Apple next? I was actually considering an Apple but the price is a bit out of my range. I guess I’ll have to stick to the red ones from the supermarket for now. In case you’re wondering, we’re on the topic of laptops.

A few weeks ago, I decided it’s time to retire my Acer TravelMate 4002WLMi. There is not much wrong with the laptop. It’s been reliable for the three years that I’ve had it. The main signs of wear and tear are two cracks on the LCD panel hinges. It doesn’t seem to compromise the stability of the panel but it does show the quality of the build. I can’t say I’m surprised as I have always considered Acer as value for money rather than quality. When I chose the TravelMate three years ago, while I was still a student, I had two things in mind. Reliable hardware and a cheap price tag. Acer was the perfect fit. If I ever find myself with a tight budget, I will not hesitate to choose Acer.

I had always been a bit anti-laptop. Laptops are a lot more expensive than desktops and they are not particularly upgradeable. However, ever since I got the laptop, my desktop has become somewhat of a file server. With my latest acquisition, the fate of the desktop seems to be sealed. A laptop just fits perfectly with my travel plans.

Choosing a laptop can be a daunting task. You have choice, choice, and more choice. Each a little bit different. Thankfully, my screen requirements helped narrow down the choices. I needed real estate without sacrificing portability. I also wanted a glossy screen as the colour looks much nicer. The Asus F8va has exactly that—14.1″ 1440×900 ColorShine.

I chose Asus, pronounced Ah-soos or Ay-sus depending on where you’re from, for its reliability and build quality. The standard two year warranty provided by Asus speaks for itself. I don’t fancy another laptop with broken hinges. So far, my experience with the Asus laptop has been good. The laptop feels pretty solid. However, I do wish Asus would provide more documentation with their products. I don’t quite know what some of the included accessories are.

If you’re purchasing a laptop online, make sure you know what you’re getting. The specifications provided by online retailers can be wildly inaccurate at times. Most laptops also have sub-models with different optional accessories that just adds to the confusion. I was a bit disappointed when I realised that my laptop did not have an s-video output. It does have an s-video to RCA cable though. Question for Asus, where am I supposed to plug that to?

This new laptop also happens to be my first experience with Windows Vista. One of the factors that prompted me to upgrade was security. Over the recent months, I’ve become somewhat anal about it. I will be posting more about this in the coming weeks.

This new toy should keep me entertained for at least the next two months. Boys and their toys. With the amount I’ve spent, I can’t afford to do anything else anyway. Did you notice how this post seems to drag on and on?