Change to a slower with much larger monitor & new battery?

Currently I mainly use a laptop with 15.6" 1366*768 pixel monitor. I have not had this computer for a long time, but would have to lower the price because of a malfunction: when typing the prompt suddenly jumps by itself to somewhere else, but other than that no problems, I have managed to clean it from malware with Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials found one virus by itself which it removed. 1.6 GB RAM available but expandable to 7.6 GB available. A year old. AMD CPU. Not discrete video card. Decent battery, 2½ hours. Windows 7 64-bit. Microsoft Office 2010 Starter. Built-in magnesium frame. I have no bag for it.

I have the opportunity to change to a laptop with large monitor, 18.4" 1680*945 pixels. It costs ~$45 less than what I paid for the 15.6" laptop. 4 GB RAM. The CPU is older than in my current laptop, Intel. Not discrete video card. The seller says in the ad that the battery lasts 6 hours. Windows Vista. A review on the internet says that this model has problems with overheating. I guess it also has a built-in magnesium frame. It doesn't come with any bag.

Would it be good changing computers like this? I do almost nothing else than use Logos. A bit of surfing, but I don't have internet so sometimes I surf very little. I have been dreaming of a larger monitor - but how much difference would it make? Base-packages that I have licenses for, are: L4 Original Languages Library + L5 Bronze. Total number of books with licenses: 621. My Gk skills are at the very beginners level. I'm going to study classical Gk in uni in 2014, after that a bit of theology, and then Biblical Gk, ...

Are large computer rucksacks very expensive?

If I don't buy it, my option is to put more RAM in my existing computer. I have no clue what that would cost including the work.

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JT (alabama24)

If I don't buy it, my option is to put more RAM in my existing computer. I have no clue what that would cost including the work.

I'll let others talk about the PC details... but in most computers, installing ram is fairly simple... you might be able to DIY.

Mike Binks

I would make just three points...

1. Batteries are a movable feast; what lasts 6 hours this week my be a lot less than that in a few months - the older the battery the older the battery technology.

2. A laptop bag is a bag you put your laptop in. If you think you need more protection then gaffer tape and bubble wrap might help but the short solution is don't drop it.

3. Don't be in the dark about RAM upgrades check out Crucial for example.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489165#Comment_489165

When I had bought this computer I quickly looked at a video of how to do it on this particular computer and it sure looked like something I would not dare to do by myself:

I'll let others talk about the PC details... but in most computers, installing ram is fairly simple... you might be able to DIY:
If I don't buy it, my option is to put more RAM in my existing computer. I have no clue what that would cost including the work.

I would need to take it with me when I bicycle. I have two rucksacks, one of them is too little, the other doesn't look good:

1. ...
2. If you think you need more protection then gaffer tape and bubble wrap might help but the short solution is don't drop it.

Dave Hooton

A review on the internet says that this model has problems with overheating.

Don't buy it because re-indexing in Logos can trigger overheating.

If you buy memory from a shop they may install it for a small fee (or gratis).

Lynden O. Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489445#Comment_489445

Unix, 1.6 GB of Ram is very small. For a windows machine, 4 GB is pretty much the entry level (especially with Logos)and you should see an improvement with 6 GB.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489559#Comment_489559

Thanks Dave, I figured that the overheating thing might be a longevity related problem.

Just have to locate a shop, haven't seen any in quite a while. I used to use all kinds of service earlier on like scan, fax, chat, back when I didn't have any computer at all, but those shops have closed down. Plus printed a few visiting cards in colour at a small firm:

If you buy memory from a shop they may install it for a small fee (or gratis).

Yeah, I know it's little, but I've been doing mostly reading in Logos and surfing on Logos User Forums and Christianforums lately on this newer laptop (the 15.6" one). The power stuff I've been doing on my old laptop, which even though it's 4 years old is quite fast: C: drive is an SSD - but it has an 11.9" 1366*768 pixel monitor so it's not as nice at home. The old laptop has 4 GB RAM and is super in the bus and if the commuter train is crowded, perfect for using spare time for studying Gk, and has a nice battery.

I mainly run out of RAM due to surfing with many tabs open (which I often even open again after restart or crash (very rarely crashes though)) - and as I try to cut down on surfing in order to focus on schoolwork there is some advantage having too little RAM:

Unix, 1.6 GB of Ram is very small. For a windows machine, 4 GB is pretty much the entry level (especially with Logos)

As for now, my only priority is to get an ergonomic keyboard, www.trulyergonomic.com

(First I tested a Microsoft Sculpt keyboard, but couldn't get it working in my old computer so I returned it and luckily got my money back even though I had opened the package. The built-in keyboard of my old laptop is malfunctioning. It's like this: I have no internet, so during the winter I sometimes went outside the library during off-hours and used Wifi...) Well I know I will love an ergonomic keyboard, being forced to use one is actually OK.

Deacon Steve

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489646#Comment_489646

The power stuff I've been doing on my old laptop, which even though it's 4 years old is quite fast: C: drive is an SSD - but it has an 11.9" 1366*768 pixel monitor so it's not as nice at home. The old laptop has 4 GB RAM and is super in the bus and if the commuter train is crowded, perfect for using spare time for studying Gk, and has a nice battery.

Does your older laptop have the capability to plug in an external monitor? Maybe there is a compromise...portability when traveling (using as is), larger monitor when at home, same computer for both.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489731#Comment_489731

Wouldn't it be pixelated? Are there any 1366*768 pixel external monitors? Or would that have to be a 2732*1536 pixel one - I don't think I can afford that nor successfully hide it? - See: Re: ODCC Subtitute for mobile? ... about why to hide it:

Does your older laptop have the capability to plug in an external monitor? Maybe there is a compromise...portability when traveling (using as is), larger monitor when at home, same computer for both:
The power stuff I've been doing on my old laptop, which even though it's 4 years old is quite fast: C: drive is an SSD - but it has an 11.9" 1366*768 pixel monitor so it's not as nice at home.

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489835#Comment_489835

Wouldn't it be pixelated? Are there any 1366*768 pixel external monitors? Or would that have to be a 2732*1536 pixel one

The external monitor won't display a higher resolution than the laptop's native 1366*768 and if it can't display 1366*768 it may be pixelated at a lower resolution.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489889#Comment_489889

Wouldn't it be pixelated? Are there any 1366*768 pixel external monitors? Or would that have to be a 2732*1536 pixel one

The external monitor won't display a higher resolution than the laptop's native 1366*768 and if it can't display 1366*768 it may be pixelated at a lower resolution.

Another solution is to use one of the USB >>VGA/UGA adapters. Those will scale without pixelation.

John

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/489889#Comment_489889

The external monitor won't display a higher resolution than the laptop's native 1366*768 and if it can't display 1366*768 it may be pixelated at a lower resolution.

This would be true if you display the desktop (simultaneously) on both monitors, as you would do if connecting to a projector. But if you configure it to extend the desktop across both monitors Windows will use the full resolution of each device. This is done in the Windows display configuration.

If your computer truly has this limitation, it must be a hardware limitation, as Windows has no such restriction. Windows can run multiple monitors all at different resolutions at the same time, no problem. I'm not into AMD, it may be possible some AMD processor / video combinations might have hardware limitations. But my Ultrabook with an Intel Core i3 can run the native display at 1366x768 and my desktop monitor via HDMI at 1920 x 1080 simultaneously. (No I don't run Logos on it, but it runs Libronix 3 just fine).

Also, Unix (OP) said he was looking at a Laptop with an 18.3" display? Was this a typo? I am not aware of any laptops on the market with larger than 17" displays. If you meant an 18.3 *external* monitor, well that really isn't very big. 27" is big as monitors go.

I find it humorous that Logos causes overheating problems. I would tend to think that no software would be able to overheat a modern processor with thermal monitoring and adequate cooling. Has this been documented on more than one machine? In any case, just another reason to stick with Libronix 3 [H]

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490106#Comment_490106

Having not looked I'm sure it has such a limitation. And we are not talking about the AMD computer. We are talking about the 4 year old one with 11.9" monitor:

If your computer truly has this limitation, it must be a hardware limitation, as Windows has no such restriction. Windows can run multiple monitors all at different resolutions at the same time, no problem. I'm not into AMD, it may be possible some AMD processor / video combinations might have hardware limitations.

18.4". That's correct, it was not a typo. The question was if the resolution would make a difference using Logos:

Also, Unix (OP) said he was looking at a Laptop with an 18.3" display? Was this a typo? I am not aware of any laptops on the market with larger than 17" displays. If you meant an 18.3 *external* monitor, well that really isn't very big. 27" is big as monitors go.

Deacon Steve

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490125#Comment_490125

Having not looked I'm sure it has such a limitation.

How are you concluding that it has such a limitation?

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490139#Comment_490139

The video card is slow:

How are you concluding that it has such a limitation?:
Having not looked I'm sure it has such a limitation.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490106#Comment_490106

I find it humorous that Logos causes overheating problems. I would tend to think that no software would be able to overheat a modern processor with thermal monitoring and adequate cooling. Has this been documented on more than one machine?

Some laptop models have notable heat issues => http://blog.laptopmag.com/hottest-and-coolest-notebooks

Tips for reducing laptop heat => http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-simple-ways-to-cool-a-hot-notebook

Logos is resource intensive, which benefits from fast processor, graphics, and quick storage along with adequate memory (i.e. newer hardware since Logos is designed for use over 5 to 8 years); Solid State Disk (SSD) is noticeably faster than hard disk.

Logos indexing reads resource files, searches for words and tagging in each resource, writes search results into an index file, which is followed by merging index files for application use. Thankful for Logos visual filter highlighting that can combine hundreds of search results for simultaneous display; wiki has => http://wiki.logos.com/Extended_Tips_for_Highlighting_and_Visual_Filters#Examples_of_visual_filters that includes many Greek filters.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490161#Comment_490161

The video card is slow

Curious about video card model ?

Toshiba Satellite P505-S8980 review => http://www.notebookcheck.net/Toshiba-Satellite-P505-S8980.24448.0.html has an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD with 18.4" display.

Intel GMA 4500MHD is an archived model for Class 5 office graphics => http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

Keep Smiling [:)]

Deacon Steve

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/490161#Comment_490161

The video card is slow

It's difficult to assess your definition of "slow" without the video specs. If you can share that detail it might help us better to help you. However, if I am following the conversation correctly (and I may not be) there seems to be confusion here in your understanding of perceived "slowness" of video performance and video hardware connections. They are not the same when we are talking about connecting an external monitor. Does your older laptop, the one with 4GB of memory and an SSD have an connection on the side or back for an external monitor?