Blog Business-The Write Equipment
Those of you who follow me on Twitter read my complaints about my “craptop” on a weekly basis. I have a Dell Laptop from 2003. I couldn’t begin to tell you what it has in terms of RAM, memory, etc…etc… but I can tell you that this craptop really does my head in. I know it’s probably mired in tiny viruses and “malware” and it’s so full of documents/pictures/songs/rubbish that it cannot possibly run properly.
It takes a good 5 minutes to get rolling when it’s first turned on and can’t possibly have more than 3 windows running at the same time. If I try to refresh a page I have to go make a cuppa or do the dishes before it will reopen! God forbid someone sends me an attachment in an email. I generally have to wait until hubby gets home with his laptop in order to open a document/photo/pdf attachment or risk blowing up my craptop. Opening Word to write a freelance piece is just asking for all sorts of trouble and as far as publishing a blog post…well, 45 minutes later it might be done. It doesn’t take me 45 minutes to write, I might add!
All of these factors conspire to make me bang my head on the desk at odd points throughout the day and do a great deal of swearing under my breath (unless Little Miss is sleeping and then I let ‘er rip). I’m trying to make a wee living with my writing and have a great deal of pride about my blog so having a computer that functions is integral to my success. This craptop has accompanied me from the US and has been a real life-saver in so many ways but I fear that it’s reaching the end of it’s productivity and is destined to become Little Miss’ laptop only.
As a result of crappy craptopiness, I have to resort to using hubby’s laptop when he gets home from work. I revel in it’s speediness and beam when I can have 5 windows open AND refresh a window at the same time. It’s gorgeous. But it’s hubby’s work laptop. Justifiably, I shouldn’t be using it but needs must! However, after a bit of harumphing last night hubby threw me a bone. He said that if I can manage to get some money that would buy me a laptop, I can get a shiny new laptop of my very own! Squee!
Now, I don’t mean that hubby won’t let me have a laptop UNLESS I EARN the money…we share everything we bring into our bank account equally. It’s just that everything that we earn (including me) goes to our bills and our life…not fun things like laptops. But I NEED a new laptop in order to make the money that we need. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle isn’t it?? So, if I can get me a little freelance dosh…a new laptop could be making my freelance life that much easier.
That’s my question to you now…what do I need? What is the “write” equipment? Here’s what I think I might need:
- A laptop- ideally one that doesn’t weigh 800 lbs and isn’t too big. This would make some of my “blogging adventures” that much more productive. Get me…I’d like to think I’m a journalist!
- I don’t need something that does gaming or plays movies although I do need something to hold my Flip videos and maybe has some installed editing software besides the Flip software for my Vlogging.
- I need to have plenty of space to hold pictures and songs.
- Obviously Wi-Fi and a built in Webcam for Skyping are mandatory.
What would you recommend? I’ve always been a PC girl but I wouldn’t MIND a Mac. I hear that the MacBook is genius and I quite enjoyed the iMac that I got to use at the City Inn Westminster but I fear that they may be out of my price range. I would probably only have a budget of around £500 max which might get me a keyboard for a Mac and little else. What software do I need/want? How do I make sure that I have enough space? How many giga-whatsits do I need? What sort of daily/weekly maintenance do I need to do to make sure my computer runs efficiently?
Now if there are any tech companies that would like to give me their bestest laptops for a proper review, I’m more than happy to accept. Or if any generous benefactors would like to anonymously donate a new laptop to me, I’ll be sure to do you proud. I kid…I’m a kidder. 
Cafe Bebe is open for suggestion…over to you now. What is the “write” equipment for little old me?
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I/ we are apple people. Me because I am a photographer and like all the stuff available to me on Apple and it’s generally faultless and works really well. We just bought a laptop to take on holidays it’s this one
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Timeline_1810TZ_Windows_7_Laptop_in_Black_LX.PJ502.120/version.asp
really small, really light, but a good size you know what I mean. But it’s windows
Thanks for the tips! Great stuff. I really would like a Mac but I don’t think I’ll be able to afford it! Thanks so much.
I can’t really comment on specifics – although I count myself as moderately techie, computers have mainly been hubby’s domain, so I let him get excited about choosing. Or I get given a craptop from work. Having said this, I think your budget of £500 should give you something pretty decent. My dad recently bought an Acer, which he is very pleased with that only came in at just over £300. It’s definitely worth shopping around and doing a bit of homework. Oh, and finally a good tip from a friend who works in IT – if you have an Aldi local to you, they do some really good deals, but you have to catch them at the right time of course.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that some nice PRs are reading!
(sorry, that ended up being longer and more rambling than I had intended!)
Aw, thanks love…appreciate the suggestions! I’ll let you know if I get anything!
I recently upgraded to an Acer Notebook. And it’s great. The only thing with notebooks is that there is no CD/DVD drive (who needs them anymore?) hence why they are so small (The size of a hardback book). On the other hand, mine weighs only about 1kg so great to carry around. And once you get used to the small screen and small keyboard, you’re off. Notebooks are also cheaper, I got mine for around 300 euros but you can get cheaper ones too (between £200 and £300, I think). As you probably guessed I would recommend it to anybody who will listen! X
Lovely…thank you for your recommendation. I had thought about notebooks due to their portability. Thanks for your help!
Have a look at the dell outlet store, they sell refurbished ones and scratch & dent (cosmetic damage that they say is considerable but usually reported as unfindable by the new owners, google it, go for grade 1 only though, not grade 2). They are considerably reduced and you would get a heck of a lot for your money. It is a case of deciding what you want and waiting for it to come up, checking about every two days. If you don’t have access to someone who knows about the tech specs email me:) Or just email me for more info in general if you want, no probs
Jen.
Thanks Jen…I may have to email you. I’m a bit dim about all these “specs”
macbook – no question. Faster, than a laptop, doesn’t break down, no viruses, as many windows as you want at once. Totally worth saving up for – also Mac Store sometimes has refurbished ones so worth looking for x
Oh, thank you love!
I knew you’d have some computer savvy for me! 