Help Me Find a Notebook!

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Jon

Jon

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Jun 21, 2006
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I need to buy a notebook so that when I travel I can do work and not suffer from extreme work and internet withdrawal. I actually plan on doing a lot of traveling over this year, so I want to buy something that will last for a while.

I need your help because I don't know much when it comes to laptops, more so because I am not much of a lappy fan in general.

Here's what I need:

At least 1.3GHz AMD or Intel processor
At least 60 GB for my work, music and porn collections.
Must be able to connect wirelessly to WiFi hotspots or broadband.
Long battery life (must also include wall adapter)
Screen size is of no importance, tablet notebooks are fine too.
The brand/model itself must have a pretty good track record of not fucking up or breaking.
Windows XP Pro is preferred. Definitely NOT a Mac.

I don't need the top of the line model either because I don't think I'll be using it much except when traveling/conferences and going to meetings here and there. As long as it has the requirements above I think I'll be okay for the next few years.

For pricing, I figure something $1500 or less would be okay. I don't give a shit about the brand just so long as they aren't complete shit.

So if you want to help me out and find me something, then by all means, join their aff program if they have one and link me so you get credit for it. I am looking to buy one asap.
 


I have a dell Latitude that I use at my dayjob that works pretty well. I think for a decent dell they run around $1200 or so. I use another dell at home that is like 5 years old that is on it's last leg, but it is still kicking with all the cracks in the case from my wife and dogs abusing it.
 
I wouldn't get a Dell unless it were an XPS. But I don't really feel the need to buy something flashy.
 
Lenovo IS very good, i would definitely recommend it. but about Dell, i think it has improved a lot. you might conisder the inspiron e1405 or e1505, sometimes they come out with quite nice deals for cheaper than 1000
 
joe said:
Lenovo (formely IBM) makes the best business laptop.
Click to expand...
I second that.
Thinkpads are the best laptops you can get, but also the most expensive.
My personal favorite is the Thinkpad T60. I've used it on several occasions and it feels very solid.
You can pick up the T60 for about $1400 with Core Duo 1.8ghz, 1gb of ram and 100gb drive

I spent about 2 years repairing laptops and desktops before I went into web development.
I bought a Dell 700m but only because of the $750 coupons.

Jon, don't get a tablet. Their screens are flimsy and dim, I know first hand.

I've opened many Toshibas and Gateways and they're very poorly designed.
I recall opening a brand new $2000 Gateway laptop, and underneath the keyboard the heat sensors were deattached and hanging loose. that's cheap manufacturing for you.

HP's are okay, but filled with HP advertising to the point where your first bootup takes half an hour while it installs all its crap.
 
Whatever you get, pay a few bucks more for an extra warranty. I wish I did. The motherboard of my Compaq went once during the first year and was replaced for free. After the one-year warranty was up I broke my power button, but found out if I stuck a paper clip under the broken button at just the right angle I could still turn it on, but then the motherboard died again so I'm laptop-less now. Damn thing cost me over two grand and I didn't get two years out of it.
 
Elvie said:
Whatever you get, pay a few bucks more for an extra warranty. I wish I did. The motherboard of my Compaq went once during the first year and was replaced for free. After the one-year warranty was up I broke my power button, but found out if I stuck a paper clip under the broken button at just the right angle I could still turn it on, but then the motherboard died again so I'm laptop-less now. Damn thing cost me over two grand and I didn't get two years out of it.
Click to expand...

Yea, listen to Elvie. No matter which laptop you get, get the super max warranty. It will save you much heartache.
 
Extended Warranties are nearly always a bad deal. Repairing the product is almost always cheaper than buying the warranty.

Or, you can just buy the best product and not have to worry about it breaking. I've owned both IBM and Lenovo laptops, and they've never had any problems whatsoever.
 
so I do this online thing cause I don't have to work having spent 10 years selling surplus Dell parts etc.
Jon - who is your cell phone with? are you going to do EV-DO? I thought I would never use it but a friend got me a great deal and I have been hooked. It is nice to have total access anywere.
if you are going to do EV-DO get a machine that is set for it without having to have the pcmcia card. I have a Lenovo and HP has a good model.
 
My endorsement

I'd highly recommend the Toshiba I currently have and bought from Tiger Direct... it's product heading is "Tech Savvy, Budget Minded" and it comes in at $1,049. Click the computer to read more about it:



I couldn't be happier with mine and it seems to get great reviews all around... long battery, beautiful screen, quick processor, very reliable, etc...

Tiger Direct is a Grade A company. I think this will fit your needs perfectly. Goodluck in finding the right laptop (and hopefully getting me an affiliate sale!) And thanks for this forum.

Rob
 
Don't get an HP, Compaq, or anything with a Celeron processor, or I will literally rape you.

You have been warned.
 
chrislingle said:
so I do this online thing cause I don't have to work having spent 10 years selling surplus Dell parts etc.
Jon - who is your cell phone with? are you going to do EV-DO? I thought I would never use it but a friend got me a great deal and I have been hooked. It is nice to have total access anywere.
if you are going to do EV-DO get a machine that is set for it without having to have the pcmcia card. I have a Lenovo and HP has a good model.
Click to expand...
Kind of off topic, but what would be bad about getting the card? Just don't want to take up the slot? Also, who are some good providers for EV-DO?
 
I have a vaio as well, rock solid machine. I run this bitch hard every day with absolutely no problems. One of the most reliable machines I have ever had. I want a macbook pro next :)
 
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