I need some advise on purchasing a laptop. I want something for surfing the internet, writing and possibly watching DVD's. Have eliminated netbooks, too small. Don't want anything as large at a 17" screen, have a work one and it's not 'lap' friendly. Does any one have any suggestions on what brand to look at or what brand to avoid? -- The HarmyBoard HarmDrive

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 18:41:31 01/28/10 Thu
Author: usmgrad
Subject: I need some advise on purchasing a laptop. I want something for surfing the internet, writing and possibly watching DVD's. Have eliminated netbooks, too small. Don't want anything as large at a 17" screen, have a work one and it's not 'lap' friendly. Does any one have any suggestions on what brand to look at or what brand to avoid?

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> We have had a history of good luck with Dells (we have 3). You can usually get good deals on refurbs throught the Dell website. HPs used to be bad, but DH says they have gotten better. Toshiba, Acer, and Asus are good brands too. Our newest is a Gateway, but DH got it for gaming purposes--you wouldn't need something that fancy. Inside -- JAG Junkie (Ronda), 20:10:01 01/28/10 Thu [1]

I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 15" screen. Since all the screens are widescreen now, you lose the height of the screen, and I personally find that very annoying when I'm trying to read or looking at a website that has a "tall" format.

If you really want to watch a lot of movies, you might want something better than the standard Intel integrated graphics. DH says they are "crappy". His word choice. So you might want to consider a laptop with an upgraded video card.

That's all we can think of for now.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Thanks for the advise -- usmgrad, 20:16:49 01/28/10 Thu [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

I'm a CP person, with 2 desktops in use. However, 3 yrs ago, I got a Macbook weighing just over 5 lbs. The learning curve on the Mac is short, and the product is lovely to look at. I've found it very convenient to take to the library or coffee shop to work on or off line. It's no heavier than a book, and I really like using it. Judi was so jealous, she got one too! They've updated it and here is the web site with a video and a guy reviewing it. It's very convenient to use on your lap. Click here for the latest Macbook. -- Cece, 20:27:43 01/28/10 Thu [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> my daughter loves her macbook - I love that it's only 13inches- that's a really good size - wish my netbook had an extra inch - twelve would be perfect and netbooks don't have dvd/cd drives anyhow -- chris k - let us know what you pick, 21:16:09 01/28/10 Thu [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Because I hate the touchpad and actually like small red button, I have and like my Levco (IBM) Thinkpad. -- Spud, 03:37:49 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> If you are looking for a good top that won't cost you an arm and leg try Acer Laptop, they are good, just unknown: Acer has intro. a new one this year with state of the art battery life 8 hours with a cooling system thats like the cooling system they use on Fighters Jet engers. and it will do everything you are looking for more and more. the GREAT thing is Price you get one of these baby... 17 LCD screen for under 500.00 the bigger larger screen price goes higher HOWEVER none of them are over a grand. and they aren't notebooks -- M, 07:03:12 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I highly recommend Toshiba. I just bought my 3rd one the end of October and love it. Nothing was wrong with my old Toshiba except age and I wanted other features, plus bigger hard drive, etc. The issued the lst laptop in 1985 and that is all the make. They do not make a desktop. I prefer the 14 inch screen for the ease of portability. Inside -- Jeanaz8, 09:53:08 01/29/10 Fri [1]

They make up to an 18 inch but that is just to big for a laptop but that is only my personal opinion. Some like them that big. My husband, son and daughter-in-law all also use a Toshiba laptop and have been very happy with them. The one I got has the 14 inch screen, a 4GB memory, 500GB hard drive plus numerous other features and cost just under $850.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> don't buy compaq ! -- Laurence, 11:24:43 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> That's why both DH and our IT man at work said. I thought that HP bought Campac, but I don't know that for sure. Our very first laptop (in 1998) was a Compac. It had serious problems right from the start. It was so bad that the CompUSA service dept people apologized to us and replaced it with a brand new Toshiba which cost more, but they didn't charge us the difference. -- JJ (Ronda), 16:56:51 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> That's *what* they said. Sheesh! -- JJ (Ronda), 16:57:22 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I've got a 17" Macbook Pro and LOVE IT!!! I've always been a Mac fan, as has most of my family members. We have Mac books ranging form the smallest to largest (17"). Before you R/O the 17" screen, I'd do a bit more research. I love my 17" screen. There's absolutely no problem with it sitting on lap, and I frequently have multiple windows opened at one time. I also love that I can have multiple word documents open at 1 time, side-by-side. I don't have to click from one document to the next like you would on a smaller screen. -- doc, 12:26:21 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> usmgrad - I've helped a few people and have some suggestions inside... -- rmhlrkr, 12:40:31 01/29/10 Fri [1]

1. Get the best CPU you can afford. Unless you anticipate playing very complex games it's probably not necessary to get a 64 bit processor
2. Get the largest hard drive available for the machine you pick. You'd be surprised how fast the drive will fill up.
3. Put the most memory in the machine you can afford (up to 3 gig if you get the 32 bit processor)
4. You say you want to use the machine to watch DVD's (JAG, right?) so get the best screen and video card you can afford. There are machines that have Blue-Ray but if you don't have Blu-Ray disks it's probably not something to look for in a new machine.
5. Most laptops have speakers but they're not great. Consider external speakers or earphones.

My sister is on her second Toshiba (she needed a better cpu than her first one had), her first one is being used by her son and still going strong. I've used Dell, HP, IBM (now Lenovo) and haven't had any really bad experiences. One of the downsides to laptops instead of desktops is that laptops are difficult to upgrade/repair.

If I can help you with anything else send me an email.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I have an Acer and have never had a problem with it. My son has a Macbook. The only problem he had has been with the processor. They sold him a defective processor, but they replaced it for free. My DH has a Dell and HATES it passionately! -- Martian Barb...#3 son had a Sony VIAO and love it until it was stolen last month!, 15:32:06 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Really? Wow. We've loved all three of our Dells. -- JAG Junkie (Ronda), 16:54:45 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> I like my 6 yr old Dell desktop, and my 2 yr old Sony Vaio desktop with the built in CPU. I'd love a new laptop, because I want a lovely shiny coloured one, and I've been considering Dell. Or a new Mac. -- Cece, 17:26:53 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> I want a Mac -- Harm, 18:32:39 01/29/10 Fri [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> I Knew it was only a matter of time until Harm to popped in - what took you so long? -- usmgrad, 05:46:54 01/30/10 Sat [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Harm never "pops" in. He explodes in...... -- Ecec, 14:34:48 01/30/10 Sat [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> My library Intern has a Mac laptop and I think when i replace my mac mini it will be with a Mac laptop, but I've been an Apple person since the 1980's -- Sharon, 06:21:54 01/30/10 Sat [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Thanks for all the good advise and education. I am planning to make my purchase the middle of February, will let you knwo what I decide to get. -- usmgrad, 12:19:02 01/31/10 Sun [1]

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]