dollars. with something much better. i know. i have a mini-dv recorder too. i stopped using it as soon as i could.

 

[Omega 600]

Thanks TERB Brothers!

Well, that answered my questions on that, I guess I'll have to look at spending more $$ on a camcorder in the future.
I'm currently looking at these 2 Best Buy specials for a new laptop. One is Athlon, but less storage and the other Intel and more HDD space. Neither has a PCMCIA slot for firewire, so just asking which one you would choose?
The Athlon
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=5d6eb04f2ff08d90a60aa3b44b5b8c8ben02
Or the Intel
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=7da590b1342dd11b88c07854fdd7f8bben02
I'm personally leaning toward the Intel as I heard of overheating problems on the other one, but I'd really appreciate some input from those more knowledgeable.

 

[nihilism]

I'm really not a fan of Acer notebooks. They have a ridiculously high repair ratio. However with a budget around $400 your options are very limited. Is the $400 range really the top end of your budget or did these specials just catch your eye?

 

[Omega 600]

I'm really not a fan of Acer notebooks. They have a ridiculously high repair ratio. However with a budget around $400 your options are very limited. Is the $400 range really the top end of your budget or did these specials just catch your eye?

The fact that my existing Acer, that was quite durable, just slowed down too much to be of any use, and I saw the specials. Heading on a cruise in December and I need to go online and check emails, even though I'm on vacation. The DVD is also handy for movies and distractions enroute to the cruise. Self employment basically means I have to stay in touch with all my customers.

 

[Powershot]

The fact that my existing Acer, that was quite durable, just slowed down too much to be of any use, and I saw the specials. Heading on a cruise in December and I need to go online and check emails, even though I'm on vacation. The DVD is also handy for movies and distractions enroute to the cruise. Self employment basically means I have to stay in touch with all my customers.

Have you tried re-installing the operating system from scratch to speed it back up a bit in the 5 years you have had it?
The only Acers notebooks I am a fan of are the timeline series.

 

[Omega 600]

Have you tried re-installing the operating system from scratch to speed it back up a bit in the 5 years you have had it?
The only Acers notebooks I am a fan of are the timeline series.

Yep. Once all my software was reinstalled and the automatic updates took over, it slowed right down again. I do not have the time to wait for it to boot up in many cases.
If not Acer, any other recommendations within a tighter budget?

 

[WoodPeckr]

Yep. Once all my software was reinstalled and the automatic updates took over, it slowed right down again.

5 yrs old, eh.
How fast is the CPU, how much RAM, probably has a 5400 RPM HDD? XP or Vista? With XP I used to format and reinstall XP 1-2 times a yr to clear out all the crap that accumulates slowing it down. After a format/reinstall it ran fast again just like new. Windows updates should not slow it down. What AV you use? Some are real resource HOGS. Do you have a lot of crap/apps set to start up every time you boot up that show up on the lower right side of the taskbar next to the clock? All those apps will slow things down as they load.

I just picked up a used Dell off CL for $80. A P4 2.8 Ghz w 1 gig RAM, 7200 rpm HDD with a fresh install of XP and it is very snappy and boots up in a minute. First thing I did was install a Linux dual boot with XP. Linux runs even faster than XP.