What can I expect from a 1.7GHz dual core Laptop with 4GB RAM?

[Smurfy]

I need to buy a Laptop to replace the one I've been borrowing. Just wondering what I can expect from a 1.7GHz dual core processor with 4GB of RAM. I don't need to do much, just browse the internet, send emails, use wordprocessor and spreadsheets. They'll be a bit of photoshopping and stitching of photos too. I intend to use OpenOffice and one of the free antivirus packages because I don't want to pay the Microsoft/McAfee/Norton taxes. I'd like it to work for 2-3 years before it gets too slow to be any use. Am I expecting too much? Do I need to spend more?

Thanks for any help

 

[Milo]

Should be fine.

 

[compo]

You will be OK with that.
I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials for the past year which is a free anti virus and anti malware offering. I was using Kaspersky, the paid for version, but when I changed to MSE my computer ran much faster.

 

[the_mikey]

I use a laptop with that and it runs fine, I have Ubuntu installed on it, quick and reliable.

 

[ColinJ]

I have a 5 year old laptop with a much lower spec than that and it is fine for those kind of applications. In fact, I have an even lower spec 12 year old desktop PC which is also fine for them, the one limitation being that it chokes on HD video clips.

 

[Smurfy]

Thanks guys!

 

[green1]

Is it running on 64 bit OS? If it's not you will not be using all the RAM.

 

[sidevalve]

It wont even have to try. As said above I too run a far lower spec than that on the net with no probs at all. Don't believe all the hype, if people used computers that they actually needed as opposed to what they were told they needed the manufacturers would be in deep do do.

 

[TheDoctor]

My Samsung NC10 netbook copes fine with all that, with a 1.6 Ghz processor and (IIRC) a whole gig of ram. Any laptop you buy today will be faster that you'll ever need.

 

[fossyant]

Will be fine. Got much older kit working fine for everyday stuff here. Our main PC with RAID and shite is about 8 years old. 4gb of useable ram will make a big difference.