Choosing a laptop

[arizona 10+ year member]

So it would appear that I am getting my choice of laptop of x-mas since I am going off to college soon.

So which companies make good reliable laptops? I am looking for one with at least a 250 gb HD that would be able to handle any normal tasks and maybe some games if I felt like it.

I haven't been into computers in a long time so lets get some info //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Click to read more...

 

[s Beatz]

Dell or HP.

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

apple

 

[Motley 10+ year member]

Sony VAIO laptops are good. I'm on my third one over the years. Good quality.

Sony VAIO CS series perfect for college..

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644586398&parentCategoryId=16154

 

[ryan8551226 10+ year member]

Dell or Apple with accidental damage on it if your spending a lot on it. Things do happen in college lol.

 

[Johnny Law.Lulz 5,000+ posts]

Mac laptops are the best, far easier to use than windows and about a millionth of the chance of a virus on a mac through normal operations because making a vius to infect a mac is hard.

IF you want to go windows then i have ot stand behind my Toshiba 100%, my moms sony viao has been through 2 Hard Drives due to Sony errors and im just now having problems with mine because Limewire finally gave me the virus i swore id never catch. Excellent laptops, great relability, mine stays on 24/7 except for travel and it barely gets hot.

Only thing id get other than my Toshiba that runs windows would be a Panasonic Tough book.

 

[lawlyes2007 10+ year member]

dont get dell. apple is muchhhh better

 

[arizona 10+ year member]

I am not really a fan of apple so it will more then likely be a PC... I have never had a problem with getting viruses and stuff on my desktop and I rarely even run software because its a POS and makes it slow lol. Any specific models I should look at?

Should be good enough that it won't get too outdated in the next 4 years lol.

 

[lawlyes2007 10+ year member]

gateway is good for a pc. or hp

 

[arizona 10+ year member]

So heres what I got it narrowed down to off of newegg

$700-800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114533

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115506

$1100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147786

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115507

opinions if you feel like it....

 

[Motley 10+ year member]

LOL don't get the Acer, they ****...

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

Avoid Acer and Toshiba like the plague.

Dell and HP make pretty decent units. They're not bulletproof by any means, but for sub-$1000 units, they have the lowest failure rates.

Gateway is also pretty good, though they tend to use older parts, so battery life, heat output, and thickness aren't so good. If it's stationary, it shouldn't matter.

My personal preference is towards the higher-end Sony VAIOs, but the sub-$1000 Sonys aren't so great.

Apple makes good laptops, though I fvcking hate OS X and they're grossly overpriced, but if you like OS X, it's your only choice.

As for the specific laptops listed, the Acer Cinema laptops look fantastic. Unfortunately, they're chalk full of bloatware (80+ processes @ startup //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/sick.gif.b1847c8dabbfeeddbcf1a78052249e10.gif ) and the media controls get stuck OFTEN. On top of that, Acer's reliability is mediocre.

I work at 2 computer stores that sell Toshiba laptops, both of them send an obscene number back due to failures that pop-up very quickly. Unfortunately, it's not just limited to quick failures (Toshiba only takes units back within 30 days) as a lot of issues pop up months down the road. Battery issues are very common on the Toshiba units as are motherboard issues. I used to view them as a viable option, but their return rates continue to increase.

I haven't used that particular HP, but that would be my choice of those 4.

 

[ctt0002 10+ year member]

I have a dell inspiron 1420 and let me tell you something, dell has the best warranty out there. Since this is going to be your college laptop then go with a dell xps or something like that. Get the extended warranty and use your school discount.

When the 1420 first came out, it was selling like hotcakes so i decided to buy one. It cost like $2,700 and thats with everything that i could possibly get with 4 years of warranty for only like $1,700 through my university discount so def. take a look into it.

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

http://www.notebookforums.com

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

apple

X2 definitely you can get Microsoft office for it and now you can if you have a windows disc you can run that on a mac as well. I have had my mac for 2 years been dropped twice been on countless motorcycle rides strapped to the back seat in a normal backpack. And it still has not slowed down scene the day I bought it. They are a little more expensive BUT you wont have to work about the computer crashing in the middle of your report of losing a weeks worth of work because the boot file of windows went missing. Go mac take the class that comes with it and you will be set. Plus chicks dig Macs

I would never buy a dell I work on computers and I see more of them come in the door than anything else. A little hint for ya if something goes on a dell you can only get the part form dell and you usually have to ship it to them or take it to a certified place to get it ordered. If you still feel that you want to go with PC go with a HP but I will warn you vista is still a tad buggy not scaring you off but my dad owns one and hasn't had a problem yet.