LOML wants a laptop for Christmas since our desktop is old, on the blink, and inconvenient (in the downstairs office). She uses the computer to 1) Surf the internet, and 2) play Spider Solitaire. So, I'm looking for something that has a wireless G card, 1G of Ram or more for quick bootup, and is reliable. I've looked at the netbooks, subnotebooks, whatever else they're called but prefer a standard laptop with a 15" or larger screen. I would like to spend <$400 or so and if possible would like to buy on ebay to get the cashback deal. Walmart has an Acer advertised locally for $350, but I haven't looked at the specs closely and don't know about its reliability. Any suggestions are appreciated. This unit will probably completely replace the desktop, either immediately or eventually, so I would like to get something decent even though almost anything would work for her use. Thanks.
-
-
So am I. LOML does nothing on her computer but surf the net and a few games. I would be nice to have for the WIFI when we travel
Tom -
Regarding laptop reliability: Consumer Reports found virtually no difference in reliability among the major brands. That is, Sony, Lenovo, Compaq, Toshiba, Dell, Gateway, Apple, HP. In all cases, about 20% needed service, about twice as often in other words as the desktop machines. Acer isn't in the list, so you'll have to check elsewhere!
There are significant differences, however, in how well the service is handled. Apple always rates tops for customer service. CU's current ranking for laptop service (out of 100 possible) is:
Apple: 83; Lenovo: 66; Dell: 60; Toshiba: 55; Gateway: 54; Sony: 51; HP: 48.- David
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” -- Oscar WildeComment
-
No disrespect, David, but I couldn't disagree more with CR's findings on service.
First, on the Mac front, I've found that machines not currently under any service agreement ("Apple Care") are greeted with $700 to $800 repair estimate at the local Apple stores. "You need a new motherboard, $800" or, "you need a new screen, $700" are common refrains from the Apple employees. I can replace an Apple screen for approx. $250-$400, and still make a handsome profit.
I've had a number of Apple machines brought to me for service because of a spill (from water to wine to cranberry juice). Many were taken to the Apple store first, where they were told "$800." I often find that they just need to have the keyboard rinsed out w/ distilled water, dry for a bit, the motherboard cleaned a little, and then they work just fine. Not all, but at least 75% of them are fine with less than two hours work.
In terms of other brands of machines (Dell vs. Gateway vs. Thinkpad, etc.), I can tell you that I see patterns of failures (bad DC-DC controllers on Dells, bad power switch covers on Gateways, etc.) that can be frustrating.
I can honestly say that, while not as good as they once were, the Thinkpads have been beyond all the others in both quality and serviceability (the ability to get parts, at a reasonable price, in a reasonable amount of time).
On the bottom I would place Dell and Gateway. I see soooo many dead Dells machines that are just out of warranty that it is just sad. I realize they have 6% market share, so I should see lots of 'em anyhow. But I see 2x or 3x more dead Dells than any other brand, and they don't have 2x or 3x the market share of anyone else.
Gateway, with their bad power switch cover, is a GIANT problem, because they don't sell the part. It is a $10 plastic part, but a user is forced to send the machine in for service at a cost of $165 to $265 to get it fixed. I have figured out a way to use plastic from a Diet Coke bottle, but it isn't foolproof (depends on where the switch cover broke).
Finally, I am discouraged that Sony machines often still don't have user-accessible hard drive bays. I have to do substantial dis assembly on many current Sony models to get the hard drive out. Seeing as the hard drive is the weakest link, and seeing as other manufacturers have figured out ways to make the hard drive easily removable, I wonder why Sony has gotten on the ball on this one.Comment
-
Thanks for the input guys. Apple is out because my wife only speaks XP and doesn't have the desire to learn a new language
I guess I should have mentioned that I prefer a unit with XP since I don't fully trust Vista yet...
Personally, I have used both Dell and Gateway laptops for business in the past 10 years or so, and reliability on both brands have been excellent for me. I'm not doubting anything that was posted, but my personal experience has been good with them. The old desktop is a Sony Vaio that has also proven to be very reliable. Sony isn't known to be a value leader though (not to me at least).Comment
-
My wife used to work for IBM so I have a bias toward Thinkpads but I have always been pleased with them even though the last two have required warranty repairs. Even depot service is good.
More importantly, make sure you have a backup hard drive. Nothing makes a woman madder than losing data.Comment
-
Jack--You must have led a wonderful life. I can think of several things.
I've had good luck with Dells. LOML has had several. One had a sticky key. Dell guy came over the next day with a new keyboard. Another time, one of her laptops went dark, not blue but dark.
Next day, Dell guy turned it on and it worked fine. He said could be an intermittent problem, broke out a box of shiny bags and replaced all the innards.
SteveI would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong. Bertrand RussellComment
-
Trivia--the "Dude, you've gotta get a Dell!" guy went to my high school. A few years after me, I might add.
I bought a lower end Gateway last year and and a midlevel Dell this summer and have had no problems with either. I myself want a Mac and have been looking for a good deal on a used G4 model.Jeff
“Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing”--VoltaireComment
-
Regardless of which brand you choose, your best bang for the buck is likely to come as a refurb from Ebay with the MS Cashback 25%. We grabbed an HP 6910 that was fairly loaded for my college bound son last summer for ~ $525 shipped, and so far it's been super within the limitations of laptops in general. It was not quite state of the art, but was well above average at that time.Happiness is sort of like wetting your pants....everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth.
Comment
-
cgallery, the CU "findings" on service were simply what was reported by the 4500 laptop owners surveyed between 9/06 and 1/08 about their tech support experiences, not about price of repairs. They were asked whether tech support solved their problem, how long the phone wait was and how readily it was navigated, and how knowledgeable and clear the support personnel were. Apple rated excellent on all criteria. By comparison, Dell was average on all, and HP was below average on all but solving the problem.
The AppleCare is a good deal, in my opinion. I took my daughter's laptop in recently because the battery was no longer charging. They pointed out that it was no longer in warranty, suggested I might buy an OEM model online cheaper than the ones they sold, and pointed out that the white plastic case looked somewhat discolored around the hand rest. "Got a few minutes? We could swap that out for you." A few minutes later, I left with a brand new case. No charge.- David
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” -- Oscar WildeComment
-
I agree that AppleCare is a good deal. In fact, you can buy a "refurb" machine from Apples web site, and the savings over buying new is often enough for three years of AppleCare. I don't know how you can beat that deal when you consider many of the refurbs are late model machines (they've had Airs on their refurb list for several weeks already).Comment
-
The biggest problem with <$500 notebooks, is battery life. Stronger batteries and other options become more prevailent on the more expensive laptops (and even they are not immune).
The fancier you get (dvd burner, instead of cd drive, etc), the more juice they require, and my experience with them is they tend to give undersized power supply's, the batteries get 2 hours, and (on cheap as well as higher end) the power connector gets broken (new motherboard).
Laptops are one area, where I am not sure I would do the Ebay thing, because I have seen too many that an extended warranty paid for itself.
I would like one, but for my purposes, I will probably go one of the newer 10" subnotes, around the time that they release Ubuntu remix (subnotebook one). Other then data transfer (can be done by other methods cheaper), network diagnostics and war driving are the only reason for me to have one. Desktops aren't as cool, but still seem to me to be the better value.She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
-
Yeah, you have to be careful with used and refurb notebooks. I've looked at quite a few that have had concealed problems and lots of little problems (smart errors on the hard drive, quite a few stuck pixels, optical drives that won't burn, etc.). Some of the problems may not be recognized until it is too late to return the machine.
If you are going to purchased used, see if a buddy that really knows his hardware can go over it for you before the return period expires. No guarantee that it won't die right after, but still better than nothing.Comment
-
What about this? It's more than I really wanted to spend, but for $550, it has an AMD Turion X2, 3GB RAM, and a 250GB hard drive. Plus, Toshiba laptops have a good reputation AFAIK. I really don't want Vista, but it looks like that may be my only choice unless I buy used/refurb. Thoughts?Comment
Comment