2009 may very well be the year of the Netbook.  Before we get into this phenomenon perhaps explaining the differences between portable computers is a good idea…

History of the Laptop

First a bit of history for fun:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_laptops

IBM 5100, the first portable computer

The first portable computer was a monster- the IBM 5100, first appeared in 1975 and weighed in at a hefty 55 lbs, with a blazing 1.9 Mhz processor.  Today most cell phones have well over 100 times the processing power!  The unit cost $19,975 w/ 64K RAM ($79,000 in today’s dollars!)

Epson HX-20

In 1981, Epson introduced the HX-20 portable computer, which was little more than a word processor, but it was portable!

The Compaq Portable

The Osborne 1

Flash forward to the ‘luggable computer’ – the first being the  Osborne 1 http://oldcomputers.net/osborne.html with a 5” screen displaying 52 characters with text.  It originally sold for $1795 ($4199 in today’s dollars).  The 28-lb Compaq Portable  also debuted about the same time for $3590 ($8398 today).

IBM introduced a portable computer near to the size of what could be considered a laptop in 1986 (the first to use 3.5” floppy disks, actually).

IBM convertable

The first laptops

The First Laptop - Toshiba T1000

were introduced by Toshiba (not that we’d recommend buying a Toshiba these days…).  It featured an Intel 80C88 processor running at 4.77 MHz.  Ironically Toshiba now makes laptops for dogs

Toshiba Petbook

so if you really feel like throwing $400 at your dog… there’s a laptop for that too.

Of course who could forget the massively marketed (as somehow original, I suppose) Apple Portable (1989)

Apple Macintosh Portable

which sold for $6500 (a whopping $11,148 today) and PowerBook 100

Apple PowerBook 100

(1991) which sold for $2300 ($3592 today).  Ironically despite the cost, Apple was one of the most successful in the portable computer market, matched perhaps only by IBM’s famously durable ThinkPad series (I actually have a ThinkPad from 1995 that still runs today).

So, why not have a lightweight portable PC?  Ever since Sony successfully introduced the C1 subnotebook the industry has been trying to balance size with power and usability.  Most small notebooks had an unusable screen and keyboard, and the mouse or touchpad interfaces were frustrating.  Enter Asus with their ultra-successful Eee PC netbooks- arguably the most-sold netbook in existence.
You can learn much more by visiting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop

Read more…

Announcing a Great PC Deal for the Home Exclusively from TechSmart

Around this time of year we usually get the question:

“I’m looking for a cheap PC- should I buy a computer at _______ (insert retail outlet)?”

We’d have to say… no!

While we don’t mind seeing people come in a year (or sometimes less) after they bought a PC or laptop ‘because it was a good deal’ at a local retailer…  we only seem to see you when you’re bringing in a broken  PC that should have lasted a lot longer!  This is all too common with ‘hook’ deals at these retailers- it’s easy to practically give away something that will break in a year!

That $299 computer may end up costing you $500 to replace in a year and probably has the bottom-rung processor, memory and hard drive.  Just enough to barely run Windows!  So, you’ll end up in our shop needing to upgrade anyway!

With all the options out there, why not ask the people you trust to put together a system you’ll love that doesn’t skimp on quality?  As a top-tier Dell reseller in Northern Colorado, it would only make sense that people ask us these questions!

So this year we thought we’d offer something we’ve never done before- Buy a Dell PC for your home, pre-built to our recommended specifications… for a limited time starting at $499!

Dell Inspiron 537s

The base system is a Dell 537 Slim Tower PC, black

Here’s the specifications we have put together for this awesome PC:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 (2.93Ghz), Intel GMA x4500 Graphics
• 4 GB DDR RAM on 2 DIMMs
• 320 GB  7200 RPM Hard Drive
• DVD Burner and 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
• Microsoft Works 9 (or upgrade to and Office Package below)
• Keyboard, Mouse
• 1 year IN HOME warranty service

Add any of these exciting options**:

-          In shop setup with common software updates and Open Office setup $42.50*

• Add:  In-Home setup $85*
• Add: Transfer documents from your old PC and recycle the old PC $47.50*
• Add:  Microsoft Office:   Please call for current prices

-          White, Purple, Blue, Red, Orange, Pink or Green Color accents   $20**

-          Upgraded Processor (Core 2 E8400 $60**, Core 2 Quad Q8200 $40**)

-          Upgraded Warranty (2 year $80**, 3 year $99**, 4 year $150**)

-          21.5” HD Monitor with webcam/microphones $280**

-          22” HD Monitor $199**

-          23” HD Monitor $229**

-          24” HD Monitor $299**

-          BluRay/DVD combo drive $91**

-          Gaming graphics card (ATI Radeon HD 4350) $60**

-          Wireless networking, Speakers, Wireless Mice/Keyboard, Backup Drives, Printers – call us for pricing

The systems ship fast- once ordered we can typically have them in just a few business days- plenty of time before the holidays!

You can compare this to similar systems at vendors in town…  we’ve already shopped them, and they all use low-end processors to keep the cost down.  If you want a system that we know will be great for you- this is your best bet and the time is NOW!

*Pricing may be subject to hourly rates of $85/hr billed in increments of .1 hours
**Pricing of components was current in November- please be aware that prices may fluctuate and are only valid when purchased with this system.  Please call for exact pricing of add-on components.

Please also note that this system CANNOT be used in a business environment because it is only sold with Windows 7 Home Premium.  However, if you need a new PC for your office, don’t despair!  We now have pre-configured/recommended Dell PCs and Laptops for the office too!

Interested?

Give us a call at 970-498-0808 today!