Which laptop do you recommend?

[ProLine4]

Sony VGN-S150. A little pricey, but I got mine on sale for <$2k. Good balance between portability, screen size, and weight. The screen is spectacular. Sweptback is really good with computers and helped me pick this one out, so I'd follow his suggestions.

 

[crashpad]

Get the most indestructable you can find! The TSA is brutal, as are van drivers, other pilots and just about anyone in your vicinity.

 

[EagleRJ]

This is a great deal here.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1011688&CatId=1348

From what I have heard, Emachines = Junk.

I shy away from buying any product that is offered as "refurbished", when it's more than just one unit. You have to worry about a model that failed in such numbers that the factory now has an inventory of repaired units. In the case of a design flaw, these laptops are just about guaranteed to fail again...

You can get great deals from places like Tiger_Direct that offer single open-box specials from customers who changed their minds. The inventory changes day to day, so you have to keep checking, but you can get a heck of a deal on a nearly new laptop that still has the full factory warranty.

 

[Cardinal]

Dell 700M has worked well for me so far.

Add another entusiastic vote for the Dell 700m. The build quality seems much more robust that my previous, larger Dell, that creaked, bent, and rattled. This thing is rock solid even after ridng around in a suitcase frequently. It is truly a mobile machine, small and light enough that you don't agonize over whether you want to lug it - just take it. That 15 inch screen on the bigger machines will result in a beast that barely fits in a rollaboard. If you want the larger screen and more power at home, then get shell out another $400 and get a desktop with all the bells and whistles. After the novelty wears off, a desktop replacement will be just that, a desktop replacement, since that is where it will sit when you leave on a trip - 'cause hauling a 9 pound notebook and a 2 pound power supply that consumes nearly a cubic foot of suitcase space quickly loses its appeal.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Lowecur-Funny! That's my favorite kind of laptop.

My wife told me if you are looking for a wife (or a hot girlfriend) just JS to Warsaw (or Krakow) and hang out there in the spring/summertime. She said there are TONS of young/hot Polish girls there.

Now if you can find some way to prevent them from turning into Polish fishwives...

Cliff
YIP

PS-My wife told me about a European survey that said Polish wives were the toughest to handle...she claims this show it's not her fault and that it's genetic. I'm not buying it!

 

[apdsm]

As for the extended warranties, there's different kinds. Steer clear of the retail store warranties (Best Buy, etc), as the way they're written it's almost impossible to get your laptop fixed right (they exclude about anything that can possibly break). Plus, every time you need it fixed you send it away for a week or two. Not cool if it's your only computer.

That has not been my experience. I purchased my laptop at Circuit City in 2001 with the extended warranty. The warranty company is GE Warranty and they have been stellar. I have to ship it to them, but they send me the box and turn around is 3 to 4 days. Although I will never buy another Compaq, I'm very happy with GE Warranty.

 

[apdsm]

Wait a second! Use your Amex and get double the manufacturer's warranty and check with your home owner's policy. I pay $50 a year to cover my laptop on my home owner's, I also purchased it with an amex. I had a motherboard go bad about 2 months after the warranty expired. Amex stepped right up and paid for the replacement. If that had failed or if the laptop was stolen, home owner's steps in from there. Don't pay $400-500 extra for the warranty when a combo of credit card and homeowners will do the same for a fraction of the price.

I like the AMEX idea! Are you sure the homeowner's policy covers repairs? I think most only cover it if it's stolen. And even at that, some require the deductible to be met first.

 

[FL000]

I'd be using it mostly on the road and at home. Thoughts/Advice................?

Good idea. I used mine only inside and outside.

Seriously though, DO NOT get anything with an AMD processor. You'll save some dough, but those things are awful. I watched 2 die a slow death to the tune of 2500 bucks (entire system cost). Buck up for the P4. It's worth it. The Celeron ain't so hot either.

 

[sweptback]

Good idea. I used mine only inside and outside.

Seriously though, DO NOT get anything with an AMD processor. You'll save some dough, but those things are awful. I watched 2 die a slow death to the tune of 2500 bucks (entire system cost). Buck up for the P4. It's worth it. The Celeron ain't so hot either.

There's nothing wrong with an AMD processor. However, since they are usually used in lower-end computers, the build quality of the rest of the computer may suffer a little.

On a laptop, the Intel Centrino chipset is top-notch for battery savings, but only if you steer clear of the P4. That thing drains battery like no tomorrow, and it's actually being phased out of the notebook lines.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

The 700M is $999 before you add any upgrades to it. Looks like it will be around $1600 or so including the Home package, Virus Scan, (maybe a 80GB), and the warranty.
Does that price sound about right?

Was that 700M for $1100 deal w/out any upgrades?

 

[rubberlayin]

Averatec 3250 is an excellent choice

AMD 1.7ghz, 512mb, 60-80 gig hd, dvd burner, wireless, 12" screen
1" thick and only 4 lbs

Had mine 4 mos now and no problems whatsoever

Just saw the ad for Circuit City $750 with rebates while supplies last

Got mine at Sam's Club due to the fact that they will take back ANYTHING regardless of how long ago you purchase it, 100% satisfaction policy

FWIW

 

[Gulfstream 200]

The 700M is $999 before you add any upgrades to it. Looks like it will be around $1600 or so including the Home package, Virus Scan, (maybe a 80GB), and the warranty.
Does that price sound about right?

Was that 700M for $1100 deal w/out any upgrades?

www.dell.com


700m
512 RAM
60 G HDD
CD R/W +DVD
1yr warranty
2 day shipping

$1049

 

[h25b]

That's exactly the configuration I got... I think the same price as well. Overall an outstanding bargain...

 

[ATLplt]

The 700M is $999 before you add any upgrades to it. Looks like it will be around $1600 or so including the Home package, Virus Scan, (maybe a 80GB), and the warranty.
Does that price sound about right?

Was that 700M for $1100 deal w/out any upgrades?

If you use the coupon I linked to you can get a 1.6ghz, 60GB, 512mb, XP home, and the Dell A,B,G wireless for $903. It expires early on the 15th though. Even if you miss it Dell releases different coupons on a daily basis...

 

[ILStoMinimums]

If you use the coupon I linked to you can get a 1.6ghz, 60GB, 512mb, XP home, and the Dell A,B,G wireless for $903. It expires early on the 15th though. Even if you miss it Dell releases different coupons on a daily basis...

I probably should add a warranty when I purchase this.....

 

[h25b]

if you can get a 2 year with it for under 1100 I would certainly go for it...

 

[John_W_Thompson]

IBM will always been synonymous with quality hardware. You will see a lot of them being used when you commute. Companies have come around and realized they are cheaper in the long run. I bought a refurb T21 (they are plentiful) with additional warrantee. I have S-Video out with DVD play capability. I can play older games. FS 2000 works just fine for example. It has a basic graphics accelerator.

That said, wouldn't kick Toshiba, Sony and Alienware out of bed though. I just think with something handled so much I wanted to go conservative. I am very happy with it. I doubt I will ever get anything else either, except possibly an Alien for extreme speed.

 

[apdsm]

IBM will always been synonymous with quality hardware. You will see a lot of them being used when you commute. Companies have come around and realized they are cheaper in the long run. I bought a refurb T21 (they are plentiful) with additional warrantee. I have S-Video out with DVD play capability. I can play older games. FS 2000 works just fine for example. It has a basic graphics accelerator.

That said, wouldn't kick Toshiba, Sony and Alienware out of bed though. I just think with something handled so much I wanted to go conservative. I am very happy with it. I doubt I will ever get anything else either, except possibly an Alien for extreme speed.

I was about to pull the trigger and buy an IBM. Then they announced the sale of their notebook division to another company. Although it will still carry the IBM name, I'm not convinced of future IBM quality and support.

 

[azpilot]

I was about to pull the trigger and buy an IBM. Then they announced the sale of their notebook division to another company. Although it will still carry the IBM name, I'm not convinced of future IBM quality and support.

I believe this has yet to take place. If you want an ultra lightweight good performing machine look at the X40 series. Only 2.7 lbs! DVD player is external but I simply don't watch many movies on the road so I can live with an external unit. I currently own an Averatec. The performance of the machine really sucks. It is incredibly slow. Fine for checking email and surfing the web but if you want to do any kind of multi-tasking it is a real pig. However, the under $900 price tag was attractive and that is why I bought it. So just don't expect to load any games or other high demanding applications on an Averatec model.

My next purchase with be the X40 or whatever the latest model is. Weight is everything in my book. The X40 is so **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** slim you can put it in your flight bag.

If you only want to check email I would consider a Treo 650 or Blackberry device.