Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

[Miss Phode]

I'm shopping for a new laptop. I already know that I hate Windows Vista and want to avoid it like the plague. I saw a Toshiba Satellite Notebook that looked somewhat promising with 2 GB of ram and a 200 gb hard drive.

Does anyone have any advice or recommendations? Are Toshiba's crap? I'd love an Apple but can't justify the cost.

[Hayden]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

I have a Toshiba notebook as my office PC. They are fine.

To be honest, most of the notebooks, are made with components from the same two or three manufactures. So there is not much of a muchness between them all nowadays.

You could be just as happy with a cheap and cheerful non-brand PC than with a expensive branded PC. The components inside mostly all come from the same place.

However, since you asked.

Sony Computer look nice. Objects of Art sometimes. Break far too easily though.

IBM notebooks. Look like the back end of a bus. So dull and boring. However they are built like tanks. They work so well, and last and last and last.
Expensive though.

If you are going to use your notebook as a portable machine, then look at the IBM's. If however the notebook is just going to be sat on your desk, and not really move around so much, then something cheaper is fine.
If your notebook is going to be in the living room, or a room where you have guests, then look at the Sony.

The Others.

Dell, Gateway, Mouse Computers are all mid-prices notebooks and will work just fine. You'll probably want to upgrade before they break.

When you buy.
Don't get side-tracked by the screen resolution or other rubbish.
In this priority.
Buy the most amount of RAM you afford.
The best processor you can afford.
The best size hard drive you can afford.
(These are the most difficult and costly to upgrade, after you've bought the PC)

Then after that you can look at the number of USB ports it has.

Then, the other whistles and bells, like screen resolution, and CD drive speeds.

That's would be my advice for starters.

[ShiningStarr]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

I am writing on a Toshiba Satellite right now and I really like it. I completely agree with you about Vista. It sucks! We have it vista on our desktop computer and we are seriously switching back to XP.

[apple]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

Thanks for asking and for the other posts...

I have a TOSHIBA Satellite, too....I have to say, it's okay, but the CD/DVD drive went out on mine and according to the manufacture and other complaints..it's a common occurance. I wonder if it's that common on in other laptops?? It went out after I traveled with it to give presentations last Spring, so I know it held up for a good year before it went out.

Now I'm looking at either replacing my laptop part, buying a new laptop, or getting a new computer all the way around.

My friend has Vista and I have the old stand by XP....guess who hates their Vista....not me! lol. Although I can't open any of her files that she sends to me because of the format being completely off than mine...so, I guess I don't like it either and will stick to my XP.

[sadie147]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

I swear by Dells, I still have my old Dell laptop from 7 years ago, and despite all the times it's been dropped etc it still runs no problem..

I own 2 dell desktops, my prior one which is 5 years old, that i've never had (and still dont) have an issue with, and mynew one that i love (had the forsight to buy before Vista).

I was purchasing a Dell on their site for a Family member and saw that they have an XP option on some of their machines.

[Eno]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

Dells are good, as are Acer. Dell customer support is outstanding.

If you don't mind buying online, check http://www.gotapex.com/ for deals and discount codes (check often because the deals may change daily.)

[Grant]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

Some great advice so far, I wanted to add one thing. If you are gong to be carrying it around take a look at the dimensions and weight. We bought a Dell inspiron for my mother-in-law. It is perfect for her except for the fact that I stupidly didn't think about how big it is. For a laptop this thing is huge and heavy and she has a hard time if she wants to carry it around.

Just a thought.

[*Emma*]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

I have a Dell Inspiron and i love it, granted i dont reallly carry it about anywhere, but i still love it... I have a Dell desktop too which must be about 5 or 6 years old now and still works perfectly.

[Atkid]

Re: Laptop/Notebook...any words of wisdom?

I hear you about that Vista. I just bought my daughter a gateway for christmas, normally buy hp's but couldn't find one with a 14" screen in the price I wanted to pay. Anyhow, it comes with vista but we will try to put it back to the XP once Santa gives it to her. Oh, I wanted the smaller screen so it would be more mobile for her.