What is the best laptop to buy?
 

I think it's time for a new laptop, any suggestions?

Alienware or the Dell XPS

Gateway MX7515

You'll thank me later.

for a shooter 'fujitsu with the wxga screen' if you don't shoot get anything . . .

Depends, what needs are you going to be using it for? I need something really portable so I got a dell 700m 4lbs and 12" widescreen dvd+rw blah blah. But really depends on what ya wanna use it for and how portable you want it to be.

The 12-inch ibook is the best laptop IMO.

ive been meaning to try one of the new gateway models. i've always stuck to HP's and Dell's.

I *WAS* an HP guy...

(long story that is not worth telling.)
:)

I love my MX7515 so much I just bought a 827GM desktop.

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:thumbsup

I saw a new gateway on TV with a swival huge widescreen...looked badass
but still dont know about buying a "gateway"

I have a few HP's and have only had minor issues. Grat laptops in general, but they are heavy, and the batteries suck ass.

thinkpad

hp has always been good to me

I think the best question to ask yourself before deciding is, "What am I going to use this lapptop for?"

If the answer is that you want a desktop replacement, then go for something like a beefy Dell laptop with a docking station.

For desktop replacement, the docking station is the way to go, as you get the best of both worlds - desktop at home with a nice big screen and full keyboard. Then when you hit the road, you just pop the lappy out of the dock and you're good to go - no files to sync, etc..

The new top end Dell Laptops make for good gaming rigs, as well. (Although if it's strictly kick-ass gaming you are after, Alienware makes the mac-daddy gaming laptops, IMO)

This is also an ideal solution if you do web design, etc - as graphics manipulation, etc is a snap with this type of laptop.

If it's mostly mobile communications you're after (email, icq, skype, etc) then a low end lappy works quite nicely.

Thinkpads are another good choice - I know quite a few people that have them, and are quite happy with them.

No matter which lappy you buy, consider the following:

• Your main need/usage (Portability or desktop replacement? Graphics/Gaming or just email, communications, office apps, etc?)
• Network ability - most lappys have built-in wireless - look for Wireless-G. For the hardwire ethernet connection, try to get gig-ethernet.
• Bluetooth is a happy plus
• How much RAM can it hold? (you can never have enough)
• Your budget
• Service - does the manufacturer have a solid reputation for taking care of you when it all goes horribly awry?

Out of all of the above, I think service is overlooked too often. I can only speak for Dell (as my last thre lappys have been Dells) - their on-site service warranty is excellent cheap insurance. The mobo on my last lappy died, and Dell had a guy at my door the next day - he swapped it out on the spot in thirty minutes - good as new.

Best of luck to you on your search. =)

I heard MSI, ASUS, and Averatec are the best laptops.

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16834220056 i might go with this one.

I often build computers for clients, or in the case of laptops purchase them and upgrade/set them up...

IMO Dell has a good lead on the market. They look great, good prices (w/ online coupons), and they meet or beat specialized dealer laptops usually for less money (IE, Alienware caters to gamers, but a properly configured Dell will not only beat an AW, but be much cheaper with better support.)

If you buy any laptop, here's some tips on configuring it;

- a Pentium 4 notebook will only have about 1hr battery life and run very hot, so unless you plan on never taking it mobile you must get the Pentium M, they're awesome processors
- get the lowest ram configuration and purchase this seperate from the dealer. IE Dell charges like $400 for 2GB of RAM when you can buy it for about $200. Trust me, anyone can install RAM
- get either a 7200rpm HD, or a 5400rpm HD that's 100gb or more. 5400s that are 100gb or more will closely compare to any 7200, and it's a nice increase in speed
- buy the best video card option available, this is one of the things you cannot upgrade

I don't like HP, in general thier video card selection is weak. Alienware is really falling behind on notebooks. IBM has some nice alternatives but they are usually much more expensive. Sager is good but has nowhere near the resale value of Dell. Vaio is a bit expensive too but they do have a nice ultra compact notebook (like 12") if you're into that. Toshiba and Asus are both really good alternatives too.

wow, thanks for all the advice.

It sounds like Dell and Gateway are top choices. I was looking at Dell.

I am looking to be portable and something more lightweight than the HP Pavillion zv5000 I am on now-which is so heavy for a laptop.

I don't do design. My main use of computer is for correspondence.

Look forward to more insight.

the one that suite your needs for an reasonable price. Thats the one your looking for.

Gateway :)
Mags used to work for them so I have great support

i got the new fujitsu siemens amilo with the 15,4 widescreen crystal bright screen

and i love it

I like my sager. More less an alienware just without the damn ugly outside.

I like my pentium :)

dell laptops with the gold warranty package.. pretty much, theyll replace anything that fucks up.. screen, motherboard, etc etc for as long as you have warranty.. perfect for mobile warriors..


latitude d410 is a nice 12inch screen/small laptop..
d510/610 are sweet with the 14inch screens.

DO NOT BUY AN ALIENWARE!!! If you're considering it, do some research. All those horror story reviews about crashes and rediculous tech support are true.

helpful stuff. Anyone own a tablet PC?

i love my sony vgn-s360

Acer s Ferrari notebooks are hot...

http://global.acer.com/products/notebook/fr4000.htm

love my sony vgn-T350p. Perfect for around the house, the airplane, coffee shop...

go for the T43 from IBM - (or should we say LENOVO.. ) I use it for some time now - it's a working machine.

I'ld say wait a bit more....don't buy a laptop now. After christmas they should have replaced all laptops by 64 bit machines more compatible with windows new OS : Vista.

but if you wanna buy one now.....go fo toshiba, centrino processor. the best, all the way. :2 cents:

IMHO...Dell and HP suck ass! Everyone here works exclusively on the desktop replacement laptops...We started with last june with 2 Dells and 2 Compacts...The Dells were slow, crashed all the time and were horrible for multi-tasking the are now used only for our webcam rooms.

The Compacts worked great, no problems but they just havent kept up with the competition in features, HD space etc.

In February of this year we decided to replace all of our laptops I got the Toshiba Satellite P35-S611 and everyone else decided to get the HP Pavilion zd8215

I have had no trouble with my Toshiba however we have had all sorts of glitches with the HP's..not major problems but the little annoying ones...flash wont display correctly (even after downloading the "missing" component numerous times) not booting up correctly, keyboard / touchpad ergonomics etc.

The most glaring difference has been in support. Toshiba has been good/average....HP has been HORRIBLE.

I love my Sony VAIO, small, thin, light and yet.. has everything it can possibly have..

i have one, its awesome.

+
write on msn
take written notes and put them online
you can sketch a drawing

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if u get a pure tablet, it will be hard to type in anything.
if your not writing, no point in having a tablet.

mine is a toshiba m200

stay away from Dell

I'm a sony slut

everthing in my house is sony

if I could sleep with sony, I would

Do you think there are no affordable "64 bit machines" out now?

I'm running 'vista' on my Gateway as we speak. The mobile AMD Athlon 64 processor 4000+ (with 64-bit platform), 1GB of ram (I have 2GB now), and 1600MHz system bus is just horrible.

If I'd only bought something else....

So far I've liked the Toshiba M40x I bought a month or two ago. Does what I need it to do.


SilentKnight

P.S. HP suxor (long horror story)

just assuming they'll be more affordable after x-mas since pretty much all laptops will be replaced!

how much you got your gateway? been told they are not that great but never had one....I know i hate hp and dell (have an HP pavillion zv5000 now).

The gateway was ~$1400.

I USED to be an HP guy, but the $2000 paper weight I have in the basement kind of ended that... hell I even bought a new board ($600) before I ended that relationship.

I'm honestly not trying to tell anyone what they should buy. I've just had great experiences with this monster.

:)