New Laptop

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My wife is in the market for a new laptop/notebook, $1800-$2000 range. I’m OK on selection of features, but it’s been a while since I’ve looked into these – need to know who’s making the best, who’s most relaible. A wide open topic, but I’d appreciate any opinions.

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Bill I can’t help with prices etc as I’m on the other side of the world, but my on brand – ASUS and Dell are probably 2 of the better quality machines. I’m probably opening a can of worms with that statement but never mind! Get as much grunt though as you can afford – in terms of processor, RAM and harddisk. Buying a new pc is the one area these days where big is best.

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I’m going to counter at least part of Mike’s post, after he was supportive of my post to Gerrigirl in an earlier post too.

I feel I must warn that the company I work had purchased a couple of Dell laptops over a 12-18 months period. The cases have collapsed, due the user ware and tear according to Dell. These are not covered by the warranty. I won’t be buying anything else from Dell as I’ve also had endless trouble with their desktops.

Sorry if I sound overly negitive, but my experience has not been a happy one.

Just my worth.

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Hi Bill,

I’ve been an IBM ThinkPad fan for a long time. There’s a model for just about every price range, and they are fairly rugged, too.

Whichever brand you go with, the big displays make a big difference (pun intended) so keep that in mind.

And remember, every manufacturer makes lemons – but that’s what warranties are for.

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My wife and I are real happy the the NEW Sony’s.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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You might take a look at this post.

As stated earlier in this thread, every company makes lemons, that’s what warranties are for. You will want to purchase an extended warranty on this item in particular, chances are, it will pay for itself.

On specs, yes, bigger is better, the most you can get for your money is what you should get, it’s not uncommon for a system to be at least somewhat out dated by the time you take it out of the box, but for many, this doesn’t really matter.

This has been my experience, again the purchase of an extended warranty generally averts any issues which may arise.

Dell is a great company with a great product. They’ve made repair a simple process, and are always available to support you. (Collapsed Cases? That would be a user specific problem. Laptops aren’t stadium seat cushions, but many users think otherwise.) They have a wide range of laptops to meet your needs, and are quick to resolve any problem you might have with them.

Sony’s systems are small, lightwieght, and packed with features, however most of these features are more asthetic than anything. I find that a majority of thier systems are flimsy, but I know they have at least one solid titanium case available, so that will depend on the model.

Toshiba’s work well, but I can’t say much on thier service/support. Perhaps that’s a good thing? They’re not as common as some of the other heavy hitters, meaning thier parts may be a bit more expensive should service or repair be needed.

Thinkpads are rugged little systems, and yes, they have a lot of options. Not much to say on service/support for them either.

It’s real simple. Wiegh your choices carefully. There will always be that one person who feels they were stiffed by a system they purchased, and seriously dislike the company as a result. Balance your options, never sacrifice faster processesor for less warranty coverage, Your warranty should be your primary concern. Big display is a definite plus, lots of memory, definite plus. Your average salesperson won’t know a whole lot about how systems work, and will tell you that this system is fast because its processor is, that’s not the only consideration for speed. It’s a delicate balance, and while the system might meet your needs, there will come a point where it wont be enough.

Bottom line, get the most you can for the money, and remember the warranty.

Sorry for the novel, but hope this helps!

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Hey Bill…

At work, we’ve been buying IBM Thinkpads for the past 3 years. Just sort of became the standard. We make sure we have the 3 year onsite / nextday Hardware and Software warranty.

We’ve had the occasional problem, but nothing that wasn’t resolved either over the phone or through the onsite support.

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My clients are buying from Dell, for 4 years now. Many desktops and a handful of laptops. The laptops offer the best function for the price (for Gov, Edu, and non-profit clients). No repair needed for any boxes over this period. I have heard that the large screen laptops are fragile, can’t toss them around with the lid open. But who would do that?

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OK You are all talking brands here. Does it matter much which store? I have heard that some of the chain stores buy one brand but install cheaper internal parts. Is this one of those urban fantasies? Or something to be on the lookout for?

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I doubt the cheaper parts story. Servicing laptops is expensive and would negate the effort. And then do what with the better parts and no chassis?

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