Help with choosing a laptop

Greybeard · #1 July 31st, 2005, 08:14 AM

Thanks for all of the advise. Although there isn't a clear concensus, I'm definitely going to check the used computer store in the neighborhood. And, will try to steer her clear of Dell.

BTW, I haven't been able to interested any of my girls in playing SEIV...

Kamog · #2 July 31st, 2005, 02:31 PM

I like IBM Thinkpads. Reliable, solid machines. I like them better than Sony, Compaq, NEC, Toshiba, or Dell. Next time I buy a laptop it will be IBM. I still have my old Apple Powerbook 180. Very good machine when it came out but it's long outdated now. I've seen the new Apple laptops with the large screen and those are beautiful but expensive.

Thermodyne · #3 July 31st, 2005, 05:14 PM

Be very careful with a used laptop purchase. Laptops are very expensive to repair once they go out of warranty. Also, despite what you�ve heard above, Dell�s are not over priced or poorly built. Just stay away from the low end units. We purchase 10 to 15 Latitudes a month and have had only 2 out of over 200 need repairs. Sure the support is a PITA, but that goes with the territory no mater where you get it from. Apples are good laptops, but many universities don�t support them on the LAN. And with a Windows laptop you can purchase MS software dirt cheap with the student discounts at most universities. Dell and IBM are the two main line systems and Sager is prolly the premo. Compaq and Toshiba used to be real good, but have fallen to the realm of white box of late. Sony is nice hardware, but takes some getting used to. A newcomer to the top end is ASUS; they are building some real nice systems. What ever brand you pick, you want a Pentium M of at least 1.7 GHz, 512megs of ram (1Gig would be better) and do not buy integrated video. And be sure to get a tether so that you can lock it down. Word is that the lifespan of an unattended laptop at school is measured in minutes.

Thermodyne · #4 July 31st, 2005, 05:21 PM

PS: If you are looking for a PowerBook, check this out.

AMD Prostar

Atrocities · #5 August 2nd, 2005, 08:46 AM

I am seeing a lot of lap tops on sale, www.bestbuy.com circuite city, and others for around $500.00 after mail in rebates.

Thermodyne · #6 August 2nd, 2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
I am seeing a lot of lap tops on sale, www.bestbuy.com circuite city, and others for around $500.00 after mail in rebates.

That' going to be low end stuff. Celerys and Semps. Pentium M of 1.6GHz sould be the lowest system you buy.