Laptops

S

Sii

1,000+ Posts
Im looking for a laptop to replace my out of date desktop computer

I really like the Dell models but I have read a lot of anti Dell stuff around here

what are the best brands to look at?
 
The Link has had me intrigued for a while. A couple friends use them and they don't use their desktop machines anymore. The only thing 'worrying' me off is logevity/reliability. My friends have had theirs for over a year and no complaints from them; they bring them to LANs and their machines play modern 3d games just fine.
 
I've heard good things about Toshiba laptops. My Dell Inspiron 8000 is going on 4 years now without any problems.
 
I've said it 100 times. IBM Thinkpads are the best computers made. No questions asked. You will pay a premium for a Thinkpad, but they are absolutely the highest quality, most durable laptops out there.

There is a reason why every major corporation who knows what the hell they're doing buys Thinkpads. They don't care how much they have to spend and they need the best computers.
 
If I was going to buy big brand, I'd go IBM like 007 says. Have had two for work and I like the machines a lot, except for the placement of their 'Function' key.
 
Threads like this are why I love Hornfans. I just started looking at a notebook computer today and the only places I knew to look were Dell and Apple. Due to cost constraints, I'm not sure if I'm going to get a thinkpad but I hadn't even thought about it previously.
 
Its been a long time since someone agreed with me on Hornfans. It feels good.
bounce.gif
 
I think IBM is trying to sell their computer business to a Chinese producer. May be something to think about regarding quality/durability if the purchase is delayed a couple of months or a year.
 
The IBM sale is a done deal, damn near all laptops are made in factories in Asia anyway (including Thinkpads) so it dosen't matter. IBM did it because Laptops are fast becoming a commodity item and IBM saw the return on them declining.
 
It's always been IBM for me, due to hardware quality but primarily the support. With the sale to Lenovo, this one my be my last. I can't see the support maintaining the same quality level. I'll be taking a hard look at Sony next time around, but their support is also an issue. Not for the cost-conscious either.
 
Another vote for Thinkpads, best laptops out. I wouldn't worry about the Lenovo sale for a while as they are keeping the same development team and they are already made in Asia anyway. IBM will also be handling service stuff for the next five years.
 
I've had Toshibas for work and we beat the hell outta them. They seem OK. I have a Dell desktop, which I like.

If everybody says Thinkpad, then go Thinkpad.
 
thinkpads have a great reputation, and for good reason; they are about the smallest, most portable laptops out there with great battery life and the best keyboard available. they are optimized for portability.

back to the original poster, if you aren't going to be moving it around that much (you mentioned replacing a desktop), then that portability comes at a cost. you can get a bigger screen, faster processor, etc. for less if you go for a widescreen 17" toshiba, sony, or hp.

it's a tradeoff, but consider first how you will use the thing.
 
I've worked for Dell for 7 years and have used 2 laptops. The only reason I replaced the first one is it was out of date this year.

My entire extended family uses Dell and has never had an issue.

Some have issues with IBM. Some have issues with Dell. If you have specific needs that an IBM fits then by all means go with the IBM. But if you are willing to pay that much extra just because 3 people on HornFans say to go with an IBM then you might want to rethink why you are purchasing a laptop and make the best budget decision as well as get a great computer.
 
i don't know why but my first compaq laptop is still kicking after 7 years. my current laptop is great after 3. however, i moved to using my desktop more for some reason.
 
If you're set on a Dell, I'd avoid the Inspiron series unless you plan on never really carrying it around with you. That line is cheap for a reason.

Sager is another manufacturer that I've had good luck with over the past year.
 
i just got a Toshiba A75-S231. it is badass just cuz it has the coolest screen i have seen. really bright. widescreen.

it isn't really small though.
 
There are true laptops and there are "desktop replacements". I got a Dell Inspiron 9100 as the latter. It's a little too heavy to be a great laptop, but it's still portable enough to take on a trip or to a coffeehouse in a pinch. The mid and higher end Dells are fine, I've been very happy with mine. The low end Dells aren't so sterling and you should be more careful with them. Toshiba seems to have made good machines for a long time across their whole laptop line. If you want to get some more detailed info, check out cnet.com/zdnet.com and read the reviews and comparisons. Consumer reports is not as specialized on technology, but they have a pretty decent review of laptops as well. Last time I checked, both sources were pretty high on the Dell Inspiron 5100 as a best value. In other words, there are better laptops out there, but they aren't 300-500 dollars better as they may be priced. The toshi's seem to always have a top 3 model, and the rest of the top five gets filled out by various others as the quarters go by. I am a PC guy by history, but I also have to admit that for what most people use a laptop for, an Apple Powerbook has some strong points. Many on this board may poo-poo that idea, but I think it depends on the type of user you are. I still would like to get a small powerbook for my mother since the UI is very simple and user friendly, she won't have to worry about virus protection, and she doesn't need a lot of power. The small form factor and weight is a big plus for her too. On price though, the PC's should win almost everytime when you compare components that you get for the dough. If you do any gaming on your PC, you'll have to spend some serious cash on performance and high end components, but if you mainly use your PC for internet newsreading, hornfans posting, Quicken personal finance, e-mail and word processing, then just get one fast enough to last you for the next 3-5 years and no more. I can still use my old pentium III 300 Mhz to browse the internet and play mp3's. I could probably get by with it on a lot of things. For what I really like to do, I love my Dell, but it's a little overpowered for some of the apps I regularly use. Decide what kind of user you are, then look at the comparisons at the tech review sites for something that meets your needs. The tech sites will cater more to the high end users, so keep that in mind when you read the reviews.
 
good input Gate, but man, paragraphs are golden.


if you're going to be doing stuff like internet surfing, emailing, chatting, word processing, excel spreadsheets. . . i would highly recommend an ibook or a powerbook. i made the switch, and have loved it ever since. it's highly intuitive to use, and takes maybe a day to learn all of the basic functions.

i also have a dell 700m that i hate b/c the keyboard is so small. other than that, the dell 700m is a great computer - fast, durable, awesome screen. it's just that the keyboard is noticeably smaller than a full size.
 
I also have a 700m. Great laptop, but not for people with large fingers. The small keyboard is probalby the greatest annoyance, but not that big of a deal once you get used to it. The small screen is another thing you get used to. I moved from a 21 in CRT to the 12.1 inch screen on this thing and am fine with it now.

Only real problem I have with it is that the sound card sucks quite a bit more than it should so I have to use an external sound card with it. This may or may not be in issue for most people. My brother's fine with his, but I'm using mine to drive a pair of Senn HD580s, so it a bit more than the internal soundcard can handle.
 
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