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  1. #1
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    Laptop computer?

    I'm thinking about getting my wife an inexpensive laptop for her work. I don't think she needs anything fancy(she sells health insurance).

    Snorkeldeep mentioned his preference for IBM thinkpads. Also, I saw an ad for a new Dell for $500.

    Any suggestions?

  2. #2
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    Just picked up one for my dad, I'm not a big Dell fan (one I had at work was truely terrible) but this one seemed like a pretty good deal. 2.2GHz Celeron, 40Gb HD, 15in screen, CD-RW/DVD drive, 1-yr warranty, for $650. Just a basic laptop, nothing fancy.

  3. #3
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    one thing to keep in mind is laptops arent quite as easy to fix as desktops and getting a warranty for as long as you want the thing to last is a good idea.

    I have a Dell Laptop and am very happy with it.

  4. #4
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    I agree with the warranty thing. I have a dell and the hard drive and then motherboard and power supply all failed within a few months of each other. They couldn't figure out the power problem so they just gave me a brand new laptop.

    Overall, fast customer service, and they sent a tech over to do any serious (ie motherboard replacement) repair work.

    At least it worked until a part failed, and then it wasn't difficult to fix. I've dealt with friends' HP and Sony laptops that were messed up but not in a way that you can get hardware support, so they just have to deal with funky computers. At least when dells break, they break cleanly and start working again once you replace a part.

  5. #5
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    IBM just sold their PC business to a Lenovo, a chinese company. Thinkpads are great laptops, but there may be some service issues in the coming years as Lenovo works the kinks out.
    Charlie, here comes the deuce. And when you speak of me, speak well.

  6. #6
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    TECH TALK BIAAATCH!!
    "... she'll never need a doctor; 'cause I check her out all day"

  7. #7
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    The battery on my new Thinkpad suXors. I'm getting less than 1.5 hours out of it. May be a bum battery, though, and we're looking into it.

  8. #8
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    I haven't owned an IBM (pc) for a few years, but I remember alot of parts were proprietary if/when you wanted to upgrade. Not sure if this is still holds true.

  9. #9
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    I'm on a Dell and no complaints here. Check out the (discounted) refurbished ones on Dell's website. By the way, congrats on graduating. Huge kegger tonight w/ the wife and kids?
    Aliases: B-Dub, B-Dubya, & B. White

  10. #10
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    Another nod for the Dells. I don't know the exact number of them that I've purchased for my Company, but I can tell you they have been BY FAR the most reliable of any manufacturer.

    ThinkPads - People either love 'em or hate 'em. I'm in camp #2. My Boss is an old-school, hardcore IBM guy. Spent $3500 on his ThinkPad about this time last year. To date, he's replaced the battery, the "slice" (base unit), a dvd drive, the entire screen once and the bezel surrounding it twice.

    He *did* purchase the warranty on it ($100?), and it's more than paid for itself already. Not a bad idea, regardless of the make you decide on.

    I'd completely stay away from Sony or Toshiba.
    We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? ~ Lee Iacocca

  11. #11
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    I would stay away from the Thinkpads. I have one for work and the motherboard has already had to be replaced. The guy next to me has the IBM tech at his desk constantly trying to fix his. Maybe this is abnormal, I don't know, but my opinion is they're junk. Also mine, at least, is a real brick. I feel like I'm going to throw my back out when I have to bring it home.

    EDIT: Looks like EPskis' boss is having about the same experience with his Thinkpad.
    Last edited by The AD; 12-16-2004 at 09:07 AM.

  12. #12
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    IMHO Toshiba has the most kick ass laptop out there, but they're pricy. Check around (Circuit City, Best Buy, Costco, etc.) for after Christmas sales and snag one at a discount.
    Of all the muthafuckas on earth, you the muthafuckest.

  13. #13
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    My IT person is big on ThinkPads (IBM) and Dell. I have a Dell that I've had no problems with, other than I spend too much time in here.

    Get at least 512k RAM; RAM is cheap and it will run better.
    Quando paramucho mi amore de felice carathon.
    Mundo paparazzi mi amore cicce verdi parasol.
    Questo abrigado tantamucho que canite carousel.


  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stu Gotz
    IBM just sold their PC business to a Lenovo, a chinese company. Thinkpads are great laptops, but there may be some service issues in the coming years as Lenovo works the kinks out.
    IBM still retains the service business, they make a ton of money off that and will not get out of that. Expect the build quality to drop though, Lenovo's production facilities and QA are fairly primitive.

    Toshiba's are nowhere near as bomber as they used to be, they're really working on cutting costs since they pay a bunch more in labor as their laptops are made in Japan, not China like everyone else. They're not bad, just not clearly better than other brands the way they used to be.

    I'd go with a Dell. Almost all laptops are actually made by the same company in Taiwan regardless of what brand you buy, especially the inexpensive ones, so you're not looking at big quality differences between them. Dell probably has the best combination of price and support out there.

  15. #15
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    I've heard good things locally about PC Laptops stuff in SLC. I'm going in to check on them this week. Seems the many of the local real estate crowd likes them for reliability (as opposed to cussing the Gateways). I'll let you know what I find out on price etc...
    Not soliciting business through casual internet associations

  16. #16
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    On a Dell Latitude right now. Have had it from work for year and a half, no complaints.

    Our company goes with Dell only.

    Have a Dell PC at home too. Been happy with that too.
    "boobs just make the world better really" - Woodsy

  17. #17
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    On a Dell Latitude right now. Have had it from work for year and a half, no complaints.

    Our company goes with Dell only.

    Have a Dell PC at home too. Been happy with that too.

    Dad has an Dell Inspirion and it is killer, but lots of dough. Bro has a Dell laptop of some kind too.

    Hell, Dell.
    "boobs just make the world better really" - Woodsy

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by irul&ublo
    My IT person is big on ThinkPads (IBM) and Dell. I have a Dell that I've had no problems with, other than I spend too much time in here.

    Get at least 512k RAM; RAM is cheap and it will run better.
    so cheap it would probably be worth it to get 512 megabytes instead.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Ben Franklin

  19. #19
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    No HP laptop love? Seriously?

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big E
    Just picked up one for my dad, I'm not a big Dell fan (one I had at work was truely terrible) but this one seemed like a pretty good deal. 2.2GHz Celeron, 40Gb HD, 15in screen, CD-RW/DVD drive, 1-yr warranty, for $650. Just a basic laptop, nothing fancy.
    Big E-

    That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. Which model and what configuration? How long for delivery?

    I've never had a Celeron processor. Any noticeable difference from a Pentium (I won't be running any massive video editing or anything.)
    "Holy Blower!" - Jeremy Jones

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by fez
    so cheap it would probably be worth it to get 512 megabytes instead.
    ok...I'm stoopid
    Quando paramucho mi amore de felice carathon.
    Mundo paparazzi mi amore cicce verdi parasol.
    Questo abrigado tantamucho que canite carousel.


  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Xover
    TECH TALK BIAAATCH!!
    I'll addSEARCH FUNCTION JONG!!!!

    there have been at least two or three almost identical laptop questions asked in the past 6 weeks. Me, eDub...others?
    Putting the "core" in corporate, one turn at a time.

    Metalmücil 2010 - 2013 "Go Home" album is now a free download

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  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Endlessseason
    No HP laptop love? Seriously?
    My wife and I both have HPs, different models, both get 3-4 hours on battery and have been good machines. Hers came well equipped for a little over a grand, but they build em cheaper. She has a zt series, I have a nc.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by eDub
    Big E-

    That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. Which model and what configuration? How long for delivery?

    I've never had a Celeron processor. Any noticeable difference from a Pentium (I won't be running any massive video editing or anything.)
    Here's the link: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=i1000F2&s=dhs

    It's an Inspiron 1000, they had a big sale on them a few weeks ago which is when I grabbed it, $650 + free shipping. Honestly, performance-wise, I have no idea. It's for Christmas, so when it came (in about a week), I took it out, turned it on to make sure it worked, shut it down, packed it in the box, and I haven't opened it since.

    Hopefully it will be fine for my dad's uses - mostly e-mail, internet, and MS Office.

  25. #25
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    I recently bought a Fujitsu Lifebook 6000. Came nicely configured. So far, no problemos. Love the screen.

    Suggestions:

    No Celeron chips! Get the new Intel Centrino chip instead.
    Get built-in wireless.
    40 gig HD minimum
    Consider the size and weight if you're planning to travel a lot with it. I limited myself to a 14 inch screen when looking and 5-5.5 lbs max. Ended up with a 13.1 inch screen and 5 lbs.
    Daniel Ortega eats here.

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