Time for a new laptop - Freeper Help Needed

[Maceman]

When I last bought a laptop in 2006, I asked my fellow Freepers for advice and got such great responses. Based on those responses, I finally bought a Dell D820 and was completely happy with the result.

So now it's time for a new one. I am going to stay with the PC for business reasons, and also because Apple is too expensive.

I use the computer primarily for work which means I'll be running MS Office Pro -- and most of my work uses MS Office apps.

I'm not a gamer, but I do want fast video. Any thoughts about the chipset would be helpful.

I'd also love opinions about any manufacturers to avoid. My Dell has been a great machine, even though I needed the screen and motherboard replaced at last three times since I bought it. But that was OK because Dell's next-day onsite service warranty has been very reliable.

(By contrast, I bought an HP desktop from Circuit City a few years ago, but it had constant problems. And when Circuit City closed, I could no longer get support and repair. So it's just a dust collector now.)

Anyway, I'm strongly considering a Dell Vostro 3550, but would certainly welcome advice from my fellow Freepers regarding what to buy and what to stay away from.

Thanks, as always.

[Ueriah]

Have you considered a Tablet PC with a remote keyboard?

I’m in the market for a new “productivity” device, and I am currently looking at the iPad 2 with the remote bluetooth KB. Easy to use, light, portable.

[HOYA97]

Once you figure out what you want, you should build your own. I built my own after a little help and I have never looked back. It is also a lot cheaper than anything off the shelf. I recommend tigerdirect.com.

Good lUck!!

[Truth29]

Off topic reply, but you had the screen and motherboard replaced at least three times and you considered it a good machine (even with good service). You have a very high tolerance for problems. I am typing this with a very old Dell D410 that is all original and would also recommend Dells, but that is because it has never failed.

[ShadowAce]

The Dell D830 is a nice machine.

I'm currently using a MSI GT680r:

• 8G RAM
• 2 500G HDD in a RAID configuration
• nVidia 460M graphics
• Intel Core i7 CPU
• Less than $1900

has performed flawlessly for me now since April.

[USNBandit]

You built your own laptop?

[Lady Lucky]

FWIW, I’ve never had anything but Hewlitt-Packard computers since 1998, and never had to replace anything. I’m told a new battery for the bios would be helpful in my old xp, but other than that, never had a problem and never needed a tinker for anything. Got a 1998 model with Windows 98 that is still running just fine. HP laptop with Windows 7 is an excellent thing too. Good on ya, HP.

[Johnny B.]

Stay away from "consumer" laptops; get a business-class machine. You'll generally get a better quality machine with less junk installed on it.

I have always been happy with Thinkpads. I've heard lots of horror stories about Sony's support.

[Red Badger]

I built my own lap........but it’s disappearing slowly.........

[HOYA97]

You built your own laptop?

No, desktop. I think Maceman is looking for a desktop instead of a Laptop.

[43north]

Is this due to man-made gravitational change?

[ShadowAce]

[USNBandit]

I understand your problem with switching to Mac for compatibility reasons. I waited until I retired from the Navy Reserves to switch to Mac and I am really happy. I don't know how the MS Office for Mac works so I won't comment on it.

I have a Dell latitude E6410 sitting on my desk and it seems pretty stable in Window 7. It belongs to work and I use it primarily to program radios for law enforcement work. Unfortunately, that requires using XP virtual machine because the Motorola software isn't compatible with 7. If I learned anything about PC based laptops it is that even 7 likes a lot of RAM. Don't save money there. My work Dell has 4 GB of RAM. My previous personally owned PC laptop had two GB of RAM, sucked with Vista (think 6 lb. netbook) and was okay with 7.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I think you should get Windows 7 Pro and not Home.

I just bought this HP laptop

HP ProBook 4525s $409.99

And added 4GB RAM for $22.29

G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3

There is an empty slot for the RAM. It is very easy to do yourself.

Then you call HP and they will send you Windows 7 Pro 32- and 64-bit disks. Install the 64-bit version, and you have a heck of a laptop for under $450.

HP only sends you the disks for the Pro laptops. If you buy anything else they won't send them.

I am very satisfied with mine after six months. I am a developer and have SQL Server 2008 installed on it and it runs great.

[SueRae]

ping for later reading. both of my other laptops recently died (Dell small notebook andthe Inspiron)

[Red Badger]

Actually it’s WOMAN made. My wife’s a great cook................

[I still care]

I don’t know how big an issue cost is for you, but for those of us who watch every penny, be aware that certain companies tax certain states. I never use Tiger because they tax my state, I use NewEgg. But I’m sure the opposite applies for others, depending on where they are.

If you decide you want an already built one, try sites like Ben’s Bargains or Slickdeals.net, putting in a buy alert for what you want. My last laptop I saved over a third off the sale price by smart shopping. I basically got over a $1K machine for 500.

[Melas]

If video performance is important to you, don’t overlook Dell’s Alienware line. I have the MX18, and it rocks.

[ken21]

off topic,

but does anyone know anything about firefox

not working for amazon?

[wildbill]

I have had great history with my 3 year old Toshiba laptop wioth a 15.6 “ screen.

They are on sale regularly at the Toshiba online site and recently were advertised as low as $299 with 3 gigs of Ram. 4gigs a little more.