Oh Laptop, My Laptop

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Okay, thats it. Time to turn to the community at large. For many months now Ive been doing an on again, off again, love/hate, researching thing for a lap top. I think I'm at the point now where I just need a third opinion...or six...or ten. :-)

 

It will be used for: word processing/fiction writing/papers, DVD/CD, web surfing, email, some storage of pictures/wallpapers, and of course the STSF chat room and boards. I'd like to spend $500-$1000, but would love to keep it below $1000. A solid, general laptop.

 

I've been seriously considering HP/Compaq, but any other suggestions (besides Gateway), please go for it.

 

Thanks! >^..^<

[Guest Laarell]

I've had nothing but cord issues with HP/Compaq, but that could also be because I get their bottom-of-line... :angry:

[Sendai Riko 0]

I would suggest Lenovo (formerly IBM) for a notebook with your needs in mind. While it's no longer IBM in name, the same quality is still there, and these are very much designed with more business-type applications in mind, but with enough power and ability to have fun on it too. The C series is the most economical, and generally comes with Corel software installed for word processing. If you're more a fan of the Microsoft WP software, then you'd have the option of adding it (for a price). When you're at home, or other place where you can stay put for a while, you can always plug in a mouse and keyboard if you don't like the itty bitty keys and touchpad. I believe all of the C Series notebooks come with a DVD (fixed) drive standard. If you wan't writeable or RW for DVD/CD, I think it's available (but again for a price).

 

All in all, buying a notebook is a much harder, more thought-intensive process than getting a desktop system. Whatever you do, if it'll stay within your price range, I'd suggest looking at expanding your warranty in the very least, and perhaps upgrading to one of the extra support services. Since, unlike desktops, you can't as easily just pop open the case and replace something that isn't working on your own.

[Atragon9 0]

Dell and Toshiba make decent units, but allow me to offer some overall advice

• Don't get a Celeron processor, they are cheaper for a reason.
  
• Get as much RAM as you are willing to buy. The more you can stuff in there, the happier you will be.
  
• AVOID Vista!!! It is just not ready. It may be a fight with your retailer, but they can definitely get you any machine loaded with XP
  

[Guest Laarell]

Yeah. Vista's a nightmare. I was desktop-shopping two weeks ago, and managed to get the last XP-preinstall in the town. But it's worth it -- relearning how to navigate a computer = not fun. And the bugs in it are amazingly bad.

[LoAmi 0]

And the bugs in it are amazingly bad.

It's not the bugs that worry me. It's the features (eg, WGA/DRM built in to the system). :-)

 

As for the actual question, I think that every manufacturer has been guilty of putting substandard parts in their machines at some point or other, so I find it hard to have brand loyalty. Also, a lot of companies have started to install very annoying "demo" or "support" applications on computers that border on adware and spyware. (eg, Dell Support). If you're going to keep Windows, I would even suggest getting a new machine and reinstalling the OS from scratch immediately.

 

If you do get a machine with Vista and you have an otherwise unused non-OEM XP license you want to use *and* you intend not to use Vista, you can return the Vista license for a refund under certain conditions.

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Compaq would not be my first choice; no one I know who's gotten a Compaq of any type has gone a full year without some major repair issue.

 

I'd suggest a Dell or Toshiba, and second A9 on getting as much RAM and physical hard disk space as you can get for your money. Laptops aren't upgradeable in that regard the way desktops are, so it's worthwhile to shell out a bit more now for space, since it will extend the usable lifetime of your laptop (at least for space reasons, it makes no guarantees regarding things flat-out breaking).

[mtporter 0]

::chants:: IBook! IBook!

[LoAmi 0]

The problem with Apples here is that they tend to be on the expensive side, and the under $1000 ones have pretty small screens. If it's being used as a primary computer, that can get annoying.

[Ens.Jimmy 0]

Keep AWAY from vista, I have always refered people to either HP or IBM.. or you may consider a used one there should be a few local computer repair stores in your area... find one that agrees with your personality and talk to them... with a lapper rem.. ram = speed and the better the processer your safe. keep trekin

[Guest STSF Lebowski]

Go to a computer store that is on an upper floor of a mall or other business building. You can tell they are serious about selling computers if you have to go upstairs to get to them.

Then ask to see one each of the various types that you're thinking about for comparison. When they turn their backs, run out to the stairs and throw each one of them down the stairs, taking special care to make your throws even and uniform.

Whichever one goes farthest down the stairs is the keeper! The salesman will rant and rave about damaging his property to try to drive the price up, but don't give in.. secretly he respects having a customer that knows the industry so well.

 

Hope this helps!

 

I do tech support for hire, if anyone needs more in depth computer help. Make sure you have steel toed boots on before calling. :angry:

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Go to a computer store that is on an upper floor of a mall or other business building. You can tell they are serious about selling computers if you have to go upstairs to get to them.

Then ask to see one each of the various types that you're thinking about for comparison. When they turn their backs, run out to the stairs and throw each one of them down the stairs, taking special care to make your throws even and uniform.

Whichever one goes farthest down the stairs is the keeper!

 

I can't do that Mr. Leb! When I get arrested I wont be able to sim here on STSF! Eee Gads!

[eagle 0]

Dell and Toshiba make decent units, but allow me to offer some overall advice

• Don't get a Celeron processor, they are cheaper for a reason.
  
• Get as much RAM as you are willing to buy. The more you can stuff in there, the happier you will be.
  
• AVOID Vista!!! It is just not ready. It may be a fight with your retailer, but they can definitely get you any machine loaded with XP
  

 

I must concur Kansas...the brands stated by A9 seem to be in the long run much more dependable.

I have been an AMD fan for many years(incl.the recent upgrade to my desktop),

that being said ,one get a laptop with an AMD processor(at least an Athlon),have plenty of DRAM,as much as you can see to have .

Have as much hard drive as the budget will afford,and def.use XP,when I did my upgrade I installed XP Pro,with full updates packages(abt.3 hrs.of downloads),and btw over the years I have had great results and longevity from Western Dig.HD'S

Hope this helps a bit ... :angry:

[Kansas_Jones 0]

I'll be moving onto Round 2 of the match, looking more closely at Dell and Toshiba. Thanks for the input y'all - it did help. >^..^<

Edited April 2, 2007 by Kansas_Jones

[Dumbass 0]

I don't know much about Toshibas, but Dells are pretty good.

 

I bought a Dell about 5 years ago. Do you think there has been a decline in performance in those 5 years? Of course! It is a 5-year old computer that has seen a LOT of use! But nothing major. I had to replace the keyboard because it is incompatible with getting coffee spilled on it, and I could use a new printer even though the one I have now still works, the DVD drive was damages in a move and the CD-ROM drive stoped reading about a year ago, but other than that the old clunker still works.

 

Plus, Dells are black. Anyone who works with computers will tell you black computers are better.

 

Disclosure: I have Dell stock in my 401(k).

[Garnoopy 0]

Dell is an excellent company. If for no other reason than the support, go with Dell. My comp got the blue screen of death three weeks ago - they overnighted new RAM and a new hard drive. When that didn't fix it, the next day a technician came out and replaced the motherboard. When that didn't work, they mailed me a new computer, upgraded to their current equipment.

 

I promptly sold it and bought a mac book, however, I still have high respect for Dell's tech support office.

 

So far this MacBook has been the best buy I've ever done. It runs wayyyy better than any PC I've ever used. Looks nicer just works, well, the way a computer should. However, I do agree mac's are expensive. This is the MacBook with only a 13" screen. Now, I wanted the smallest full sized keyboard computer I could find since I carry mind everywhere, so, this computer is perfect for what I do. I have an external monitor when I'm at home.

 

It wasn't badly priced with a student discount which is easy enough to get.

 

I'd recommend Dell or a MacBook.

[Dox Maturin 0]

Did you get your laptop yet? I recently bought a laptop and spent $400. It was a refurbished older one from Fry's electronics and on sale. For what you describe, it doesn't sound like you need a top of the line unit.

 

I agree that you should wait on Vista. XP works great, and regardless of what Microsoft would like I doubt it is going anywhere soon (online support for XP will probably be better than MS tech support anyway B) ). A Vista-capable laptop, especially one that could run Aero without being significantly slow would be pricey, I think.

[will_marx 0]

Dell's continuing to offer both XP Home and Pro until the retirement date next January. Seems Vista's not all that it's cracked up to be, particularly when it comes to digital peripherals.

 

Read about it here:

Users force Dell to resurrect XP

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Did you get your laptop yet?

 

I agree that you should wait on Vista.

 

 

Dell's continuing to offer both XP Home and Pro until the retirement date next January. Seems Vista's not all that it's cracked up to be, particularly when it comes to digital peripherals.

 

Not as of yet Dox - its not really an emergency or anything, so I can afford to bide my time.

 

I'm considering Dell - I have had one since 2003, its still chugging along, and I have been very pleased with it (watch, now that I typed that out loud, I will get the blue screen of death and the motherboard will fry and cause a cascade system failure that takes out all the power in the house or something).

 

And, I am backing slowly away from the Vista Will! XP all the way. I am also planning on ordering from a Dell kiosk at a local mall, rather then on-line - I want to see exactly what I am purchasing. Visual aids are always good.

 

I'll keep y'all updated. ;-)

[Guest STSF Sketti]

i'm partial to HP, myself.

 

one thing to note - depending on where you get it, they will often customize the software on your computer between the time you buy it and pick it up (i.e. best buy's geek squad). when i purchased my laptop, not only did i insist on windows xp instead of vista, i also had them remove everything except the few programs i told them to keep. i have no aol software, no adware stuff, no popups of any kind. it may cost an extra 20 bucks, but it's well worth it in my opinion.

[Gallus 0]

I know that you arent really entertaining any brands other than Dell and Toshiba but you should know that I got a laptop a few days ago, a Lenovo. This is the best computer in the history of bottom of the line EVER. Actually its not quite the bottom of the line, I upgraded from the celeron that they offered to a Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, and of course I went for xp which shaved off like $50 from the price. I use this thing for everything, movies, internet, games :cough, minesweeper, cough: but my nephew plays City of Heroes on it without problems. The model is R60e.

 

The actual machine is very sturdy, they advertise that they have some sort of roll cage built into the machines structural frame. I personally have no idea if this is useful or not, as smashing the computer is inadvisable no matter what the brand. I went with the 9-cell battery, not in spite of the fact it sticks out an inch from the back, but because of it. There is nothing more useful than being able to easily carry the laptop from one room to another while the screen is still open, not forcing you to go into standby whenever you need to move. Oh yes, the larger battery also stores a larger charge... 7 or so hours while working, 5 or so while doing particulate simulations, about full load. Typing at night is aided significantly by the keyboard light above the screen, it illuminates the entire board, something I look forward to whenever there is a power outage and I wanna do some hardcore :cough, reversi, cough: gaming. I must admit that I am anti-touchpad, but you can get IBMs with a touchpad instead or in addition to the trackpoint that they are so famous for.

 

I strongly suggest that you go Lenovo, if I wasnt forced to by the total failure of my desktop computer, I probably would have gotten one anyways.

 

Oh, yes the mandatory notification: I am in no way connected to lenovo... I am just a very enthusiastic person... it is uncontrollable...

 

Additional note: It doesnt come bundled with useless software, but does include Norton Antivirus with a subscription, free of charge.

Edited April 23, 2007 by Gallus

[Guest STSF Lebowski]

I just got a new Macbook and I looooves it B)

[Kansas_Jones 0]

i'm partial to HP, myself.

 

 

I know that you arent really entertaining any brands other than Dell and Toshiba but you should know that I got a laptop a few days ago, a Lenovo. The model is R60e.

 

I strongly suggest that you go Lenovo,

 

 

I just got a new Macbook and I looooves it :lol:

 

Ahhh! Too many choices! Make the voices stop! I'm starting to drive myself crazy with research, yes. But, hey, choices are good. Thanks again all. I could do a 180 and get a Lenovo, which oddly enough was my first choice way back when. I doubt I will be getting a Mac though Lebowski, but I'm happy that your pleased.

 

I guess what it comes down to is I want a good solid workhorse type of lappy. But, Im also pleased with the XPS desktop, so why not go for its cousin the XPS lappy?

 

(and yes, Im driving the family nuts with the research as well) B)

[Atragon9 0]

Im driving the family nuts with the research

Awww, she thinks of us as family!!

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Awww, she thinks of us as family!!

 

UNCLE A9!!