I need to buy a laptop

[Rissask]

hey Mikey- I think your little picture should read "Canada- it's where it's at", and not "Canada- American's Hat".

[Sol]

Toshiba laptops are nice.

I am changing religions. I am getting a 13.1 MacBook and an iMac. I am tired of my PC screwing up.

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

Any suggestions of a decent one that isn't crazy expensive? Any brands I should avoid?
I'd love to not have to spend more than like $600-700 total on everything(even cheaper would be great of course).

Kim,

The only thing I purchase from Dell are laptops... and I seem to order a couple per week as a service to my clients. I make it a point to order through the small-business division (you can too)... that way you're assured they're warrantied for 3-Years. I always make my purchases online through Dell's Outlet Store where the savings are vastly better and with that same 3-year warranty.

My favorite model is the Latitude D630... I just looked at one in their Outlet Store that has your name on it: It's got a 14" WXGA screen, Intel 2.4G Core-2-Duo, 2GB RAM, 200GB SATA Hard Drive, DVD/RW, 128MB nVidia Video, 9-cell battery, Wireless, Bluetooth, WindowsXP Pro w/Lcense for Vista Business. Cost $750, plus sales tax, plus shipping ($25). That seemed to be an average price for that model, but depending on features it could be a little bit more or a little bit less. For $250, you can add the Complete Care warranty which covers everything from dropping it, to spilling something on it. If you need a model with a larger screen, the Latitude D830 comes with a 15.4" for about $100 more but it's also heavier and bulkier.

One thing I like about the Dell brand... in three years when it's out of warranty it'll still be quite useable and there'll still be ton's of cheap parts available to keep it rolling if it breaks down. I also like the fact that the Dell screens are matte finish instead of glassy like the Toshiba... the glare is annoying. Since Dell is a big provider of laptops to business, they're also extremely proactive at improving the BIOS... that's always important to me!! Lastly, I can still get the Dell laptops with Windows XP Pro!!! Don't waste your time buying a laptop with Vista... oh, and I'd avoid any models with the AMD processor these days.

As for the Acer... it's always a good value and I have no major issues with Toshiba. Some people swear by the IBM too. I personally would never buy a Sony or an HP.

If you'd like some assistance ordering from Dell's Outlet, let me know. It can get a bit intimidating with all of the variables swimming in your head. Most of my customers set a price range and let me select the best value. I find that much easier and faster than dealing with a client who needs to micro manage the process.

Jimmy

[JEZ]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Kim,

The only thing I purchase from Dell are laptops... and I seem to order a couple per week as a service to my clients. I make it a point to order through the small-business division (you can too)... that way you're assured they're warrantied for 3-Years. I always make my purchases online through Dell's Outlet Store where the savings are vastly better and with that same 3-year warranty.

My favorite model is the Latitude D630... I just looked at one in their Outlet Store that has your name on it: It's got a 14" WXGA screen, Intel 2.4G Core-2-Duo, 2GB RAM, 200GB SATA Hard Drive, DVD/RW, 128MB nVidia Video, 9-cell battery, Wireless, Bluetooth, WindowsXP Pro w/Lcense for Vista Business. Cost $750, plus sales tax, plus shipping ($25). That seemed to be an average price for that model, but depending on features it could be a little bit more or a little bit less. For $250, you can add the Complete Care warranty which covers everything from dropping it, to spilling something on it. If you need a model with a larger screen, the Latitude D830 comes with a 15.4" for about $100 more but it's also heavier and bulkier.

One thing I like about the Dell brand... in three years when it's out of warranty it'll still be quite useable and there'll still be ton's of cheap parts available to keep it rolling if it breaks down. I also like the fact that the Dell screens are matte finish instead of glassy like the Toshiba... the glare is annoying. Since Dell is a big provider of laptops to business, they're also extremely proactive at improving the BIOS... that's always important to me!! Lastly, I can still get the Dell laptops with Windows XP Pro!!! Don't waste your time buying a laptop with Vista... oh, and I'd avoid any models with the AMD processor these days.

As for the Acer... it's always a good value and I have no major issues with Toshiba. Some people swear by the IBM too. I personally would never buy a Sony or an HP.

If you'd like some assistance ordering from Dell's Outlet, let me know. It can get a bit intimidating with all of the variables swimming in your head. Most of my customers set a price range and let me select the best value. I find that much easier and faster than dealing with a client who needs to micro manage the process.

Jimmy

JimmyMn and Dell. Yep thats what I am writing this on now. Excellent!

[Jesus]

I'm writing this on a Dell, old one, but still hanging with me on my crazy tours.
Nice you can still one with Xp, Great!

Sony, never, my nephew bough one and it was dead on arrival. Service was not exactly efficient.

I'm thinking on a Mac book air, nice to have a 3.0 pounds 'puter, but the price tag in Mexico is a bit steep. I could buy in the States but I want to deduct it for tax purposes.

Oh dilema!

[Marj]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Kim,

The only thing I purchase from Dell are laptops... and I seem to order a couple per week as a service to my clients. I make it a point to order through the small-business division (you can too)... that way you're assured they're warrantied for 3-Years. I always make my purchases online through Dell's Outlet Store where the savings are vastly better and with that same 3-year warranty.

My favorite model is the Latitude D630... I just looked at one in their Outlet Store that has your name on it: It's got a 14" WXGA screen, Intel 2.4G Core-2-Duo, 2GB RAM, 200GB SATA Hard Drive, DVD/RW, 128MB nVidia Video, 9-cell battery, Wireless, Bluetooth, WindowsXP Pro w/Lcense for Vista Business. Cost $750, plus sales tax, plus shipping ($25). That seemed to be an average price for that model, but depending on features it could be a little bit more or a little bit less. For $250, you can add the Complete Care warranty which covers everything from dropping it, to spilling something on it. If you need a model with a larger screen, the Latitude D830 comes with a 15.4" for about $100 more but it's also heavier and bulkier.

One thing I like about the Dell brand... in three years when it's out of warranty it'll still be quite useable and there'll still be ton's of cheap parts available to keep it rolling if it breaks down. I also like the fact that the Dell screens are matte finish instead of glassy like the Toshiba... the glare is annoying. Since Dell is a big provider of laptops to business, they're also extremely proactive at improving the BIOS... that's always important to me!! Lastly, I can still get the Dell laptops with Windows XP Pro!!! Don't waste your time buying a laptop with Vista... oh, and I'd avoid any models with the AMD processor these days.

As for the Acer... it's always a good value and I have no major issues with Toshiba. Some people swear by the IBM too. I personally would never buy a Sony or an HP.

If you'd like some assistance ordering from Dell's Outlet, let me know. It can get a bit intimidating with all of the variables swimming in your head. Most of my customers set a price range and let me select the best value. I find that much easier and faster than dealing with a client who needs to micro manage the process.

Jimmy

Wish this thread was here a month or so ago I just bought a laplop from Dell.....a Studio. And of course you go through all the "options" lists and ........ "you gotta have it" and by the time I was through that $700 taptop cost me quite a bit more. I really do like it though. One of my main purposes in buying a laptop was so that I could take it with me to Playa and keep up with this forum and comunicate with home.

[flyingpig11]

Bump....curious what our forum professionals think is the laptop to have now.

Was looking at 15 inch macbook pro..... a fair chunk of money. Know I can go less expensive and get a good product

(Want to get rid of a screwing up computer... with a 9 year old kid hanging around doing all of the wrong things to collect many viruses and errors)

[roni]

I'd go with the MacBook Pro, for many reasons.

This is one of them.

[beer_dude]

Whatever you buy, keep away from Windows Vista or Windows 7. They are both crap. My computer crashes (BSOD) at least once a week. I may go to a Mac the next time I buy a computer.

BTW...Dell support sux too unluss you enjoy talking with people from India who don't know shiite.

[melliedee]

If you buy a Mac laptop but have a PC for your home computer, will stuff be compatible?

[beer_dude]

Originally Posted by melliedee

If you buy a Mac laptop but have a PC for your home computer, will stuff be compatible?

The software programs are different but file formats should be compatable. .doc, .wav, .xls, .jpg etc. You have to buy software for the platform Windows/Mac. You can get MS Office for a Mac though.

[JEZ]

Originally Posted by melliedee

If you buy a Mac laptop but have a PC for your home computer, will stuff be compatible?

How many programmes are you going to duplicate? MS office for Mac is around 300$US

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by JEZ

How many programmes are you going to duplicate? MS office for Mac is around 300$US

I would definetely want Word and Powerpoint, which I already have on my PC. That's kinda pricey, maybe I'll get an Acer or Dell laptop.

[cmsitaly]

We just got an imac and love it. When my Dell laptop dies, and it will-been lotsa probs for me, I am getting a macbook. You can run windows on a mac so you can use powerpoint and word. Then when you are ready you can by office for mac which we will when we go all mac!

[snappysammy]

i have an apple tech down here who will do things that will make your jaw drop
he installed a hard drive and brand new battery for me for 800 pesos
the battery is worth more than 100 dollars