Thoughts on Laptops/Notebooks

In the market for my first notebook (mainly word processing, email, internet
etc but maybe some games) and wondering what people's thoughts were in terms
of brand and processor.

5 years ago Toshiba was the go, but I've heard indifferent reports on their
latest machines.

Are Acer OK? Have HP lifted their game?

And does anyone have any thoughts on what Intel processor I should be
looking for?

 

Asus. quite value for money.
Dell Latitude range are also not bad.

=bob=

 

The computer and processor depend on your price range. So, what price
range are you looking to buy in? Offhand, I'd go for a full P-M centrino
(not celeron centrino) and look at getting a good graphics card ($$$)
built into the system. The shared memory cards available on the majority
of laptops suck arse when it comes to games, and indeed won't even play
certain games. I'd have a serious look at Dell in this regard. I ended
up going with them for my laptop (I need one for use while in hospital)
due to price and good graphics chip availability.

I'm still wary of HP/Compaq, and from everything I've seen they haven't
lifted their game at all. If you've got the bucks, Toshiba are still the
best, but I'm not sure about the availability of reasonable graphics
chips in their systems.

Also, think about weight. A desktop replacement sort of laptop is going
to weigh a lot more than a lightweight model. I'm all too aware of this.

Cheers,

Ari


--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

I'd also go for Dell. I use an Inspirion 8600, and it's build quality alone
is better than a lot of shiitty Toshiba's I see where the screen is almost
falling off.

 

Aopen Openbook. Fantasic Laptops

 

Mine is an 8600, too My mother in law has a Toshiba that is still
ticking away with win98, but the screen axle froze and snapped off a
clip or some such inside, so now it's sort of free swinging.


--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

I have three Toshiba's - 4000, 2 x S1. The 4000 is the oldest, and had the
screen clip replaced. One S1 had a faulty DVD-R replaced under warranty,
the other had a screen replaced.
We also have a C610 Dell - It has had TWO HD's replaced under warranty.
Friends with Dells have also had HD's replaced.
They bought them for the on-site support, but it's a PITA every time you
lose the HD. They will replace and reload the O/S, but you have to do
everything else.

Rod

 

Dells run the hard drive too hot for my liking, right on
the limit of what the hard drive manufacturer allows.