Blu-Ray???

[Merlin66]

Unfortunately it has reached the stage were I must consider replacing the Ol' Dell (XP)...
All our other computers are ACER...
I was looking at the ACER V3 17.3" screen, 16Gb memory, 1Tb HD etc, BUT the built-in Blu Ray writer threw me.
I've ever used Blu-Ray....my question is do they also talk (nicely!) to CD's and DVD's??? I have a hellava amounts of data/ backup on CD's and would like to be able to run them ( and still write to them)
Is this any issue for Blu-Ray set-ups????

[Larryp]

Hi Ken
I have a Toshiba Qosmio with BlueRay read/write, and I have no problems with cds and dvds:)

[Merlin66]

Laurie,
Thanks for that!
Good to know...
Now all I have to do is to come to terms with Win8!!!

[wasyoungonce]

Yes Blueray are backwards compatible with DVDs. They utilise different LASERs but these are inbuilt in the one head, see para 2.2 here (http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/).

edit:
Win8...that's another story:lol:. Win 8.1 can be set up with the traditional windows screen, finally, after mucking around with add-ons to make Win8 run like Win7!

[04Stefan07]

I upgraded Windows 8 to 8.1 on my girlfriends laptop and it totally stuffed up the graphics card drivers. W8 and 8.1 is just crap.

Try to stick to 7 if you can.

[Merlin66]

Stefan,
That may well be correct, but show me where I can buy a new laptop which doesn't have Win8???????

[04Stefan07]

Yeah that is the only problem.

Before I bought my Retina Macbook Pro I was considering the Sony Vaio Ultrabook which is a fantastic machine. The reason I chose the Mac was not only because I had one before, nice design and very good specs but also because of the OS. Sure Windows 8 booted in around 5 seconds on the Vaio but Windows 8 turned me away.

Hoping the next version of Windows will be an improvement (as there is that myth that every 2nd Windows is crap :lol:).

[Merlin66]

The 17.3" screen on the ACER V3 appeals to me...with the 2Gb graphics...
What about memory? I see most of the competition offer 8Gb and the ACER 16Gb....more is better??

[04Stefan07]

More is better but 8GB is more than enough.

[OICURMT]

You can downgrade if you want...

http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=B98lvy1c af8

[Merlin66]

Yeah but....
Reading the "fine print" it only seems to refer to downgrading from Win8 Pro....not all (read:many) laptops seem to offer this as standard.....
Available for $$$$

[pdalek]

Alienware laptops can be ordered with Win7
http://www.dell.com/au/p/alienware-laptops.aspx?c=au&cs=audhs1&l=en&s=dhs

[Merlin66]

Patrick,
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These things are almost x4 the market price for the same Win8 model!!!!

[Larryp]

Ken, there are still some Windows 7 laptops available on Ebay

[Merlin66]

Laurie,
Yes, that's what I'm currently using in the Office....
A significant upgrade in specs would be welcome...
At this stage a Dell Inspiron with 17.3" screen, 8 gb memory etc for $840 is looking very good......almost 1/2 the price of the Acer I was looking at.

[OICURMT]

MSY have several laptops with Windows 7 at very good prices.

http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/notebook.pdf

[04Stefan07]

Here are some refurbished models if that doesn't bother you, might as well take a look.

http://www.graysonline.com/computers-and-electronics/computers-and-it-equipment/laptops

[Poita]

Depends what you are doing, I upgraded to 16GB recently as I was hitting the limit of 8GB.

[Poita]

I would get something that had a dedicated graphics chip rather than integrated, especially with the resolutions now available.

[Merlin66]

Peter,
Hmmm the machines I'm looking at are 8Gb with NO upgrade option....