Which brand would you go with for a laptop?

[X-Chick]

I've been shopping around for a laptop for a few months now and can't decide what I want. I've always been a Dell person and my fiance has a Dell laptop (which I'm using now) that hasn't had a single problem in two years. Though, everything I've read lately and the people I've talked to says that Dell is going downhill and HP is the best right now. I'm really torn between the Dell XPS M1210 and the HP Pavillion dv2000t. Built exactly the same, the HP is like $300 less than the Dell, but I'm so used to having Dell's. Anyway, what would you go with?

[War Lord]

For cheap, HP or Dell.

For quality, Toshiba.

I've had my Toshiba for about 3 years now and I use it constantly and I've never had a problem with it.

[Socrates]

I was using a Toshiba desktop replacement laptop for over a year, and the only reason it busted down was from my being a dumbass. As of right now, I'm using someone else's Sony Vaio, and really, I think it's crap. The only way it's at all superior to my previous computer is not shutting down from over-heating. As for Dell, I'm not really experienced with their computers, but I've heard HP makes decent computers so maybe that or a Dell is your best bet.

[X-Chick]

For cheap, HP or Dell.

For quality, Toshiba.

I've had my Toshiba for about 3 years now and I use it constantly and I've never had a problem with it.

The Dell is more expensive than the Toshiba. I guess because its an XPS, they aren't made ****ty and cheap like all the other Dells.

[War Lord]

The Dell is more expensive than the Toshiba. I guess because its an XPS, they aren't made ****ty and cheap like all the other Dells.

I can only tell you that Toshiba makes laptops that give great value for the money.

[Elisha Cuthbert]

Alienware. :o

[X-Chick]

I'll have to look into them more.

And I've heard pretty horrible things about Sony too, even though they've always been my favorite technological company.

[triplefive]

Dell's customer service is pretty easy to work with, if you're patient enough to try to understand the guy speaking.

If you get the Complete Care warranty, which isn't the cheapest thing in the world, it's even better because if you drop your laptop or spill crap into the keyboard, they'll just fix it, no questions asked. The shipping company even comes to your house and picks it up from you. Well, from my experience anyway.

[War Lord]

Alienware. :o

If you happen to have 10 grand sitting around.:o

[Batty for Bats!]

I voted with whatever jonty voted for.

[Socrates]

Anything else Sony makes I'm fine with, but their computers are s**t.

I should also mention that my Toshiba was a pretty solid computer. So, maybe you might want to look into their computers as well.

[X-Chick]

Dell's customer service is pretty easy to work with, if you're patient enough to try to understand the guy speaking.

If you get the Complete Care warranty, which isn't the cheapest thing in the world, it's even better because if you drop your laptop or spill crap into the keyboard, they'll just fix it, no questions asked. The shipping company even comes to your house and picks it up from you. Well, from my experience anyway.

Yeah, the non-english speaking tech support was always my biggest complaint, but my friend has an XPS and said they're all Americans because the XPS part is headed in Texas or something. So thats a nice bonus.

[Orko Is King]

Get a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. You won't be disappointed.

[Danger Mouse]

Dell offers a 3-year full warranty. Covers everything, INCLUDING damage caused by you. Other brands come with limited warranty, and even some just for parts.

So, given different brands with identical specs, Dell's warranty trumps the rest.

[Master Chief]

I'd go with a Dell. But MacBooks are extremely durable and reliable. And since I'd be using it for outside work and not as my desktop since I have a desktop I'd go with a MacBook. :o

[britrogue]

My Packard Bell isn't half bad!

[chamber-music]

Go for the Mac

[vibeke_T]

Sony

[Corinthian™]

get a Lappy 486:cmad::up:

[GoldenAgeHero]

get yourself a mac. nuff said.

[Avangarde]

Oops I selected the wrong one, oh well. I was mean to to select HP. I use the Pavilion zd8000 an awsome machine with a huge 17" widescreen, masive keyboard with num pad. It has an wicked setup for entertainment systems, I watch all my movies on it, it even has a great remote for movies, music, and other multimedia use. All in all a bllody great machine, and with the price tag of $3199 AUD it should be :up:

[The Storm]

Been shopping for a laptop not sure what brand to go with. Uses will be editing, creative writing and general arsing about online. I keep hearing Macbook.

[Avangarde]

Been shopping for a laptop not sure what brand to go with. Uses will be editing, creative writing and general arsing about online. I keep hearing Macbook.

Macs = Simple

Dell = lots of manufacturing faults

HP = Performance

[GoldenAgeHero]

macs have performance as well.

[bulok]

If money isn't an issue, Acer is very well recommended. They have comparable performance with Dells and have quite good configs for gaming.

For reliability tho if you are going to be using for work and school,nothing beats a Toshiba.

http://www.notebookreview.com/ has some excellent FAQs and discussions on which laptops to get etc.

[sassycat]

I'm also in the market for a laptop. I was wondering if there are specific kinds of brands or designs that suit art programs and music files. I hoping to create an online gallery one day. :)

[Warhammer]

I guess Sony. :confused:

[jaguarr]

Get a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. You won't be disappointed.

:up:

And to whoever said Alienware, their stuff is overpriced crap that is subpar when it comes to everything EXCEPT playing games. :down

jag

[X-Chick]

Yeah, I've been to that site. Its one of the reasons I started considering a HP. Also, Mac isn't really an option for me. My friend has one and I prefer PCs. Also, I'm a Microsoft whore. :o

And I'll be using it for a wide range of things, pretty much everything actually, since my desktop died. :(

[X-Chick]

:up:

And to whoever said Alienware, their stuff is overpriced crap that is subpar when it comes to everything EXCEPT playing games. :down

jag

Yeah, I looked at Alienware and I don't get why they're so expensive. After adding everything the HP would have, its like $500 more. :huh:

[Darthphere]

Because its l337.

[bulok]

I'm also in the market for a laptop. I was wondering if there are specific kinds of brands or designs that suit art programs and music files. I hoping to create an online gallery one day. :)


Toshiba has some good tablet PCs if you do art


http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=tabletpcfam&seg=HHO


I know i might seem like I am plugging Toshibas but those suckers are great and sturdy as heck. Pricey, but you get what you paid for

[jaguarr]

Macs = Simple

Dell = lots of manufacturing faults

HP = Performance

Your Statement = Gross Oversimplification

If you're looking to get into the creative industries such as photography, video or music production/editing, publishing and layout, graphic design and the like, Apple machines are extremely popular in those circles. I've been a Mac fan and user for over eight years now, formerly a Windows SysAdmin and Network Admin who HATED Macs prior to taking on Mac technology as part of a former job. I've used Apple HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, IBM (now Lenovo), Micron (now MPC), Alienware and Voodoo PC products in systems in production environments, testing environments and at home in my personal life. Apple systems have always had the best quality and reliability in my experience, and their performance in the laptop space is currently #1 (I can pull reviews from PC magazines if you would like those references). Another great thing about Macs is their longevity. They consistenly run the latest and greatest operating systems from Apple for much longer than Windows boxes. My in-laws use a beat up 7 year old iMac I set up for them that runs the latest OS from Apple flawlessly and plenty fast for them to surf the web, check email and play music. In my experience, a seven year old PC would not run Win XP (and DEFINITELY will not run Vista). Macs also come with the iLife suite, which enables consumers to start listening to music, organizing their photos, making movies and DVD's right out of the box. Couple that with the fact that Mac OS X is more secure than Windows (there are currently 150,000+ viruses in the wild for Windows and countless pieces of spyware and malware; there are NO viruses in the wild for Mac OS X, even after being on the market for 6 years, because it's horribly difficult to write viruses, spyware and malware for that platform and I've seen the script kiddies expressing frustration over that on certain forums so its' certainly not for a lack of trying). A lot of people stick with Windows because that's all they know, even ridiculing other platforms that they know little about like Linux and Mac. It's at least worth trying to see if you might like something different from the rest of th herd.

On the Windows side, HP's hardware has consistently impressed me with it's performance and reliability more than the others. Dell has become absolute junk in the last couple of years (and their market share of late illustrates that). Sony's had some severe reliability issues. Toshiba products are alright, though definitely not on par with HP's products, IMHO.

Whatever you do, don't buy sight unseen. Make an effort to actually find a place or places you can go USE and play with each of the products you're interested in to see which one is really right for you. If you decide to explore a Mac, find a place that specializes in them such as an Apple Store or Mac specialist store. Places like CompUSA, Circuit City and Best Buy that carry them usually don't know crap about them and I've heard more than one sales person saying things about them that are absolutely untrue because they don't know any better.

Good luck!
jag

[Darthphere]

Like Jag said, buy an Alienware.

[X-Chick]

Thanks jag. I've tried Macs, but they just never appealed to me much. My best friend has one, and I'll admit, they're a lot better than I expected, great even. They're just not for me. Sony is pretty much out of the question because they don't last worth a damn, Alienware is overpriced and over-rated, and I haven't really found a Toshiba I like yet.

[Kaboom]

im so tired of pcs and their problems, my next will be a mac

[jaguarr]

Like Jag said, buy an Alienware.

Are you high? :huh:

jag

[jaguarr]

Thanks jag. I've tried Macs, but they just never appealed to me much. My best friend has one, and I'll admit, they're a lot better than I expected, great even. They're just not for me. Sony is pretty much out of the question because they don't last worth a damn, Alienware is overpriced and over-rated, and I haven't really found a Toshiba I like yet.

HP is probably for you, then.

jag

[Darthphere]

Are you high? :huh:

jag


Like Jag said, im high.

[Darthphere]

All these Dell horror stories are funny. Ive had a Dell Pc and Laptop for more than 5 years and never have had a problem with them in my life.

[sassycat]

Toshiba has some good tablet PCs if you do art


http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/ebtext.to?page=tabletpcfam&seg=HHO


I know i might seem like I am plugging Toshibas but those suckers are great and sturdy as heck. Pricey, but you get what you paid for

thanks! :)

[X-Chick]

All these Dell horror stories are funny. Ive had a Dell Pc and Laptop for more than 5 years and never have had a problem with them in my life.

I only had one problem with my desktop, which turned out to be a major irrepairable one, but it was really a fluke, not the machine's fault. And Pete has had this laptop for like 2 years and never had a problem with it.

[Ahura Mazda]

I bought the Dell XPS 1710 adn before that had a toshiba quosmio. The quosmio was very good but over heated very easily. The Dell is a great machine.

But if you want to go really high end there is/was an english company called Savrow that made amazing laptops.

[X-Chick]

Damn, I really want the 1710, but I don't really need all that stuff, at least not for the price. :o

[triplefive]

All these Dell horror stories are funny. Ive had a Dell Pc and Laptop for more than 5 years and never have had a problem with them in my life.
I'm with you.

My Dell PC is 4 years old and still runs perfectly.

My Dell laptop is 3 years old and has some major hardware problems, but it's also been through a lot of collisions and falls. But I'm typing this message on it right now.

My parents' Dell computer had a power supply failure after about 16 months, but it was a cheap fix anyway.

[Darth Elektra]

Toshiba all the way!