Another Laptop Thread

[diva]

Going to pick one up in Oregon this weekend. It's been four years since i've had to shop for a new computer, so i'm pretty clueless about what's available.

Keep in mind that i'm only going to be using it for school works, music, and browsing the internet.

Which one of the following would you recommend? Would you recommend one that I haven't listed?

Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor ZM-80 - Fusion - M305D-S4830

Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-60 - A305D-S6848

Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - A305-S6858

Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with AMD Turion™ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor RM-70 - Blue - U405D-S2852

Sony - VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Crocodile Brown - VGN-CR510E/T

Sony - VAIO Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - Cosmopolitan Pink - VGN-CR510E/P

[ebbomega]

I find with laptops brand matters.

I've heard VAIOs have gone down drastically in recent years. Toshibas are still alright, but if you really want a solid laptop you probably want an Acer or a Lenovo Thinkpad.

The next three posts are going to be "GET A MAC" but some people just don't want to.

Out of the ones you're looking at, I'm guessing the Satellite Athlon64x2 is probably what you'd want best.

[ebbomega]

I'll start.

GET A MAC

[diva]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

I find with laptops brand matters.

I've heard VAIOs have gone down drastically in recent years. Toshibas are still alright, but if you really want a solid laptop you probably want an Acer or a Lenovo Thinkpad.

The next three posts are going to be "GET A MAC" but some people just don't want to.

The VAIOs look really purdy, though.

Everyone in my sister's dentistry program had to buy a Lenovo Thinkpad for school. I played around with it this summer, but I honestly didn't like it at all.

My last laptop was an ibook. I don't want another one right now.

Out of the ones you're looking at, I'm guessing the Satellite Athlon64x2 is probably what you'd want best.

Which one is that again?

[ebbomega]

Any three of the Turions really. Dunno what other features you're looking for. I'd recommend getting 4G of RAM, or if they're expandable get them expanded right away (If they've got three 1G sticks they're advertising as 3G you'll only get 2G worth of memory really).

edit: SRSLY SEXY

[fritz]

Dell XPS M1330 Laptop Product Details

get this, it comes in pink, has a core2duo, relatively light, and is under $1000
you cant buy it from the store but you'll be happier in a year

[rawb]

you have to make the decision if you want something pretty or something that will last.

[diva]

I want something that will last. I'm confused... I thought I read in another thread that dells aren't made very well anymore..

I wonder if they could ship it to Oregon by Monday if I ordered it bow...

[rawb]

if you want something that will last get the lenovo thinkpad.
if you want something pretty get whatever catches your eye and hope that it was made well.

[diva]

I'm on the lenovo site now. What's the difference between ideapad and thinkpad?

[ebbomega]

Ideapad : iBook :: Thinkpad : Powerbook, basically.

Ideapad are lower-end lines. Go with a Thinkpad if you're looking at that.

[diva]

There's a sale on the website. Ends on September 22. Rawb, can you please price one out for me? I don't know which extras are worth adding on...

[diva]

Or Dave. I have no clue about which series to get. My sister has the tablet, so I know I definitely don't need that one.

[ebbomega]

Really depends on what you want to be using it for. For the uses you listed you really don't need a lot of bells & whistles. RAM would be #1 thing I'd recommend, particularly if you're dealing with Vista - 4G should be good. The rest is just bells & whistles that you might think you'd use. But like I say, getting a dual-core processor would be decent for your purposes (doing multiple things at once, not really doing any intense number crunching IE graphics rendering or gaming).

And the rest is basically a cost vs. speed thing. Never go for top of the line, I usually aim for getting top-of-the-midrange.

Specifically, which ones on sale are you looking at that seem to have the featureset you want?

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by rawb

you have to make the decision if you want something pretty or something that will last.

rawb what is the hardest computer out there, in terms of survivability and i can still use excel work, SAP and SAS on it?

its gotta be able to run wirelessly and have a decent OEM battery life as well.

I treat most of my posesions like dirt.

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by SEAN!

rawb what is the hardest computer out there, in terms of survivability and i can still use excel work, SAP and SAS on it?

its gotta be able to run wirelessly and have a decent OEM battery life as well.

I treat most of my posesions like dirt.

You shouldn't be allowed nice toys then.

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by NinjaBoy

You shouldn't be allowed nice toys then.

fuck toys, i need to put in work.

a computer is just a tool for me, and i want a tool that will last.

[rawb]

Originally Posted by SEAN!

rawb what is the hardest computer out there, in terms of survivability and i can still use excel work, SAP and SAS on it?

its gotta be able to run wirelessly and have a decent OEM battery life as well.

I treat most of my posesions like dirt.

thinkpad is a good choice for a ruff business computer, but beyond that you have a few more options.
you may want a ruggidized computer like a panasonic toughbook





Rugged PC Review - your source for rugged computing reviews and specs

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by rawb

thinkpad is a good choice for a ruff business computer, but beyond that you have a few more options.
you may want a ruggidized computer like a panasonic toughbook

YouTube - Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y7



Rugged PC Review - your source for rugged computing reviews and specs

im sorry for getting you to do all the leg work, but where can i buy one?

[mikey]

hey fufu, ever heard of google?

[mikey]

ps: my jacket !

[diva]

Pcworld.com pretty much names all of the laptop we've mentioned in this thread on their list of best all purpose laptops...

[diva]

Originally Posted by fritz

Dell XPS M1330 Laptop Product Details



get this, it comes in pink, has a core2duo, relatively light, and is under $1000
you cant buy it from the store but you'll be happier in a year

This computer actually comes to $1700 after I upgrade the memory and add the best waranty...

For some reason the lenovo site doesn't seem to want to give me the option of getting more than a one year waranty on the model I tried to price out.

And now I'm starting to wonder if I should just get another mac.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by diva

For some reason the lenovo site doesn't seem to want to give me the option of getting more than a one year waranty on the model I tried to price out.

I think that has something to do with the fact that they generally base their warranties the way they're supposed to be done, as opposed to the way that most manufacturers do these days.

What a warranty is supposed to say is "If your device breaks in x amount of time it was defective and shouldn't have been shipped like that."

Instead what most people (particularly the ones who abuse consumers with stuff like "extended warranties") use it for is "This is how long your device should last. If you want to have it last longer, spend more money on an extended warranty."

[sNyx]

r.r.r.reeeeepeat

Get a Lenovo Thinkpad. I have a T61p and I'll never go with anything else. I have used a Toshiba, HP, Acer and the Thinkpad totals them all. I spent around $400 on my warranty which covers everything for 3 years, even accidental spills and damages. I had my keyboard replaced twice in Bangkok both in under 2 hours, at no cost, because I took it to an IMB service center. If your not near a service center they will UPS out a truck next day with a box and have it back to you in 2-3 business days (I did this once). Their built like a tank as a portable business tool and still look dead sexy (in that pin stripe secretary sorta way). I packed mine with 3 gigs of ram, a second hard drive and a 2.2 duo Intel. Plays videogames and runs multiple heavy load applications with ease. I highly recommend going with a Thinkpad and paying for the warranty. IMB really takes care of you.

I would go for the Xseries if your looking for small.
Lenovo - Notebook computers - ThinkPad X Series