I've had my dell (was 1800 new) for almost 5 years. No problems over the last year (knock on wood) but I've had tons of stuff replaced under warranty. New screen, new motherboard, etc.

HP isn't perfect either. My friend has had 3 HP lap tops (gets a new one every year) and each one has similar issues. One is that the computer won't go into sleep mode. It sits for hours and won't turn off/sleep automatically.

 

XP takes something like 2 GB of disk space to run and Vista is 40GB! (I was in Best Buy yesterday looking at them cuz i'll be running windows on the macbook pro when i get it on friday) so I'd say XP unless theres something about Vista you really like.

As for the laptop in the $500 range, I'd say that you should just look through all the sales and see what looks good and see if you can get in a store and see it in person...They're all pretty decently spec'd in that price range, but maybe 3-4 GB RAM, and 250-320GB Hard Drive with a decent processor is probably what the norm is.

FWIW, before I impulsively bought the Macbook Pro haha, I was going to go with a Dell XPS M1530. Thinkpads by Lenovo/IBM are pretty nice as well...

 

Vista.... the Windows Millenium for 2007/8/9.

Someone should make a "DO NOT WANT" poster with a cat or dog in front of a Vista PC.

LOL!

 

Laptops these days are dirt-cheap! Years ago, a decent laptop cost nearly 2 grand.

 

I bought one of those Dells for $500. lasted me about six months. I dropped that shit a million times and it finally gave on me. I have an Imac now...it's been fine so far. had it for about 4 months now. hope this one lasts a little longer.

 

there's this company named apple. They make a much better laptop.

 

listen to raj he is a smart man


get a mac and save every hustle you could run into with a windoze

 

This is the same thing I said last time this conversation came up too! I'm not a dell fan, a little research into their mass issues will show all kinds of history with failed motherboards, batteries, and other components - though the battery problem was necessarily "their fault" it still affected huge numbers of owners. The motherboard issues and overheating systems are the ones that have always bothered me the most.

I'm still with XP on everything, including my Windows Media PC in my living room - though they released a newer upgraded version of that based on Vista.

XP XP XP XP XP XP

 

Ahh.....Let me try my hand on this.

1.) For people who are screaming Mac. Yes, overall....Mac is a good laptop with the occasional power melting the case issue. "But", you have to beware of the change from Window to Mac. You have to know Mac or don't mind tackling the task of getting to know it (main issue, compatibility).

2.) If you decided to go Window, go with XP. Vista will make any computer slower with all the useless tweaks.

3.) Don't get HP or Toshiba. Toshiba has always been problem prone from the start. HP Pavillion....has a wireless adapter issue. So far, I had to help 15 people including mine to send in their computer back to HP for repair. Some had the adapter replaced, and some had the whole motherboard replaced....like mine.

4.) If you have a Dell that is solid after 3.5 years, doesn't that tell you something? Why I say that? I have a Dell Inspiron 4100. That's 8 years old, but still rocking it. Slow, but still rocking it.

In my opinion, Dell is strong contender for quality and price comparing to anybody else.

 

Which, if one understands consumer electronics, is like saying "Rick Astley is a stronger contender for quality and (booking) price to Ricky Martin."

Mac is so wrong on so many levels. . . but yet so right; they sell an appliance - a system. That's the win.