Getting a laptop.

[Exterior Muffinz]

I'm thinking of getting a laptop but have no idea what to get besides it NOT BEING A MAC :cry:

My budget is US$1,300 :cry:

[Barbarian Love Elephant]

What do you need it for?

[i]

That's a lot of money for a laptop - if you lived in the US.

[Barbarian Love Elephant]

get a peter

[Robert]

Get a Dell Vostro or an IBM thinkpad.

Just make sure you get Intel Core2Duo. Better performance per dollar, despite costing more to start with. And it's way better at running vista.

[Pulsewidth]

Take a look at http://notebookreview.com
The website has an enormous amount of laptop reviews, new and old.

Also, check out the section of the forum, where persons such as yourself can get help on identifying the right laptop to buy (you'll have to provide a few details, such as price range and etc.) It's all the way at the top of the forum list - can't access it from work. :(

Personally, I'd get an HP or Sony laptop (though I chose to wait for my Dell XPS M1330). They are not only stylish, but also have good build quality & fair pricing.
Dell has been having many problems with build issues, even on the new vostro series. Also, many people have had to wait as long as 2-3 months to get there laptop (so it's up to you). With HP and Sony, it should be a maximum wait of 2-3 weeks.

Also, you can check the following site daily. Some of the deals on new laptops are excellent - http://dealnews.com/

Cheers and Good Luck. :)

[Peter]

get a peter

:scared:

[Osceana]

That's a lot of money for a laptop - if you lived in the US.

:\ Not really.

My laptop cost me 1600$. Fucking put me on skid row. But i just want to say that after about two months of having my MacBook (no, i don't like the Pros) it's been worth every penny. It runs beautifully, and does everything i expect a computer to do and more. It's been money well spent.

[Static Split Screen]

craig got an amazing laptop for $900, when he gets back from wales he can tell you about it.

[kimmy ann]

Why don't you want a Mac laptop, Brad? Honestly, I'm a PC gal myself, but Chris just got a Macbook a couple months ago and in terms of laptops it's better than any PC I've seen.

Both myself and my stepfather-in-law had Dell laptops and they blew. Dude, don't get a Dell.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Yeah, I had a Dell laptop for 3 years, and last week, the motherboard got fried. This, along with a malfunctioning DVD drive, a loud fan, and an audiojack that breaks, were all common problems with the model. Definitely don't get a Dell unless you've researched a specific model.

I've had it with PCs and ordered an iMac. I can't wait to get it (I'm using my mom's old computer right now).

[Cheryl K]

In my experience, Dell desktops aren't bad, but their laptops do suck.

And never evar get a Compaq. Mine started falling apart after 6 months, and one of my friends has had some problems recently.

[Exterior Muffinz]

Why don't you want a Mac laptop, Brad?

Because I am an ignorant fool when it comes to Macs :cry:

HOWEVER *SPOILER ALERT*

I've been checking out MacBooks and they seem rad! Although I'd need to get the one with the DVD burner dealie, which is like, AU$1,900 :eek:

In fact, they REALLY ARE LIKE THOSE ADS WITH THE TWO DUDES IN THEM :D

[kimmy ann]

Yeah, I had a Dell laptop for 3 years, and last week, the motherboard got fried. This, along with a malfunctioning DVD drive, a loud fan, and an audiojack that breaks, were all common problems with the model. Definitely don't get a Dell unless you've researched a specific model.

God, the fan was the worst for me. It was so ridiculously loud that watching or listening to anything on it was pretty much pointless. I was amazed when Chris got his Macbook and, not only did it start up ridiculously fast, but it also makes practically no sound at all.

[Nak Nak]

Get an Asus

[Pulsewidth]

Don't they have horrible battery life, when compared to laptops from Dell, HP and Sony?!

[i]

:\ Not really.

My laptop cost me 1600$. Fucking put me on skid row. But i just want to say that after about two months of having my MacBook (no, i don't like the Pros) it's been worth every penny. It runs beautifully, and does everything i expect a computer to do and more. It's been money well spent.

you got ripped off :D

but seriously yeah laptops have come down a lot in price in general in the last couple years - you can get a really good one for $1200. the equivalent price point would've been about $2000 a few years ago.

[Nak Nak]

Don't they have horrible battery life, when compared to laptops from Dell, HP and Sony?!

Mine doesn't, although it is a custom one. I think it averages about 2.5 hrs, which is ok for a laptop with a separate gfx card.

The 12.1" asus series (starts with F, I think) is very nice.

Conversely, I'd never, ever, buy a sony. You're paying for the letters on the lid, and hardly any of them come with a decent gfx solution.

I like the new HPs.

[Reginald I. Perrin]

Get an Asus

I prefer the new D minor 7th models myself, Craig.

(ba-dum *crash*! Thank you laygennelmen, it's the way I tell 'em!)

[Nak Nak]

lOl

[Pulsewidth]

Mine doesn't, although it is a custom one. I think it averages about 2.5 hrs, which is ok for a laptop with a separate gfx card.

The 12.1" asus series (starts with F, I think) is very nice.

Conversely, I'd never, ever, buy a sony. You're paying for the letters on the lid, and hardly any of them come with a decent gfx solution.

I like the new HPs.

Strange. I have a dedicated gfx card as well (128mb,) with battery life between 5 & 6 hours on a full charge and 50% brightness.
You're right about Sony though, and adding to that, they are extremely flimsy in terms of build quality.

[Osceana]

you got ripped off :D

I did, but there was no way around it. It was Uncle Sam.

The computer itself cost 1400$ which is a steal for a black, current-generation MacBook. The taxes and shipping came out to about 200$. Taxes on computers alone are about 100$, so, you're probably going to spend anywhere between 12-16 on a decent laptop.

The book i have sells for about 13-1400$ on eBay i've found (at least it did, i haven't checked in a while).

Dells do suck though. I have a few friends with Dells and they are just such pieces of shit and they fall apart so easily.

My MacBook's battery life is exceptional though, though i plan on buying a new battery. If i turn off the wireless when i don't need it i get about 5 hours.

[Nak Nak]

Strange. I have a dedicated gfx card as well (128mb,) with battery life between 5 & 6 hours on a full charge and 50% brightness.
You're right about Sony though, and adding to that, they are extremely flimsy in terms of build quality.

That's great, how big is the xps screen, though?

[Pulsewidth]

13.3 inches. I used to have a 15.4 inch screen, though this one is significantly better (glossy, great viewing angles and extremely bright even at low levels.) If it wasn't for the build quality or rather, design defects (Dell fixed the issues and is sending over a new replacement, along with a coupon) - this would have been the perfect laptop.

[Exterior Muffinz]

OK NOW I WANT A MACBOOK :cry:

I've also got to figure out how to set up a wireless network in my house somehow :eek:

[Drevpile]

was going to by a new dell ( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-Vostro-1700-2-00-Laptop-2-GIG-160HD-VISTA-BIZ_W0QQitemZ110171546150QQihZ001QQcategoryZ177QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ) - but from this thread - they appear to suck big style... hmmm back to the drawing board

[Robert]

Strange. I have a dedicated gfx card as well (128mb,) with battery life between 5 & 6 hours on a full charge and 50% brightness.
You're right about Sony though, and adding to that, they are extremely flimsy in terms of build quality.

It depends on the watt draw of the card, and it's power profiles under battery.

I installed an XPS graphics card in my Inspiron, and it only gets about 2 and a half hours of battery life.

This is however a 17" laptop, and it's a 512mb Geforce 7900GTX. So I consider that FUCKING AMAZING.

[Exterior Muffinz]

OH MAN I JUST SAW THE IPOD TOUCH

:cry: CRY ZONE :cry:

[i]

yeah eff you Apple/Starbucks/Sony

[Nak Nak]

It depends on the watt draw of the card, and it's power profiles under battery.

I installed an XPS graphics card in my Inspiron, and it only gets about 2 and a half hours of battery life.

This is however a 17" laptop, and it's a 512mb Geforce 7900GTX. So I consider that FUCKING AMAZING.

that's pretty good. I take it you don't lug it around everywhere!

[Robert]

I take it alot of places, but not everywhere.

And that isn't really because it's heavy. Big laptops like this don't have an expansion slot for a dock, so it's plugged directly in to all of my desk stuff and it's kind of annoying to unhook it all.

[Exterior Muffinz]

I just read that Apple is releasing aluminum MacBooks soon! Now I'll have to wait :cry:

Notice how I went from hating Macs to drooling over them in the space of a week?!? FUNNEE SHIT

[kimmy ann]

Oh, Brad. You're so capricious; just like a woman.

[Exterior Muffinz]

If it weren't for your input I would have probably bought a Vista machine by now. Close call!

[Pulsewidth]

You could always downgrade to XP!

[bags]

I am so salary sacrificing a Macbook Pro once Leopard is out!

[Exterior Muffinz]

I've been watching all the video demos of Leopard and it's blowing my mind.

Apple is making some of the most useful and user-friendly computer stuff ever! :O