How to buy a laptop so that you don't need a box of condoms and a vat of lube.

[MichaelEllis]

Yo yo yo! The ACAD guru is in tha' house.

If you're looking to operate Autocad, you can do so on any decent laptop. I've been running AutoCad on one laptop or another for 6-7 years, since r12 DOS.

1. Sorry, guys, but AutoCad doesn't run on Mac.

2. Learn from my experience: Big screen on the laptop = entirely too heavy. I have the 15" screen on an older Dell, and the damn thing weighs 10 lbs.

3. Our company just switched to the smallest of Dell Laptops (external CDRom-thats how small we're talkin). A laptop should be portable. Screen size is for crap on a laptop. Ever try to use a 15" screen in coach on an airplane? you'd better be quick when the person in front of you reclines, or you can snap your screen off when it gets wedged into where the tray table recesses.

Buy a decent laptop with XP Pro (I've been using it for about 6 months, and I think I've crashed about 4 times). I like Dell. If you're not working on massive drawings and renderings, you don't need that much power.

Invest in a 17" monitor. When you're doing a lot of drafting, you will appreciate the contrast of a CRT. (set your Cad background to black) A laptop allows you to operate (2) monitors and spread out your desktop. This is the best way to work on CAD: Drawing area on the 17" monitor, and properties tools on the other.

At the office, I am on AutoCAD 2002, on a Dell workstation with (2) 19' monitors. When I have to, I plug the laptop into another monitor.

-mike

 

[Kittenwithawhip]

Thanks. I'm going to leave quietly now, genuflecting in the presence of the guru.


Kitten

 

[MichaelEllis]

Forgot to mention the importance of an optical mouse. Carry one with your laptop if you think that you'll have to draft. Nothing sucks more than having to draft with a touchpad. S-L-O-W.

Bring on the questions. I've either got the answer or a biased opinion.

-mike

 

[Carp]

Thanks Carp. The Dell seems to be moving to the top of the list at the moment. I also prefer the touchpad mouse vs the little tiny green one in the middle of the keyboard. I am having a hard time finding a real live bricks and mortar store that sells Dells in my area. Did you buy yours online?

Kitten

Yes I did- it was easy, service has been good. I don't think Dell has a store, except for an outlet in Austin, TX.

 

[Kittenwithawhip]

Bring on the questions. I've either got the answer or a biased opinion.

-mike

Thanks for the help Mike. I think I am all tapped out for questions at the moment. I may take you up on your offer next week or the week after or....

Originally posted by CarpYes I did- it was easy, service has been good. I don't think Dell has a store, except for an outlet in Austin, TX.

Looks like I am just going to have to get over my buy it before I know how it feels and what it smells like phobia.


Kitten

 

[Kittenwithawhip]

I opted for the Dell.

Finally after much humming and hawing, I ordered the laptop. It came Monday. So far, so good. Thanks everyone for the input. It sure is pretty.

Kitten