NationStates Jolt Archive

If price isn't an issue, I suggest Sony..

From what I have seen looking on the internet, I have come to one thing; people on tech forums are extremely biased for or against a certain brand of computer manufacturers. So, perhaps a less biased forums is required. I'm looking for a new computer, price isn't largely an issue. Well, a notebook to be more specific. I've taken a look at a couple things around, and I was just wondering what you guys would suggest.

I know many would say 'build on yourself', but do I look like one to do that? No. Well, you wouldn't know what I look like, so I'll just leave it at that. Anything you guys can say, or any experiences (whether good or bad) with computers that can be shared? I'm considering buying from Dell, since I don't know any really tech savvy people (probably one or two, but that's it).

Sony and Dell arn't bad, I've still got an old (read 1.5GHz old) Sharp laptop thats doing fine...

One kinda big question: What do you want to use it for? Office/Net? Gameing? Home/Multimedia?

Toshiba used to have a great reputation for reliability. Not so sure now.

Sony are light and neat-o.

I'm not in the market for a laptop any more, so I'm not up to date.
I can't stand the little keyboards that can't be moved away from the screen. I've got enough ergonomic problems without turning into a f*ing hermit-crab.

Are you really sure you need a laptop ? Most people end up leaving them at home, where they make a third-rate desktop.

There is no such thing as an unbiased techie. But they tend to be quite fickle so w/e.

Also, you basically cannot build your own laptop.


Get a Dell.

I've got an ancient (2000-or-so) Dell Latitude C600 that's still going strong (after more memory and a new HDD, dead cheap and easy), so Dell seem decent to me.

But you should get a proper computer instead of a rubbishy laptop ¬_¬

I've got a Lenovo that I've had for over a year of everyday use. Not one problem, the kit inside is very good and I've upgraded the RAM from 256mb to 1.24gb of ram. the lenovo care software is easy to use etc. so you could get one of those without having any problems.

I've got an ancient (2000-or-so) Dell Latitude C600 that's still going strong (after more memory and a new HDD, dead cheap and easy), so Dell seem decent to me.

But you should get a proper computer instead of a rubbishy laptop ¬_¬

I'll be on the move alot.

I've got a Lenovo that I've had for over a year of everyday use. Not one problem, the kit inside is very good and I've upgraded the RAM from 256mb to 1.24gb of ram. the lenovo care software is easy to use etc. so you could get one of those without having any problems.
Crickey, you're onto 'the third' already? What on earth did you do with 'the second'?

I've got an ancient (2000-or-so) Dell Latitude C600 that's still going strong (after more memory and a new HDD, dead cheap and easy), so Dell seem decent to me.
Aren't Dells the ones that were catching fire?

Toshiba used to have a great reputation for reliability. Not so sure now.

Sony are light and neat-o.

I'm not in the market for a laptop any more, so I'm not up to date.
I can't stand the little keyboards that can't be moved away from the screen. I've got enough ergonomic problems without turning into a f*ing hermit-crab.

Are you really sure you need a laptop ? Most people end up leaving them at home, where they make a third-rate desktop.

Sony and Dell are good. I am not in the market for a laptop, either.

For some reasons, workplaces (mine) give you a laptop, in the hopes that you'll put in extra hours at home (they give you one whether you travel or not).

Laptops suck for development.

At work, there's a damned docking station. It sucks.

At home, there's no docking station, and I go blind trying to see the screen.

I have a desktop at home which I love. Powerful. 30 inch monitor.

Aren't Dells the ones that were catching fire?IIRC, it was the Sony batteries.

Aren't Dells the ones that were catching fire?

Dell or Sony or someone had some batteries that were duff, I think, not the actual laptops... Can't remember the details, could be wrong.

A "high-powered" laptop can get pretty warm, though; probably 60°C in some cases. You can actually get special lap-things to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the testicles of men worried about their fertility http://209.85.12.231/11055/49/emo/laugh.gif

Wow, this has to be the first thread about computers I've ever seen on NS where Dell isn't torn to shreds in the first few posts... Quite the contrary even, it seems.

I also thought Sony laptops sucked because I keep hearing that - but since I covet them ever since I saw (and was too poor to buy) one of theirs with that Onyx Black screen a few years back, I'd be glad to be convinced otherwise.

I myself have a BenQ, bought about three or four years ago. Great looks but extremely shoddily built. Still like the one I have but wouldn't get one again

Wow, this has to be the first thread about computers I've ever seen on NS where Dell isn't torn to shreds in the first few posts... Quite the contrary even, it seems.

If it makes you happier, their desktops are donkey-droppings. :)

--

Oh, Dad's got a Gericom laptop (from Aldi) that was very good value for the spec, and seems decent, no crap installed, solidly built, decent screen, all that stuff. Been going for a few years happily now.
Also, "Gericom" is a brilliant name for a German computer manufacturer :D

Dell or Sony or someone had some batteries that were duff, I think, not the actual laptops... Can't remember the details, could be wrong.

A "high-powered" laptop can get pretty warm, though; probably 60°C in some cases. You can actually get special lap-things to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the testicles of men worried about their fertility http://209.85.12.231/11055/49/emo/laugh.gif

Thankfully I won't have that problem.

One kinda big question: What do you want to use it for? Office/Net? Gaming? Home/Multimedia?

Never, never ever ever never ever never ever use a laptop for games.

I'm sick of burned balls and games that simply do not accept laptop video cards.

Thankfully I won't have that problem.

No testicles?

If it makes you happier, their desktops are donkey-droppings. :)
Ah! Well, that explains that. Then again, how can their desktops suck so much when their laptops are so good?

Oh, Dad's got a Gericom laptop (from Aldi) that was very good value for the spec, and seems decent, no crap installed, solidly built, decent screen, all that stuff. Been going for a few years happily now.
Also, "Gericom" is a brilliant name for a German computer manufacturer :D
These cheapies always offer super good value and I've yet to hear something bad about them. If only they didn't look like the Fisher Price version of a Hummer if Hummers were laptops.

No testicles?

Nein.

Ah! Well, that explains that. Then again, how can their desktops suck so much when their laptops are so good?
Different animals... The laptops are intrinsically less powerful and more expensive, used for different things, and have to be fairly well bolted together or they'll just fall apart in a fortnight from standard laptop use. Also, most laptop components are reasonable quality, 'cos they have to be small and low-power, and that doesn't come cheap.

Their (most common) desktops are just cheap junk in cheap cases thrown together any-old-how, because most people don't know enough about them to expect anything better, and because they're cheap nobody expects them to last beyond the warranty period. They're basically enough to browse the web and run Microsoft Works, which any PC could do in its sleep ten years ago.
This is true of any mass-produced cheap desktop PC, really... You can get decent pre-built ones, but it's easier, cheaper and more amusing to DIY. And once you've done that you'll never go back.

These cheapies always offer super good value and I've yet to hear something bad about them. If only they didn't look like the Fisher Price version of a Hummer if Hummers were laptops.

Hehehe :)
Dad's looks OK, actually. Besides, is what it looks like really important?

i had a Dell XPS laptop for a year and a bit. it was actually a great laptop, great for games (even if it was a work computer *cough*), good for graphics processing, great sound, etc. only problem with it was the whole battery thing (recall of 4 million exploding sony batteries), and then its power block fucked up. ordered a new one no problems, but shortly after that the power input slot thingy (the bit you plug the power into at the back of the laptop) crapped out... meaning i couldn't charge the thing or even use it at all.

i still have it sitting in the corner of the office, and would still use it if i could. other than the (admittedly gigantic) power issue, it was a great laptop.

now i have a build from local tech company novatech http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/nbranges.html but they don't have my lappy on their range pages any more. its good, it does the job, its core 2 duo, decent graphics... nothing too special, just good. soundcard is a bit shit though. was way cheaper than the dell, too.

i just mean you don't *have* to buy from big brand names to get lappys that do the job.

you could also look at alienware (http://www.alienware.com/product_pages/notebook_all_default.aspx) if you want a kickass one

i had a Dell XPS laptop for a year and a bit. it was actually a great laptop, great for games (even if it was a work computer *cough*), good for graphics processing, great sound, etc. only problem with it was the whole battery thing (recall of 4 million exploding sony batteries), and then its power block fucked up. ordered a new one no problems, but shortly after that the power input slot thingy (the bit you plug the power into at the back of the laptop) crapped out... meaning i couldn't charge the thing or even use it at all.

i still have it sitting in the corner of the office, and would still use it if i could. other than the (admittedly gigantic) power issue, it was a great laptop.

now i have a build from local tech company novatech http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/nbranges.html but they don't have my lappy on their range pages any more. its good, it does the job, its core 2 duo, decent graphics... nothing too special, just good. soundcard is a bit shit though. was way cheaper than the dell, too.

i just mean you don't *have* to buy from big brand names to get lappys that do the job.

you could also look at alienware (http://www.alienware.com/product_pages/notebook_all_default.aspx) if you want a kickass one

I've heard of alienware, though no one seems to talk about it.

Alienware laptops run very hot.

Alienware laptops run very hot.

probably because they're packed full of awesome stuff like SLI graphics cards (two cards working in tandem for you Jenrak) and speedy Raid 0 on their HDs...... and 19 inch screens............. yeah, i want one :p

I've heard of alienware, though no one seems to talk about it.

They're way, way too expensive for anyone sensible... Not sure about their laptops, but their desktops are simply far too expensive for what they are.

Time for the third party to enter the issue: would an Apple laptop be a possibility?
You could get a Mac laptop. Dual boots with Windows if you need it (there are cheap ways to get Windows if you know what I mean) and, you know, Apple-sized reliability. Plus if you're in college you get an iPod mini with any laptop you buy.

Time for the ninth party to enter the issue: would an Apple laptop be a possibility?
You could get a Mac laptop. Dual boots with Windows if you need it (there are cheap ways to get Windows if you know what I mean) and, you know, Apple reliability. Plus if you're in college you get an iPod mini too if you buy a laptop. Probably also has that education discount too.
http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html
Sheesh, I feel like a smut peddler...but how else do you recommend hardware to someone?

I have Mac. A G5 where all the hardware is in this fancy monitor. I just need a notebook.

I'm thinking of just buying from the local stores. How different are computers from there?

I have Mac. A G5 where all the hardware is in this fancy monitor. I just need a notebook.

I'm thinking of just buying from the local stores. How different are computers from there?
You could probably get a Dell at a local store. I'd recommend a Dell or an Apple.

How about places like Best Buy? Are they relatively good?

How about places like Best Buy? Are they relatively good?Depends what they have in stock. You'll have to do some research beforehand as the employees will try to point you to the more expensive product.

Jenrak, check each store's sites for a general idea of how things are priced. If you're looking for new stuff, don't expect much price difference between stores unless they're far apart. If you're looking for a used notebook, then you can either look on eBay or go to each store individually, which I don't think is a good idea (gas money = nullifies any deal you could get).
I don't mean to push the Mac thing further, but there's a Mac-dedicated store somewhat near me that sells new and used Macs, which is where me and my father got our computers. If you bought your computer at a computer-specific dealer, I'm sure you can go back there to find used stuff.

Hehehe :)
Dad's looks OK, actually. Besides, is what it looks like really important?

Men. :rolleyes:

Men. :rolleyes:
:p

Crickey, you're onto 'the third' already? What on earth did you do with 'the second'?

They killed it so I had to create a new one!

If price isn't an issue, I suggest Sony..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/vonbek/most_people_shirt.jpg

I haven't done much research on laptops, but my bf did a lot before he bought his. He got a mac because it was the best value for the hardware. The only downside is that slot drives are crappy.

From what I have seen looking on the internet, I have come to one thing; people on tech forums are extremely biased for or against a certain brand of computer manufacturers. So, perhaps a less biased forums is required. I'm looking for a new computer, price isn't largely an issue. Well, a notebook to be more specific. I've taken a look at a couple things around, and I was just wondering what you guys would suggest.

I know many would say 'build on yourself', but do I look like one to do that? No. Well, you wouldn't know what I look like, so I'll just leave it at that. Anything you guys can say, or any experiences (whether good or bad) with computers that can be shared? I'm considering buying from Dell, since I don't know any really tech savvy people (probably one or two, but that's it).
Good experience with business/commercial grade HP and gateways (though not always their consumer grade stuff)

Good experience with business/commercial grade HP and gateways (though not always their consumer grade stuff)

True...but they have a great competitor in NetApp....and obviously EMC....when it comes to storage and DR/BCS...