Advice, Please!!! Dell Died, need new laptop computer...!

I've seen signs of computer people lurking in this area...

Please advise me....!

My Dell laptop recently died... 4 years old, out of service period... It's been good, service has been rare-but-good, (except the phone service...grrrr!!!), but it's over and expensive to try to repair- and older, now, to spend money on- when new ones are less expensive.

I've been given some money to get a new one, as my finances are tight, and the service is what I'm MOST concerned about so I can count on it lasting with my low budget future! I've had Dell, my daughter loved HP, my son-in-law in the Navy loves Toshiba... (We had a horrible 3 years with a Gateway...It was probably the Millennium operating system, actually.)

I have $653.00+a-little to work with, and I'm scared of making an expensive mistake!

The HP's and Toshiba's seem to need cooling fans, and my Dell had a similar problem- the heat sink? is out, apparently, and $175.00 for 1 year is needed to try to repair it, or more. I've seen $500.00 for new, and that seems better... I love gadgets, want extra-capability-as-much-as-can-afford as that lasts longer, have DSL wireless set up at home and love it, lol!

Could you help me...??? I Miss My Laptop!!!  

Seriously-in-need-of-good-advice!!! 2beittybitty

Try dell refurbished. You can get a hell of a laptop for your budget.

Lol!!! We think a-like! That was what I had, which has deserted me!

I am considering that...

I'm just afraid of the service now, so I wondered if there were better computers/service plans than what I was familiar with, as others liked theirs, too.

Also, I'm concerned about the different processors offered now... I want at least a  gig of ram, but which processor? I've heard some are new, and run hot...

Any ideas/information of what to look for or avoid is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for responding- I was afraid nobody was going to!

All I gotta say is DO NOT get a compaq Presario. This laptop was an over-priced pretty POS. Luckily as a CS major, me and my computer-y friends have (barely) kept the thing alive.

I have heard very few bad things about macbooks. I really hate the Mac interface though. And I hear mostly good things about toshibas.

Thank You!!! I've wondered about those- they were supposed to be better now, as a part of HP joining to it, but I was uncertain if I could trust 'em!

I'm not sure it's possible to buy a computer for less than what you want... But I think toshibas are awesome, I bought a Toshiba quosmio about two months ago and its amazing! No heating pad like you said, its super fast, great screen, and not too heavy. I bought it directly from the toshiba website with all the accessories, I think it's somewhat easier (I'm not sure if it's cheaper) that way. Anyway, I think the Toshiba Satellites are cheapest and my roomie had one that was decent.  

Thanks! My son-in-law says they are the best...but I'm totally new to them! Could you explain what the satellites are vs their others? It wasn't clear to me on their site...

Have you any idea on their service plans/support? Pleaasseee?

My husband would say get a Mac- he says as soon as my computer dies we are replacing it with a Mac- - he uses a mac for his work and swears by it he hates microsoft - He always says - "use a mac never look back"

Lol!!! He sounds SERIOUS!!!

I've never been close to a Mac- though I've read good reports on them!

"use a mac never look back"

so true!  macs are fantastic...and they are expensive.  i bought mine on the apple credit plan two years ago...it's all paid off now, and totally worth it. 

* sigh *

Expensive is impossible... My husband was injured- permanently- with Hurricane Katrina, so a low-income is all I can do. Glad I didn't lose him, though!!!

Mac sounds nice...! Thanks!

Anybody have a HP???

* bump *

Any advice on processors, etc?

My Dell died a year ago, and, low on funds, I purchased an "Acer" laptop.  Figured it would get me through till I could afford a "good" laptop.

Seriously?  Not only did it cost me $699 CAN, it is BETTER than my Dell AND the support is SUPER!  So I spent $2000 on a Dell previously that caused me nothing but heartache, and out of desperation bought an Acer.

I will NEVER buy another Dell.  This low-priced laptop has worked better on ALL levels than the Dell did.  If it dies, I'll get another one. 

SO worth it!  Good luck!

I don't recommend HP laptops for a variety of reasons. If you really want to get into a technical discussion, we can. I'd be happy to, but that's what it would be... a very technical discussion.

If you must get a PC, I'd like to echo the Toshiba sentiment. My primary, PC based, desktop replacement, if-this-thing-ever-dies-I'm-completely-screwe d is a Toshiba. I've carried that thing on a million flights and hooked it up in a million hotels, and have spilled drinks, dropped it, tripped over it---you name it. Still going strong. I have another Toshiba that was made in 1996 that still works just fine. Obviously, I don't use that one very often, but it is my emergency back up virtual console. Solid as a rock. The only common problem I know of with Toshiba's is with the sound. My computer has a broken speaker. Damn thing broke when it was about a week old. I know of several people who have had the sound cards die. So consider the importance of sound.

I also like the el-cheapo Sony VAIO models. Long story, but I often have to turn laptops over to my customers after having been attached to their networks. When I suspect that's going to be the case, I buy VAIOs as my 'disposable' laptop. Have never had a problem with one, though I don't keep them around for very long either.

Now... Unless you have a NEED to use a PC, I HIGHLY recommend a mac. Hell, even if you do have a PC need, now that they're coming with Intel processors, you can run windows too. (though that's not as cheap of a solution as just getting a windows machine.)

For most people, a mac not only does everything they need, it does it faster, more simply, and with a greatly reduced risk of virus/spyware infection than a PC.

I am not a bigot one way or the other. Within 10 feet of me right now are three PCs, one UNIX machine, two linux machines, one mac, one Windows 2k server, and there would normally be an imac here as well, though it is in the shop.

So lets talk about that service: That imac is three years old and needs its screen replaced. (weirdest thing, it suddenly stopped displaying yellow) Even though it is out of warranty, they are doing it free, as warranty work because I made a compelling case for it. Apple service is fantastic. Really it is.

I've had apples since 1982. I've had PCs since the early 90s. I replace my PCs every other year. Three if I'm lucky. My macs last five before I replace them. I've had far fewer hardware issues with macs than with PCs. If what you do with your laptop is surf the internet and check email.... Get a mac. If you are a gamer, or there are specific applications that are only available on the PC, get a PC. And like I said, now you can get a mac that will run windows. My next "PC" will be a mac tower that runs windows when I need to use Visio and MS Project.

 

Oh, and for the love of all things sacred.... stay away from Vista as your operating system. HUGE problems there. Stick with XP if you get a Wintel box.

Original Post by laurielaurie:

My Dell died a year ago, and, low on funds, I purchased an "Acer" laptop. Figured it would get me through till I could afford a "good" laptop.

Seriously? Not only did it cost me $699 CAN, it is BETTER than my Dell AND the support is SUPER! So I spent $2000 on a Dell previously that caused me nothing but heartache, and out of desperation bought an Acer.

I will NEVER buy another Dell. This low-priced laptop has worked better on ALL levels than the Dell did. If it dies, I'll get another one.

SO worth it! Good luck!

 Acer does make pretty good laptops.  I used to sell them (years ago).  I'd buy an Acer before I bought a Dell myself.

I won't buy Dell. Period.

Original Post by dbackerfan:

My husband would say get a Mac- he says as soon as my computer dies we are replacing it with a Mac- - he uses a mac for his work and swears by it he hates microsoft - He always says - "use a mac never look back"

 I agree.  I just started using one for work & my 3 computers at home are all PCs.  MACs are EXTREMELY user friendly (and they have a lot more cool stuff to play with ;)

Thank you, everybody!!!

No Dell sounds like the consensus here! Acer, Toshiba... and Mac! All 3 are very unknown to me, as well as Vista- which my son-in-law loved, but he lives several states away from me!

Acer sounds affordable- I don't know who sells them. Toshiba sounds great, if I could afford it, and Mac? It sounds really good, I'm just afraid of compatibility- beginning with me, lol!!! I've never seen one!

Technical is great! Basic level, lol! I'm out-of-it with the advances in processors, etc. and would really appreciate some expertise in what to look for or avoid...! Dual-core...? Speed...? Type of processor (Brand name)...? Anything else I don't even know to ask about, lol...???

I don't see a way out of Vista now, unless I reload with mine...? Scary! Can I get service if I buy a re-certified laptop? Is it safe to buy from someone like E-Cost.com? I've bought good stuff from them, but not stuff that needed service!

If you could spare the time, with any more advice, t_k, and anyone else, I'd be really, really, grateful!

P.S.- My Tower is acting cranky again today, too! I REALLY miss my Laptop!

 

tigerdirect.com sells re-furbs and is a legitimate (ie. not fly by night) company to deal with.

Two things:  Discuss what you'd like to do with your laptop and what applications you use.   Then, pick a laptop, link to it, and I'll be happy to tell you if it's going to do what you want or where it might need some improvement.

 

i've read some people here like acers, and i don't know when you guys purchased them, but acers are horrible. trust me, i used to work for best buy's geek squad up until last month when i quit, and we had to return probably about 90% of the ones we sold, because peope hated them so much/they were always defective.

i would go for a mac, personally. i recently purchased a dell, which has been good to me. i take care of it, but i have yet to experience what most people experience within the first year of use.

if i were you, i'd go buy a toshiba. you can get a pretty good one for fairly cheap. i've heard toshiba has good service. you might want to consider purchasing a service plan from wherever you buy it....the best buy one has its pros and its cons, i don't know about other places though.

Original Post by nicowalls3:

i've read some people here like acers, and i don't know when you guys purchased them, but acers are horrible. trust me, i used to work for best buy's geek squad up until last month when i quit, and we had to return probably about 90% of the ones we sold, because peope hated them so much/they were always defective.

 I haven't actually used an Acer in years.  From 99-01 I was an Acer reseller and had a lower percentage of warranty calls on them than I did IBMs (which I also sold).

I will certainly be the first to admit my dealings with the company and their products are dated.   They were pretty solid for me back in the day.

It's also been my experience that every manufacturer has certain models that flop.  And by flop, I mean "How the hell did their QA department let this get out the door?"