Which Laptop Should I Get?

Hey guys, My sister really wants to get a laptop now, and she gave me the job of finding her one. All she basically does is surf the web, chat, and probably type up some documents. She told me she can spend UP to $1000 USD, but i think i can find a real nice/simple one for much less then that. So.. what should i get?

She said it HAS to be windows, im not sure why, but yeah.. windows only.

I was originally looking for somehting around $600 dollars in ebay, but i think she needs some tech support too.

So tell me which make / model i should i get and where i should get it from. Any advice is appreciated! I am not really familiar with lappops.

#11556

i would go for dell.

they have really nice stuff, for nice prices.

go for it.

#11557

Gateway stuff is pretty sweet too.

I think they start around $999 USD. (400 series)

I have a couple of Gateway (500S and 500X) desktops... not bad.

Easy to upgrade as mine have all off the shelf parts in it.

I looked into their laptops for my dad and was pretty impressed.

Their support is pretty good too. Unfortunately you have to pay for it now.

When I bought mine, I got 3 years onsite included in the deal.

I think it's only 1 year limited now.

Just a thought.

#11561

Definitely Dell, go for the inspiron range.

There was a marked paradigm leap in laptop production around 1999 2000.

2000 saw the first line that allowed you to upgrade the graphics card at a later date.

The last un-upgradeable graphics card was the Ati Rage Mobility 128/M2/M4 (I think).

You must go for a laptop that came after the leap. I.e. one that you can upgrade the graphics card for. geforce2go geforce4go, etc.

This is the single most important thing.

Brands I would go with Dell, specifically the Inspiron range.

Never given me (any) trouble in 3 years

#11563

Dell & Gateway would be at the top of my list also. You can start getting acquainted with models & prices here.

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1026....870989.ont.1026

then go to local Computer Stores and compare. You may also go to a local University and ask for a Student price ( any student would qualify in most cases not just College kids ). I would definitely stay away from eBay (how do you know what you are getting is not broken, or refurbished, or with parts exchanged or some scammer who you cannot chase ). Don't buy from anybody that you cannot get your money back within a week. Use Credit Card if at all possible. If your sister has cash, then give the money to your parents and have them charge the Credit Card. If you have a card see if you are in a position to do the same.

#11564

Hmm... I am not sure if i can go to a university to buy one, but are the student discounts really good? My sister goes to college so she can probably get it her self, but she knows NOTHING about buying computers (she will look at one in bestbuy for 1,500 and think of it as a good deal) so i have to be there. My sister lives about 200 miles away from me so we cant go together to look at one. Shes gonna pay for it to be shipped here, and I am gonna hook it up with software and make it ready for her to use.

I checked out gateway's website and i really love this refurb they have:

Its almost same as the 400 Series but has a few better features.

Check it out here.

Also I dont think she will need extended support, she has alot of friends that are into computers.

Oh BTW thanks videoman for the link, i am reading it now.

#11565

Force her to get Apple. She is a fool if she gos with anything other. If she doesn't know much about computers, thats why she wants Windows. She thinks, "Cuz thats what everyone else uses". Say "NO". I know computers and a Mac would be so much better for you.

The funny thing is, its quite ironic. The people that want windows, are the people that cant handle computers and know very little about them. These are the people that should be on Macs, because Macs are so easy and user-friendly to use and they require no technical knowledge, because they never break down like PC's do. They think, "Well, all my friends use PC's so I should get one". No. They are dumbasses. They should be getting Macs because they can't handle a PC. PC's break down at least once a week if not maintained properly. Macs don't need any maintaining whatsoever.

But, the people that are knowledgeable about fixing and maintaining computers get Macs, because they know enough and are smart enough to know that Macs are more reliable. Yet, they can still handle a PC and keep it working pretty well.

I say you prove to her just how good Macs are. And show her how PC's crash a lot and stuff like that. She'll get the picture. Once she sees iTunes and sees how easy it is to use, and how she can for some reason use all of the applications with ease she will want one. Get her on a Mac at a local Mac store or CompUSA. She'll be hooked. Just show her how she can use all of the apps and do all the stuff on a PC!

My friend went through this a little while ago. He was having major problems with his PC. And he called me over to help him. His PC was having major problems. I told him he had 2 options. One re-format his entire hard drive, which he should be doing every 2 years at least, or GET A MAC. He was rather frizzled by the whole idea, but he took my word for it. A week later he got an iMac DV SE off ebay. HE LOVES IT!!! He'll never go back. He just another successful switcher. I'm glad I could assist in helping rid him of his computer problems. So far he has not had ONE problem!

The Floodmaster has spoken.

#11568

whoa....dell....

back in august i was like "dell all the way, man"

but im turning un-sure about it. i wiped XP and gave myself win 2000 (after llnux, and after win98) and they told me they cant give me tech support because i'm using "third-party software"....oh yeah, and WHY i called tech support, the modem is ****. it will dialup and say its connected but either no programs will connect (aim, netscape, IE), or the programs will work but i lose the connection in a few minutes. the guy on tech support said he would TRY to give me help (it was xmas morning and no one was going to stop him), but the best recommendations he could give was re-install drivers (i know better than to call anyone before trying the drivers, i did it 3 times), or install XP......and i'm just not an XP fan

so, if you buy new from dell, dont mess with it (i.e., wipe the hard drive and install "third party software")

it doesnt matter, my next computer will be a mac in some, shape, or form....you could get her an iBook and use Virtual PC maybe she will grow to love OS X, i know i do

EDIT: oh yeah, its an Dell Inspiron 8200, top of the line for the inspiron series, you would think i wouldnt have as much trouble with it as i am....

#11570

Originally posted by sakasune@Jan 27 2003, 05:11 PM

....you could get her an iBook and use Virtual PC maybe she will grow to love OS X, i know i do

She doesn't need virtual pc. A Mac can do anything a PC can better. Unless she needs to program some things into C++ she won't need a PC or any of the software it has to offer.

#11589

Don't know what her major is or will be, but there are some programs that are WindowsOS compatible only, and there are some networks in College that are WindowsOS only. So there are real reasons that Windows is the better choice over Macs.

Can you practically do everything with a Mac as with a PC? yes!

Practically but not all , because when you get to college or in a technical field you end up using very rare specialized programs that nobody heard of and they are Windows centric or Unix centric but not Macs.

She should first check with her University, get some brochures and a price list (all is usually at the University Store/or/Student Union). Use this to compare. You can get the University to ship the computer (you probably pay the shipment) and use a credit card. Compaq is not recommended because it usually contains hardware specific to Compaq which makes it harder and more expensive to repair. Battery life should be at the top of the list.

#11591

Yes Videomann. You are right. This is true. But one thing. OS X is now fully compatible with all windows networks. Read it up under rendevous at the apple os x website. I could direct you to a link if you want but I think you'll have no trouble finding it. Yes, if she is in a field that needs very rare, specific windows os only programs then she will need a PC. But other than that, she is go for launch on a Mac. I couldn't say if she is one of those fields or not, but if not then here comes Apple.

That is unless of course she is one of those stubborn people who won't switch just because, and they have no good reason to.

#11593

She doesnt want a mac at all. She knows computers just like the average computer user (considering we are above average). I personally wouldnt get a mac either, i would lose my purpose to use my pc (well.. most of the purpose). She might need it for her classes too, shes taking some business administrator / computer information classes or something. I think with a pc, i can help her out when i need to, and she is already familiar with one more then she is with a mac.

By the way, is there a way to hook up ur PC to car stereo? My sister might want to do that, that would be hella tight.

#11609

There are probably no solutions unless you have a very,very,expensive soundsystem or something home-modified. You need an audio in to the radio. I don't think most car radios have this.

There are 2 solutions from the 80's. Hook your audio-out of the PC with a gadget that looks like a cassette with a mini-plug cable. Insert the cassette to the car radio and plug the mini-plug to the audio-out/headphones of your computer. This idea came out as a way to hook portable CD-players to car stereo (before there were CD-players in cars and few portable CD-players).

The next solution is a late 90's solution with the proliferation of MP3 players but few car stereos that could handle MP3. It is similar to the Cassette player with a wire except that instead of a cable it re-transmits the music from the computer by broadcasting a weak AM signal (so you tune the car stereo to a particular frequency). The sound quality is very good but if you like to vibrate your speakers to the max not only you will introduce sound imperfections by going beyond the limit of your speakers, you will also augment the imperfections of the set-up. Other systems use infra-red technology just like your remote control. Plug an IR-broadcast light in audio-out and an IR sensor on your car radio. The problem is that they have to be aimed at eachother constantly (line-of-sight).

The sound won't be as clean as a CD, at very high volumes you may notice a slight difference. Overall you get very good sound at very little cost.

Some expensive car stereos may actually have audio-in, I doubt they have now in the regular price category. Honestly I have not looked into car audio for a long-time but the above are the most common solutions.

#11611

Hmm.. Thanks for the info, I guess i should forget that option for now, until i get my own car hehehhe, im gonna "aquafy" it! Okay, maybe not, but i will mod my car to the end!

#11612

Well, all the 3 solutions are relatively inexpensive $30-60 I would imagine and the sound is very good. Many people use these systems to hook their iPods or MP3-players to the car stereo.

#11614

It's perfectly obvious why she wants a windows laptop, so she can come here and skin the thing to death like the rest of us! Much more fun than having a real Mac

Smeggy (difinitive non switcher)

#11616

My friend,

If you are getting a laptop for your sister, I recommend Dell. I have never touched any Dell PCs but almost all of my cousins and here Aqua-Softians really recommend it.

But for the second, of you found that DELL is a bit pricey, The 2nd for me is Toshiba.

My daddy's laptop is Toshiba and it's very cool. It has already gives you a bootable CD (model vary), manual and something about it. I know other do this.

Two words to remember: "DELL", "TOSHIBA"

If your sister is a Mac Fan or Mac-Fanatic, I recommend nothing. Just get Windows Laptop. It is bug-free.

That's all my friend!

#11675