>> Graphics (64mb shared/non-shared): By the way, does most laptop graphics card share memory or not? <<
many do...
if it [the video adapter] contains the word Intel... or SiS... then it's almost definitely shared
if it uses chips like Radeon or GeForce with "model number" that you normally find on graphics card for desktops (like Geforce FX5200, MX440, Radeon 7500) then it's likely that it's not shared
if it's Radeon or maybe GeForce too but the "model number" isn't like those for desktop graphics cards, then it's likely to be shared
and if it's not Celeron there's also a greater chance that its not shared.
but if it's under $2000 then there's a bigger chance that it's shared...
so...
btw the advertisement for the laptop usually mentions if it's shared
>> 2nd hand is also acceptable. <<
eBay might help....
Is Centrino okay? I'm not sure about the perfomance between Centrino and P4 but if the two had the same clock speed (which none of them do), Centrino would be much better.
perhaps a good way is to buy a laptop with 256MB RAM then buy another identical 256MB module from a store that sells computer parts.. I think on desktop computers that will in fact improve perfomance (compared to having 1 512MB module) but not sure with laptops. The profit margin for high-end computers is also deliberately raised up. Pls correct me if I'm wrong.
And if FDD is important then you should try if it can read most of your disks... some FDD drives are better than others. Also, on some laptops the disk might get realy hot if you put that for a while in the drive.. although I have no idea if heat does anything bad to the disks.
And if you subscribe to the weekend Sydney Morning Herald, then in the Icon section (inside the Travel part) has many ads.
