Need advice on notebook purchase

De Rigueur · Post by **De Rigueur** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:50 am

My aunt wants me to choose a notebook for her, but I have little experience with them. She only needs a low end model, so which brands should I consider and which should I avoid? Toshiba, HP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, . . . ?

Plebeian · Post by **Plebeian** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:00 pm

Can't speak for any of the other brands, and most people don't think much of them, but I've been happy with my Compaq (2145US). I'm not using it for intensive work-related activities, but I do some gaming on it, Internet stuff, and I'll work from home on it occasionally, as well. It's performed really well IMO, and it was the cheapest "name" that seemed decent and had the features I wanted.

Dells are used exclusively at my work, and do have good prices from what I've seen. HPs should be the same as Compaqs, what with HP owning Compaq these days. Toshibas seem to be well-thought of. Gateways I'm prejudiced against, wouldn't even consider them, but I don't really have any rational reason behind it.

JMEaT · Post by **JMEaT** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:29 pm

I recomend Dell. I have a lot of experience with them at work and they just keep on running.

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 6:46 pm

Toshiba make the most reliable laptops in the world. With IBM coming in second, from memory.

I wouldn't touch a Dell - but then again, I've never owned one, so perhaps I shouldn't flame.

No matter what laptop you buy, spend the extra money on the extended warranty - you will kick yourself if you don't!

De Rigueur · Post by **De Rigueur** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 7:36 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mobius:

No matter what laptop you buy, spend the extra money on the extended warranty - you will kick yourself if you don't!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

my aunt will be the one kicking me.

Zoop! · Post by **Zoop!** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:38 pm

I was looking at Dells for a long time, and when I was ready to buy a predone package, they cut the memory in half and charged a lot more. I went looking at HP and you can buy any combonation of things at the same price as the predone ones (unlike Dell) and not only do they have warranties, but they have the special warranties for people like me where they will replace something if you (or your aunt) pulled a stupid for a couple hundred bucks more.