New member with a few questions

[Tiger Feet]

Hi,

New member here and great to be joining you all.

I posted the same in the other laptop forum, as I could not distinguish between the two and which had the most traffic. So I apologise in advance if this wasn't necessary.

I rang up today and got the exact specs for a laptop computer that will work with Dragon NaturallySpeaking Pro 11 and stop the lag (Latency issues) that you get with pre-i processor laptops when using this software.

Being disabled and not having the use of my hands, I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Pro as a matter of course. This version of DNS is apparently a complete re-write. The original versions were resource hogs and this new one is even more the case.

The laptop chosen therefore, for ease of use with this software is shown below with the satisfactory specs needed in my case.

I have just 4 questions:

1. Could I request and would it be taken off the price that the Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - DVD & License (£79) that is included could be excluded as I already have Windows 7 Ultimate Operating System ready to put on.

2. Could I also request that the Free Microsoft Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel) and the BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL, not be put on the computer although they are free. I already own a Microsoft Office suite and I would prefer to choose my own anti-virus software and malware products.

3. I'm not in any way an expert on the specifications of a laptop. In the specifications list below, it mentions 8 MB cache. Is this equivalent to 'L3' cache? Sorry for being a bit thick but I just want to get this straight. L3 cache I have been informed is needed for use with DNS 11 Pro. Does 8 MB cache and L3 cache mean the same thing?

4. As mentioned earlier, I am disabled and wondered whether a discount on the quote I have already been given would be possible?

Cheers

Tiger Feet

Product Category Product Description
Chassis & Display Optimus II: 17.3" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-2820QM (2. 30 GHz) 8MB Cache
Memory (RAM) 8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)
Graphics Card nVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M - 1GB DDR3 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - 1st Hard Disk 500GB SERIAL ATA II 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Sound Card Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Network Facilities GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS 802.11N CARD INC. BLUETOOTH 3.0
USB Options 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Battery Optimus Series 6 Cell Lithium-ION Battery - 48.85WH
Power Lead & Adaptor 1 x UK Power Lead & 90W Adaptor (GT 540M) / 120W Adaptor (GT 555M)
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam INTEGRATED 1.3 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty 3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year
Labour)
Insurance 1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days

 

[Greenman]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I can't answer 4 but I can help you with the rest.
Firstly, you can take off Windows 7 in the config and it will be reflected in the price. Same thing with Excel and Bullguard:

As for 3, The i7-2820qm has smart cache. Here's the official specs page, you can google it to find out more information about it, I'm not entirely sure.
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52227

 

[vanthus]

For questions 1 and 2,as Greenman explained.
question 3. DNS 11 PRO system requirements doesn't stipulate L3 cache as a requirement,
but the spec of the i7-2820QM seems to have it anyway.( i7-2820QM 4x2.30GHz, 32nm, 8MB L3, Turbo to 3.40GHz, 45W)but best check with PCS.
Don't know about question 4,sorry.

 

[Tiger Feet]

New member with new questions

For questions 1 and 2,as Greenman explained.

I did this several times when filling in the details for the quote on the website itself. When I got to the end and clicked the last button that was supposed to give me the final price, it did not work and the final price did not show. Don't ask me why, it just did not work for me. It is for this reason I ended up speaking to a salesperson on the telephone instead.

question 3. DNS 11 PRO system requirements doesn't stipulate L3 cache as a requirement,

The software itself may not stipulate that factor for obvious reasons. I draw your attention to the links below taking you to the KnowBrainer forums that house several experts on the subject of DNS. The threads relate to what specifications are ideal for a laptop to stop the latency issues when using DNS 11 on one. The threads show contradictory statements to whether DNS 11 Pro does not stipulate L3 cache as a requirement.

http://www.knowbrainer.com/PubForum/index.cfm?page=viewForumTopic&topicId=12472

http://www.knowbrainer.com/pubforum...FD1908E-D902-296C-501E29C7398E8E19thread63896

but the spec of the i7-2820QM seems to have it anyway.( i7-2820QM 4x2.30GHz, 32nm, 8MB L3, Turbo to 3.40GHz, 45W)but best check with PCS.

Regarding your statement 'but best to check with PCS', I tried to do that. The last thing I said to the person on the telephone (because he was also not sure about the computer having L3 cache) was when sending my quote, could he check the computer equated to having that exact equality.

I asked him if he would check with his colleagues, then let me know in the quotation before he sent it to me, as he didn't know himself. He not only did not do this, he also did not take off the operating system, the free Word starter software and the Bullguard anti-virus I did not need which I also asked him to do.

So, does 8 MB cache, smart cache, call it what you will, mean, or did mean at one point 'L3' cache?

the spec of the i7-2820QM seems to have it anyway.( i7-2820QM 4x2.30GHz, 32nm, 8MB L3, Turbo to 3.40GHz, 45W)

Could you tell me where you saw this printed as you have shown 'L3' above and I have not seen this anywhere so far in a specification list or a quote.

Cheers

Tiger Feet

 

[vanthus]

Sorry you're questions don't seem to have been answered,
this is where I seen that spec,but i notice now it's sandy bridge,soo I'm not sure,
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4084/intels-sandy-bridge-upheaval-in-the-mobile-landscape/2
PS.One of the administrators (PCS)has answered in your other thread.

 

[Tiger Feet]

vanthus,

Thanks for your input and information. I've seen the administrator's response in the other laptop thread.

I'm not sure what the differences are between the 2 laptop forums. That is why I posted my questions in both ;-).

Cheers

Tiger Feet

 

[DeadEyeDuk]

Not that it matters of course, but to clarify.

One of them is in the Technical Support section, soooooo, "MY LAPTOP DOESNT WORK HEEEEELP" kind of thing.

The other is in the Sales Advice section, sooooo, "MY OLD LAPTOP DOESNT WORK, I WANT TO BUY A NEW ONE"...kind of thing

I suppose your question, although might be argued to fit both would be better placed in the Sales Advice section.

Also, to your original query about "traffic", I doubt any section of the board is "busier" than others, as you can see all of them, and are unlikely to get people that just look at one bit

 

[Tiger Feet]

Okay thanks for the explanation DeadEye. I definitely need a new computer with the right specs I can afford ;-).

 

[Greenman]

In regards to the processor DNS thing, don't they have an official support channel you can use to find out if the CPU will run it correctly?
I've had another look and officially, there is no mention of l3, only smart cache.

 

[Tiger Feet]

It's okay Greenman,

all my questions have now been answered in the other laptop forum thanks ;-).

Cheers