I am thinking about getting a laptop this summer when in the US. The question is, which one. You have to understand that:
1) this would be my first laptop ever (I use one at work and love it) 2) need it for internet/email/basic office tools etc., don't need features that I never use! But is should have decent memory and should be fast enough 3) am computer illiterate (can use them, but know close to nothing about them)
Here's the question, which one would you suggest? Where's a good place to look/buy? Online, Best buy?
thanks for help
Posted by WheatPuppet (Member # 5142) on :
What are you looking for? Small size? Cheap? It doesn't sound like you're looking for something ultra-powerful, but do you want to be able to have a good experience watching movies on it? Do you want a long battery life, or are you going to have it plugged in most of the time?
If you're looking for a good piece of hardware, I'd reccomend an IBM or Apple laptop. Everything I've heard about both has been positive.
If you're looking for something cheaper, maybe a Dell, Gateway, or Compaq with a Centrino or Celeron processor. I think you can get a good machine from those companies for less than $1,000.
Posted by Tzadik (Member # 5825) on :
Mostly have it plugged in anyhow, if battery lasts 2 hours, that's cool. Don't need to watch movies on it really (have a DVD player)
Am personally bit biased - I've been using Dell and love it.
And am looking into price range up to 1,200 - 1,300$ or so Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Tzadik--the ability to play DVDs on planes in nearly priceless
Anyway, folks here will disagree, but I've had great success with my Gateways. My first Gateway I got in 98 as a desktop system and it's still kicking, even in the hands of my father. My laptop is fantastic--if heavy at eight or so pounds--yet can take one hell of a beating (as opposed to my Sony which busted on a short drop of two feet...I measured).
I've also heard good things about Averatec.
Anyway...you can get a damn good machine for under $1000 now. Posted by WheatPuppet (Member # 5142) on :
*seconds Mack's sentiment about Gateway*
Every Gateway I've had has been a *good* machine. My current home computer is a slightly-home-upgraded Gateway I bought in 2001 and it's still going strong (I play Battlefield: Vietnam and UT2k4 on it with a lot of the graphics turned up).
My mom bought a Gateway in 1997 that she's still using. She does publishing stuff, so it's not like it's just an email computer. The computer has had no upgrades except a replacement graphics card.
Being able to watch DVDs wherever is certainly a tasty feature. It's almost a standard option on laptops these days.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
And I'm notoriously PHYSICALLY rough with computers.
The Sony lasted six months. Gateways are kicking at six and two years respectively.
Posted by Insanity Plea (Member # 2053) on :
edit: Please note that I write with a certain bias that believes laptops should be small, and desktop replacements are one of the biggest wastes of money you can make. Satyagraha
[ July 26, 2004, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Insanity Plea ]
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I personally swear by Dells. The only problems I've had with either of my two Dells (one a desktop, my current one a laptop) have definitely been user-caused. I mean really, I shouldn't have deleted those things. But as far as they go as machines, I much prefer them.
My father will swear by his Sony laptop, mostly because of response time with repairs. If they respond so quickly to repairs, it might just be because they've had a lot of practice doing so...
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