Community Newsletter: Q&A: 8/11/06 Laptops: which one to buy?
- 8/10/06 5:55 PM
YES
by waytron - 8/13/06 4:42 AM In reply to: May I Use This For My Students by poserPlease feel free to use this for any purpose you want. I am glad you found it helpful.
Dana H.
Wayland Computer
Great Write Up!!!! Why can't I find a computer salesperson
by Wedding Rings - 8/11/06 6:04 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
like Dana in Charlotte?
THANKS FOR TAKING ALL THE TIME TO WRITE THAT IT HELPED ME A LOT!!!
Mike
Answer by Dana
by aa01 - 8/11/06 6:09 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A very complete and comprehensive answer, professionally written. I would be happy to buy a computer recommended by you any time.
Agreeing with you that the screen is the most expensive and an essential part of the computer, should we not be recommending a Sony laptop every time.
I have two Sony laptops performing brilliantly, touch wood, and wanted to share this experience with others.
Azad Ayub
NO
by waytron - 8/13/06 4:40 AM In reply to: Answer by Dana by aa01I did not intend to this to be read as to stay away from Sony, but was simply an example of how much some replacement parts can cost. I actually like Sony laptops very much, although they tend to cost a little more than some of the other brands.
Dana H.
best laptop for college
by Cheryl&boys - 8/11/06 6:18 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
get a 14.1 laptop; get a 19 inch monitor for the dorm; get a spare battery; pass on the top processor; $50 for additional memory (get at least 768 (a std 256 & 512 add in)
go for light, cheap, and low-tech.
it's the human interface that counts
Best answer!
by djdelph - 8/11/06 7:06 AM In reply to: best laptop for college by Cheryl&boysBest advice yet! Some people know too much for my good and are willing to share all of it. Thanks to listats!
Beware of the power connection on laptops!!!
by healyp - 8/11/06 7:09 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I spent $3,500 on a Sony 680 laptop. 14 months later I had an unusable unfixable computer. The flawed design caused problems with the power connection and after spending #1,000 I was told there was nothing that could be done. Sony did not stand behind the design flaw and large numbers of people left Sony computers for good. I have now moved to Apple with their magnetic power connection.
Beware of the power connection on laptops/Dell Ext Warranty
by Wasn't Me - 8/11/06 12:56 PM In reply to: Beware of the power connection on laptops!!! by healypMy Dell has a power connection issue to, which is intermittent. I have the extended warranty and like I posted earlier, I had my hinges crack after 6 months. Dell said they would replace it this time, even though I had extended warranty. I was suppose to buy the "accident" warranty to cover the hinges next time, but to me, the hinges cracking is no accident but a design flaw. Others online have reported the same with Dell's low end models.
Stay away from ANY low end or entry level model, even from Dell!!
Many Laptops have had this problem
by waytron - 8/13/06 4:50 AM In reply to: Beware of the power connection on laptops!!! by healypOver the past several years many manufacturers have had problems with premature failure of the power jack. Many of these models required a new motherboard to repair the problem. Most manufacturers have fixed this weakness, but can still be a problem with people who move their laptop around more frequently. If you are aware of this possible weakness and take precautions when plugging and unplugging your power, you should have no problems. Even if you do and the company will not stand behind it, there are many 3rd party suppliers that will fix it for about $80.
Dana H.
Long message without an answer?
by ringrhymer - 8/11/06 7:38 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I kinda wish this question would have been answered with model numbers of the favorites.
Well, I guess "bigger is always better" is more American!
Let's take a poll.
Carrying case essentials
by janestern - 8/11/06 9:17 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I would add to Dana's answer that the carrying case MUST be on wheels if you don't want a sore hand or shoulder.
Also, under the heading "seems unimportant until you need it," you need a carrying case which is narrow enough from side to side when you are rolling it to be wheeled down an airplane aisle. Otherwise, you will end up having to lift it by hand and carry it down the aisle.
I got a perfect case which fit the bill at Office Depot for only about $40. about four years ago. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be selling that one any more. However, it should be possible to find others which fulfill these requirements.
Carrying case
by snh628 - 8/16/06 5:49 AM In reply to: Carrying case essentials by janesternI think a carrying case on wheels might get you beat up at school 
. I'd probably go with something like a backpack with a padded laptop compartment. When you do carry your laptop around at school, you'll probably have some other stuff like books or food with you, so you'll want to carry it all. Best of luck to you in school 
Hope you're taking this all in
by NM_Bill - 8/11/06 10:10 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
fantastic info presented by many more adept than me.
Some key points:
Contact college for requirements, recommendations & discounts.
Mfrs. extended warranty a must!
I know, likely to go 500 bucks w/ MS office student/teacher at school discount.
A basic $150 b&w laser for dorm- great.
Now - opinion:
I'm a Mac fan; not a WinTel basher. Always used the generic mainline at work. Preferred Mac at home.
Road warriors always want small size - say 12''-14''.
I'm old, w/ Mac 17''. My eyes would want Mac 21'' MacBookPro.
Ok, the Pro is from $1999.
MacBook 13'' is from $1099. (1.83 GHz, 60 GB, combo drive)
$1499 gets 2.9 GHz, 80 GB, 80 GB Super Drive.
I'd upgrade to 1.0 GB ram as a must, like for upcoming Vista.
Additional opinion:
I'm sorta dual platform as I got Office 2004 for Mac. I use some MS features like Word and Entourage.
Mac 10.4 is quite fine, but WOW, 10.5 out next spring should be so freakin' awesome! The recent Mac developer meeting preview of coming feature improvements is to be fantastically well integrated.
I can't wait. Just so more elegant than clunky MS offerings.
Of course, the free Mac Boot Camp beta will be native in the new release. Real, up to the minute dual paltform will set you up to be SOOO well positioned for the future.
Reality of the almighty dollar: Damn good deals should be out there now in prep of mfrs. readying themselves for Intel Core 2 Duo.
Best of luck. Be prepared to work academically like you haven't before.
Go get 'em.
Please don't forget that Mac option. Not strippeed down, but properly equipped, the so called Mac premium may be absolutely zero, nada, zilch. And you would be so flexible for the future. Dual platform, baby!!!
Duo Core Processors
by brucerobb - 8/11/06 3:13 PM In reply to: Hope you're taking this all in by NM_BillI've seen articles, I think here on c|net/ZDnet, that the prices on the old version processors are not going to be coming down as they should in relation to the new Duo Core ones. The price difference between the high-end older models is not very much compared to the performance increase of Duo Cores.
Mac Book
by geezer10 - 8/11/06 11:46 AM In reply to: Dana's winning answer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I say get a macbook. They can run all your games and they can even run windows now! That's The Best Of Both Worlds
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
