Geting a new laptop

[roboroomba]

I have decided that my old Dell Inspiron E1405 laptop has gotten to old and tired, and I would need a new battery for it soon any way, so I am getting a new laptop.

I would like your guys suggestions considering this, I do not want a mac, (they look cool but don't like the built in battery or the price), or a Dell I (this dell laptop is just to flimsy, and dells are expensive and like I said, have not had a great experience with them) I also want a durable one, (HP are cheep, but are prone to breaking), and I would not like it to be too expensive.

I would like you guy's suggestions on what you think is good, and I would also like your opinion on this Toshiba laptop

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Satellite ... ftdeals-20

[vic7767]

That's the model I'm using right now to type this response to your question. This is a great laptop. And Toshiba laptops have served me well over the years.

[robotreviews]

I have found that Frys tends to have great deals with their weekly sales, if you get on the weekly mailing list they almost always have some very capable laptops on sale in the $300 - $600 range. I find Acer, Toshiba and HP all make very good quality laptops in this price range.

This week Frys has a very good deal on a Toshiba Satellite with an Intel i5-480m processor for $549.

http://www.frys.com/product/6559103

The Intel Core i5 processor would be a bit faster than the AMD Phenom II, but the one you listed can read blu-ray discs and has an HDMI out, which may or may not be a deciding factor as well.

Either one is a good choice, but I would personally go with the i5 if I didn't have to pay a premium for it.

[Xamindar]

Whatever you do, don't get an HP.
Dell is OK hardware wise but the cases can be flimsy (hinges wear out).
Asus seems to be the best out there.

That's all I know

[piokrza]

Whatever you do, don't get an HP.
Dell is OK hardware wise but the cases can be flimsy (hinges wear out).
Asus seems to be the best out there.

That's all I know

I have quite different point...

From what I know, and learned from laptop-testers, HP and Dell are the best laptops as the case, hardware and especially battery packs are MUCH better constructed than in Asus or Lenovo...

EDIT: Must admit, that battery pack in Asus last for approx. 12 months (Dell - 2yr and so...) - then you have to buy new, or simply store/use your laptop connected to the power, constantly...

[bhylak]

I agree Piokrza. Asus and Lenovo are almost completely based in China....

The best computer to get what be a Macbook... Maybe even look into an iPad if your not doing any heavy work...

[piokrza]

The best computer to get what be a Macbook... Maybe even look into an iPad if your not doing any heavy work...

Agreed. Macbook's are the best, but the price...uhh

[Xamindar]

From what I know, and learned from laptop-testers, HP ... best laptops as the case, hardware and especially battery packs are MUCH better constructed than in Asus or Lenovo...

This isn't 1999 anymore. I guess you have been completely sheltered from recent events?

[sageman]

dad got an asus its the same price as my dell insp 1525 (well 20 quid less) with half the hd, ram and the same prosessing power 3 years newer aswell also no hdmi worse quality screen (it is 2 inches bigger) but is half as thick again on mine also with a 9 cell battery runtime only 2 hours where as mine is 5

altogether asus is rubbish

im sticking to my dell untill the screen stops working or the fan dies or something

talking of dying laptops i once stripped an old laptop i found in a skip to the motherboard and the things to make it work while it was still running
i replaced the little battery (cmos or somthing i think) put it back together and sold it for 200 quid on ebay happy me

[Tobor]

Primary thought: to each within their budget.

Thinkpads have been made by Lenovo for years--even before they actually bought the rights to the brand. There is good and bad that comes out of China, but Lenovo IMO is generally in the good category. T-series particularly.

I have had very poor experiences with Toshiba, particularly in recent years. They run too hot and preload them with all kinds of Toshiba-branded disneyfied bloat. I had a sliding power switch (inside the clamshell) on one that was never right. It would turn on by itself inside the padded compartment in my Targus backpack. I had to remove the battery to transport it or I'd end up with a dead battery and/or a very hot interior in my backpack.

My experience with Dells has been good--but only when going with the institutional offerings such as Latitude and Optiplex. The Latitudes are very sturdy and reliable.

In short--I would be willing to pay a little more for better build quality. Dell Latitude or Thinkpad T-series would be on the top of my list. I prefer the Thinkpads, but Dells just give you a lot more bang for the buck.

[sageman]

in which way is it old and tired btw

[piokrza]

This isn't 1999 anymore. I guess you have been completely sheltered from recent events?

No, I'm not

These tested computers has 2-3years (are from 2008/2009).

[roboroomba]

One thing, I find that really helps when getting a new computer from a company (Toshiba, HP, Dell, etc.) Once I get it I will uninstall windows, and then reinstall it to get rid of all of the junk that they put in there. I find that this will often make it go much faster as well, I know I did this with my dell to get rid of all of the junk, and I will probably do it to the one I get.

[Xamindar]

This isn't 1999 anymore. I guess you have been completely sheltered from recent events?

No, I'm not

These tested computers has 2-3years (are from 2008/2009).

Then you should know about the class action against HP for the design flaw on most (if not all) of their laptops around that time. Starts with the wireless dieing, and then the video dies and the computer will not boot. The problem is so big there is even a website dedicated to it. HP completely ignored the issue. My sister had an HP laptop around this time. It died in this way and the motherboard was replaced under warranty. It then died some months later in the same way out of warranty. Now it is just collecting dust in her closet. I will never trust HP again for a computer. They do not stand behind their products.

So far, it seems Tobor knows what he is talking about. My main laptop is a Dell Inspiron and the hardware has been rock solid. Only issue is the hinges.

A note on cooling. In my experience cooling should be the most important thing in a laptop. An HP one I have (given too me by a family member) has it's intake vent on the bottom and outtake on the back half covered up by the screen hinge. Very bad design. My Dell, has intake on the top, left, and bottom and outtake on the back unobstructed. A much better design.
If you have your laptop on almost 24/7 like I do then you will eventually need to take it apart to unblock the fan. My Dell is very simple to disassemble and you can get to the fan by only taking apart a small portion of the machine. The HP on the other hand has to be almost completely disassembled before you have access to the fan and it uses many different sizes of screws. Just a note for the tinkerer I guess. The HP was idling at 100 Celsius and would shut down any time I tried to compile something or rip a DVD. Once I cleaned it it idled at 65 Celsius.

I hope this helps someone. Good luck if you buy an HP.

[Xamindar]

One thing, I find that really helps when getting a new computer from a company (Toshiba, HP, Dell, etc.) Once I get it I will uninstall windows, and then reinstall it to get rid of all of the junk that they put in there. I find that this will often make it go much faster as well, I know I did this with my dell to get rid of all of the junk, and I will probably do it to the one I get.

Yeah, make sure they give you an OS disk so you can reinstall the OS. You paid for it so they should provide it but don't unless you tell them.

You can also just run "PC De-Crapifier" to remove all that crapware that they stick on there from the factory. Remove any trial antivirus and either install the free one you get from your ISP or Microsoft Security Essentials which seems to run very nicely without slowing down the machine.

[piokrza]

Then you should know about the class action against HP for the design flaw on most (if not all) of their laptops around that time. Starts with the wireless dieing, and then the video dies and the computer will not boot. The problem is so big there is even a website dedicated to it. HP completely ignored the issue. My sister had an HP laptop around this time. It died in this way and the motherboard was replaced under warranty. It then died some months later in the same way out of warranty. Now it is just collecting dust in her closet. I will never trust HP again for a computer. They do not stand behind their products.

So far, it seems Tobor knows what he is talking about. My main laptop is a Dell Inspiron and the hardware has been rock solid. Only issue is the hinges.

A note on cooling. In my experience cooling should be the most important thing in a laptop. An HP one I have (given too me by a family member) has it's intake vent on the bottom and outtake on the back half covered up by the screen hinge. Very bad design. My Dell, has intake on the top, left, and bottom and outtake on the back unobstructed. A much better design.
If you have your laptop on almost 24/7 like I do then you will eventually need to take it apart to unblock the fan. My Dell is very simple to disassemble and you can get to the fan by only taking apart a small portion of the machine. The HP on the other hand has to be almost completely disassembled before you have access to the fan and it uses many different sizes of screws. Just a note for the tinkerer I guess. The HP was idling at 100 Celsius and would shut down any time I tried to compile something or rip a DVD. Once I cleaned it it idled at 65 Celsius.

I hope this helps someone. Good luck if you buy an HP.

So situation "clears up", I think...Dell is the 'best choice' behind the expensive Mac?

[bhylak]

Right. I personally will pay more for a better Laptop. However, some peoples budgets don't allow that which is fine. I personally am Mac or nothing unless I need a computer for robotics... Personally, Macs+Robotics don't really work. (Unless your a Wizard at coding)

[sageman]

xaminder which dell is yours sounds like mine (small portion for fan)

[Xamindar]

xaminder which dell is yours sounds like mine (small portion for fan)

Inspiron 1505.

[roboroomba]

my current laptop



Laptop I plan to get




by the way, my dell does have very wobbly hinges