Need advice for a new laptop

[Paula]

I want to buy a new laptop and could use some advice. (my old one is going to crash forever any moment.) I think a 12 - 14 inch screen is perfect, I like a good keyboard whatever that means, I'm not sure what kind of screen I want (there's that new crystal clear shiny kind that has reflections in it, but I don't know if that's worth it; and there's the new "wide screen" type of screen). I do mostly email, web surfing, graytonbeach.com, writing, and I may do a bit of photo/video editing. I will probably play dvds and download movies onto CDs. I don't play video gamess on the computer. I'm thinking maybe the Hewlett Packard dv1000. Any recommendations on what I should and should not look for. I typically buy Dell, but I'm not committed to any brand. I think a midway price right now is about $1200 and I don't really want to go higher than that.

I would love to get suggestions. I feel like I'm overanalyzing this decision and am somewhat paralyzed. I've been planning on getting a new laptop since early summer and haven't made the move yet. I've been using an old Dell latitude (so old that the letters are erased on some of the keyboards and things could grown in the dust that has settled in the keyboard).

thanks for any opinions/advice!

 

[Miss Kitty]

I want to buy a new laptop and could use some advice. (my old one is going to crash forever any moment.) I think a 12 - 14 inch screen is perfect, I like a good keyboard whatever that means, I'm not sure what kind of screen I want (there's that new crystal clear shiny kind that has reflections in it, but I don't know if that's worth it; and there's the new "wide screen" type of screen). I do mostly email, web surfing, graytonbeach.com, writing, and I may do a bit of photo/video editing. I will probably play dvds and download movies onto CDs. I don't play video gamess on the computer. I'm thinking maybe the Hewlett Packard dv1000. Any recommendations on what I should and should not look for. I typically buy Dell, but I'm not committed to any brand. I think a midway price right now is about $1200 and I don't really want to go higher than that.

I would love to get suggestions. I feel like I'm overanalyzing this decision and am somewhat paralyzed. I've been planning on getting a new laptop since early summer and haven't made the move yet. I've been using an old Dell latitude (so old that the letters are erased on some of the keyboards and things could grown in the dust that has settled in the keyboard).

thanks for any opinions/advice!

I am laughing because I am NO expert at this....however, we have purchased a few for our kids over the years....DELL...YES!!! COMPAQ...NOOOOOO!! That is my scientific answer based on the amount of cursing with each machine!!!!

 

[skippertoo]

Don't have one myself but if you stay with Dell, make sure you go to dealcatcher.com and look for coupon codes. Dell always has new offers every Thursday.

 

[OnMackBayou]

For Christmas I was given a Toshiba Satellite P35-S609. Has a 17" screen, DVD recorder, wireless, good battery life. Love it.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I am laughing because I am NO expert at this....however, we have purchased a few for our kids over the years....DELL...YES!!! COMPAQ...NOOOOOO!! That is my scientific answer based on the amount of cursing with each machine!!!!

I have had no problem with Compaq. BTW (By the way for CJ), if you are getting a package deal with printer, be warned, Dell printers can use only Dell ink refills, which are not available at any place other than Dell.

I have bought IBM, Gateway, Dell, and Compaq and all have worked well for me. I have had good experience with customer service from Compaq, most recently replacing a disc drive. A few years back, I also had good experience with Gateway techs on the phone, rebuilding my hard drive -- I lost everything though. Since then, Gateway has failed me miserably in customer service, and they now send you to India for Customer no-service.

 

[Beach Runner]

Here's the standard for laptops where I work. We were Gateway-land until about a year ago when our hardware problems started accumulating.
Dell Latitude D610
Pentium M 750
14.1" XGA display
1 GB RAM
40 GB Hard drive

I don't like the fact that I have a max of a 1024X768 display. That ticks me off. But IT says that's okay. Guess that's their humble opinion.

No problems yet, but I just got it in July.

 

[lollygal]

This is just for what it's worth, because I don't have personal experience . . . unless hearing your son call every week from college venting about his laptop means anything . . . UT College of Business requires specifics re laptops and we purchased a Dell because UT and Dell had a special package that would incorporate all of the above at a supposed discount. In addition, we purchased the super duper warranty where even if you dropped it there was next day service to repair or replace . . . what a joke!!! After hours each time on tech support (my son is now an expert at formatting his hard drive), he only was able to get one (1) real person to appear at his door to "fix" his problem (he didn't). $4,000 plus later, I would not recommend Dell only because of all the tech problems he had. They operated on a wireless network and it would (and still does) crash on a whim.

Whew - I feel better now! I think I just purged 4 years of angst I had toward Dell customer service and warranties. Any other questions???

 

[Beach Runner]

This is just for what it's worth, because I don't have personal experience . . . unless hearing your son call every week from college venting about his laptop means anything . . . UT College of Business requires specifics re laptops and we purchased a Dell because UT and Dell had a special package that would incorporate all of the above at a supposed discount. In addition, we purchased the super duper warranty where even if you dropped it there was next day service to repair or replace . . . what a joke!!! After hours each time on tech support (my son is now an expert at formatting his hard drive), he only was able to get one (1) real person to appear at his door to "fix" his problem (he didn't). $4,000 plus later, I would not recommend Dell only because of all the tech problems he had. They operated on a wireless network and it would (and still does) crash on a whim.

Whew - I feel better now! I think I just purged 4 years of angst I had toward Dell customer service and warranties. Any other questions???

So what would you recommend for a replacement? I don't get a new one until the 3-year replacement cycle (for me, that's July 2008). My Gateways all had major, frequent problems. BTW my daughter's IBM has withstood her extreme abuse since 8/03.

 

[lollygal]

I wish I could tell you. It just wouldn't be Dell IMHO.

 

[DD]

I have had no problem with Compaq. BTW (By the way for CJ), if you are getting a package deal with printer, be warned, Dell printers can use only Dell ink refills, which are not available at any place other than Dell.

I have bought IBM, Gateway, Dell, and Compaq and all have worked well for me. I have had good experience with customer service from Compaq, most recently replacing a disc drive. A few years back, I also had good experience with Gateway techs on the phone, rebuilding my hard drive -- I lost everything though. Since then, Gateway has failed me miserably in customer service, and they now send you to India for Customer no-service.

I hate talking to India! AND, I heard last night on PBS that 80% of American customer service is now outsourced (to India) and increasing daily...