Tech Thread

[Feicarsinn]

Does what it says on the tin. Talk about anything from the new iPhone and web browsers to the merits of Python over C and supercomputers.


I'm currently in the market for a new laptop. Don't particularly want to break the bank, but am looking for something good enough. Considering the possibility of getting a Surface 2, but I'm a bit hesitant of committing to the tablet (could I code on it, etc.) Has anyone any experience with them?

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

wanting a new phone, anyone got any suggestions, Prefer cheap, not sure if i should pay as you go or put it on a contract, and prefer a touch-screen (with an app store too), i suppose i can use this thread for suggestions, i guess

 

[TRF_Cymro]

My phone contract upgrade cannot come soon enough after the seeing the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch yesterday I am defiantly looking to get the 6+

 

[goodNumber10]

wanting a new phone, anyone got any suggestions, Prefer cheap, not sure if i should pay as you go or put it on a contract, and prefer a touch-screen (with an app store too), i suppose i can use this thread for suggestions, i guess

I'm on a nexus 4, and the 5 is excellent, both are probably good for another year i think. If it wasn't then personally i'd be looking at the Moto X & G, or the Amazon firephone (O2 only though) as budget units. You could also look at the Windows phones, the entry level Nokias are excellent.

New Moto G: http://www.zdnet.com/moto-g-review-...on-while-still-priced-at-just-180-7000033516/

You're not getting Samsung or Apple but you'll be getting decent units. I can't justify a 600 pound spend on a phone that sits in a locker all day switched off.

You could go for something like the moto g and giff gaff for a very cheap and cheerful option mate.

Does what it says on the tin. Talk about anything from the new iPhone and web browsers to the merits of Python over C and supercomputers.


I'm currently in the market for a new laptop. Don't particularly want to break the bank, but am looking for something good enough. Considering the possibility of getting a Surface 2, but I'm a bit hesitant of committing to the tablet (could I code on it, etc.) Has anyone any experience with them?

I'm on two year old 13" HP Ultrabook and it's still slick as anything: i5 & SSD drive and it's holding up very well. Some of Dells new Ultrabooks are quite nice as well.

On the Surface, unless you're going for the pro the i don't think it's worth it, you really don't want to be locked into Windows RT.

The pro is basically an excellent but really expensive ultrabook, personally i'd look at the Asus tablets (full windows but not as powerful) and buy that and a laptop etc... for the same money.

 

[ruggabee]

I'm on a nexus 4, and the 5 is excellent, both are probably good for another year i think. If it wasn't then personally i'd be looking at the Moto X & G, or the Amazon firephone (O2 only though) as budget units. You could also look at the Windows phones, the entry level Nokias are excellent.

New Moto G: http://www.zdnet.com/moto-g-review-...on-while-still-priced-at-just-180-7000033516/

You're not getting Samsung or Apple but you'll be getting decent units. I can't justify a 600 pound spend on a phone that sits in a locker all day switched off.

You could go for something like the moto g and giff gaff for a very cheap and cheerful option mate.

I agree, if you're all good with using Windows phones they have some that are smooth. You won't have the functionality of an android but if you just want simple apps like viber etc and a smooth running phone they work well. Flicked through a Nokia Lumia (can't remember the model) and it was cheap and did the job.

Never understood the iPhone fascination. Year after year there seems to be a new model and it seems they increase the processor and camera capabilities. Maybe someone can enlighten me on the new iPhone 6?

I'd rather go with Nexus which I believe is cheaper and provides top notch performance.

 

[SelimNiai]

In the course of the last few years I've had a phone from Apple, Android and Windows. Best by far is the Android, I had a Nexus 4. A great phone, to be honest I'd have kept it if my upgrade offer didn't have an Xbox One.

I have a Lumia 635 which is a nice phone but I'm really missing some of the apps I had and a lack of any decent music player.

 

[Saints1]

I've narrowed it down to an iPhone6+ (I like my phones big) or a Z3. Just need to make the decision - stick with Android or return to the world of iOS.

 

[Draggs]

See, I'm the opposite. I like a phone I can carry in my pockets. The larger iPhone will make me reconsider. I have a 5S and am very pleased with it. I don't need a phablet, as I have an iPad too (part of the reason I went with an iPhone). I don't want to have some monstrosity falling out of my pocket or anything, I have mates with large phones and they just seem like a pain.

 

[goodNumber10]

the Z3 and the compact are really very impressive phones.

 

[SelimNiai]

If it were me I'd go Android. Whilst I had a 3GS that never, eeeeeeeverrrrr went wrong it was too restricted as to what you could use it for and with what softwares.

Plus Android seems to have less social ramifications

 

[TRF_Olyy]

iPhone 6 is just the equivalent of an 18month old android phone at a ridiculously inflated price

 

[Saints1]

I had an iPhone from 3G (remember when the first one didn't support 3G? LOL) up until 4S when it stopped evolving in any way, shape or form. I loved it. Never broke, just had a poor battery life whenever the iOS was updated. Reliably built, very good piece of kit. I then switched to Android and the Galaxy Note 2. Within 6 months that had bricked (which was dealt with quickly to be fair to o2 who have otherwise been monstrous for 18 months) and for the last 3 months the phone has been a buggy mess. I could probably deal with that by wiping it and cleaning it up, to be fair.

I just don't see the big difference between the two operations systems - I keep hearing that iOS "doesn't let you do as much" but I honestly haven't noticed that. Neither can play Flash properly!

See, I'm the opposite. I like a phone I can carry in my pockets. The larger iPhone will make me reconsider. I have a 5S and am very pleased with it. I don't need a phablet, as I have an iPad too (part of the reason I went with an iPhone). I don't want to have some monstrosity falling out of my pocket or anything, I have mates with large phones and they just seem like a pain.

It fits into my jeans pocket completely normally. All other phones feel puny in comparison!

 

[Feicarsinn]

iPhone 6 is just the equivalent of an 18month old android phone at a ridiculously inflated price

This! I'd 100% steer clear of it. It used to be that apple could offer you a product better than the rest of the market and therefore somewhat justify the massive prices they charged. Now the market has caught up and overtaken them and they're trading pretty much solely on reputation.

 

[Draggs]

This! I'd 100% steer clear of it. It used to be that apple could offer you a product better than the rest of the market and therefore somewhat justify the massive prices they charged. Now the market has caught up and overtaken them and they're trading pretty much solely on reputation.

The product family is their standout asset. Like I said earlier, went for the iPhone because I have an iPad. Can message on it, save files between them, run the same apps with minimal changes. I use my iPad heavily, and it is becoming a requirement in the career.

 

[goodNumber10]

The product family is their standout asset. Like I said earlier, went for the iPhone because I have an iPad. Can message on it, save files between them, run the same apps with minimal changes. I use my iPad heavily, and it is becoming a requirement in the career.

That deep integration within their ecosystem is what really sets them apart and is what makes people feel safe with them.

Androids heading that way, but as they still don't offer a really viable computing solution it's still all a a bit fragmented.... I wonder how many Android users have moved to Chrome OS as their sole computing solution?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Does what it says on the tin. Talk about anything from the new iPhone and web browsers to the merits of Python over C and supercomputers.


I'm currently in the market for a new laptop. Don't particularly want to break the bank, but am looking for something good enough. Considering the possibility of getting a Surface 2, but I'm a bit hesitant of committing to the tablet (could I code on it, etc.) Has anyone any experience with them?

I have a Lenovo ideaPad notebook with a core i7 processor. The thing is a beast, and the beauty of it is that it has interchangeable parts. it currently has 8gb RAM, and it can upgrade up to 16 gb.

And it cost me only R9000.00 brand new. That is 600 pounds give or take.

 

[goodNumber10]

I have a Lenovo ideaPad notebook with a core i7 processor. The thing is a beast, and the beauty of it is that it has interchangeable parts. it currently has 8gb RAM, and it can upgrade up to 16 gb.

And it cost me only R9000.00 brand new. That is 600 pounds give or take.

Big fan of lenovo.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Big fan of lenovo.

Yeah me too. They have been making massive strides in the South African market, and they have a Student Computer initiative with the Universities, giving discount to students.

That is how I scored this awesome machine. And then I had to buy 10 more of them for the office.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'm absolutely a tech noob and seemingly the staff of the computer stores in my area are as well. I've had to buy a new laptop (I mix business and pleasure) since my last one gave up the ghost (last time I buy Toshiba) but am finding Windows 8.1 extremely frustrating to navigate and on top of it my copy of AutoCAD 2007 and other software I can't afford to replace and don't want to go 'cracked' aren't functioning on the new Windows platform.

So my question is can I just go ahead and format my new laptop with my Windows 7 CD and reinstall all my trusted software; will I have difficulty with getting drivers off the internet? I am not currently on it but my new laptop is an Acer Aspire E1-572G;

Specifications:
- Intel Core i7 4500U 1.80GHz Processor
- 8GB DDR3 Memory (1 x 8GB)
- 1TB 5400RPM 2.5 Inch SATA HDD
- 8x DVD Super Multi Writer
- 15.6 Inch 1366x768 LED Backlit Widescreen
- 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
- Intel HM77 Express Mobile Chipset
- AMD Radeon R7 M265 2GB Graphics
- Integrated Gigabit Ethernet LAN
- Acer Nplify Wireless LAN 802.11 b-g-n 300Mbps
- 4 Cell Battery
- Multi touch Gesture Touch Pad
- Full Size Numeric Keyboard
- Acer eRecovery Software
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 SL 64-Bit

 

[TRF_heineken]

I'm absolutely a tech noob and seemingly the staff of the computer stores in my area are as well. I've had to buy a new laptop (I mix business and pleasure) since my last one gave up the ghost (last time I buy Toshiba) but am finding Windows 8.1 extremely frustrating to navigate and on top of it my copy of AutoCAD 2007 and other software I can't afford to replace and don't want to go 'cracked' aren't functioning on the new Windows platform.

So my question is can I just go ahead and format my new laptop with my Windows 7 CD and reinstall all my trusted software; will I have difficulty with getting drivers off the internet? I am not currently on it but my new laptop is an Acer Aspire E1-572G;

Specifications:
- Intel Core i7 4500U 1.80GHz Processor
- 8GB DDR3 Memory (1 x 8GB)
- 1TB 5400RPM 2.5 Inch SATA HDD
- 8x DVD Super Multi Writer
- 15.6 Inch 1366x768 LED Backlit Widescreen
- 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
- Intel HM77 Express Mobile Chipset
- AMD Radeon R7 M265 2GB Graphics
- Integrated Gigabit Ethernet LAN
- Acer Nplify Wireless LAN 802.11 b-g-n 300Mbps
- 4 Cell Battery
- Multi touch Gesture Touch Pad
- Full Size Numeric Keyboard
- Acer eRecovery Software
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 SL 64-Bit

This sounds like a job for @TRF_Ezequiel

That's not a bad laptop you got there. You shouldn't have any problem with the downgrade (which IMHO it isn't). I did the same with mine, I absolutely HATE windows 8. And our one program isn't functioning properly on that OS here at the office so we all use windows 7 now.