I need help finding a laptop.

[300ex_#387]

I'm going to be needing a laptop here soon and I know nothing about them. I've read a lot of reviews so far and I just can't decide what is good and what is not. I was looking at the Dell inspiron but now i'm seeing a lot of people having problems with them. I really don't want to spend more than $700 on one. I would like to be able to watch videos, I tunes, facebook and normal things like that without problems. I'm not a huge gamer but sometime will play a game. I won't be storing thousands of photos or anything either. I would like a decent size screen also.I like the 15.5" the inspiron had. Can anyone help me out here? I've been looking at best buy and thats where I will most likely purchase one at.

[ATV Chic]

I would suggest anything hp. I got a new dv6 back in september and i love it. jmo

[300ex_#387]

This is one I was looking at. If you look at reviews of other inspirons there are so many bad reviews though. I will buy a warranty no matter what I get. Is a 14" screen pretty small or a normal size for a laptop screen?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+Inspiron+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Pentium%26 %23174%3B+Processor+-+Alpine+White/9718677.p?id=1218158731094&skuId=9718677

[ATV Chic]

Dell used to be good but I would never buy another. Here's what I would suggest.

Link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23 153%3B+i3+Processor+-+Espresso+Black/9700732.p?cpncode=24-10946559&srccode=cii_7240393&skuId=9700732&ref=16&loc=01&id=1218152460131)

or

link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+with+AMD+Turion%26%23153%3B+II+Du al-Core+Processor+-+White/9705406.p?cpncode=25-4401141&srccode=cii_7240393&skuId=9705406&ref=16&loc=01&id=1218154377090)

[631kfx400]

deff get one that has good battery ratings.

[TGW_400ex]

Originally posted by ATV Chic
I would suggest anything hp. I got a new dv6 back in september and i love it. jmo

I wouldn't trust hp.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10000910-64.html
I had a computer with this problem and it is a very common problem, but hp wont fix it because its out of warranty. They poorly designed the laptops to let them get hot enough to mess the video chips up.

[MX450]

I got this one last year, so far so good. I just use it for normal stuff, internet, itunes ect. Only thing I dont like is the battery doesnt seem to last long but i mainly use it at home so its not that big a deal. Good price too.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Pentium%26%23174%3B +Processor+-+Black/9700696.p?id=1218152460624&skuId=9700696

[SRH]

dont get a dell, i had one ...junk

hp the hinges wear out for the screen

i have 2 toshibas, a cheap $400 one and a more expensive toshiba..satelite with a 17 inch screen which was like $700...its awesome compared to the others i looked at...great sound and quality

[JParisi48]

get a toshiba, whatever u do, stay away from compaq!!!!

[yfzrider690]

I know two people that had toshibas and they both fell apart. I have 2 hp laptops and they are about 3 years old and I haven't had any problems with them. My friend is a IT guy and he recommended them. He said that hp is the number one consumer laptop out there and dell is the number one business laptop.

[miller821]

I'm a fan of HP... Definitely one of the best unless your a fan of Mac.

HP, or Toshiba... If I bought again it would be one of those 2.

And of course stuff is going to go bad on these, they all have there problems, but if you take good care of it, you should be able to stay away from the common problems.

[trx310R#24]

Originally posted by JParisi48
get a toshiba, whatever u do, stay away from compaq!!!!

HP makes toshiba and compaq...

iv had my HP my hp for 2 years... works great... my dad just got a dell 6months ago.. it over heats and the touch pad thing never works right.... get something with 4gb memory youll be happy with it.

[300ex_#387]

What about this one? It is refurbished and I plan on getting the 2yr standard warranty. It says something about Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps. Is that pretty slow or is that normal? I do like to watch youtube videos and sometimes play games.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Factory-Refurbished+Pavilion+Laptop+with+AMD+Turion%26%231 53%3B+II+Dual-Core+Processor/9953021.p?id=1218200369759&skuId=9953021

[initall]

You have to remember, be it HP, Dell, Toshiba, pretty much any brand, they are all manufactured from one of the 3 main assemblers in China.

Then come over seas and sold under their respected brands.

I would stay away from any type of home machine, and go with a business class machine. They are designed to last longer.

HP - the Probook is a decent Choice
Dell - Latitude
Lenovo - ThinkPad

When these are designed they have the idea that they will last 3 years, that is typically when a company will replace it.

I have a Thinkpad for work, I really like it, but I also just picked up a Acer netbook, which is actually pretty nice and conveneint. no Optical drive though.

But you really won't find a business model at a store, you will probably have to go through an IT reseller, or for Dell you could go direct.

[Scottt89]

As an IT Admin, I'd suggest a Lenovo or a Toshiba. The Lenovo will cost a bit more than a lower model Toshiba, however Toshiba still makes a quality consumer laptop. Dell hasn't been the same since the late 90's early 2k's. They rely on their past name and that's about it. Everyone I know with recent Dell's has had some sort of issue with it. I know Compaq's have questionable reliability on some of their stuff. HP's are also alright, even though it's a joint effort with Compaq. But I would deff get a Lenovo or Toshiba first.

[toby400ex]

Look at Acer if you want to go cheap. My mom has a dell laptop and the screen stopped working within a year, now its hooked up to a desk top monitor. My girlfriend's HP seems ok, but all we use it for is hooking up to the HDTV to watch downloaded movies and to browse the web. I didn't like her getting an HP since my HP desk top was always a major pos, but the laptop has been fine so far.

[300ex_#387]

What about the last link I posted? Should I stay away from the factory refurbished one from best buy? I like the looks and everything else seems to be what I need. I really want to hear from more people that have tried HP.

[Honda#4]

I just bought an HP Pavilion dv7 to use for all my architecture programs and it runs flawless, the processor is fast and quite and runs very cool compared to my wifes Gateway piece of junk that will burn ur lap . With all the add up costs mine was around $930 total which is more than you want to spend.

[ATV Chic]

Originally posted by 300ex_#387
What about the last link I posted? Should I stay away from the factory refurbished one from best buy? I like the looks and everything else seems to be what I need. I really want to hear from more people that have tried HP.

Personally if you're going to spend that much for a refurb why not get the new version of that one instead? the costs aren't that different. I just dont trust refurbished stuff jmo :p

[Quad18star]

I bought 2 toshiba satelite laptops. My fiancee's is a little more hightech than mine ( was about $200 more) ... but so far we love them.

I haven't touch my desk top since we bougth these.

[Quad18star]

Here's what I think if refurbished....

Why buy someone else's junk that has been well used or had problems?

[RedSonya]

After many years of using Toshibas, HPs, Dells, Lenovo Thinkpads, and Compaqs, I made the switch to MacBooks about 2 years ago. I've never looked back. While there are certain limitations with respect to software, I've found the MacBook to be the simplest to use and the most reliable. Apple also offers discounts to students, government employees, and employees of certain companies. Their customer service is very responsive. Plus, I've managed to avoid all those Facebook viruses everyone else is getting! :)

[300ex_#387]

Originally posted by RedSonya
After many years of using Toshibas, HPs, Dells, Lenovo Thinkpads, and Compaqs, I made the switch to MacBooks about 2 years ago. I've never looked back. While there are certain limitations with respect to software, I've found the MacBook to be the simplest to use and the most reliable. Apple also offers discounts to students, government employees, and employees of certain companies. Their customer service is very responsive. Plus, I've managed to avoid all those Facebook viruses everyone else is getting! :)

My uncle has a macbook and I thought it was pretty awesome. Way out of my price range though.

[Scottt89]

The only real issue with a MAC is the price. Other than that they are very nice machines. I think he said $700 budget, I don't think you can touch a MAC for under $900.

[300ex_#387]

Yeah I dont want to spend more than $700 for just the laptop.

[RedSonya]

Oops - in that case, I would get a Toshiba. I would also stay away from anything refurbished, and get get the full-featured Windows 7 rather than the Windows 7 "starter."

[300ex_#387]

I ended up ordering this one. I got the 2 yr accident warrunty so if I drop it or anything its covered.

http://www.staples.com/HP-G71-340US-Laptop/product_827770_HC2?cmArea=SC3:CG71:DP4118:CL161747

[ridered11]

Dude to tell you the truth, save your money and buy a Mac Book. I got my first one before I went to school and I would never buy anything else again. Deals are out there, just be patient. I got my MacBook Pro, printer, and a 12g Itouch for 1000$. Well worth the extra dough.

[<DRS>GPF]

Originally posted by 300ex_#387
I ended up ordering this one. I got the 2 yr accident warrunty so if I drop it or anything its covered.

http://www.staples.com/HP-G71-340US-Laptop/product_827770_HC2?cmArea=SC3:CG71:DP4118:CL161747

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356067,00.asp

honestly..
IMO, though it should be fine for pretty much all you were looking for in your 1st post, i personally wouldve chosen one with anything besides the "Intel integrated graphics" feature.
like perhaps the: Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025 15.6" Laptop w/a radeon graphics accelerator..

for some reason, intel just doesnt do well with video.. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
youd think theyd at least have comparable performance, seeing how they are pioneers in micro-processors, but as seen in the link, the performance of their graphics accelerators are generally low, making 3d games perform poorly.(recent releases are simply unplayable according to many reviews)

also, count on buying a 2nd battery if youre going to be mobile..

[300ex_#387]

It wont be mobile. It is basically going to stay in my apartment. I won't need it much for the classes im taking in school. I just need it for normal things like browsing the web and such.

[m0t0xk1d]

i too jumped on the macbook band wagon. i had a gateway and my high school gave us free mac books. WAY better. runs very cool. easy to use. and what is better then not having to pay for anti virus software that doesnt work? no need for anti virus with macs. well worth the money, even though i didnt pay for mine :blah: