Laptops

[sophia jane]

I'm buying a laptop, courtesy of my day, for my birthday present, and I want some advice. I've read through past threads, but I wanted to verify some things.
I can only spend about 800ish dollars (give or take), so I can't get what I really want which is an apple. What brands are best in that price range? Also, is a dual processor really all that important?
So far, it seems like the most important features for me are going to be hard drive space, RAM, and wireless capability. I plan to do mostly word processing and internet type things on it, so I don't need anything too complicated.

Anyone have advice, suggestions, recommendations, etc?

Thanks bunches.

 

[S-Des]

I won't get into specifics (others here more qualified), but you can look over the specs on a couple of the big web sites (Dell, HP, etc...) and see what's common. So many of them now have all the stuff you want included. The price has dropped dramatically, so now it's about trying to offer a better package. I was looking at one and was amazed at how much is actually included for no additional charge.

Good luck,
....S-Des

 

[3113]

I'm buying a laptop, courtesy of my day, for my birthday present, and I want some advice. I've read through past threads, but I wanted to verify some things.
I can only spend about 800ish dollars (give or take), so I can't get what I really want which is an apple.

Actually, there are used and referbished Apples in that price range. You should especially look for used Apples now. With the new Intel laptops out, a lot of older laptops without Intel are going for very reasonable prices. And these used Apples often have been upgraded with a lot of extra ram and such.

 

[Weird Harold]

Also, is a dual processor really all that important?

For what you say you'll be using it for, a dual-processor is probably overkill.

You need a dual processor for numerous background tasks and for processor intensive tasks like video editing and number-crunching business applications.

 

[Liar]

Performance is overrated.
Size matters.

If you only do all regular stuff like office work and web browsing, maybe watch dvds and stuff, anything recent on the market will do the job for you. I even edit video and music on a laptop that was in the budget range a year ago. Unless you play new games or develop software, you don't need the badass processor and huge RAM.

Instead, think of those things:

* How much do you want to carry around? Smaller is often more expensive.

* How big a screen do you want?

* Do you want to be able to plug in a bigger screen?

* Wireless network and Bluetooth?

* How many USB ports should it have, so that you can plug in all stuff you want, like an external mouse, a printer, camera, mp3 player, and so on.

* How does the keyboard feel to type on? Simple thing that people often neglect and then get annoyed with.

* How long will the batteries run?

* And how does it sound? Quiet? Constant buzzing fans?

 

[SensualCealy]

Liar- all good questions to ask your self, but what if you dont know the answers?

How much do you want to carry around? Smaller is often more expensive~ Don't want to carry alot but if it's easier than carrying 5 binders then I'd take a bit bigger one.


How big a screen do you want? Normal size, only so much room on the college tables.

Do you want to be able to plug in a bigger screen? Why would you want to do that?

Wireless network and Bluetooth? What is a Bluetooth? Wireless -yes!


How many USB ports should it have, so that you can plug in all stuff you want, like an external mouse, a printer, camera, mp3 player, and so on.
~ A mouse yes, printer- cant you network it to go off one in a different room? No cam at school and daughter wont give up her MP3.

How does the keyboard feel to type on? Simple thing that people often neglect and then get annoyed with. ~ they all seem the same- which is better?

How long will the batteries run? How long should they run?


And how does it sound? Quiet? Constant buzzing fans?~ Which is the quieter ones? Usually in the store, there is so much noise you cant tell which one is humming!

Im glad Sophia posted this question, Im in the market for one myself, but since I only need it for taking down notes- as far as I know so far, I dont know what I need for guts and performance.
Help!
C

 

[sophia jane]

Some good thoughts, and I'm glad to hear them. I'll definitely check into the used/refurbed Apples (any idea where to look for them?).

Weight isn't an issue much for me because it's mostly going to be home with me. I know I want a 15.4 screen. Battery, too, isn't a huge deal because it'll be home mostly and could be plugged in here.
So that brings me to brands- which are more reliable and which are crap???

 

[impressive]

I've been looking, too -- 'cause the kids want a laptop for Christmas. I put together a decent system from Dell for $725 ... wireless, big hard drive, CD burner & DVD player, lotsa RAM.

I've had good luck with my Dell products in the past, so I'll probably end up ordering this one (if the little devils behave themselves).

 

[Guest]

Apples are great, but my experience is Windows. Dell has some great values.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_basnb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

On that page, they have three starting @ $489 and all under your $800 value, and all with wireless networking.

Liar is right, unless your doing video editing/game playing etc., a basic laptop is more than suitable. Get 30 gig of storage minimum, wireless networking, and you will be in pretty good shape. With Windows XP, you can even create accounts on the laptop for each of your kids to use, but not be able to Mommy's stuff.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I've been looking, too -- 'cause the kids want a laptop for Christmas. I put together a decent system from Dell for $725 ... wireless, big hard drive, CD burner & DVD player, lotsa RAM.

I've had good luck with my Dell products in the past, so I'll probably end up ordering this one (if the little devils behave themselves).

Can you post your link to it, Imp? We finally got our taxes done and are getting a refund and I want to get a new laptop... mine's got this cord issue (I think it's got a short) and the damned fan... GRR. Listen to Liar on that one. Noisy fans are annoying!!

 

[impressive]

Can you post your link to it, Imp? We finally got our taxes done and are getting a refund and I want to get a new laptop... mine's got this cord issue (I think it's got a short) and the damned fan... GRR. Listen to Liar on that one. Noisy fans are annoying!!

I started here: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=iB130S1&s=dhs

... and upgraded to 1GB RAM and a bigger hard drive.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Thanks, Imp!

 

[deathlynx]

I've been looking a bit too...Our budget is considerably smaller so the cheaper the better...But even a modern $500 laptop is pretty powerful, especially if you're mostly using it for internet and word processing...And a wireless card for a laptop only runs about $20 (at the cheapest)...

I've been checking out Best Buy and Circuit City...I know CC has a great extended waranty...I have it for my desktop and it's come in handy...BB, with their "Geek Squad" should have a pretty good one too...Always keep that in mind when factoring cost comparison...Granted it's usually $100 extra or so but it's well worth it, especially for something that gets moved around as much as a laptop...

 

[sophia jane]

I've found a Toshiba at Circuit City that I like (and fits my budget), so I'd be really interested to hear any feedback on Toshibas.
Also- I've been really holding out for 1 gig of RAM, but I'm wondering how necessary that will be for what I need. I do like to have several things open at a time (which is why I was pushing for the gig). Thoughts?

 

[Guest]

I've found a Toshiba at Circuit City that I like (and fits my budget), so I'd be really interested to hear any feedback on Toshibas.
Also- I've been really holding out for 1 gig of RAM, but I'm wondering how necessary that will be for what I need. I do like to have several things open at a time (which is why I was pushing for the gig). Thoughts?

I know a company that bought about a dozen, and almost all had problems. Their Next Day service means they'll be out the next day after getting the parts.

Also, see http://weblog.infoworld.com/foster/2006/07/18_a426.html for some horror stories.

You can find horror stories if you look about all brands, but Toshibas seem to have nothing but these days.

I have had good luck with Dells.

 

[deathlynx]

Best Buy sale With some starting at $450 you could afford a good waranty...Trust me...Having personal computers since the early 80s I know how useful the extended is...I think I've ended up using it on almost every computer I've ever owned...Nice thing about Best Buy (and maybe the others retail with online as well) is that you can order online and pick up at the store...

Compaq, and HP are the same company, both pretty good...
Gateway is supposed to be (though I haven't owned one)...
And of course Dell, though I'd be nervous about mail order with a waranty...For those who have one do you have to mail it back when something goes wrong? That's the most frustrating thing I've had to deal with...

 

[nyte_byrd]

Actually, I've used a Toshiba satellite series for about a year now, with no complaints (knock on wood!). The battery runs for about 3 hours straight, but you can buy an upgraded one that will last longer. It's lightweight and durable (yep, I was a bad girl and dropped it once), and has plenty of ports for printer, extra mouse (it has touchpad navigation) and my favorite...headphones!!.
My only complaint is that while the computer itself is virtually silent, the CD burner is a little loud for my tastes.

 

[Liar]

Liar- all good questions to ask your self, but what if you dont know the answers?

How much do you want to carry around? Smaller is often more expensive~ Don't want to carry alot but if it's easier than carrying 5 binders then I'd take a bit bigger one.


How big a screen do you want? Normal size, only so much room on the college tables.

Do you want to be able to plug in a bigger screen? Why would you want to do that?

Wireless network and Bluetooth? What is a Bluetooth? Wireless -yes!


How many USB ports should it have, so that you can plug in all stuff you want, like an external mouse, a printer, camera, mp3 player, and so on.
~ A mouse yes, printer- cant you network it to go off one in a different room? No cam at school and daughter wont give up her MP3.

How does the keyboard feel to type on? Simple thing that people often neglect and then get annoyed with. ~ they all seem the same- which is better?

How long will the batteries run? How long should they run?


And how does it sound? Quiet? Constant buzzing fans?~ Which is the quieter ones? Usually in the store, there is so much noise you cant tell which one is humming!

Im glad Sophia posted this question, Im in the market for one myself, but since I only need it for taking down notes- as far as I know so far, I dont know what I need for guts and performance.
Help!
C

See, you DID know all the answers. Just not the geek lingo.

You need a low-end laptop. As small size and low weight as your budget allows (which isn't the smallest stuff, because that's expesive as f**k). 2 to 3 USB ports, and wireless network. You don't need Bluetooth, VGA or DVI ports, and battery life is not important.

Go with that to a dealer, and ask to look at some models. Pick one that looks nice and that feels ok to type on.

 

[Liar]

One warning about Dell. They make good computers, but if you want a portable computer, most their models are quite big and clumsy in design. Unless you can get hold of one and see that it works for you, I'd rather go with a HP or maybe an Acer. Plus, I don't know about Dell these days, but their power adaptors used to be frickin huge, which made what you had to carry around much heavier.

 

[3113]

Um...Dell also had this little recall recently. Seems some of the batteries in their laptops weren't working right and they kinda caught on fire.

Consider also what software you want--and does it come bundled with the laptop. A Dell might be dirt cheap but inlude no software--that may cost extra and if it does, you could end up paying the same for it that you would for a more "expensive" computer that comes bundled with software.

Also, take note of customer service. Often, you get what you pay for. It's cheap and so is the service (read: you're going to be calling Calcutta for tech support).

Question: if it's going to be mostly home with you...does it need to be a laptop?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Go with that to a dealer, and ask to look at some models. Pick one that looks nice and that feels ok to type on.

And then go to all the other dealers you can find and get the best price for it. I recently bought a kickass (way out of your budget, however) HP Pavilion for €250 (US$320!!) less than HP's recommended price and a full $450 less than its nearest equivalent in the market, a Toshiba Satellite.

 

[Guest]

And then go to all the other dealers you can find and get the best price for it. I recently bought a kickass (way out of your budget, however) HP Pavilion for €250 (US$320!!) less than HP's recommended price and a full $450 less than its nearest equivalent in the market, a Toshiba Satellite.

Hot woman with hot hardware? Where have you been?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Hot woman with hot hardware? Where have you been?

Pushing this baby to the limit and seeing if it can go even faster.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

You may want to check a place like this out if you have a store close too you...MicroCenter. They have a 30 day return policy, no questions asked.

It appears they have a store in Overland, KS. Anywhere near you?

 

[Liar]

And then go to all the other dealers you can find and get the best price for it. I recently bought a kickass (way out of your budget, however) HP Pavilion for €250 (US$320!!) less than HP's recommended price and a full $450 less than its nearest equivalent in the market, a Toshiba Satellite.

Lordy no, stores are for looking at products. Then you go lowest-price-hunting on-line.