Computer / Notebook Recommendations

[100LL... Again!]

Need some feedback on computers:


If I get a desktop, who has the best bang for the buck?



For notebooks, I'm thinking HP, Sony, or Dell.

Any experiences with quality/features?

 

[Loafman]

For a laptop, I have a Compaq X1000.

Best thing I ever bought. Integrated wireless internet for airport hotspots and widescreen for DVDs. Thin and light, and the battery lasts a long time. Its faster than my desktop, and has more memory and storage. JBL speakers too. Can be had in the 15-16 range and worth every penny.
.
For desktops, Dell has superior support.

 

[350DRIVER]

I have a Sony Vaio slim notebook with the detachable docking station. Best laptop I have ever owned. Very light, small, sleak, and the software is great that is included.

Stay away from Dell & Gateway notebooks, pi$$ poor customer service and overall cheap.... Best Buy has a great agreement that extends a warranty on just about anything that could go wrong with the laptop.

Sony has my vote hands down

3 5 0

 

[Loafman]

I had the Sony Vaio P4 2.4 Ghz before I traded it in on the Compaq. It was the larger Vaio, but the Compaq blows it away on speed. I liked the P4 mobile Vaio, but it was more expensive than the Compaq.

 

[flx757]

For desktop, easily the best bang for the buck (and PC Gamer, C-net and PC World all agree...they are editor's choice and top rated desktops with each of these) are ABS computers.

Check them out at www.abspc.com

You configure them the way you choose (and they give you choices of name brand componets, such as Sony DVD+/-RW drives, ATI or NVIDIA GeForce video cards, Western Digital or Maxtor Hard Drives, AMD or Intel processors)...You decide what goes in it, not just whatever components THEY decide to put in there.

Check them out. Very highly rated by the reputable sources above.

 

[bobbysamd]

Minority opinion

I was a PC user for ten years. I learned how to run computers with PCs, owned two PCs, and used nothing but PCs at work. I got tired of PCs crashing and having to reinstall my OS seemingly every six weeks.

I decided a change was in order, so last spring I purchased an IMac. Good decision. The GUI is as elegant as advertised, the machine stays booted, it never crashes, installing software only entails dragging it to the Applications folder, but the best thing is the machine just works! I brought it home, plugged in my cable modem, printer and leftover Logitech laser mouse, turned it on, and everything worked! It blew my mind.

I had a little learning curve transitioning from Windows to the Mac, but it wasn't serious. I love the flat screen and how the unit is self-contained, as opposed to a PC's box on the floor and cables going everywhere.

A downside might be that there is less software available for Macs than PCs, but how much software do you really need anyway? There are Mac versions of such things as Office, and there are Mac games. I would regard as a downside no WordPerfect for Mac version, but the bundled word processor is enough for my needs.

An upside might be that there are few, if any, viruses that stalk Macs. Most viruses I know are interested in PCs, and especially Bill Gates-produced software.

Hope that helps. Good luck with whatever machine you choose.

 

[flx757]

When I recommended ABS, I was speaking strictly from a PC point of view, but I will agree with Bobby (and several of the sources I cited in my previous post agree, also) that Apple has definitely seemed to step up the quality of their produts. The platforms are stable, and I agree with much of what Bobby said in his post.

There seems to be many recent satisfied Mac users, so I would think they would rate a look-see as well.

 

[350DRIVER]

Flx-

where are you instructing on the MD.? Thought you were 717..


just curious


3 5 0

 

[acabello]

I built my own on Directpc.ca
Best deal I could find, just do your research to find exactly what it is you want. I got just the tower for $1200 compared to Dell who wanted $1700. Theres plenty of build your own pc sites that aren't mainstream i.e: dell, gateway, these smaller companies have way better deals. If you want a good laptop get the VPR Matrix from Bestbuy.

 

[I.P. Freley]

With all due respect to 350driver's opinion, my Dell is the best notebook I have ever owned... And Sony is perennially at the bottom of the heap in customer service.

Don't believe me? Go to pcmag.com and see for yourself (they poll consumers every year to get company rankings). The percentage of consumers reporting getting the "runaround" from Sony is a very unhealthy 34%, which is twice as bad as the next-worst, Toshiba.

Overall, the customers are satisfied enough with their equipment to give the company a "B-" rating.

FWIW, the top grades overall (A's) went to Toshiba, HP, and Apple.