Lap Top Suggestions

[blue gecko]

My Laptop is dying and I can't decide what to buy but whatever it is I need to do it ASAP. I need at least 2 gig processer speed intel preferred. I would like the higher RPM harddrive (120 gig min) or solid state. I need good video capabilities for power point. It needs to have a good CD/DVD drive and audio capabilities with USB and SD, SDHC etc ports. It must be tough (I'm a klutz).

I sure could use some informed opinions and help finding a good deal. The options out there are so overwhelming and this has to happen very quickly.

[MaxTheKnife]

I have done extensive research over the past several months looking for the best deal. It's exhausting, since the money is short and we don't want to buy junk. My little Dell C600 finally died and I'm going to let it stay that way. BG's Dell lasted 3 1/2 years but now is spiraling down to the bone yard. Her CD/DVD burner drive died about a year ago and her CPU cooling fan is about gone. I'm a laptop mechanic and could repair all these things but the CD/DVD burner is no longer available. The only option through Dell is an external drive. Heh.

The three main online buying sites that I trust and use are Newegg, geeks and Tigerdirect. I check at each of those sites regularly and get periodic email specials from them as well. We would like to stay away from Dell and move towards Acer and Toshiba. HP is not on the list unless its a real good deal. Any help in finding that 'sweet' deal would be appreciated.

[ukmum]

Cant give you the techno details but I've found Acer to be a relaible brand....far better than my old Dell which proved to be a little temperamental.

[rryan]

I have had good experiences with Toshiba Satellites and Sony VAIO's

[flourbug]

We have Dells now too. Jason bought several a few years ago when they had a good deal, and so far so good. I think a Sony was the only one that stopped working beyond his ability to repair.

[Potemkin]

I gave up trying to chase brands.

Too many deals flying around, changing all of the time, special discounts, etc.

Two rules I have.

Stay away from consumer models. They are cheaper but they never last as long. Buy up into the business class. A little more expensive but you get metal internals frames, metal tops to protect the display from flex, etc.

Never buy the top end processors. Too much extra $$ not in proportion to the increased speed. Many times it would be cheaper to buy the base processor, use it for a few years, and buy another notebook to catch up.

[Potemkin]

Originally Posted by MaxTheKnife

I have done extensive research over the past several months looking for the best deal. It's exhausting, since the money is short and we don't want to buy junk. My little Dell C600 finally died and I'm going to let it stay that way. BG's Dell lasted 3 1/2 years but now is spiraling down to the bone yard. Her CD/DVD burner drive died about a year ago and her CPU cooling fan is about gone. I'm a laptop mechanic and could repair all these things but the CD/DVD burner is no longer available. The only option through Dell is an external drive. Heh.

PFFT, if Ms. Potes notebook DVD drive was going out I would go with an USB external drive. They are really cheap and she doesn't use it that often.

Not enough to buy a new notebook.

I would even be tempted to buy a dead notebook of a similar model from eBay for parts.

[Catbird]

I bought an Acer Aspire 7741Z a few months ago after the display on my older Dell finally died. I got it at Staples for under $500 and it came with an Intel 2G processor, 4G RAM, 500G hard drive and a 17.3" display.

The pro:

Processor speed is nice.
Fan is pretty quiet.
Display is very nice.
Only a little pre-loaded junk software.

The con:

The touchpad drives me insane. Had to go to an external mouse.
The speakers work fine but aren't the best quality.
The biggest con is the lack of battery time - it ranges from 2 1/2 hours to maybe 3 hrs. 15 mins or so.

But overall, it's not bad. I can play Civilization V on it, which is a massive resource hog of a game, and still have other windows open and running, without taxing the RAM too much.

So if you're on a budget, I'd definitely consider putting it on your list to check out.

[Auburn Boy]

I'm looking at ACER, HP, or DELL.

I need to replace an ancient Inspiron with a 1.2 GHz processor and near 0 memory in it..,

I'm specifically looking for Win 7 64 Bit, and an Intel i7 processor. Pricey stuff, but for business purposes it will be worth it.

TigerDirect and NewEgg are my shopping choices.

I'll let you know what I end up buying..,

[Auburn Boy]

Originally Posted by Catbird

The con:

The touchpad drives me insane. Had to go to an external mouse.

LOL!!!

I can't agree with you more!!!

[Catbird]

Originally Posted by Auburn Boy

LOL!!!

I can't agree with you more!!!

Glad that it's not just me. After my DH commented on my creative cussing a few times, I took the hint and went to the external mouse.

[Samen]

If you need double boot with XP being the second OS forget "HP Pavilion dv 7 xxx" it has some sort of HD lock or chip that wont let you load sata drivers or work with sata in the bios.

Linux and win 7 work good on it together, but even after deleting every partition, not just the "hidden" ones killing the mbr and boot sectors and running kill disk, XP is not an option.

Thinking of putting in a xp image from another computer, Love Win 7 just must have XP for a few programs.

[blue gecko]

I forgot to mention that the biggest problem with my laptop is that the HD is dying. It takes longer and longer to boot and has to go through the chkdsk function each time. Then it will sometimes lock up and I'll have to reboot. Max can install a new HD, but I'd have to buy a new operating system because there is no way to reliably back my system up. Sectors are failing and there's just no telling what kind of mess we would wind up with. So... I think its time for a new laptop.

[ukmum]

It took me a while to get used to the touchpad on my Acer aspire timelinex too, but I think the "lightness" generally takes some getting used to...I wouldn't change it now........... I did have and Dell Inspiron before then, which is clunky in comparison.

[Samen]

Found the Video of my laptop, definitely stay away from this model unless you are as profesinal as the person fixing the problem. Seems this laptop also came from a clean home, no dogs or cats, and HP support forum is full of questions and rants on over heating laptops.
Using a compressor and vacuum don't work as the heat sink paste need renewing.
Huge job just to get to the fan LOL, I would newer get it back together.

You Tube

[lilly]

I thinl I will go with Acer when my eldest comes out to help one day. Will see what the kids think.

I don't want him overdoing the help mom routine when he has done so much already and has an extremely heavy load with his work. He is a self starter. I'm not.

Also he is not as financially well off as he had been, so I don't want to be a drain in any way. This Sandy stuff and letting him do it all perhaps wasn't the best way to go. But it happened and the past is past.

the limited computer here and the better ones at the senior center don't quite equal the acess to the internet I had at my many New Jersey libraries. And the library here allows only one hour of computer time a day, though many print outs.

I'm not in a rush to buy, but I do want to word process a novel. I put it off due to Sandy, but it entertains me endlessly.

[Auburn Boy]

I ended up with an HP Pavillion dv6t with an i7 processor.

I've never yet found a real need for anything like XP on it, though I hear the Windows 7 Profession XP Mode keeps getting improvements.

[CanadaSue]

I have a dirt cheap Acer I picked up at Staples about 2-3 years ago. It's idiot proof & has to be with me using it. I doubt I use more than 5% of its capabilities. Best way to do it is figure out what you can afford to spend, then check some websites for recommendations within that price range.

Find out too - what your residence used as a service provider or if they have a choice there.

[lilly]

They have WI acess here. I saw someone using their laptop in the meeting room. They call it something else here, not a meeting room. I consider it a meeting place, a community room.

[booger]

Subbing to this thread because my laptop is starting to die a (hopefully) slow, painful death. *sob*

[blue gecko]

I ended up with a Toshiba Satellite and I'm pretty happy with it.