Need help buying a laptop

[Kimberly]

I need to buy my son a laptop and sales people everywhere for dell to best buy are giving me different information and the run around. Here is what up.

I bought my son a 1100 Inspiron a two years ago. The hard drive is crashed and needs replaced. I am fixing that one for a back up to have around the house. I want to buy him a new laptop. The 1100 Inspiron would not play PC games very well or not at all and he wants his new Laptop to be able to play video games. I have told sales people till I am blue in the face that he is NOT a hard core PC gamer. He has a play station for anything major he plays. Mostly he likes to download game demos on the laptop to check them out before buying. He does like the RPG’s and fighting games which some only come in PC. Dell told me I need to buy this $500.00 graphic card and all this other stuff on top of a Inspiron 600m I was looking at. Then I went to dell online sales chat and after a run around I was told the Inspiron 700m could work. Then at Best Buy I was told I need a desk top with at least 1 GB of space and this and that add-ons.

I am so confused I have no idea what to buy now. Any suggestions? Needs to be a laptop so he can portable for college, needs to be able to play games but not a hard core gamer who has to perfect graphics. He rather go do it himself then on a video game type, video game are great for 1 am or a rainy day. He needs to be able to run Front Page or Corel Draw to do some work for me which he emails home.

Thank you for any input on what to buy
Kimberly

[HRDaves]

Hey,

I come from a long history of Dell laptops, so I can give you some advice..

Dell has the XPS line, which is their multimedia/gaming line (namely, the M170). However there is a beefy non-xps system called the Inspiron 9300, which you can request to have a good video card (I think they offer the x800, or the Geforce 6800GO) either is good, and can play most games at reasonable settings...

I personally owned the XPS Gen1 laptop, and now I have the XPS M170, which I love, but if you can stand to not have the fancy LEDs and paint job (and the XPS logo), the 9300 will perform almost just as good, but saving you about 50%!

Hope that helps...

HRDaves

[Kimberly]

Hey,

I come from a long history of Dell laptops, so I can give you some advice..

Dell has the XPS line, which is their multimedia/gaming line (namely, the M170). However there is a beefy non-xps system called the Inspiron 9300, which you can request to have a good video card (I think they offer the x800, or the Geforce 6800GO) either is good, and can play most games at reasonable settings...

I personally owned the XPS Gen1 laptop, and now I have the XPS M170, which I love, but if you can stand to not have the fancy LEDs and paint job (and the XPS logo), the 9300 will perform almost just as good, but saving you about 50%!

Hope that helps...

HRDaves


Thanks and sorry, I forgot to come back and post I bought one right at the after Christmas sales. Got a Thinkpad.

Kimberly

[yuhoo7]

I personally would not suggest Dell. I've had many friends who have had bad experiences with their service. I would suggest powernotebooks.com. I got my laptop there. It's a bit expensive, but they have superb service. ibuypower.com has some cheaper laptops that are pretty nice too. I don't know about their service, but it's worth a look. How much are you willing to spend?

[Kimberly]

I personally would not suggest Dell. I've had many friends who have had bad experiences with their service. I would suggest powernotebooks.com. I got my laptop there. It's a bit expensive, but they have superb service. ibuypower.com has some cheaper laptops that are pretty nice too. I don't know about their service, but it's worth a look. How much are you willing to spend?

I use to buy Dells when they has good American service. All I could get for service was some poor guy trying to read English for a good and I was not sure if I felt more sorry for me or him. Ever call I got the same reply; "Restore to factory specs" no matter what the problem was.

I got a thinkpad a year ago Christmas and so far so good. Knock on Wood.

[SnakEyez]

I used to buy Dell's too. However, for desktops I found it just as easy to put it together and it only takes about an hour or so at most. For laptops I have always used Macs just because I like the setup of the machine (ie: slot loading drive, lit keyboard and lightweight), but for PC laptops I usually recommend people to take a look over at Toshiba, or even Acer has been very strong as of late with their strong increased sales. Although the last PC laptop I got was for my sister and it was a Gateway and that seems to be going pretty good. Sony's are not too bad either, but they tend to be pricey for what they can do and what they come with.

The only brand I would stay away from, even more so than Dell, is HP. They make great printers, always have, always will. But there PC side is horrible. They would be the only brand I would stay away from.

[johca]

Dell goes into quantity and assembles bassed on the better value bulk component purchase available. Dell does have some quality systems they assemble, but I prefer assembling my own and you can buy the parts to assemble laptops these days too. I have no need for a laptop though as their are more functona devices available to use in meetings and the classromm that are smaller.

The most dificulty (IMO) for gaming on a laptop is some games tend to need higher spec graphic cards and also most are being geared to muti player which requires some sort of internet connection if the person is really into game playing with others.

I like the Thinkpad myself and it would be on mylist above a Dell.

[sbradshaw]

Thanks and sorry, I forgot to come back and post I bought one right at the after Christmas sales. Got a Thinkpad.

Kimberly

Thinkpads have always been very reliable for me. I'm not a gamer myself. My next laptop is going to be a convertible notebook (tablet pc). Been looking at a Gateway model. They look pretty decent. :)

[SnakEyez]

Thinkpads have always been very reliable for me. I'm not a gamer myself. My next laptop is going to be a convertible notebook (tablet pc). Been looking at a Gateway model. They look pretty decent. :)

I consider myself to be an avid gamer, but I still wouldn't invest in a laptop for gaming. It is pointless in my opinion. If you want PC gaming your money would be better spent on a more inexpensive desktop. Or then there is always the PS3 or the Wii.

[Kimberly]

I used to buy Dell's too. However, for desktops I found it just as easy to put it together and it only takes about an hour or so at most. For laptops I have always used Macs just because I like the setup of the machine (ie: slot loading drive, lit keyboard and lightweight), but for PC laptops I usually recommend people to take a look over at Toshiba, or even Acer has been very strong as of late with their strong increased sales. Although the last PC laptop I got was for my sister and it was a Gateway and that seems to be going pretty good. Sony's are not too bad either, but they tend to be pricey for what they can do and what they come with.

The only brand I would stay away from, even more so than Dell, is HP. They make great printers, always have, always will. But there PC side is horrible. They would be the only brand I would stay away from.

For my desktops I have cheap e-machines because I can trash them if they break down to badly and buy another one. I have the data on the desktop backed up on external hard drives so it is crashes, it crashes.

My laptop I put my big money into and get the warranty where if the hardware breaks down they have to give you the amount you paid for a new laptop.

I don't want to deal with any problem. Just make it run so I can earn more money for retirement.

[Mike2507]

I currently ussing a Dell Inperion 9300 I bought allmost 2 tears ago The equipment is tough but the service is a very expensive NIGHT MARE at best. . Your son would be very much more happy to use a down the middle lap top(SONEY) other then Dell or HP. He can usb plug the two togeather if he wants to take the "Grafic driven programs" like video games on his desk top or tower.The parts are far less expenssive and easy to install at home and up grading the Videio card on the Lap top is a over kill and over price. You get the same and ussaly more performance out of a desk top for a hole lot less $. BOTTOM LINE DO NOT BY A DELL LAP TOP spend 5-6 hundred for a new lap top at Wall Mart or some place and spend your money on a desk top/tower and add the High end grafic cards there as well as a large HD (at least a 120GIG)



ps I would be intrested in hearing from any one else that is ussing a DELL Inspiron 9300 email me at mike2507a@yahoo.com

[firewall]

No matter which one you choose make sure all devices like sound cards are compatible with Windows. I ordered from a LT from HP and the sound card would not work. After a couple of hours worth of tech time they told me "there is a known issue with that sound card and Vista, we are working with Microsoft to solve the problem"!!! My response was good, in the meantime send me a new computer with an upgraded sound card, which they did after some reluctance.

[bcrooker]

No matter which one you choose make sure all devices like sound cards are compatible with Windows. I ordered from a LT from HP and the sound card would not work. After a couple of hours worth of tech time they told me "there is a known issue with that sound card and Vista, we are working with Microsoft to solve the problem"!!! My response was good, in the meantime send me a new computer with an upgraded sound card, which they did after some reluctance.

Thinkpads have been great (I have used them since 2001, an A22p -> A30p -> T42p) but Lenovo seems to be dropping some of the nice features. No more 1600x1200 15" screens, even the latest T61 doesn't seem like it will have a "p" series which sucks (perhaps it will come out later, but no word).

When talking about Dell, it seems there are worlds of difference between their lines of notebooks. The Inspiron line is crap from what I have seen - I don't have personal experience but one of my business partners has one and it is always going in for service and a lot of people I talk to that have them are not pleased. The Latitude line is aimed at businesses, and has quality about on par with Thinkpads. Great features and good support.

I am in the market for a new laptop (my T42p is about 3 years old) so have been talking with a number of people I work with for opinions on what they are using, and have pretty much settled on the Latitude D830, as it seems to pretty much be comparable to what a Thinkpad T61p would be.

[Kimberly]

I have dell inspiron 8600 which I got tired of sending back to the shop for a screwed up keyboard among other things. It now sits on shelf for a back-up just in case laptop.

[connervt]

Laptops have always suffered from quick obsolescence, higher costs, and less power than their desktop brethren. The trick to buying one is to determine if the tasks *MUST* be done on a laptop, then buying the best of the previous development cycle's technology.

It worked for me a few years back. I purchased a 3 y.o. Dell Inspiron 7500 that was just coming off a service contract. At the time (year was 2000), the 7500 was the Rolls Royce of laptops. 15" active display (1400x1050 18-bit), 650MHz PIII, 512MB, and a nearly $4000 USD price tag when new, I stole it 5 years ago for $400 (with docking station, case, O/S, cards).

Since most of what I need a lappy for is mostly terminal services (surfing, writing, etc.), It is powerful enough still for me. And the display is still gorgeous...

[SnakEyez]

Laptops have always suffered from quick obsolescence, higher costs, and less power than their desktop brethren. The trick to buying one is to determine if the tasks *MUST* be done on a laptop, then buying the best of the previous development cycle's technology.

It worked for me a few years back. I purchased a 3 y.o. Dell Inspiron 7500 that was just coming off a service contract. At the time (year was 2000), the 7500 was the Rolls Royce of laptops. 15" active display (1400x1050 18-bit), 650MHz PIII, 512MB, and a nearly $4000 USD price tag when new, I stole it 5 years ago for $400 (with docking station, case, O/S, cards).

Since most of what I need a lappy for is mostly terminal services (surfing, writing, etc.), It is powerful enough still for me. And the display is still gorgeous...

Out of all the posts I think you hit it right on the money. You need to get a laptop that will suit your needs because it will be outdated extremely fast. Buying only what you need and nothing more can help and those certified ones are not too bad and could save someone a lot of money who just needs a laptop for basic use.

[connervt]

I worked for 5 years as the service manager in a retail computer store (back when those still existed, LOL).

I found too many people get caught up with the technology, and don't really look at a computer for what it is -- a tool. One must buy the correct tool for the job.

If you needed to hang a couple of pictures in your living room, a medium sized hammer would do the job well, and be useful for other jobs that might come about. You wouldn't need a pneumatic hammer and 10 HP compressor. The same holds true if you needed to put roofing on all the houses in a new sub-division, where the pneumatic hammer would be the correct tool.

Very few people really need (or will utilize) the latest and greatest technology out there. Size up the job you will really need to do, and buy the machine that is appropriate to the task. With computers, figure that eventually applications (and O/S) will begin to need more power, so oversize *a little*.

The best value for your dollar is the top of the line of *LAST* years technology.

[DracoFelis]

Very few people really need (or will utilize) the latest and greatest technology out there. Size up the job you will really need to do, and buy the machine that is appropriate to the task. With computers, figure that eventually applications (and O/S) will begin to need more power, so oversize *a little*.

The best value for your dollar is the top of the line of *LAST* years technology.
Very true. I always seem to be shopping for deals from "last year's tech".

About the only caveat I would add, is to make sure you have enough RAM (these days anything less that 512meg is just asking for trouble, and even more RAM might be a good investment). Because entry level PC makers (including laptop makers) are notorious for skimping on the RAM, in order to sell a little cheaper computer. But while it's possible to add RAM to a laptop (and I've done it), it often isn't as easy (or as "cheap") of an operation to find the RAM that fits a given laptop as finding "normal" RAM for a PC.

That's why I would just suggest to anyone buying a laptop, to consider getting all the RAM you think you will need when you initially buy the laptop. Because if/when you later find yourself short on RAM, it may end up being a PITA to upgrade your laptop's RAM at a later date.

[sbradshaw]

If you needed to hang a couple of pictures in your living room, a medium sized hammer would do the job well, and be useful for other jobs that might come about. You wouldn't need a pneumatic hammer and 10 HP compressor.

But this was the only way I could convince my wife that I needed the compressor. :D

[sam1]

Me and my husband both have dell and I would recommend that.