Author Topic: New Laptop (Read 11504 times)

DaClock · « **on:** June 22, 2009, 09:20:05 PM »

I'm thinking about buying a new laptop for school this fall, probably don't want to spend more than $1,000. Any suggestions? I've looked at a bunch of different ones and don't really know what I want. I don't really want to get a Mac because they're expensive.

Master KChief · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:24:20 PM »

but they're the best. you can get a good macbook for around $1000.

Gabe · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:35:35 PM »

I've purchased both Macs and PCs in the past couple years and worked on both in my vocation. Unless you're working with graphics don't spend the extra money on a Mac.

If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck out of a PC then a Dell is hard to beat. They're usually pretty reliable.

My personaly preference for a quality laptop is a Sony. If I was looking for something in your price range I'd find one that had the features I'm looking for and buy it.

DaClock · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:31:40 PM »

I've been looking mainly at HP and Dell. The Sony computers with similar features are much more expensive.

Also, I've found refurbished computers for a few hundred dollars less than the same ones new, are refurbished computers reliable?

Vasbear · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:43:58 PM »

Eee PC and a Lager Flat Screen Monitor

DaClock · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:59:10 PM »

Quote from: Vasbear on June 22, 2009, 10:43:58 PM

Eee PC and a Lager Flat Screen Monitor

I don't know that I want something that small, I don't think it'd be comfortable to type on that.

Isildur · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:59:42 PM »

If your looking for a compy that wont fail you get a Sony or Mac both of which cost a bit more but take alot more to kill. Dell is the best company to get the biggest bang for your buck as you can get a very good laptop for around $600 and you can go crazy if you spend $1000 though they arent as Uber. I would also recomend not getting Vista as it some times acts really funky and isnt very Game friendly. Btw dont you have a Mac laptop right now?

Master KChief · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:04:50 PM »

i seriously wouldnt recommend a dell or hp...they're just about a step up from acer. pc-wise i've had alot of good experience with toshibas...very reliable laptops.

TheMarti · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:14:42 PM »

If you're looking at a PC, I suggest an HP or a Toshiba. Honestly, in my opinion, any computer is good as long as you take care of it, depending on what you use it for, etc. If you're going to do multimedia stuff though, Mac is the way to go.

~Marti

sk · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:26:29 PM »

What all do you want to do with the laptop? Graphic design and art? Photos? Video? Music? Just essays and web?

If you just want a portable Word document/web browsing/email/music type laptop, a netbook is likely the way to go. That Eee PC has a loyal fanbase, and will get you a good machine at half your budget, as would the HP mini. If you want to do gaming in any sense of the word, watch DVDs, etc, these won't do the job (though you can likely get a TV+DVD player for the cost difference).

My dad buys hp/Compaq laptops when he can. Good value and good tech support/repair service if needed. On the flip side, I personally don't trust Dell's tech support and repair team (way too many horror stories from friends), but their low price points are still tempting, and their mid/higher range models are good machines, especially the XPS line (you don't know how much it hurts a Mac fanboy to say that). My only experience with Toshiba was trying to fix a friend's, and their online help was enough to figure out the problem.

Refurbished laptops are hit and miss. If you get one, get it directly from the manufacturer. I've found the refurbished Thinkpads (IBM/Lenovo) to be surprisingly reliable and well priced. I'm pretty sure the HP my uncle bought was refirb, and it's done well. And though you are right that Macs are usually premium priced, Apple's refirb'd Macbooks are priced a bit more reasonable, though still in the top range of your budget. (My youth pastor buys refirbs from them and they are just as sound). But fair enough if you want to go for a lower price point.

By the way, be sure to see if the manufacturer will give you a student discount. May also want to check with the university bookstore -- mine has a few laptops priced a few percent under MSRP via manufacturer bulk discounts.

DaClock · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:34:17 PM »

Isildur, I currently own a Dell and I believe it's probably getting to the end of its years.

SK, I've been thinking about this quite a bit. I mostly use my PC for the light tasks that a netbook can accomplish. However, occasionally I use it for watching movies. I'm not sure if the occasional movie watching is worth having a 15-17 inch screen or if I'd be better off buying something small and getting a TV/DVD player to watch movies.

TheMarti · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:39:51 PM »

The other thing you could do, if you watch movies, is to find an old monitor from a desktop (if you have one) and hook it up as a second monitor. If not, it may just be worth it to buy a cheap TV + DVD player.

And I agree with sk... I've heard WAY too many horror stories about Dells, and have tried to fix them so many times that I found they mess up again soon after i fix them... frying motherboards... ahh... stuff I don't want to deal with.

And also, like sk said, some manufacturers give sweet student discounts. Take advantage of being a college kid!

~Marti

Master KChief · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:26:24 AM »

Quote from: DaClock on June 22, 2009, 11:34:17 PM

Isildur, I currently own a Dell and I believe it's probably getting to the end of its years.

SK, I've been thinking about this quite a bit. I mostly use my PC for the light tasks that a netbook can accomplish. However, occasionally I use it for watching movies. I'm not sure if the occasional movie watching is worth having a 15-17 inch screen or if I'd be better off buying something small and getting a TV/DVD player to watch movies.

i cant justify ever purchasing anything bigger than a 14 inch screen. laptops are supposed to be portable and light, not hulking pieces of hardware. i love toshibas 14" line of laptops...very light and very good specs. if i ever want to watch a movie on a bigger screen, i simply stream my media from my laptop to my xbox 360 using the windows media center.

i suggest taking a look at the toshiba satellite e105-s1402 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9022979&type=product&id=1218009474848). nice processor (intel processors are considerably better than amd's for a laptop), 4gb ram, hefty 320 gb hard drive, 14'' screen, webcam, fingerprint reader, wireless-n, etc. and its $250 under your pricepoint. a very solid machine.

Lamborghini_diablo · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:31:13 AM »

I have an XPS desktop myself (ain't it perty?), and I can tell you I havent had any major problems with it in the year I've owned it.

Also, XPS owners get a seperate help and support service. A week ago, the monitor I got with my computer randomly went kaputz on me, so I grabbed a different one, and went on to the XPS help chat. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting (2 people in que and I did it on sunday... so probably less staff), I told the person my problem, and confirmed some info for them... then out of nowhere he was like "Ok, a replacement is on its way." Problem fixed in about 30-45 minutes, and the monitor got here FAST.

Just my two cents on the subject. As far as laptops, I'm afraid I'm not much help.

Quote from: sk on June 22, 2009, 11:26:29 PM

especially the XPS line (you don't know how much it hurts a Mac fanboy to say that).

DaClock · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2009, 01:05:16 AM »

I've had some experience with Dell tech support before and they aren't too bad as long as everything is under warranty.

Back to the main topic, when I started looking for laptops I didn't want to spend more than $400. I realized that this wouldn't buy me much more than a netbook. These are pretty small and I have big fingers so I wasn't really interested. After looking into the $600-$800 range I realized that these aren't extremely different from the one I have. Laptops in the $800-$1000 range seem to be more of what I'm looking for, but it seems like a lot of money to spend on a computer.

Marti/SK, I'll definitely look into student discounts. That could be a good option and I haven't really looked into it yet.

Tsavong Lah · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2009, 02:15:10 AM »

Quote from: Master KChief on June 22, 2009, 11:04:50 PM

i seriously wouldnt recommend a dell or hp...they're just about a step up from acer. pc-wise i've had alot of good experience with toshibas...very reliable laptops.

Agreed on all counts.

sk · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2009, 06:08:19 AM »

I'm not sure that the Eee PC has a DVD drive, and the resolution of some of them is barely that of a glorified CRT (old monitor). If movies are important for you, you should probably go for a more mainstream laptop in the $500-600 range.

On the flip side, if you can, see if you can test the weight of a 15 or 17 inch notebook (perhaps try to carry a friend's for a few minutes, or even try holding one at Best Buy or something). I find that it's too big of a machine for me to carry around regularly, though that is entirely personal preference. If you plan to take it into your classes, just make sure it seems manageable to you.

Quote from: DaClock on June 23, 2009, 01:05:16 AM

After looking into the $600-$800 range I realized that these aren't extremely different from the one I have. Laptops in the $800-$1000 range seem to be more of what I'm looking for, but it seems like a lot of money to spend on a computer.

What all do you want in a machine that you don't have in your current laptop?

Paladin · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2009, 08:04:03 AM »

I wouldn't suggest windows for a laptop. The mac would be about 1,700 because of tax remember. So I would suggest a Toshiba. Dell would also work pretty well too.

Lawfuldog · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2009, 11:46:06 AM »

I would suggest Dell or HP. I bought a nice $1300 HP customized media/gaming laptop a little over a year ago, and have had no problems at all with it. Without the extra graphic card, extended battery, and the other accessories I put into it, you could drop it down to a good $900/$950 (it's also probably down in price due to it being a model from last year). It's fairly big, and has nice big keys for people (like me) with big fingers.

And Lambo, watch your back, I'mma comin' to take your XPS. >.>

Lamborghini_diablo · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:00:07 PM »

Quote from: Paladin on June 23, 2009, 08:04:03 AM

I wouldn't suggest windows for a laptop. The max would be about 1,700 because of tax remember. So I would suggest a Toshiba. Dell would also work pretty well too.

The two you just suggested both run windows. I don't get what you meant...

Quote from: Lawfuldog on June 23, 2009, 11:46:06 AM

And Lambo, watch your back, I'mma comin' to take your XPS. >.>

Oh no! Not my precious with a 2.4ghtz quad core, two 8800GT 512mb cards, 4gb ram, and 1tb hard drive!!! You cant take it!

sk · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:23:43 PM »

Quote from: Lamborghini_diablo on June 23, 2009, 12:00:07 PM

Quote from: Paladin on June 23, 2009, 08:04:03 AM
I wouldn't suggest windows for a laptop. The max would be about 1,700 because of tax remember. So I would suggest a Toshiba. Dell would also work pretty well too.

The two you just suggested both run windows. I don't get what you meant...

Although I'm confused by the 1,700 comment as well, Dell does offer Linux on some of its models. Toshiba may as well. Although this can drop the price by a good $100+, you lose the ability to use any of your Windows software (ie, MS Office), so it's not usually a popular choice except for the tech freaks.

Paladin · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:36:16 PM »

Yes Linux thats what I couldn't remember. Get linux if you can its the best computer eeeverrr.

Lamborghini_diablo · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2009, 12:38:39 PM »

Quote from: Paladin on June 23, 2009, 12:36:16 PM

Yes Linux thats what I couldn't remember. Get linux if you can its the best ~~computer~~ Operating System eeeverrr.

Fixed, even though I disagree.

Windows XP ftw.

Cameron the Conqueror · « **Reply #23 on:** June 23, 2009, 01:01:02 PM »

Linux is NOT ready for mainstream use. You can't run anything but a browser, and you are limiting yourself. Windows 7 RC1 FTW. Faster than XP, most secure than even Vista, pretty, and lighter on resources than even XP.

Master KChief · « **Reply #24 on:** June 23, 2009, 01:58:29 PM »

seriously, toshiba is your best bet if you're not looking to get a mac. excellent hardware, affordable price point, awesome customer service, and the warranty covers EVERYTHING.

if you have your heart set on an hp though, i suggest the hp pavillion dv3510nr (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9027714&type=product&id=1218010176167). has alot of the same specs as the toshiba, offers a smaller screen of 13.3'' (regarding laptops, smaller is better in my book), and it has better benchmark scores than alot of the other laptops in its class.

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Author Topic: New Laptop (Read 11504 times)

Vasbear

TheMarti

TheMarti

Lamborghini_diablo

Lamborghini_diablo

Lamborghini_diablo