Shopping for a Slaptop Computer
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Posted on Aug 31, 2007 08:03 am
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
The last week or so I have been going from store to store looking at different laptop offerings...man, what a racket.
A simple 17" monitor is something that adds about $100 to any unit...at BestBuy I found out about the great "service" they offer, for $30 they will remove all the trial ware and **** that comes on every PC...I saw an HP I liked, just needed to add another GB of RAM and I'd be happy...then I read the HDD is 5400...a lot of the Acer and Aspire notebooks have 4200 RPM HDD's?!?!
::sigh::
Very few of type "n" networking, which I'd like, it's the new standard and my router supports it...the ones that do are expensive...and I have had the router for months.
What a frustrating experience so far. I have never been a laptop kinda guy, but with two kids getting computing age, wanting to play their games and stuff...I need my own...the "parents PC" and "kids PC" isn't cutting it any more...we need to add a "Daddy's PC" to the mix.
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WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 31, 2007 08:36 am Oh ya buddy. I've had to carry one for a long time now per business endevors. Ya gotta watch the specs like a hawk. And oh yea!...they got all kinds of 'value add' scams! Price any add-on or upgrade prices too. It's getting better over time, but for awhile upgrading memory in a Sony was a take out a second morgage affair... propriatary stuff.
Aug 31, 2007 08:51 am I laughed at the sales guy when he pointed me to a Sony...he looked bummed :-)
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Aug 31, 2007 09:44 am Mate i can't endorse Dell enough.
Cheap and decent quality.
Like any 'name brand' pc they come with obscene amounts of bloatware but with a re-install of the OS you're in business.
Not sure if the US flavour is any different but i'm a big fan over here.
Aug 31, 2007 10:11 am I like my Dell too, Bleak. I've heard horror stories about their tech support, but since I never use it...so what.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 31, 2007 10:33 am ...another Dell supporter here although I am currently using an HP laptop but we have several Dell's around in the field. On thing with Dell is that you have to wait for it to be shipped.
Aug 31, 2007 11:01 am I haven't seen a Dell anywhere I have looked yet, I suppose I should go to their site and see what I can drum up.
Thanks for the recommendations, I'll check them out...I've heard the horror stories too, but typically unless the sky is falling, I never call support.
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Aug 31, 2007 11:17 am Dell don't have an indirect retail model. Online only.
Yeh, I've heard about the tech support stuff but i've never had to use them and i suspect DB will be the same.
The warranties are pretty good from my understanding.
The best part about the onlone ordering is that you take any base model and ADD or Subtract whatever you want.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Aug 31, 2007 11:19 am Dell laptops are pretty popular around here. The only thing I don't care for is their size...they're thick and just giant in general. But they accomodate nice, widescreen, hi-def displays that are pretty damn amazing to look at.
I use an IBM ThinkPak for work, and I love it due to its power and small size. I haven't seen another laptop that's smaller and thinner. But if you want a larger-format display, plus more options than you can shake a stick at, Dell is the way to go.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 31, 2007 11:38 am They have Dell kiosk's around here (Canada) but not sure about in the US. I would think they would have them around there as well.
Aug 31, 2007 11:40 am Yeah, my ThinkPad from work is small, I just hate the small screen...I don't plan to be a mobile computing guy, I just wanna be able to sit on my patio, at the kitchen table, couch, or wherever, and do my thang.
Aug 31, 2007 11:43 am Turns out I can get the same (slightly better) HP for less money...
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Aug 31, 2007 07:29 pm I have a HP (Compaq) and i've never had any dramas although the screen is starting to play silly buggers.
Good machine though.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 31, 2007 08:34 pm I'm on my second Toshiba. I gave the first one to my daughter and it is still chuggin along. Two minor complaints about the newest one. The keys on the keyboard are held in place by some might flimsy plastic pieces. Gotta be real carefull cleaining under them and two, they didn't seal the screen housing very well. I have a tiny little piece of dust floating around in there. At first I thought it was a couple of pixels out, but then it started moving from time to time.
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Aug 31, 2007 10:38 pm oh, speaking of keys, make sure you get ones that are backlit!!!
really important if youre ever typing away with the lights off
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 02, 2007 11:37 pm We have several Dells at work. Although I do agree their tech support is lame they don't run half bad once they are cleared of all the garbage. But I and another enginer use HP's and I really like mine. It is big and a bit bulky, but it is also durable as well. Mine has taken a couple of tumbles and is none the worse for wear. And it was a lot easier to clear out the junk then the Dells. They are both the 17" wide screens which is probably what makes them bulky, but it is worth it when working on some of the programing apps we use when you need to see large blocks of controller data or need to bring up a print.
As for the 5400 rpm HDD's. That is pretty much the standard in the laptops as of yet. Although HP was much more accommodating to install 7200's in then any of the others we have.
And I agree with Bleak, backlit keys are the catz azz when you need em.
