Time to Buy A Laptop

Early B.

OK, so I purchased a Dell desktop today. Now I'm in the market for a brand new laptop. I'm in the process of replacing both home computers and the WAF wants a laptop instead of another desktop. Who am I to argue?

So I took a quick trip to the usual shops -- Staples, Best Buy, etc. and realized that there's no effin' way those big box retailers can compete in price with on-line dealers. I've seen the same computers for literally several hundred dollars cheaper on-line NIB with full warranty. And Craigslist has insane pricing for new stuff. How do they do it?

My budget is a maximum of $750. I want a brand new laptop with dual core processors, 1 GB RAM and a 15.4" widescreen monitor. I've seen a few on-line (including Dell from their website if you use a coupon).

My goal is to purchase the latest computer gear at the most reasonable prices. Due to the ongoing advancements in computer technology, I consider all computers to be throw-away items, including the DIYers, so I ain't gonna stress over it if I have to do this all over again in 2 - 3 years.

Any comments or suggestions about buying a new laptop are welcomed.

Thanks.

disneyjoe7

OK this will be funny I like Dell laptops but I don't enjoy Dell desktop...

Don't ask I can build a better desktop but I screwed with a build a laptop. Go Figure?

audiobliss

IBM certainly has the best laptops, but I have no idea if you can get them in your budget.

Demiurge

IBM isn't even close to the best. Alienware makes some of the best laptops, they're just overpriced. Even the military uses them.

audiobliss

Are you serious? I thought the military primarily used those Panasonic toughbooks. Now those are tough!

Maybe I should re-phrase my statement. IBM laptops are definitely among the best in terms of reliability and ruggedness within the realm of name-brand laptops.

Demiurge

I don't know what they primarily use, but:

Here You Go

swerve

I've had a Gateway MX7525 for about 5 months now. Best purchase I have ever made.

Bought it from Best Buy for like 1299.99 + tax. I have been problem free and playing all sorts of the latest games.

For the price I find this notebook really hard to beat. A few of my friends bought them as well.

Mobile AMD Athlon 64 Proc. 4000+
1 gig of ram
100 gig harddrive
ATI Mobility Radeon X600...

only issue I have had is with the vid. drivers but I quickly jumped to a third party driver and I have ZERO problems.

audiobliss

Well, that's like twice his budget. But that is a wicked awesome computer, not to mention for a laptop.

audiobliss

Demiurge wrote:

I don't know what they primarily use, but:

Here You Go

Interesting. I guess AlienWare is fairly rugged, eh? Well, maybe not...I guess they just had the cheapest offer....:p

faster100

I have a compaq that works great, however i gotta be honest.. it's not being lugged around everywhere and in the truck... use mostly for trips, at a hotel when we stay, and around the house for a wireless option..

staples, but you mentioned you want to buy online...

everyone will have opinions like in the other thread... My father in-law has had his whole dell laptop replaced inside, board, HD, the works.. but who knows..

Look around, see the price you wanna pay and run with it.. they all have advantages and dis,

Demiurge

audiobliss wrote:

Interesting. I guess AlienWare is fairly rugged, eh? Well, maybe not...I guess they just had the cheapest offer....:p

They make the best laptops, IMO.

swerve

Sorry didn't see the budget part. I really know nothing about laptops so coming up with a rec. is pretty difficult to me.

I too like alienware.... but I am partial to Sager.

masanz1

I have a Gateway, Dell and older HP. I like my gateway the best

mrbigbluelight

Not juiced up, it's a MX6030.

It has a 15.4" screen which is a very nice size for a functional budget laptop.
Don't go smaller.

This Gateway has had the stuffings knocked out of it, and it keeps on pluggin' and chuggin'.
HARD, HARD use. Okay, change that "use" to "abuse".
Relatively slim, stiff construction, not picky about overheating.

The recommendation I always give is to keep an eye on the web site, www.bensbargains.net.

Always a lot of laptop deals.

Early B.

I should mentind that the laptop I plan to buy will primarily be stationary -- it will take the place of a desktop, so ruggedness is not a primary concern. I was thinking of even getting a larger 17" screen. I dunno. Kinda defeats the purpose of a laptop to have such a large screen because the portability ain't there in those few instances where I'll want to take it with me.

Early B.

Found a new HP NC8230 on craigslist. It doesn't have dual core processor (it's a Pentium M), but it has XP Professional and a 3-year warranty! Price is $750. Should I go for it?

Is XP Professional more stable than the Home Edition?

cfrizz

I've never heard or had any instability problem with either versions of XP. It is by far the most stable OS that Microsoft has ever put out.

karpiel666

Whatever you do, dont buy a dell.

where my mom works uses them and 99% of the time when they get one new it has problems. in the 3 years she has been using dells she has been through 4 or 5 of them and im sure she wasen't the cause because she is the main techie there.