NationStates Jolt Archive

hey, I'm writing this on a Toshi(t)ba Satalite A75 and I never want a computer this dysfunctional again. in order to use my computer while it's plugged in, I have to have it in my lap, balanced between my legs so it doesn't overheat. if I were to leave it on a table or sit normally, it would overheat and shut off. some days I'll be holding it in mid-air and it shuts off. to put it down, I have to balance it on its right side. for a few months the screen would change colors and the mid-ranges would turn vivid, neon blue and pink. I've never spilled anything on it, or dropped it...its just a piece of shit. fortunately there's a class action lawsuit against toshitba and my computer is one of the models involved, so I may get a full refund (I should sue them for mental anguish, too...sheash)

anyway...I'm looking for suggestions on a new laptop. portability is a huge plus - I use it 99% of the time for the internet and music. the ability to play oblivion would be nice...but it's not required. built in microphone and webcam would be kind of cool, I think. yahoo's phone thing is kind of nifty. I've only got $1000 to spend on it (and I'm stupid for even spending that much, on my budget) so price is also a consideration. anybody have any ideas - or any other suggestions of bells and whistles (bluetooth maybe?) that I should look for?

General advice from me:

*Don't buy it online. Buy it somewhere where you can see and use laptops. The reason: Keyboards and Displays often differ in quality and the person opinion on them counts.

*No shared memory for the graphics card. The reason: it's less handy than square wheels. If you want to do something which needs good graphic, you normally need much RAM anyways, why then include the graphics card's RAM needs to that?

*Linux compatibility! The reason: Vista will be a disgrace with a very strict EULA, Digital rights management, TCPA and no improvements. Getting away from that should be important!

Lenovo and IBM I have heard to be good.

Apple puts together a good hardware package with their MacBook Pro (the non pro is not worth considering[integrated graphics]). With it now being possible to get rid of the Mac OS, don't let that scary you away. The price is steep however.

Avoid integrated graphics like they will try to knock up your sister. Their usefullness ended in the 90's.

Avoid a brand new line-up. They always have heating problems.

If you are at a store, ask the sales rep that has latched onto you which they have the least problems with. If he points to one of the mast expensive, leave the store.

Avoid HP like it will kill your father. They are not called Heaping Pile for nothing.

AMD procs tend to run cooler than Intels.

Dude, you're gonna get a Dell! ;)

Seriously, consider the Dell Outlet. That's where Dell sells refurbished, cosmetically blemished and undelivered custom pcs. The prices are excellent. My laptop is a dell refurb and I love it. :)

Here's a link: http://www.dell.com/content/segmenter.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dfo

DO NOT GET A DELL!

Seriously, check out the Macbook Pros. My friend has one, swears by it, and has made me want to save up my next year's paychecks to buy one. They're pretty damned cool.

Dude, you're gonna get a Dell! ;)

Seriously, consider the Dell Outlet. That's where Dell sells refurbished, cosmetically blemished and undelivered custom pcs. The prices are excellent. My laptop is a dell refurb and I love it. :)

Here's a link: http://www.dell.com/content/segmenter.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dfo

Really? I have had nothing but problems with Dell. I would never buy one again. With each Dell laptop I have had, the HD starts to give out about 1 1/2 years to 2 years of owning it. In addition to that, they don't seem very good at designing things. They no longer sell the model I have, which I would guess is due a major design flaw, the fan sucks up whatever dust is nearby and blows it onto the processor. I wouldn't trust any company that put out a product like that. I don't know what you should get but I wouldn't get a Dell.

*No shared memory for the graphics card. The reason: it's less handy than square wheels. If you want to do something which needs good graphic, you normally need much RAM anyways, why then include the graphics card's RAM needs to that?

He only has a $1000 to spend on a laptop. The cheapest ones with separate video cards are at least double that.

Seriously, check out the Macbook Pros.
Another patently stupid idea. Mac prices are far more than that of PCs in both notebooks and desktops. $1000 won't get you anything more than 10 year old Macbook worse than the notebook he already has.

He only has a $1000 to spend on a laptop. The cheapest ones with separate video cards are at least double that.

Mine has a seperate vid card. I think. - £800

He only has a $1000 to spend on a laptop. The cheapest ones with separate video cards are at least double that.
Well, I am not up-to-date but I know that a friend bought a laptop in January without integrated graphics for 900-ish €

Well, I am not up-to-date but I know that a friend bought a laptop in January without integrated graphics for 900-ish €

900 Euros is around $1200 USD.

900 Euros is around $1200 USD.
still, that concept is so... ungood and doubleplusunelegant that it should be avoided...

still, that concept is so... ungood and doubleplusunelegant that it should be avoided...

If he was buying a desktop, but he isn't. Aim for a 1GB - 2GB notebook, something you can get for under $1000 and you can easily put up with onboard video because laptop onboard video usually doesn't get above 128MB max.

He only has a $1000 to spend on a laptop. The cheapest ones with separate video cards are at least double that.


Another patently stupid idea. Mac prices are far more than that of PCs in both notebooks and desktops. $1000 won't get you anything more than 10 year old Macbook worse than the notebook he already has.

But you need to compare similar computers. A low-end Macbook Pro at $1800 gets this
* 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1440 x 900 pixels
* 1GB memory
* 120GB hard drive1
* 6x double-layer SuperDrive
* ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB SDRAM

A Toshiba G-35 at $1900 (http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/qosmio_G35-AV600.pdf)gets you very similar features.

With a limited budget, you do need to look at vanilla MacBooks instead of the "pro" versions.

Avoid HP like it will kill your father. They are not called Heaping Pile for nothing.



I dunno, I'm in my third year with my HP, and I've had absolutely no intrinsic problems with it. Sure, I downloaded major viruses onto it one, and sure, it isn't drunk proof (alas fair W key, I knew you well) but other than that, it's worked perfectly, and with the specs identical to, or better than my friends Dell Laptop, it cost half the original price of his.

*Don't buy it online. Buy it somewhere where you can see and use laptops. The reason: Keyboards and Displays often differ in quality and the person opinion on them counts.

Or he can do what I did: Buy it online - but only after checking out all the computer stores in his vicinity, where he can see and use the things (I was big in lifting them after I had lifted one and was shocked that they actually wanted me to lug that brick around).

I would have bought it in a store, too, but I ended up getting it on eBay from a professional seller with a feedback count of over 10,000 and 99.9% positive, for 200€ less than in the store.

But you need to compare similar computers. A low-end Macbook Pro at $1800 gets this
* 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1440 x 900 pixels
* 1GB memory
* 120GB hard drive1
* 6x double-layer SuperDrive
* ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB SDRAM

A Toshiba G-35 at $1900 (http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/qosmio_G35-AV600.pdf)gets you very similar features.

With a limited budget, you do need to look at vanilla MacBooks instead of the "pro" versions.
Exactly, low end. You are still living in the imaginary "the money limit is $2000" world.

Cheapest Macbook: $1099
512MB RAM
60GB drive
1.83 gHz Core 2 Duo (notice its a core 2, pointless)


A comparable Toshiba?
1.66 gHz Core 2 Duo
60GB drive
1GB RAM

$963.20


Mac fanboys need to realize Macs are fucking expensive and do not compete with PCs in price, ever.

PS. The notebook he is comparing to the Macbook has double the videocard memory and a 160GB harddrive.

Exactly, low end. You are still living in the imaginary "the money limit is $2000" world.

Cheapest Macbook: $1099
512MB RAM
60GB drive
1.83 gHz Core 2 Duo (notice its a core 2, pointless)


A comparable Toshiba?
1.66 gHz Core 2 Duo
60GB drive
1GB RAM

$963.20


Mac fanboys need to realize Macs are fucking expensive and do not compete with PCs in price, ever.

PS. The notebook he is comparing to the Macbook has double the videocard memory and a 160GB harddrive.
Those examples that I gave look pretty comparable, as do the examples that you gave. What apples to apples comparison gives you the idea that Macbooks are anything but competitive when it comes to price? It seems to track, right up to the top-end MacBook Pro at $2500. You can certainly buy a more expensive Toshiba, but I don't see the extra features.

By the way, I'm using educational pricing for both, as I figure the majority of us can get that discount one way or another.

You can certainly buy a more expensive Toshiba, but I don't see the extra features.

What extra features?

Silly Mac fanboys.