Dude, I'm getting a Dell?

[jjcourtright]

I'm looking for some help from the more computer savy among youse guys. I'm thinking about getting a laptop, but I know very little about them. I'm just looking for brands, specs, etc. that I should be looking for. Thanks.

[Razorback]

How much do you want to spend?

RB

[JIM]

Some things you have to ask yourself is:
"What do I want to do with a laptop?"
Is it for regular web browsing? Regular tasks such as typing up a report? Do you want to work with video and photos?
Do you want to play games?
Do you want to do all of these things?
Is it for the convience of taking your computer wherever you go? Do you want to go nuts and go war driving?
Like going to a cafe or park with "hot spots"?
As you know, there's a lot of things to consider.
What's your budget?
Plus, a big thing to consider is what OS do you want to use?

[Jack_Sparrow]

I got the Packard Bell i-go pretty kool laptop probably obselete now i've had it 6 months but i have had a few PB machines all have worked well.

I have also worked on Dell's for 4 years and do not reccomend them at all good prices but poor reliability in my experience?

[jjcourtright]

Budget is probalby less than $1500. It is going to replace my desktop, but I want something that will travel easily too. It is going to be mainly for school-work and web browsing. Maybe a little bit of video-editing, but nothing fancy.

[JIM]

Ok, in that case, check out this link.
CNET buyers and info guide for laptops (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3121_7-1016082-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ld)

Hope it helps.

[Jason_Brown]

I'm a big fan of Apple's iBook. Add an Airport card for wireless internet and networking. Beef-up the RAM and the hard drive if you are planning on editing video.

[Razorback]

Do you have software w/licenses already? Like Microsoft Office et cetera? The cost may be lower if you already have that kind of software.

I like Dell but you can save money and get better hardware if you go elsewhere. JIM posted a nice link. You can also use Pricewatch.com.

The things you want is at least a Pentium 4 with 2.2 GHz. 512 MB Ram (PC2100 is fine). Modem if you need one, otherwise you will need a NIC (network interface card). 15 inch display is a minimum for me. I'm sure others can come up with more info. I am unfortunately busy right now and can't give this too much though. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

RB

[jjcourtright]

I do have Office, yeah. I thought that most computers came with that already, though. I don't have much beside that. The computer doesn't get used all that often in our house, so I don't have alot of after-market software.

No problem, RB. Any info is helpful as I am just getting started at looking.

[DarthMaulRat]

Yeah, there's no such thing as 'a little bit of video editing'. Video editing is a RAM eater, you'll run out of resources real quick, even if you're trying to play with a few five minute clips. Also, the laptop versions of Windows crash A LOT. Unless you're using all Microsoft programs, expect to run into problems.

[ratm1966]

Other than Dells, I think getting a good quality computer is just hit and miss. I have used good PB's and bad ones. Some Gateways models are more reliable than other gateway models. And Dells? Well, they have all sucked. As far as laptops go, I have used Gateway, Micron, and Dell laptops at work, and the Micron is the better of the three.

Really, it all depends on what you want to use it for and what you want it to have.

[Droogan_Leader]

What do you guys/gals think about Sony Vaios? My friend just got a nice one, and is already having problems with it, but other than that, I've heard they are pretty good.

I'm glad jj brough it up, cause I really need to get a laptop myself.

And, in reply to jj, I would recommend for any laptop that you have 512 megs of RAM, a 40 gig hard drive at least, and a CD burner. You don't want to have to mess with 3 1/2's or zip disks, and a CDR drive will solve that. I learned that in school, and being very mobile and having so many papers to write, etc.

As for which OS, I couldn't tell ya. I have heard Macs are great if you've got a lot of video editing/multimedia stuff to do. And, I've seen them in action--they are. I've never used Linux, so I don't know about that either. I have XP on my PC, and I'm happy enough. No crashes so far. Whether that goes for laptops too, I couldn't say.

I would go to Consumer Reports, jj. I think that's your best bet. But, to supplement that, I would recommend you cough up a little extra to have some nice additions done, like the CD burner, the extra RAM especially, and a DVD would be really nice too.

[DarthMaulRat]

All the Apple OS's are pretty stable on laptops. It's the XP mobile version that I've seen multiple people have problems with. XP on desktop is much more reliable than the laptop versions. My one friend uses a Linux OS on his laptop, which is perfect, but he's a computer freak. I couldn't figure out how to use half the things on Linux.

[Ryall]

I bought a Dell Inspiron when this whole gig started, and in the last 18 months, have had zero problems with it. I kinda love it, although there's times I think a Powerbook might be easier with graphics.

Dell's customer service has been great whenever I needed it, too (which I haven't since the initial couple weeks of set-up).

The Sony Vaio got some decent write-ups when I was looking, but this one just had everything I wanted. You should also check some of those sites like this one (http://www.cnet.com/?tag=ft) for customer opinions about most everything on the market.

[jjcourtright]

Thanks for the info. I had heard bad things about Dell's customer service. Maybe they have gotten better.

On a side note, is anybody else kind of creeped out by Chris' cartoony avatar. It always seems to be looking at me like those paintings in Scooby-Doo.

[Razorback]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Thanks for the info. I had heard bad things about Dell's customer service. Maybe they have gotten better

[/ QUOTE ]

I have worked in Information Technology since 1996 (in one form or another) and Dell has always been the easiest, most friendly and professional company with which I have ever had dealings. I have no idea who told you that but you should never listen to them again. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

RB

[Droogan_Leader]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
is anybody else kind of creeped out by Chris' cartoony avatar

[/ QUOTE ]
It could be those pesky government computer spies--maybe they really are watching you....

[psychofiend]

I hear they are watching, so I invite them for coffee but they never come.

[ratm1966]

About that Award winning Dell Customer Service. My neighbor HAD a Dell and the power supply went bad within a month. She had to sip the whole computer off and go without until it was fixed and returned. A coworker of mine has a Dell and when she had a problem, they made her ship the computer off so it could be fixed and returned to her.

I bought a Gateway, and when I had my only problem with it, they walked me through everything on the phone and determined what the problem was. Shipped me the part and a mailing label so I could return the bad part if I wanted to. To me, I had the much better service.

[Razorback]

Dell does have you ship the PC if it is a problem like the power supply since most people cannot be talked through the (safe) removal of connectors from the MOBO. Removing and reconnecting a power supply is one of the easiest ways to fry your MOBO.

RB

[ratm1966]

Yeah, I know, but she does computers for a living and was actually the one who had to tell the Dell guys it was the power supply. She tried to get them to ship her a new one since she repairs them at work, but they refused. They said they wanted to make sure it was actually the power supply.

I just didn't like the way they handled the customer. Especially when she had to tell them what was wrong because they couldn't figure it out from the symptoms she gave them.

[Razorback]

Typical of first level support. You need to really talk to the third level support people (you can demand to talk to higher level people). They do not send a new PC without checking them first (unless you have a corporate account with them, in which case they will ship one same day air).

RB

[Ryall]

&gt;On a side note, is anybody else kind of creeped out by Chris' cartoony avatar. It always seems to be looking at me like those paintings in Scooby-Doo.

For some reason, it's a little distorted here, but you should know what was done by our own Jamar "Detective Boogaloo" Nicholas. It should look like this:

http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/onehand/images/2003/cartoon_chris_color.jpg

[jjcourtright]

Make it stop. MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!

[code6enterprises]

I scrolled down, saw the big pictures andI was all like "AHH!"

[Matt1]

Ryall's a crazy hobo!

Nah, I actually like it.

[jjcourtright]

Aside from its staring problem, I ain't got no beef wit it.