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Buying a laptop
- Thread starter velvett
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jackangel
New member
is there any feature or set of features that you really want or need, in particular?
for example, i bought a laptop in april. and for me, the display is most important. i wanted the highest resolution possible. only dell laptops had a 1920x1200 screen at that time, as far as i knew. so i had to choose one of them.
i ended up with a dell inspiron 8600 for ~$1500.
for example, i bought a laptop in april. and for me, the display is most important. i wanted the highest resolution possible. only dell laptops had a 1920x1200 screen at that time, as far as i knew. so i had to choose one of them.
i ended up with a dell inspiron 8600 for ~$1500.
Last edited:
HP from Coscto, I like the widescreen. Not sure how it matches up.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...8025&whse=&topnav=&cat=4580&hierPath=84*4580*
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...8025&whse=&topnav=&cat=4580&hierPath=84*4580*
Testosterone boy
New member
My HP broke down every 15 hours.
velvett said:
I'll be your laptop...........
but I'd cost more than $2,000.
velvett said:
I think you should look at one of the main companies and compare features.
Dell, HP/Compaq, Sony, IBM, Apple........
Look at the features and the price.
Velvetteer, do you know what you want specifically?
Processor type?
Memory?
OS?
Functionality = what will the laptop be mainly used for?
If you give some details, I'll help you.
DIV
yomama
Banned
Dont get Dell, it's hard to upgrade it when it comes down to it. Plus, shop online instead of a local store, you can save a lot of money but I'm sure you know that. I have a Sony laptop and I'm happy with it. Dont buy Dell, dont buy HP because they are slower than other brand processors.
Testosterone boy
New member
Since when was any laptop easy to upgrade?yomama said:
Laptops break down a lot. Easier to get service if is purchased at a store I would think.
Get an extended warranty....lap tops break down like a juiced up 21st century athlete.
mountain muscle
New member
I stay away from any of the brand names and put together a system I want from scratch when it comes to Desktops. I am buying a laptop now since I live on the road now. Check out these guys:
http://www.xoticpc.com/
They have base computers that allow you to configure them as you wish according to your needs. A lot of places do this, this is just one I found that has what I am looking for. Good Luck.
http://www.xoticpc.com/
They have base computers that allow you to configure them as you wish according to your needs. A lot of places do this, this is just one I found that has what I am looking for. Good Luck.
GoldenDelicious
New member
im a fan of the dells, personally
and whoever said that theyre difficult to upgrade, i disagree strongly, since the dell units are among the only ones that can have their video cards independently removed. the other units (ibms, compaqs etc) are usually integrated on the mainboard
velv, seems to me that your needs are at the bottom of the spectrum, id get one of the low end dells personally.
im actually in the market at the moment, i think itll be one of those huge high end dells that ill be getting. sure theyre heavy, but wow do they have some nice specs
and whoever said that theyre difficult to upgrade, i disagree strongly, since the dell units are among the only ones that can have their video cards independently removed. the other units (ibms, compaqs etc) are usually integrated on the mainboard
velv, seems to me that your needs are at the bottom of the spectrum, id get one of the low end dells personally.
im actually in the market at the moment, i think itll be one of those huge high end dells that ill be getting. sure theyre heavy, but wow do they have some nice specs
i would get a dell laptop. great warranty protection depending how long you opt in for. price is usually Always unbeatable. main thing is if you want long battery life, you'll end up getting a centrino or pentium M, if you need more power and not so much on the battery life you'll get a pentium 4 processor
also dell almost always has extra coupons you can add in at time of purchase people don't know about. here are a couple that expire at midnite tonite:
$200 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $999+ Coupon Code: QPVLNJB7KQZ64Z
$300 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1499+ Coupon Code: KPC4TJH3C79MVJ
$450 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1999+ Coupon Code: K015T$1QFBC$DM
these three are in the dell home section, not business
if you decide to get a dell and want me to see if there is a discount at the time, let me know
also dell almost always has extra coupons you can add in at time of purchase people don't know about. here are a couple that expire at midnite tonite:
$200 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $999+ Coupon Code: QPVLNJB7KQZ64Z
$300 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1499+ Coupon Code: KPC4TJH3C79MVJ
$450 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1999+ Coupon Code: K015T$1QFBC$DM
these three are in the dell home section, not business
if you decide to get a dell and want me to see if there is a discount at the time, let me know
yeah those coupons are amazing, i ordered a new dell last week (should be coming by thanksgiving) and i just googled for some coupons, and got mine down 25% offDevastation said:i would get a dell laptop. great warranty protection depending how long you opt in for. price is usually Always unbeatable. main thing is if you want long battery life, you'll end up getting a centrino or pentium M, if you need more power and not so much on the battery life you'll get a pentium 4 processor
also dell almost always has extra coupons you can add in at time of purchase people don't know about. here are a couple that expire at midnite tonite:
$200 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $999+ Coupon Code: QPVLNJB7KQZ64Z
$300 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1499+ Coupon Code: KPC4TJH3C79MVJ
$450 off select online Inspiron Notebook purchases $1999+ Coupon Code: K015T$1QFBC$DM
these three are in the dell home section, not business
if you decide to get a dell and want me to see if there is a discount at the time, let me know
here's basically the same system you posted but better and cheaper yet
you'll be much happier with the better processor and screen. you could also bump up the ram to a gig, or get a spare battery (i highly recommend it for many reasons)
25% off inspiron code expires Tues, 11-23-04
7KN6J5X7$Q9GT9
you'll be much happier with the better processor and screen. you could also bump up the ram to a gig, or get a spare battery (i highly recommend it for many reasons)
25% off inspiron code expires Tues, 11-23-04
7KN6J5X7$Q9GT9
Inspiron 5160:
Price: $1,544
with 25% off discount code: $1158
Mobile Pentium® 4 Processor 538 w/HT Technology (3.20GHz, 533MHz FSB) CP32NN [221-6230] 1
Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home WHXP [412-0689][420-4766][463-2282][420-4830] 11
LCD:
15 inch SXGA+ LCD Panel 15SXGA [320-4020] 2
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options:
2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support S2OS [950-7830][950-7831][950-3338][412-0360][960-2780][900-8221] 29
Memory:
512MB,333MHz,2 DIMMs 512MB2D [311-3984] 3
Hard Drive:
40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive 40GB [341-1420] 8
Combo/DVD+RW Drives:
FREE Upgrade! (Savings included in price) 24X CD-RW/DVD Combo w/Sonic RN 24COMBP [463-3383][430-1050] 16
Enhanced Software for CD or DVD Burner:
RecordNow!Deluxe:Burn,Copy CD Music/Data,Backup,Labeling(CD-RW/DVD+RW only) RNDLX [430-0979] 72
Video Card:
64MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForce™ FX Go5200 AGP 4x Graphics NV64MB [312-0301] 6
Primary Battery:
12-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (96 WHr) 12BAT [310-4701] 27
Productivity Software:
Microsoft Office Basic - Includes Outlook, Word, Excel IBASICC [412-0452][412-0556] 22
Security Software:
No Security Subscription NS [412-0734] 25
Dell Media Experience:
Dell Media Experience™ DMX
Digital Music:
Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software
Digital Imaging:
Paint Shop™ Pro® Trial plus Photo Album™ Starter Edition DPS [412-0521] 38
Dial-Up Internet Access:
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included AOLDHS [412-0587
Wireless Networking Cards:
FREE Dell Wireless 1350 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) Mini-PCI card TM1350P [463-3361] 19
Document Management:
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0 ADOBER [430-1048]
Network Adapters:
Integrated Network Card INTNIC [430-1051]
Modem:
Internal 56k Modem for Inspiron
Devastation said:here's basically the same system you posted but better and cheaper yet
you'll be much happier with the better processor and screen. you could also bump up the ram to a gig, or get a spare battery (i highly recommend it for many reasons)
25% off inspiron code expires Tues, 11-23-04
7KN6J5X7$Q9GT9
THANK YOU
Devastation, excellent jazz, sir.
Any suggestions about a Tablet PC? I need to get one friday after Tday, should order it tomorrow or wed at the latest... maybe I just have to bite the bullet and actually buy it from a <gasp> physical store!
Anyone with any experience in tablet land?
any help is good help
Any suggestions about a Tablet PC? I need to get one friday after Tday, should order it tomorrow or wed at the latest... maybe I just have to bite the bullet and actually buy it from a <gasp> physical store!
Anyone with any experience in tablet land?
any help is good help
Lumberg
New member
yomama said:
You do know that all companies of Windows-based machines are use either AMD or Intel processors, right?
Dell and HP do not make their own processors, so that statement makes no sense whatsoever.
velvett, I have heard that Dell offers excellent bang-for-buck and great support for their laptops. I would suggest going to stores and trying out the basic models of the largest companies (HP, Dell, Sony, IBM) and seeing which one suits your style. Laptops are a very psersonal thing, so just as you wouldn't buy a car wihtout a test drive, don't buy a laptop you haven't tried out at least a very similar model of.
I woudl recomend against iBooks (Apple) just because of the cost factor. I don't even know if AutoCADLT runs on OS X.
Y_lifter
New member
I love my Dell Lattitude 800
Wide Aspect screen is nice.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Latitude_D800/4505-3121_7-30880949.html?tag=topprods
Wide Aspect screen is nice.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Latitude_D800/4505-3121_7-30880949.html?tag=topprods
Lumberg said:
Dell has proved less than stellar in terms of their serice and support to us on a corporate level, but that might be an entirely different story in terms of their consumer work. I have never individually purchased anything from them. Lums, do you have any personal experience with Dell?
i'm on my third dell, 2nd laptop. excellent service. phone support is usually piss poor, but oh well. i called on a friday about the first laptop i had, turned out to be a bad moboard, and on monday i had the box to ship it off and i had my laptop back that thursday. no less than 6 days from when i called. i consider that to be fantastic service. i would never buy from anyone else as long as their service/repair continues to be on par with that experience. and yeah their finance dept is terrible, even on the consumer side
Razorguns
Well-known member
I can get any of those same laptops from the local chinese-run computer store for under a grand.
Funny thing is -- most of the computers are made by the same factories in china that make those "brand name" computers. They just make a different case for them and smack their sticker on.
Money saved can be used for that extra warranty support.
Funny thing is -- most of the computers are made by the same factories in china that make those "brand name" computers. They just make a different case for them and smack their sticker on.
Money saved can be used for that extra warranty support.
Lumberg
New member
Chef:
One of my roomates has a Dell with which he's quite happy. He's a real geek and runs Linux on just about everything, and I respect his opinion on anything hardware-related.
Another of my roomates has a Gateway and had an absolute horrible time with their repair/warranty department.
My organization is purchasing Dells because they feel they get the biggest bang for the buck and reliability. For desktops we build out own machines so you know we don't fuck around. We also expect to get little to no help with tech support, we do it all in-house. I highly respect the decisionmakers as far as computing needs go for our divisions also.
I don't think you can rely on any computer maker's tech support. I was in touch with HP tech support for a COMPAQ Presario and they couldn't find the Front Side Bus with a map and directions.
FWIW
One of my roomates has a Dell with which he's quite happy. He's a real geek and runs Linux on just about everything, and I respect his opinion on anything hardware-related.
Another of my roomates has a Gateway and had an absolute horrible time with their repair/warranty department.
My organization is purchasing Dells because they feel they get the biggest bang for the buck and reliability. For desktops we build out own machines so you know we don't fuck around. We also expect to get little to no help with tech support, we do it all in-house. I highly respect the decisionmakers as far as computing needs go for our divisions also.
I don't think you can rely on any computer maker's tech support. I was in touch with HP tech support for a COMPAQ Presario and they couldn't find the Front Side Bus with a map and directions.
FWIW
T
The Shadow
Guest
i wanna see your data entry port....
T
The Shadow
Guest
If you have to ask....apparently not well
yomama
Banned
Dell has the worst customer service. I dont know if they still take calls in India, supposedly they moved them back to USA because of so many complaints. I once waited 2hrs talking to customer service, it's like talking to a robot, it's all scripted. I was supposed to get free shipping aslo, they screwed me 100 on that, I mean come on, what kinda shipping cost that much, Bull Shit! Dell sucks, so do their computers.
Big Rick Rock
istrator
velvett said:
congrats!
