New Laptop Recommendations

[Jessterw]

Wife has an older HPaq laptop that is starting to give up the ghost, so we've started looking around for a replacement. Now it's been awhile since I've wandered into the realm of Windows-based laptop shopping, so I'm not as aware of who makes the better hardware these days.

We've been looking at Dell and HP, with my preference being a Dell based on past experiences. She doesn't need a powerhouse, but I would like to get her something that will last for awhile. We're also on a budget with this purchase, so it would need to be in the $1,000 range (+/- $300 is okay).

The only real requirements I've laid out are Windows XP Pro, Wireless G and Bluetooth (the latter being somewhat optional), at least a 15" screen, and something that's not too heavy given she rests it on her lap a lot.

Any recommendations would be great.

[Wombat]

Dell's been having some really impressive discounts lately.

go to www.dealcatcher.com to see the latest current deals.

[DGhost]

I just got an Inspiron 9300 last week, and I've been loving it so far. unfortunately, i wound up ordering it in between "big" deals (like the $750 off coupons that were floating around a while ago). I did, however, manage to get $350 off, and all the better coupons locked the video card down to one of the x300's.

if you do get a dell: make sure you get a re-install cd. the restore software resides on the hard drive (there was a 47mb partition that housed the recovery software, then the data partition, then a 3.5gb partition that I am guessing held the shipping disk image). Not that I am crying - I have enough personal legal windows liscences sitting in my room to qualify me for MS stock. But since the recovery software uses a custom boot loader, if you ever upgrade or change OS's the whole shebang will become instantly worthless.

Gateway has had some really impressive deals through Best Buy recently. Like, Turon 64 3400+, X700 64MB, 1GB ram for $1300. i've heard decent things about them.

HP seems to be doing alright for themselves. Compaq laptops have benefited from the merger as well. they just seem pricey compared to other options.

my only major gripe with the laptop industry right now is that if you are buying Intel, you can't get anything with a seperate graphics chipset unless you are willing to swallow a very large price premium. most dell lines don't even use a discrete graphics chipset anymore - they only offer maybe 3 models that even have it as an option. in general, if you are buying a Centrino platform it is going to wind up using an integrated graphics chipset.

that being said - that is less of a handicap now than it used to be. they are DX9 capable and should even be able to run the Aero Glass UI when Vista is released. no guarantees on that one though since there are no drivers for it yet.

[spadnos]

I've bought (or had others buy) 4 laptops from M-Tech. They have all been excellent. They're made by Clevo, a company that makes many of the "clone" laptops. The one unit that did have a problem was actually repaired by replacing the motherboard, at a local electronics repair shop (try that with a Dell )

I still use a 4 year old machine I bought from them. I've brought it across the Atlantic at least a dozen times, and cross country probably twice as many times, and it hasn't had any problems. (in fact, I'm thinking of upgrading - if you want a P-III 800 / 512M / 40G / 15" (1400x1050) LCD, let me know )

- Steve

[Fluff]

If she has a digital camera, she may find it useful that maybe the laptop has a card reader built into it. I know that the Toshiba Tecra range some of them have SD card readers.

[Claymonkey]

I've supported a LOT of dell laptops over the years and they're pretty good little systems. However, generally I avoid them for personal systems due to them being hundreds of $$$$ more expensive than similar models from others. If you can get one of these coupons though I'd highly recommend it. If not, I have been recommending Compaq/HP laptops to people lately and they are good systems, and very good bang for your buck. Lastly, look into Toshiba, they make good laptops.

[Jessterw]

Well good experiences supporting them was one the primary reasons I was looking at Dell, and really, after I get done doing any customization to the systems from most, they all end up costing about the same.

I've had terrible times with anything from HPaq over the years, but the systems have always lasted for awhile even with their problems.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[ZokesPro]

I've supported a LOT of dell laptops over the years and they're pretty good little systems. However, generally I avoid them for personal systems due to them being hundreds of $$$$ more expensive than similar models from others. If you can get one of these coupons though I'd highly recommend it. If not, I have been recommending Compaq/HP laptops to people lately and they are good systems, and very good bang for your buck. Lastly, look into Toshiba, they make good laptops.

That's the thing with Dell. I too have supported them for many years (I was a certified Dell tech, not that it changes anything) and I also agree that they are decent machines. I've also worked in the Dell Spare Parts for a year. The only problems I have with Dell is this:

• Their 'Spare Parts' dept. sells only used or refurbished parts, their markup is AT LEAST 35% and most often it's 10 times that so buying 'Dell' parts is not a good idea.
• Get one with a substantial rebate as mentioned by the Claymonkey.
• Never deviate from the original configuration unless you like sthrowing your money away.

Otherwise Dell's are fairly solid and reliable machines IMO.

Oh forgot to mention that Dell has probably THE best warranties for laptops out of all the companies out there, especially if you get the Complete Care warranty which costs a fortune. One guy RAN OVER his laptop and we replaced it no charge, just as long as is an 'accident'.

[Claymonkey]

On the same line as not defiating from the original specs of the laptop. If you can ALWAYS buy the laptop with 1 256MB dimm and then buy the ram you really want from someone like crucial. You'll often get 1GB of ram for the cost of 512 from Dell/Hp whoever and have the spare 256 stick around. I just helped my brother buy a Compaq laptop and he got it with 256MB of ram and then bought a 512 stick for less than the upgrade to 2 sticks of 256 in the HP (with free shipping).

With stuff like a bigger HD, better optical drive it's a judgment call. The optical drive is going to be proprietary.

If you want better graphics you have to do it when you buy it. If you can get a better monitor screen (often choosen in the CPU selection section... why is that?).

One thing I ALWAYS recommend to someone is spend the extra $30-50 and get the beefier battery.

[Fat Tone]

Try Paddy's supplier

[Claymonkey]

what supplier would that be? Back of a truck?

[Fat Tone]

More like 'Back of a Paddy wagon'

[Paddy]

Don't jinx it!
He claims he will post tomorrow!