Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: rosalind dna on 30/09/2008 13:21:21
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I am considering buying either a laptop or a memory stick for 2 reasons;
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1. A laptop or a memory stick both with an USB plug thingy to carry some of the Genealogical Researches that I have been doing since the start of this year.
2. Also because since August, I've been offline for around a month and if I bought a wireless one, then I'd only have to re-charge either a laptop or the memory stick.
I have seen both but mainly on Amazon or when a relative owns both.
Any advice is welcome, but please no techy jargon, I don't understand it.
Thank you, Rosalind
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I may not be understanding your exact question, but a memory stick is no more than a disk to put data on. You would still need a computer to access any of it and it has no relation whatsoever to the internet. Unless there is some sort of memory stick that you are referring to that I am unaware of. [???] [???]
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This is what I'm talking about. It's great for keeping data on, as you can get some pretty cheap, depending on the size (number of megabytes or gigabytes). I use one all the time to take data to and from work.
A laptop is a much bigger investment but would eliminate the need for a memory stick as long as you took it around with you everywhere.
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how much memory is this work taking up on your computer? By a factor of what, do you expect this to increase by?
You can pick 4Gb memory sticks up for just a few pounds, would you need more than that?
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I may not be understanding your exact question, but a memory stick is no more than a disk to put data on. You would still need a computer to access any of it and it has no relation whatsoever to the internet. Unless there is some sort of memory stick that you are referring to that I am unaware of. [???] [???]
[ Invalid Attachment ]
This is what I'm talking about. It's great for keeping data on, as you can get some pretty cheap, depending on the size (number of megabytes or gigabytes). I use one all the time to take data to and from work.
A laptop is a much bigger investment but would eliminate the need for a memory stick as long as you took it around with you everywhere.
Evie I do all of the family tree work at home so far.
Sorry that you didn't understand my initial post/question. But I'd like to share some of the researches that I have done so far but of course I can't carry my desktop PC with me.
So I would like to know which is easier and cheaper in value to have - A memory stick or a laptop and I know that they are not too big now.
I didn't realise before you mentioned that memory sticks are no better than a disk. oh
Which is better value in the long-term? I do know that I can buy more Megabytes or Gigabytes for the hard drive one day.
how much memory is this work taking up on your computer? By a factor of what, do you expect this to increase by?
You can pick 4Gb memory sticks up for just a few pounds, would you need more than that?
Paul I have been doing this research work since late Jan 08 and I don't think that it's taken up more than 2.5 GBs and as I do most of it online.
Because I am working not only from books but also having made Word Files to refer too as and when I need them.
Thank you.
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It can be difficult to add any more hard drive space on a laptop, but you would never need to for things like Word documents and what-not. There are memory sticks with lots of space as well, and the neat thing about those is that you can just put it in your pocket or purse. BUT, you need a computer to access what's on the memory stick. If you want to be able to work on that stuff or show it to someone who does not have a computer, you would need a laptop.
In conclusion:
A laptop is a portable computer. High expense, good portability, plenty of hard disk space.
A memory stick is like a rewritable disc. VERY good portability, low expense, still plenty of disk space for what you are doing (it sounds to me) as long as you buy one that is about 4 gig.
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It can be difficult to add any more hard drive space on a laptop, but you would never need to for things like Word documents and what-not. There are memory sticks with lots of space as well, and the neat thing about those is that you can just put it in your pocket or purse. BUT, you need a computer to access what's on the memory stick. If you want to be able to work on that stuff or show it to someone who does not have a computer, you would need a laptop.
In conclusion:
A laptop is a portable computer. High expense, good portability, plenty of hard disk space.
A memory stick is like a rewritable disc. VERY good portability, low expense, still plenty of disk space for what you are doing (it sounds to me) as long as you buy one that is about 4 gig.
Thanks Evie but concerning the future, possible addition of a GB on a hard drive I meant on my PC.
That is interesting and I'll have to consider the price factor of both also the amount of GBs that I'd eventually need.
If I do choose to purchase a Laptop then I am sure that they are not extremely expensive now as of course they once where.
Yes I do know that at least 4 GB is not much space compared to a laptop but if there is no available computer for the stick then I'd be stuck.
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Laptop:
Price: Usually anywhere from US $300.00 to US $2,000.00.
Hard drive space: 16 GB to 250 GB (though most start around 160 GB now)
Memory stick:
Price: US $12.00 to US $150.00
Space: 256 MB (megabytes) to 16 GB
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Laptop:
Price: Usually anywhere from US $300.00 to US $2,000.00.
Hard drive space: 16 GB to 250 GB (though most start around 160 GB now)
Memory stick:
Price: US $12.00 to US $150.00
Space: 256 MB (megabytes) to 16 GB
Thanks Evie but since I live in the UK, then I would be paying in sterling prices. Although I am no good with working out exchange rates.
But the gigabytes or megabytes would not be includded in the said prices only just how much I would needed to put on either a memory stick or laptop.
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The megabytes and gigabytes are the maximum capacities of the laptops and memory sticks. With the memory sticks, price relies mainly on how much storage the stick has. So, if you get a 256 MB stick, it will cost you no more than $20 (or about 11 pounds sterling).
Just chop my numbers in half for a rough estimation of pounds sterling.
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Evie
Ok that is easy to chop in half the dollar prices to sterling roughly as you adviced.
Also I'll have a good look at Laptops I think might be more useful for my future uses rather than as you mentioned that a
memory stick is just a smaller version of a disk.
Even though I would be able to put the stick in my pocket or purse.
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Hi rosalind.
For what you are doing a 2gb memory stick should be plenty enough storage but as said above, it is ONLY used for storage. Its like having a big floppy or cd rom. The only way you could show your work to others would be on a pc but they would also need the same genealogy program installed to view your work.
You could buy one of the small 10" laptops like the MSI Wind, Advent or other for around £280. I have recently purchased one and I believe Make it Lady may have also so have a word with her.
Dont get one with a screen smaller than 10" as they don't display fully and you then have to scroll the screen around. I must admit that this is great for viewing and the size makes it handy for browsing while in bed! I now use it more than my main pc as it also has a card reader for the same card as on my camera which makes transferring photos much easier.
Have a look here: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=16818.0 for some information.
If its just a memory stick you are after then I think WHS has a 2gb memory stick for £8.47
PS:
I just remembered you have had a wirless router installed and these laptops have wireless. [;)]
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I've got a couple of these Emtec 4Gb memory sticks (£10 each at Tesco)
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-3499.aspx
They are tiny: 55 x 18 x 9mm, so best have a duplicate (with your data) in case you lose one.
4Gb is an convenient size of memory stick as a CD can store 4.7 Gb, so once the stick is full it can be transferred to one CD.
If you had a larger 8 or 16Gb memory stick its contents would have to be "backed-up" (stored) on 2 or 4 CDs.
Be sure not to remove the stick from the computer until it has displayed a message saying it is ok to do so.
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Cheers RD, a very good price!
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Yes and that is a good price but before I buy anything that is new or unfamiliar, then I look at least 3 to 4 other prices that is before I pay for anything.
I can buy CDs easily from most big stores but now I am beginning to think about purchasing a laptpop.
Or the memory stick and I can check that tomorrow or later on.
There is no rush yet.