Laptop suggestions Options

[Spectatrix]

So, I'm thinking about getting a laptop (finally). I've toyed around with the idea of just buying a cheapo laptop from one of my friends that have more than they know what to do with, but I'm thinking now that I actually want a decent one. What I'm not sure on is whether I want to get a mid-level laptop and still majorly upgrade my desktop in a few months or whether I should switch to using a laptop as my primary computer and thus spring for a higher end model.

So I guess my question is two-fold... 1) If you have both a personal laptop and desktop, which do you use as your primary comp and why? 2) What do y'all suggest as far as makes/models are concerned?

[Seeker]

dell sells a linux laptop now

if i were going to buy a new laptop i'd probably get a toshiba

[Mommy]

I have both desktop and laptop. I primarily use my desktop because my parents gave me an HP laptop and it sucks.

Laptop suggestions: Toshiba, Sony, Gateway (it irks me though that they were just bought out by Acer), or Dell (which I would have never said until recently)

For the love of god and all that is holy, NEVER EVER BUY AN HP. Every single HP laptop and desktop that I have come into contact with is a fucking piece of shit. I used to think that their printers were ok, but now even those are POS...

[Spectatrix]

dell sells a linux laptop now

if i were going to buy a new laptop i'd probably get a toshiba

As much as I'll lose geek points for saying so, I'd prefer a Windows laptop. If I run Linux, it'll probably be dual-boot on my desktop.

[impala454]

So I guess my question is two-fold... 1) If you have both a personal laptop and desktop, which do you use as your primary comp and why? 2) What do y'all suggest as far as makes/models are concerned?

1. i use my desktop as my primary comp, because the screen(s) are bigger, more power, comfortable chair, etc. I got the laptop as a play around comp and it's worked out nice. I paid $350 for it off ebay and it's got plenty of power & built in wireless to browse the web, read email, and play music/movies. I figured I don't really need to do anything with a laptop other than that. It comes in handy if I want to sit in the living room and be on the comp, or taking it on trips. I'm not a huge fan of the laptop as a desktop replacement, namely because of the small screen and higher cost for the same amount of power. While you can get laptops with large screens and lots of power, then they become less portable (which kinda defeats the point of a laptop in the first place). anyhow just my $0.02

2. i got my laptop off ebay, a dell latitude D600, for $350. it's worked great so far. i know lots of people with dells and haven't seen too many problems. worst thing i've seen happen is a messed up screen, which dell had a technician come out to the guy's house and replace it on the spot.

[Seeker]

stay away from sony, gateway, acer, hp, and compaq

a dell is a maybe if you buy the right laptop, a huge no if you buy the wrong one

the only decent laptop brands you're left with are toshiba, lenovo, and macs

[pebkac]

1. I use my desktop and laptop equally.

2. I would recommend an apple. You can run windows on them if you need to. And if you really want to nerd it up you can. It doesn't require as much hacking as linux, but if you want to get into the meat of the computer and use bash or edit kernel extensions, you can. And lastly, it doesn't run Vista.

If you don't want a mac, I would recommend a Toshiba. They're not too expensive and have big ugly cases that can take a decent amount of damage (compared to an HP that's made out of flimsy plastic).

Lastly, sony vaios really aren't bad computers at all. They are a bit overpriced, but they're pretty decent machines.

But then again, asking people what brand of computer is best is a bit like asking whether a Ford is better than a GM. Everyone has their own preference. My advice would be to get a computer you can look at and try out before you buy it and determine on your own what's best for you.

One other piece of advice: focus on the processor and the graphics card (if you do a lot of gaming). Things like RAM and the hard drive can be upgraded at a later point in time. The proc and the graphics card are pretty much going to be things you're stuck with though.

This post has been edited by pebkac: Sep 6 2007, 12:33 PM

[impala454]

i think your most important thing in any laptop you buy is the warranty. make sure you get a long ass warranty that covers everything

[pebkac]

i think your most important thing in any laptop you buy is the warranty. make sure you get a long ass warranty that covers everything

Word. And get it from the manufacturer, not the retailer. For example, AppleCare on my macbook covers the computer, software, and any apple peripherals. And it costs the same as the plan you can buy from CompUSA for 2 years that only covers hardware (it's worth noting that CompUSA's plan does cover accidental damage to the screen unlike AppleCare though).

[Spectatrix]

And lastly, it doesn't run Vista.

This is actually a compelling argument. I don't particularly want Vista, yet it looks like that's what I'd be stuck with if I got a new Windows laptop.

[impala454]

naah... most of the major companies give you the option to have XP if you want.

[Spectatrix]

Well if they do, they try their hardest to hide it on their websites...

[impala454]

doh.. i swear i looked like a month ago and saw the option on dell's... don't see it now. oh well, to be honest you're best off getting it with vista, and putting a VL version of xp on it yourself, then when vista gets the kinks worked out you'll already have it.

[Seeker]

even if it's not an option on the website you can call in and request xp instead of vista

[pebkac]

doh.. i swear i looked like a month ago and saw the option on dell's... don't see it now. oh well, to be honest you're best off getting it with vista, and putting a VL version of xp on it yourself, then when vista gets the kinks worked out you'll already have it.

NO... installing XP on a Vista laptop is NOT a good idea.

The problem is that usually if a machine comes with Vista, the manufacturer won't make any xp drivers. If you CAN find any drivers, you probably won't be able to get them all from the manufacturer. And most manufacturers will have an XP machine, but you can't just go in and get any computer with XP.

For example, we do sell a compaq with XP on it (which actually isn't a bad machine for a compaq) but that's it.

This post has been edited by pebkac: Sep 6 2007, 03:45 PM