Computer help forum: What laptop should I get?

I find it interesting that you recommend these two. I have only had two laptops but a number of desktops. The first laptop was a Toshiba that I purchased in 1997 and a Dell in 2006. I don't really like laptops but when traveling for any length of time, a laptop is a must. I here you about making a move on buying soon if I want Windows 7. I really don't like Windows 7 but it is a must over XP since Microsoft won't be supporting it after April 2014. Windows 8 you can forget. I will never go that route.

Dell sells equipment that fails a little over when the warranty expires.

Mine claimed that the laptop "couldn't recognize the ac adapter....blah, blah, blah" After being told to buy a new adapter, and then a new battery, I was told the problem was the "motherboard". I would have to ship my laptop to a "depot", where after 3 weeks I would get it back a a cost of 80% of the original price.

SCAM,SCAM,SCAM

And shame on Michael Dell for pulling it.

And their Customer Service is lousy and they cannot understand English

DO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELLDO NOT BUY A DELL

Period.

Toshiba, HP, anything but a Dell

Different strokes I guess. I bought a Dell desktop in 2001 that's still running. I bought another Dell desktop back in Aug. that's still running. I support 28 Dells and they're all still running. YMMV

Thought for a moment that I might just be able to get one. Some Walmart stores supposedly still had them in stock. But that didn't materialize. Just about everyplace I looked only have laptops with Win 8. I have seen some online deals with refurbished laptops but I am a little reluctant to go that route. I will keep looking but price is a major consideration considering how little use I will be making of it.

I guess not everyone goes there. But on Windows 8, you can add a start button to ease the feeling you walked off the cliff.
Bob

It's free and nice. More at the Prey project.

http://preyproject.com/

I will keep this in mind

Dear tumbleweed_biff,
You seem very clued up. I know very, very little. My PC is about 12 years old and running very, very slowly, in spite of installing AdvancedSystemCare 6. I spend more time looking at the screen, waiting for it to respond, than actually working. My hobby is writing stories and I am pretty serious about it. I want to get into editing and am doing a course at present. I also use email and do a lot of searches when looking up facts for my stories. I need a new computer. It does not have to be a laptop, but for the same money, is a laptop as good as a PC? A laptop does have the obvious advantage of mobility. I live in Israel, where computers are much more expensive than in the US, so I need advice in the range below $1000. I also need to buy it in Israel as I need Hebrew software (i.e. Office). Is it possible for you to give me 3 or 4 models from which to choose, as I don't know what is available?
Thank you.
Henrytobias

Unluckily, few people on this forum know what computers are available in the brick-and-mortar computer shops in Israel, or can read the Hebrew sites of the Israelian webshops. But from your post I understand that (a) you live there so can visit the shops, and (b) you can read Hebrew so you can read what webshops offer.
So it seems you're the one that's best placed to know what's available.

Luckily, any new PC or laptop you buy nowadays, even the cheapest one, is perfectly suited for word processing and e-mailing and browsing Internet to look up facts. So it's quite impossible to buy something that doesn't suit your needs.

Kees

I'm sure the same models are available here as in the US or Europe. I just need some guidance. Thanks for the help.

My guidance was above:
"Any new PC or laptop you buy nowadays, even the cheapest one, is perfectly suited for word processing and e-mailing and browsing Internet to look up facts. So it's quite impossible to buy something that doesn't suit your needs."

The choice between desktop and laptop is all yours, depending on the intended use. Nobody can tell you what you have to prefer.

Kees

Kees was on target, I don't know what you are going to find in Israel. General models will be the same, like the Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E530, but there will be variances within that model which will only be available in the US, Israel, etc. Although I studied a little Hebrew many years ago, it predated most of my computer use so I haven't a clue regarding any functions therein. Unfortunately, there are issues of representation in international markets I can't address. There are probably vendors in Israel not present here in the US and the reverse is likely true.

If you need the mobility, then it seems clear that a laptop would be the way to go. In your case, you would want to look at what companies provide what level of support in your area as a significant area of concern, along with that company's overall reliability. Generally speaking, as previously noted, almost all Lenovo's (particularly the Thinkpads), any of the business class units from HP (the EliteBooks are as durable as granite), Toshiba, Asus, Samsung and a few others will be quite reliable. I believe that you will find any currently marketed machine to be a substantial improvement over your current 12 year old machine - that would be maybe a PII? I strongly advocate making sure that the support whomever provides be provided by someone who is a native speaker of your preferred tongue (Hebrew?).

In your shoes, I would go to what ever point of purchase you plan on using and taking a look at what they have to offer and test as many as you can for the most demanding types of work you intend to use it. Pick one which you find comfortable and which is able to perform to a bit higher than your current level of need (so it will still be useful tomorrow) without breaking the budget. Also consider: I prefer business class machines because a) they are more durable and mine moves around a lot and sees more than its fair share of bumps and grinds and b) I want the business class support: next business day service/native English speaking support and I am willing to pay for those. If a consumer grade machine is apt to your needs, I would recommend staying away from Acer/Gateway/Dell/HP. I recommend giving the Lenovo Thinkpad Edge a look.

thanks very much. most helpful