I'm sure it's been asked before...
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From: Stockton
I'm sure it's been asked before...
I'm in the market for a lap top, or a notebook, if you will. If I wanted to go to Best Buy, or Circuit City, or any major electronics store, and I wanted to buy a lap top straight off the shelf... which would be the best choice for the money? I hear Toshiba isn't bad, but I am leaning more toward a Sony Vaio.
Now, I know ya'll are some smart folk, and your opinions/advice is valued greatly. Thanks in advance.
Now, I know ya'll are some smart folk, and your opinions/advice is valued greatly. Thanks in advance.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Doh!!
actually, I just came back from Best Buys about 10 min ago.
I was about to buy from Amazon for a laptop (and did internet search for about 3 hours looking at Dell, Gateway, Sony (partial to Sony b/c I have a Sony laptop currently), Toshiba, others). I was going to buy a Toshiba but on a whim decided to go to Best Buys just to see how much money I saved myself. Best buy actually had that computer at a better price (after rebates). Then I saw an even better price with a Compaq. Just got it.
only problem is that you may want to check out Wantone's thread about Bestbuy Rebates...
I was about to buy from Amazon for a laptop (and did internet search for about 3 hours looking at Dell, Gateway, Sony (partial to Sony b/c I have a Sony laptop currently), Toshiba, others). I was going to buy a Toshiba but on a whim decided to go to Best Buys just to see how much money I saved myself. Best buy actually had that computer at a better price (after rebates). Then I saw an even better price with a Compaq. Just got it.
only problem is that you may want to check out Wantone's thread about Bestbuy Rebates...
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Berkeley
i'm sure this is not the answer you are looking for, but if you can wait a few days for your laptop, you should definitely consider ordering one from dell. in general, dell offers more computer for the money, plus you can somewhat customize it with the features you want. also, i don't know where you live, but i'm from CA and when i ordered mine, i did not have to pay tax, plus dell was offering free shipping and a $150 mail-in rebate. i don't know what kind of promotional offers there have currently, but if you don't necessarily feel you have to buy at a store, i'd definitely give dell a look.
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From: The Empire State
hp has the biggest screens out right now if thats something your interested in.
My brother is a grad student , and just got a gov. grant to purchase a laptop/home office. They gave him around 5 grand when everything was said and done.
He got the best laptop Hp makes with all the fixin's.
This thing is huge (17" monitor, but its wider than a home use 17")
3.2Ghz, but it uses a Pentuim 4 chip, not a Pentium M chip, so this thing will eat batteries. I took it for a "test drive" last weekend and it is great.
Im guessing you dont want to spend $3,500+ on it so I would recommend Dell or Hp. Compaq is made by Hp now so its basically the same, but for some reason Compaq puts a lot of "their software" on thier comps. and it just becomes a hassel.
But seriously Dell or Hp, although Gateway has cleaned up their act, I dont trust them.
My brother is a grad student , and just got a gov. grant to purchase a laptop/home office. They gave him around 5 grand when everything was said and done.
He got the best laptop Hp makes with all the fixin's.
This thing is huge (17" monitor, but its wider than a home use 17")
3.2Ghz, but it uses a Pentuim 4 chip, not a Pentium M chip, so this thing will eat batteries. I took it for a "test drive" last weekend and it is great.
Im guessing you dont want to spend $3,500+ on it so I would recommend Dell or Hp. Compaq is made by Hp now so its basically the same, but for some reason Compaq puts a lot of "their software" on thier comps. and it just becomes a hassel.
But seriously Dell or Hp, although Gateway has cleaned up their act, I dont trust them.
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From: La La Land
[QUOTE]Originally posted by VTEC_Junkie
i'm sure this is not the answer you are looking for, but if you can wait a few days for your laptop, you should definitely consider ordering one from dell.
i'm sure this is not the answer you are looking for, but if you can wait a few days for your laptop, you should definitely consider ordering one from dell.
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From: SF Bay Area
whytei3oi,
Don't worry much about the brand. That matters very little. Just get one that has the specs you want and that fits within your budget. The most important things are the CPU, amount of RAM, and video card / video RAM if you play games. If you want built-in CD-ROM, DVD, floppy disk drive, etc., then that's important as well.
Aside from those things, just about everything else is relatively inexpensive and can be added later.
Both Toshiba and Sony are fine. Last time I checked, the Sony laptops were priced a bit higher, not sure if that has changed since. Dell and Compaq are good too. When all's said and done, the brand itself is of secondary importance. What matters is the individual pieces of hardware that are inside it.
Don't worry much about the brand. That matters very little. Just get one that has the specs you want and that fits within your budget. The most important things are the CPU, amount of RAM, and video card / video RAM if you play games. If you want built-in CD-ROM, DVD, floppy disk drive, etc., then that's important as well.
Aside from those things, just about everything else is relatively inexpensive and can be added later.
Both Toshiba and Sony are fine. Last time I checked, the Sony laptops were priced a bit higher, not sure if that has changed since. Dell and Compaq are good too. When all's said and done, the brand itself is of secondary importance. What matters is the individual pieces of hardware that are inside it.
