Looks pretty nice, it actually has 2 hard drives so you can install two different operating systems with no chance of them messing each other up (always a danger if you install more than one OS on a single drive, especially if one of them is Windows).

 

...always a danger if you install more than one OS on a single drive, especially if one of them is Windows.

Unless you are able to cite a reliable source for this statement, you are simply incorrect.

I will allow that their *is* a danger with respect to Win8 and UEFI (Secure Boot). But that danger exists whether you install on one drive, or two.

EDIT: Also, regardless if you install on one or two drives, you *still* need to modify the boot sector on the first drive to allow for dual booting -- at least in all cases with which Eric would be concerned.

 

With two drives you can choose which one is the primary in BIOS so there is no need to change the master boot record. Admittedly it's probably easier to use a bootloader to give you a nice menu.
I can't see what is incorrect with my statement. If you feel there is no risk in loading two versions of Windows on the same drive then feel free to not back up your data, but I expect you would regret it if you do it often enough. I've seen it mess up myself a few times (admittedly I'm not a reliable source).
Linux operating systems typically use GRUB bootloader even if there is only one version of Linux on the drive, so it has to be more reliable.

 

With two drives you can choose which one is the primary in BIOS so there is no need to change the master boot record. Admittedly it's probably easier to use a bootloader to give you a nice menu.

Thus my disclaimer:

-- at least in all cases with which Eric would be concerned.

I can't see what is incorrect with my statement. If you feel there is no risk in loading two versions of Windows on the same drive then feel free to not back up your data

To the contrary! In my ever so humble opinion, running even *one* version of Windows is asking for trouble. Especially if you connect your CPU to the internet. Reminds me of a joke from long ago: if Detroit made cars like Microsoft makes operating systems, cars would cost $1, go a million miles on a gallon of gas, and blow up once a year killing everyone inside.

Why one would run two version is beyond me, especially Win7 and Win8. You'd need to by a duplicate set of most of your applications for each of your installs to be useful. Also, most laptops today are UEFI enabled, and, of those, many cannot run UEFI disabled. Therefore, it would be impossible to install and/or dual boot Win7. Trying to do so would brick your computer.

Again, to reiterate what I said before: I still run WinXP, but in a virtual machine. This way, if WinXP decides to blow up, the sandbox will prevent it from making my machine inoperable.

...but I expect you would regret it if you do it often enough.

I have installed hundreds of single-drive dual-boot Win/Ubuntu computers in the past 15 years. Never have I lost the functionality of the original Windows install, nor any of the files on the drive. Regardless, I *always* image the drive first, *just in case*. Remember, insurance is only useful to you when you need it. But when you need it, its invaluable.

Drive partitioning and dual booting is not some mystical, magical technology. It is a well-established and mature method of operating computer hardware. The risks of dual booting, IMHO, are far less than that running the original Win install to begin with.

I've seen it mess up myself a few times...

I am not being snarky here: I'd really like to know the details.

Linux operating systems typically use GRUB bootloader even if there is only one version of Linux on the drive, so it has to be more reliable.

Not only more reliable, but *far* more flexible than anything MS has to offer!

 

Most of my problems were quite a while ago in the Win98 XP days, I wasn't an expert, but friends with PCs often thought I was their tech support. Often they tried to do things that were impossible or didn't follow the instructions, but seemingly intelligent people trying to get their PCs to dual boot managed to make a mess of things fairly often. I've seen quite a few on the list of precautions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306559
I manage to avoid it these days, I've never even seen Windows 7 or 8 and I presume things have got a little easier.

 

I've seen quite a few on the list of precautions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306559

Ahhhhhh...my eyes!

Why'd you make me look at that? I'm going to need intense psychotherapy to recover...

In a sense, you've made one of my points for me. Windows is fraught with things you cannot do. Thus, my comment earlier about being "too limited".

Interesting thing about Grub...it can read and boot from just about any kind of file system. It can even boot from an image file from within the file system of another operating system's OS (see Wubi*).

If you think about it, the Microsoft business model *depends* on restricting what you can do on your PC (thus, creating "artificial scarcity"). Thus, the different price points for editions Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate...

One version of just about any Linux distribution will allow you to run anything from a low-powered netbook to an enterprise class corporate server, and everything in between. And all for free (not just price, but "freedom" as well).

*Wubi was discontinued in Ubuntu 13.04 because of....wait for it....incompatibilities with Windows UEFI Secure Boot. Damn them! Damn them to ****!

 

I think I will go for this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive+%2B+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/1305962949.p?id=mp1305962949&skuId=1305962949

I don't know if it is a solid *brand* but i like the specs here and i can still install *Windows7* in a partition as DerStrom8 suggested...

what do you think!?

Everything there looks great, except for the fact that it's an Asus. Asus has really gone downhill with their laptops, they tend not to last more than a year or two (if you're lucky). In my personal experience, anyway. However, the features look pretty good, except the processor is a bit slow. Not too bad for a laptop though, so provided you don't expect to do anything too drastically demanding, you should be ok.

 

Everything there looks great, except for the fact that it's an Asus. Asus has really gone downhill with their laptops, they tend not to last more than a year or two (if you're lucky). In my personal experience, anyway. However, the features look pretty good, except the processor is a bit slow. Not too bad for a laptop though, so provided you don't expect to do anything too drastically demanding, you should be ok.

That's really not a good news!

I actually want a *HP* but I sorted by *features* and this is how I got to this! I want a laptop that i can last for at least *5 years*

I want a fast processor of course! is 2.4Ghz, i7 3dr generation fast enough? Sounds like I have to re-think again about this!

Thanks!

 

That's really not a good news!

I actually want a *HP* but I sorted by *features* and this is how I got to this! I want a laptop that i can last for at least *5 years*

You might get lucky with how long it lasts, but 2.4GHz is still sort of on the slower end. I noticed it *does* have a turbo-boost, which kicks it up to 3.4GHz (which is MUCH better) but I wouldn't recommend running it on turbo boost all the time.

I want a fast processor of course! is 2.4Ghz, i7 3dr generation fast enough?

It all depends on what you're planning to do. If you plan on doing extensive gaming, video rendering, running large programs/calculations, etc, then it probably won't work for you. But for just about everything else it should work ok. It's up to you.

Matt

 

However, the features look pretty good, except the processor is a bit slow. Not too bad for a laptop though, so provided you don't expect to do anything too drastically demanding, you should be ok.

Agreed, but RAM is expandable to 16GB. That's a good thing.

 

Agreed, but RAM is expandable to 16GB. That's a good thing.

That is a VERY good thing

 

Agreed, but RAM is expandable to 16GB. That's a good thing.

Wouldn't that compensate the *slow 2.4Ghz*!?
I mean the fact that it is extendable to 16GB...

 

Wouldn't that compensate the *slow 2.4Ghz*!?
I mean the fact that it is extendable to 16GB...

RAM and processor speed are two entirely different things. One will not compensate for the other.

 

RAM and processor speed are two entirely different things. One will not compensate for the other.

I understand that but I thought...

 

....except the processor is a bit slow. Not too bad for a laptop though, so provided you don't expect to do anything too drastically demanding, you should be ok.

Please enlighten us as too what Eric might try to do that is too drastic for a 2.4Ghz quad core i7 to handle.

If you say "run Windows", I'll believe you...

 

Please enlighten us as too what Eric might try to do that is too drastic for a 2.4Ghz quad core i7 to handle.

If you say "run Windows", I'll believe you...

There is a wide variety of high-demand programs that require much faster processor speeds, but I doubt Eric would need to use any of them. That's why I said he'd probably be ok with the 2.4GHz processor.

 

Please mention a couple...

 

There is a wide variety of high-demand programs that require much faster processor speeds, but I doubt Eric would need to use any of them. That's why I said he'd probably be ok with the 2.4GHz processor.

I only gave you a hard time because I am pretty sure he'll be more than OK. You really didn't need to burst his bubble.

BTW, I run a 2.67GHz I7 (about two years old now) with 6GB memory running the base desktop, web server, and a couple of simultaneous virtual machines. The only time I cranked all the cores to 100% was compiling a Linux kernel with 16 threads. Took about 5 minutes to complete....

 

Alright! Now my only concern is the brand *Asus* because there's no point of buying a laptop that is going to last 1 or 2 years only!

Unless someone here can add a $500 to my $1000 so I can buy a better brand!

Come on! Where the millionnaires at!?

 

Alright! Now my only concern is the brand *Asus* because there's no point of buying a laptop that is going to last 1 or 2 years only!

Be sure to look at different sites for reviews. Some Asus laptops last a while, I've just had the bad experience of using cr@ppy ones that died within a year and a half. Also, if it comes with a warranty (longer than 2 years) it's probably worth it.