help with next laptop purchase...

[lemarcheaupuces]

my laptop is 6 years old plus (cheap $400 Acer).

still works but so slow when browsing or using websites like AOL, MSN...

I don't get it.

beside Ebay, online Banking, reading the news, research on the net;

i don't do much with my laptop.

using sites like AOL and MSN has always been a drudgery, whatever connection i have.

i am glad that ebay, my bank are not as moody.

i don't download music, movies and overall my laptop is fine (speed wise).

do any of you have checked sites like Honest to Paws, Boredom Therapy, etc...?

often they have cute stories about Animals...

most often i cannot even finish reading the stories (such a shame).

pages freeze, have to close and reload...

today on another site was checking the 50 worst cities to live in.

i gave up after 5 mns.

same whenever i scroll through a "gallery pics" of an article...

takes forever to view the next pic.

along the years i have blamed it on my connection, on the advertising, on my laptop...

my laptop runs on WS7 and IE11.

my hardrive says 381B free of 451B.

the processor is an IP 2.13GHZ.

Ram is 4GB (2.5GB available).

Virtual mem 7.35GB (5.99GB available).

so my questions are;

would buying a better laptop help?

do i need a faster processor, more memory, a larger Ram...?

would it make websites like AOL, MSN work better?

is Apple better than Microsoft products?

is it better to have a laptop built instead of buying one in a commercial retail shop?

long ago had a friend dealing with computers on the side.

she had told me she could built me one for a competitive price.

for the time being can 1 of you recommend a "NEWS" website that works better than AOL and MSN.

a site with less advertising.

have the impression that advertising is the issue.

is it possible these sites make it really and intentionally slow to navigate through the pages to make sure 1 looks at the advertising?

i mean at the end 1 has to wonder if that is really the intention.

thanks for any help.

PS;

really doubt it is my connection.

along the years have had multiple ones.

it's been the same issues with AOL and others over and over again.

even have a hard time posting a comments when giving my opinion on a article...

don't have a problem posting comments here... go figure...

i also have no issues streaming videos on Hulu or Netflix.

so my connections along the years couldn't have been that bad.

[atikovi]

If after 6 years you never cleaned up your hard drive, that would be the first thing to try. Malwarebytes, CCcleaner etc.

[lemarcheaupuces]

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@atikovi wrote:

If after 6 years you never cleaned up your hard drive, that would be the first thing to try. Malwarebytes, CCcleaner etc.

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i am no computer genius but even "me" is aware of basic maintenance.

i have all the tools needed and doing it several times a week.

running a full virus scan as we speak.

thanks.

[repairelectronics]

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@lemarcheaupuces wrote:

i am no computer genius but even "me" is aware of basic maintenance.

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When you say "me" do you mean Windows Millennium or you do you accept the fact that you are part of the millennial generation?

All kidding aside have you wiped your machine and re-installed a fresh copy of W7? all the cleaners on earth cannot restore the registry that 6 years of general use can damage.

[lemarcheaupuces]

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@repairelectronics wrote:

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@lemarcheaupuces wrote:

i am no computer genius but even "me" is aware of basic maintenance.

---

When you say "me" do you mean Windows Millennium or you do you accept the fact that you are part of the millennial generation?

All kidding aside have you wiped your machine and re-installed a fresh copy of W7? all the cleaners on earth cannot restore the registry that 6 years of general use can damage.

---

i don't mean anything by my words and post.

no need to decipher it.

all i am iso is some suggestions for my next laptop purchase.

thank you...

[repairelectronics]

again no disrespect but have you wiped the machine?

[lemarcheaupuces]

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@repairelectronics wrote:
again no disrespect but have you wiped the machine?

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a 6 years old laptop?

don't have a copy of W7 to reload anyway.

just did a search on the net; $50 to $150.

as i said overall it works fine, actually quite well.

it is just some websites that i have issues with, like; AOL, MSN, Honest to Paws...

i wonder why?

not trying to refurbish this laptop.

the fan has been making noises since 2014.

(was the first thing to go on my previous Toshiba laptop).

white streaks appear once in a while on my Acer screen, also since 2014.

i am amazed that my laptop still works so well.

i am here to try to understand what to buy next.

does a "better" processor handles websites and information faster?

gave the specs of my current Acer in my OP.

do i need to get something better (ram and all that stuff)?

you can see i have plenty memory space on my Acer.

want to know what to look for in my next laptop?

willing to invest more, this will be my last one.

another 5 to 10 years on ebay and i am done.

so will be done with all electronics.

want to know about; Microsoft vs Apple?

or is it better to have a laptop built from scrap like a friend had offered once?

thanks for any suggestions.

[atikovi]

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@lemarcheaupuces wrote:does a "better" processor handles websites and information faster?

gave the specs of my current Acer in my OP.

do i need to get something better (ram and all that stuff)? 

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8gb ram would be better as well as a ssd. Nothing else would really improve your performance much  short of faster internet.

[will.sf]

I would recommend buying a new laptop.  Just get a retail one.  For $400 you can get something like a Dell Inspiron 15.6" touchscreen, Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive at Best Buy - https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-1tb-har...

If you want to spend less money, then look into increasing RAM and replacing the hard drive of your current laptop.

[lemarcheaupuces]

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@atikovi wrote:

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@lemarcheaupuces wrote:does a "better" processor handles websites and information faster?

gave the specs of my current Acer in my OP.

do i need to get something better (ram and all that stuff)? 

---

8gb ram would be better as well as a ssd. Nothing else would really improve your performance much  short of faster internet.

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i get your tip about the ram (so twice what i have).

what about the processor?

thought i had read long ago that a faster (not sure if right term) processor handles information faster?

would it make browsing the net (some websites) smoother.

what is considered a fast internet?

have had many different connections along the years.

to tell you had dial up till 2011.

the IPs i have had since seem alright.

i have been able to stream videos on Hulu, thing i wasn't able to do on dial up.

overall my laptop is fast enough (for what i do).

the only issue i have are some websites like;

AOL, MSN...

posting comments on news articles there is a drudgery.

websites like;

Honest to Paws, Boredom Therapy are practically unusable.

i don't get it.

thanks for your help.

[lemarcheaupuces]

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@will.sf wrote:

I would recommend buying a new laptop.  Just get a retail one.  For $400 you can get something like a Dell Inspiron 15.6" touchscreen, Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive at Best Buy - https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-1tb-har...

If you want to spend less money, then look into increasing RAM and replacing the hard drive of your current laptop.

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thanks for the info.

think it is best to buy a new laptop.

$400 is cheap enough.

thanks...

[rogespeed]

 Hi ,  6GB ram memory , Solid State Drive , 64bit Windows 10 works for me.

 

[rogespeed]

Some thoughts to consider as your have decided to acquire a new laptop: 

As you seem to keep your laptop for many years I would suggest extended warranty / company tech support.  

Search multimedia models , largest wide screen within budget.

Open an owners account via manufacturers support site . 

Register yourself and the laptop 

Order a manufacturers recovery disk set - in case the disk drive dies out of warranty 

keep all sales receipts 

Purchase a paid version of your preferred security suite  

[rogespeed]

and a few more thoughts

: re new laptop . you can reduce the cost of acquisition by selling your current laptop - to prepare for sale with maximum returns in mind , save all valued data to removable storage such as flash drive , dvd disk etc , then execute a factory settings ( acer speak ) process which will reformat ( erase ) and reinstall Windows and orginal Acer applications as per first purchased.

The software to execute this is located on a hidden partition , which for Acer , is owner accessed by

Starting laptop

When the Acer splash screen displays

Hold down " ALT' key and at the same time click repeatedly the F10 key

This will open a menu which will include ( somewhere ) Factory restore or recovery or some such

Consult your User Manual for more detailed procedure

After reinstallation , start in Windows and activate license , then install CCleaner and for peace of mind run " Drive Wiper" -   free space only , via Tools -  this will scamble disk drive free space ( currently unused ) , and so deny data recovery by the inquisitive ( not likely but as mentioned for your peace of mind )  

Note in sales item description that laptop has Windows recovery support

Hope this helps ( a statement not my ID ) 

[welcomehome2011]

Hey, I'd be happy to give you some solid options to look at, i.e.- specific models- and tell you why.  You've given lots of helpful clues to start with but it would help me give solid data if you can answer five questions (in no specific order):

1) Screen size: do you care if it's small, do you prefer large, or do you lilke medium? As you are aware, most come in at least 14" and 15" but there are good tiny ones (10") and also plenty of XL (17").

2) Will you carry it around lots or mostly use it at home?

3) Perhaps I missed it, but what are you comfortable spending - is it $400 max?

4) Last: Do you want a brand spankin' new one or would a quality used one be ok?