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  1. #1
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    * Need help/advice on ultrabook I'm about to buy...

    I urgently need to buy an ultrabook to replace my toshiba nb200 netbook (which I've grown to hate since it's nowhere near as powerful as a desktop and I have trouble working on it!).

    I travel often on business and would love to purchase an ultrabook. I require widows 7 pro (not premium), but I see most have the horrid windows 8 on it which I definitely do NOT want.

    Anyone here ever downgrade from 8 to win 7? I've never done it before.

    I'm having trouble deciding which ulrtabook to get from here, any sugesstions? http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...cm_mmc=explore

    I also don't own windows 7 pro, this seems it's going to be a very large additional expense to get the cd?

    thanks!

  2. #2
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    I've been searching and searching for ultrabook I can buy running windows 7 pro and this is nightmare! They really jack up the price if I want to buy it with windows 7 pro instead of windows 8.

    You'd have to kill me before I would ever use windows 8. It looks like my only option is to buy windows 8 ultrabook and then "down grade" it to windows 7 pro which I have no clue how to do.

  3. #3
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    4 on that link you gave are Windows 7 (2 pro).
    I've seen a few on Newegg.com also, and they recently had a special for Win7 OEM for like $79. "Downgrading" should be as simple as booting to the Windows 7 CD and format/install.

    I dislike the win8 interface also, but there are ways to make it behave a lot more like Win 7 that that dumb tiled interface. Just sayin'
    Your one stop shop for decentralization

  4. #4
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    bear, thanks. Yes I see the 2 that are win 7 pro, but they are way more expensive.

    I will NEVER be able to use windows 8, I cannot deal with that cluttered horrid interface. I now see that the windows 7 pro cd really isn't as expensive as I thought it would be. I see it priced at approx $90 here: http://www.technetmicro.com/product....Fadj7AodDz4AyA

    I need to find cheapest price possible for windos 7 pro, if you guys have any ideas would be very grateful.

    So it's really that easy to downgrade from windows 8 to window 7 pro? I've never done it before. Thus, have no clue what I'm doing

  5. #5
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    having another problem, the ultrabook here looks pitch black: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000052058

    I really wanted the silver one, the Indian guy I spoke to on phone from Toshiba insists it is silver, but to me that looks pitch black!?!?! I would be too scared to order it and end up receiving a pitch black one.

  6. #6
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    Exclamation ultrabooks... is it best run windows 7 premium or pro on it?

    I'm getting an ultrabook to replace my tohsiba nb200 netbook. I'm very unimpressed with my netbook since it doesn't have anywhere near the same specs/power as my desktop. Thus, causing a lot of problem when I try to work on it.

    I'm concerned I will have same issue with an ultrabook? I'm going to buy a windows 8 ultrabook but then immediately downgrade to windows 7 pro or premium.

    I'm very confused whether windows 7 premium or pro is best to run on an ultrabook? I know I don't want windows 7 starter, since that does not have the aero glass effect.

    Thanks so much for any advice

  7. #7
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    this is netbook I currently have which I need to replace asap since it has no power!:
    http://www.umpcportal.com/products/Toshiba/Mini%20NB200

    Would these 2 ultrabooks be much more powerful. In other words, as powerful as desktop?
    http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061364

    http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061419

    Thanks.

  8. #8
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    Those 2 ultrabooks are certainly more powerful than that netbook. The netbook for example on a benchmark website has a cpu that scores 600 points. Those two ultrabooks score 3000 and 4000 points.

    The ultra books have 8 and 6 times the memory of the netbook. This one http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061419 has less memory and cpu power compared to the Toshiba R93 but it's hard drive while smaller, should be considerably faster.

    One thing to note is that most desktops use 7200rpm hard drives. While most laptops and such use 5400rpm drives. Which are slower. It is noticeable. So even if the system specs are identical, if the drives are not, the laptop may appear a tad slower.

    I'm not a laptop expert myself though. So I couldn't tell you if you could get a higher spec laptop for the same price or cheaper than the two you listed. But dell might have something on their site comparable.
    Last edited by techjr; 09-24-2013 at 08:23 PM.

  9. #9
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    techjr, thanks for your reply. What makes this one http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061419 much faster than this one? http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061364

    Is it the processor difference or the drives? Please forgive my ignorant questions, I'm not very savvy when it comes to these issues. Thanks

    EDIT: 128 GB space isn't enough, I'm going to temporarily replace my desktop with this netbook and my desktop is already using 140 gigs of space.... so it seems this will be problem for me to use that ultrabook?
    Last edited by Frosty; 09-24-2013 at 09:07 PM.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty View Post
    techjr, thanks for your reply. What makes this one http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061419 much faster than this one? http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061364

    Is it the processor difference or the drives? Please forgive my ignorant questions, I'm not very savvy when it comes to these issues. Thanks

    EDIT: 128 GB space isn't enough, I'm going to temporarily replace my desktop with this netbook and my desktop is already using 140 gigs of space.... so it seems this will be problem for me to use that ultrabook?
    The http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000061419 has a little less memory and a slower cpu. But since it is using solid state drives with no moving parts, when opening up applications and such it would appear faster and come up quicker. Though not always true, solid state drives generally make any system appear faster.

    If you are using 140gigs, the other one would be the better choice then. From what I've seen happen often myself is users will buy a laptop that has better specifications than their desktop but since the laptop has a slower drive in it, at times the desktop performs better when accessing files.

    What will this system actually be used for? If you have an actual desktop computer, would you be able to post the system specifications along with how well it works for what you use it for currently?

    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty View Post
    having another problem, the ultrabook here looks pitch black: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000052058

    I really wanted the silver one, the Indian guy I spoke to on phone from Toshiba insists it is silver, but to me that looks pitch black!?!?! I would be too scared to order it and end up receiving a pitch black one.

    Looks like the black one to me. That link even says "Magnesium Alloy Casing in Black" If you get him again, I'd ask to speak to someone else as hes clearly just trying to sell rather than be helpful from what I see.

  11. #11
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    I was recently looking at a similar choice (my old Asus netbook with SSD was still ok for speed but I now need a 64bit machine) and ended up with a 12" HP Elitebook - chunkier than the ultrabooks but very solid and you can replace the optical drive with a caddy holding a second HD, giving you a primary SSD for speed and a secondary HDD for capacity.

    Current range is here.

    Looks like you may also get downgrade rights with Windows 8 so no need to buy 7.
    Chris

    "Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them." - Laurence J. Peter

  12. #12
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    I think that's only (ability to downgrade for free) with certain version of windows 8 though?

    Tomorrow I'm going to go to staples, office max, best buy etc and check out some ultrabooks in person

    I'm very anal about the finish/color of the ultrabook I wish to get. No high gloss (can't strand it when it shows finger prints), don't want a solid black one etc I'm a tad picky when it comes to those things.

    thanks for all the responses.

  13. #13
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    Don't waste your money

    try to get some thing like this


    http://postfiles9.naver.net/20130122...CF.jpg?type=w2
    Treat your password like your toothbrush. Don't let anybody else use it, and get a new one every six months.Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen

  14. #14
    Ultrabooks are a good idea but aren't "there" yet in terms of power.
    It would be enough for web browsing and few apps, but don't expect miracles.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vex76 View Post
    Ultrabooks are a good idea but aren't "there" yet in terms of power.
    It would be enough for web browsing and few apps, but don't expect miracles.
    I do everything on my ultrabook besides gaming. I don't play games btw. Photoshop is not a problem on a core i5 1.6ghz with intel 4000 chip.

    My CPU usage averages at 5 percent. I would say that 95% of computer users only need ultrabook performance ... or even less.

    Just make sure you get a haswell cpu and get a SSD! Samsung or Apple is your best bet for quality hardware. Own 2 Samsung ultrabooks. Might pick up the new air because of battery life.

    Also I prefer Windows 8 over 7. It is faster in every aspect.
    Last edited by slyjackal; 09-25-2013 at 02:13 AM.

  16. #16
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    hopefully hopefully either of these ultrabooks will be MUCH more powerful than my toshiba nb200 netbook which has below specs?

    http://www.umpcportal.com/products/Toshiba/Mini%20NB200

    I do need to use photoshop on my ultrabook... i should run fine on any of the ultrabooks I mentioend in this thread? photoshop definfitely had problems running on my netbook, hoping this won't be same problem on ultrabook!

    thanks.

  17. #17
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    What's your budget?

  18. #18
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    I was hoping to not spend more than $1k..... preferably around $900 max if possible.

    I see ultrabooks are sooooo much more expensive than laptop! I travel tremendous amount on business and cannot imagine lugging around a laptop. Thus, why I was so excited to get an ultrabook.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frosty View Post
    I was hoping to not spend more than $1k..... preferably around $900 max if possible.

    I see ultrabooks are sooooo much more expensive than laptop! I travel tremendous amount on business and cannot imagine lugging around a laptop. Thus, why I was so excited to get an ultrabook.
    Honestly I would spend a 100 dollars more and get the 13 inch air. The 4th gen i5 will give you 40%+ more battery life.

    Apple claims a 12 hour battery life on the new air 13. However, Cnet got 14 hours and 25 minutes of battery life. This is simply the best in class.

    MacMall has the air 13 for 50 dollars less.

    If I had to pick a toshiba I would get this one.
    http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000105008

    That one has the 4th gen i5 cpu.

    Preformance wise for daily tasks the air will be faster since it has full SSD storage.

  20. #20
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    slyjackal,

    I'm not an apple fan whatsoever, so the air is off the list. Strictly windows user here and sticking to windows 7 premium or pro. This one you mentioned looks good http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...oid=2000105008

    would have to downgrade to windows 7 premium, but I think that ultrabook comes with basic windows 8 which cannot be downgraded. From what I researched only windows 8 pro can be downgraded fro free.....

    I'm heading out to best buy etc and look at some ultrabooks and see what I can find

  21. #21
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    I just got back from office depot, staples and best buy. They hardly had any ultabooks to choose from and the ones they had were bad! High gloss (showing fingers) black keyboard all of which I don't want. I wanted a silver or white one, no black.

    I now also googled reviews on the toshiba ultrabook and tons of bad reviews saying the screen crack very easily, too fragile etc. It seems my dream of owning an ultrabook have gone down the drain. I travel tremendous amount, I can't have a super fragile item in my carry on!

    Now I have no idea what to do. I know I want a 13inch screen and windows 7 premium, but have been turned off to ultrabooks after reading so many bad review on how fragile they are!

    It seems my only option now is a laptop?

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