reccomend a laptop?

A

apathrev

Guest
I just recently made the decision that I would like to have a laptop, simply for the convenience of mobility. I went by Best Buy tolday and glanced around. So many different choices! Price ranges from $500 all the way to $2500. I'm not sure too much what to look for. Of course, I'd like something nice, of course with built in wireless modem, and possibly even DVD drive. Something economical, yet convenient. I'd still have my desk top PC as my main computer. I just want a laptop for convenience and mobility purposes. For, say, like when I go out of town. I need some reccomendations in brand, model, where to buy, etc. Keep in mind, I'm not computer savvy at all, and have a very simple understanding of terminology.
 
Most laptops today come with wireless and DVD. There may be a few that don't normally come with either. Usually you can upgrade but not always.

A couple of questions to assist you in your choice...

How portable do you need the laptop? Makes a big difference if you are lugging it around all the time. They have nice small ones are great in that department. They typically use a 12" screen so it is smaller. You can get bigger screens 14" to 17". I believe the standard is 15". Remember the bigger the screen the more power it uses.

What you going to use it for? Simple stuff? Listen to music? Play movies or games? If you are going to do anything other than simple, don't get the celeron chip...get a pentium or centrino (preferred for better power comsumption) or a good AMD chip.

Good laptops are IBM, Toshiba, and Sony. They tend to be pricer but they are good solid machines and will last. Dell, HP, Compaq and Gateway are decent and less expensive. You can get a good used one out there but since you are not computer saavy, I stick with a new one. Keep an eye out for sales as they occur all the time especially around the holidays (hint, hint...Thanksgiving is coming and the day after is a great day to buy computer stuff). :mrgreen:
 
SO funny that we made a coincidence because I also made my serious deicison to get a laptop just so I can do my homework inbetween classes-- or just to kill time.

I found that www.pcworld.com does give GOOD ratings for ALL laptops and it is honest. I trust 'em..

I want a iBOOK but it is TOO expensive and I dont need all that space and those programs. I jsut want MS office, internet, and... basic programs, that is it.

So I decided to go with PC ... I am not worried about viruses and bs because I won't use it for internet primarily (only for school research, you know? so I won't open up and go into porn sites as usual... ;) )

And Dell Insprion 6000 is the perfect one especially for my budget ($600 and under) for all things I want in a laptop (speed, space *not too much*, BIG-- 15inch. I won't settle for iBook's 12... and it is 999$!!! so 14" is 1,200 something)... it got good ratings but I need to see it in person (I am planning to hit the Frys just to get the feel of the laptop) because a lot of poeple complains about its laptop so I want to see for myself.

:) :thumb: I tried Ebay but too much competition and the 600$ can go to 800$

Dell is currently offering the 600$ laptops so I am now plotting to tackle down my mom's credit card... :giggle:

oh by the way....
DON'T GET HP. They make poor laptops. COMPAQ and SONY and VAIO are good. soars is right about the brands etc.


EDITED:
Decided to add info about Dell Inspiron
The Inspiron 6000 is a smoothly designed, handsome laptop with a sloped front and cream-colored trim. Our unit had a multiformat DVD burner, plus FireWire and TV-out ports and four USB 2.0 ports, all placed for easy use. The 6000 accepts user upgrades easily. Like many laptops, it has two memory slots located in a compartment on the bottom of the laptop.
Click to expand...
Our biggest reservation, however, relates to the Inspiron's keyboard. The layout is typical of a Dell portable--well designed and roomy--except that <Delete> is buried in a cluster of <Fn>-size keys. Two big, easy-to-press mouse buttons complement the touchpad. But the keys on our test unit were so stiff initially that we had to type forcefully. As we continued to type, the keyboard seemed to limber up, and we made fewer mistakes. But we still felt that we had to type more carefully than usual, not a good omen for a long-term relationship with a keyboard. If possible, try out the keyboard before buying.
Click to expand...
You'll like the 6000's panel of dedicated CD controls and its surprisingly good stereo sound. (Only one other model in our roundup, the Fujitsu LifeBook N6010, offered better audio.)
Click to expand...
 
gnarlydorkette said:
oh by the way....
DON'T GET HP. They make poor laptops. COMPAQ and SONY and VAIO are good. soars is right about the brands etc.
Click to expand...

FYI, HP owns Compaq....
 
If I were to get a laptop, it would serve the same purposes as my home PC. I'd expect to be able to use the internet, listen to music, etc. Just wanting something portable, maybe to work with me to work, to school, out of town, or just as a back up.

Gmarly, you seem sure about the Dell. Where did you find it for $600? I was a little weary of Dell becasue I've heard some bad things about them, and plus they've outsourced their customer service. No way I'm dealing with thick accents to get my computer fixed.

If I started saving now, I could probably come up with enough money for one before Christmas. Can someone give me a particular website that would be good to find one? I'd prefer to stay away from eBay, and I know there are several sites that offer discounted prices.

And one more thing, GD, I think Sony and Vaio, are the same. ;)
 
I understand that Apple is pretty expensive to buy. It is easy for me to tell you to go for it. Buying a PC is all right a least that you could afford it.

HP owns Compaq.
Sony owns Vaio.

Buying a Dell or Gateway for a cheaper price which isn't that bad. Actually, Dell rebuilt them from old computers. I think that it is nothing wrong with that.

Apple is nice - there are many useful thing that it can hook up Apple webcam, iPods, homemade of your own music and videos, games, etc. It is easy to set up Apple's system with a few steps for less than 5 minutes without a complication - i.e. It asks you which one do you want to hook up a phone line like cable, DSL, or dialup. (I advise you to use a DSL or cable.) It also asks you which brand printer do you have. A drawback for some IBM PC that requires you to install a modem/printer card that you don't know which port, and it might be awary for you to figure it manually. Actually, this is only one time to set up for the first time. Not a big deal.

Apple records a movie or music that runs 4x speed on a blank DVD. IBM PC records is 25 or 50 times faster than Apple. In fact, the slower speed is better that do not create any errors on a blank DVD or CD. Apple's reading speed on a DVD/CD is 16 or 32 times faster... IBM PC's read speed is 60 times faster, but it will skip some important information - I am not sure why.

Let's say that you bought a computer, does it comes with a word processor? Is it a free-trail for 30 days? How much do you have to buy it? A Microsoft word processor cost 300 to 400 dollars. Excuse me, I am pretty sleepy. I think I have colds.
 
Almost correct. Sony is like Make, and Viao is like Model made by Sony. That is all!

cental34 said:
And one more thing, GD, I think Sony and Vaio, are the same. ;)
Click to expand...
 
Old news about HP and Companq.

My workplace's computer said "HP Compaq"

Okay.

Best buy is rip off and most laptop battery life 2.5 hours. Its sucks!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115306

It's perfect for travel, wireless, 15" lcd, 512mb ram, 80gb, DVD burner, and only 6.2 lbs.

Battery life almost 5 hours!
Intel Pentium M is very great for low watts (save battery life) and work very quick. Intel M 1.73GHz is very quick than Pentium 4 3.4 and sometime Amd64bit too. :)

It's really AFFORD as you can and only $7 for three day shipping.

Warranty is great. Its one year. If you want more than that so let me to know how many years warranty you like. When you break it so just call to Acer so it will send Fedex goes come pick your laptop up and they pay shipping for you. You have to wait for almost 1 week to get it back.
 
Oh i forget one more thing. I order many many parts from newegg.com for build a computer for sale and I have no problem with that.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller_info.pl?seller_id=2121
Newegg.com rating looks great.



http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1823.html
Best buy looks awful.

It's true. Few of my friends complain about best buy for repair laptop or replace it.

I hate DELL.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller_info.pl?seller_id=1867

Dell USED great in 90's but right now not anymore. Too many cheap hardware that why price so low and easy break.
 
Neo said:
Old news about HP and Companq.

My workplace's computer said "HP Compaq"

Okay.

Best buy is rip off and most laptop battery life 2.5 hours. Its sucks!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115306

It's perfect for travel, wireless, 15" lcd, 512mb ram, 80gb, DVD burner, and only 6.2 lbs.

Battery life almost 5 hours!
Intel Pentium M is very great for low watts (save battery life) and work very quick. Intel M 1.73GHz is very quick than Pentium 4 3.4 and sometime Amd64bit too. :)

It's really AFFORD as you can and only $7 for three day shipping.

Warranty is great. Its one year. If you want more than that so let me to know how many years warranty you like. When you break it so just call to Acer so it will send Fedex goes come pick your laptop up and they pay shipping for you. You have to wait for almost 1 week to get it back.
Click to expand...

After looking this over, it looks perfect for what I'm looking for. I think we have a winner.
 
Good luck. Many AD users have their own Apple computers. I hope that you are happy with your laptop. I am not pushing you to think about buying the Apple. Oh I am talking about a fruit. hee hee hee. Althought, apple is good for your health.

To find an apple store in your area - http://www.apple.com/buy
 
Aside from my iPod, I've never been a huge Apple fan. The Macintosh operating system is just too foreign for me to care to get used to.
 
gnarlydorkette said:
I want a iBOOK but it is TOO expensive and I dont need all that space and those programs. I jsut want MS office, internet, and... basic programs, that is it.
Click to expand...

iBook isn't TOO expensive.. PowerBook is! (different cost @ $500)

What would you nice benefit from iBook...

• iChat with HOVRS - more quick communication than any other video phone. HOVRS give you FREE iSight (webcam that cost $149) if you have Mac computer.
• AppleWork (MS Word compatible)
• safety surf internet

If you already brought laptop.. forget it what I said. keeeeeeee
 
cental34 said:
Aside from my iPod, I've never been a huge Apple fan. The Macintosh operating system is just too foreign for me to care to get used to.
Click to expand...

I believe that you will be interested to read this link from people who switched to Apple from IBM PC. They have reasons.

http://www.apple.com/switch


Last year, I had a tough decision to buy an Apple dual G5 computer and a 20" LCD monitor. I am grateful that I did bought it. My computer gave me a lot of flexible to work with. Any software is always expensive for both Apple and IBM PC. That's nothing new to me. I have a better idea. Please go to an Apple store, and to learn something that might be surprise to you unexpectedly. I have no desire to against IBM PC, and they are just all right. Mac is more interesting... My mother loves her own iMac computer. I had two IBM PCs (Window 95 and 98) for six years, and they are no longer live in my house. I won a prize for an iBook 12 inches from Apple shop in my area (once a year). I enjoy it as I thought that it would be too small for me to read on the screen, and it turned out that it is fine to me.

I gave my two-years-old IBM PC computer to my two young nieces. They got into fighting that they want their parent's iMac in the office room. I'm stunned that my nieces do not use the IBM for several months. Guess what? She gave it to someone. She bought another iMac for her kids. She owns 5 printing companies, and has about 30 Apple computers for her employees. She has about 5 IBM PC computers for her secretaries. I do not work for her. I earn my own money, and I am not rich yet unless I win a lottery.

I think that Apple 15 or 17 inches laptop would be nice for you to carry with you for traveling. If you bought it, and not happy with it, you put it on eBay that will give you a break even. It is likely that you will make no profit from the ebay. I am very sure that you will love it. That would make a big difference.
 
Why I pick PC because there is many software and gamer that I need.

Mac and Linux is too limits software.
 
Neo said:
Why I pick PC because there is many software and gamer that I need.

Mac and Linux is too limits software.
Click to expand...

Wrong, OS X has a LARGE amount of softwares. Way more than you can possibly imagine. Many are them are useful and resourceful.

The only limitation are the video games, but only the best makes it to the Mac. That way, we don't have to deal with the crappy games.

Games is not a need, it's a form of entertainment. Nothing more, it's not a need like you said.
 
I don't make 1000 a month so BOTH laptops of MAC are expensive to me. I am not EVEN going to touch Powerbooks! FORGET IT...!

Your attempt at persuading me doesn't work (besides the fact that I already like iBOOK) because I don't need HOVRS or anything fancy-schmany... the iMAC provides too much for what I *need* now. I just want a mobile computer to work on my term papers, make powerpoint, read online books via Adobe Reader... all of the educational purposes. The only "entertainment" as Banjo put it, is to browse through my digital pictures or making CG art... but I am not majoring in Graphic Design so to have those is not on top of my priorities. Now, can you tell me that an iBOOK is STILL the right laptop for me NOW? Is it too much to spend a thousand dollars for a laptop that I will only type type and type away-- no movie-making, no excel crap, no... et cetera.

Don't misunderstand me, I *DO* like and will LOVE to have iBOOK but I will prefer to get what I can afford NOW (unless somebody wants to donate a free iBOOK to a poor art student??? ;) ) so in the future, I definitely will buy the iBOOK (by then they would probably release G10 or something... so if I get one NOW, then I will fall into a vicious cycle of necessary upgrades to my iBOOK)...

A slightly-OFF-TOPIC question: I don't want to mess around with MAC's programs because I own a dell PC at my home; I am worrying about what happens if I transfer my MAC files from iBOOK (hypothesis) so I can edit and print from my PC. Will the transition between a AppleWorks document and a PC computer that DOESN'T have the Applework program force typed documents into RTF???

EDGE said:
iBook isn't TOO expensive.. PowerBook is! (different cost @ $500)

• iChat with HOVRS - more quick communication than any other video phone. HOVRS give you FREE iSight (webcam that cost $149) if you have Mac computer.
• AppleWork (MS Word compatible)
• safety surf internet
Click to expand...
 
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