Looking for a Decent Laptop for Under $1400

[guitarman]

I've been looking mostly at Toshiba and HP. I want a bright screen, 512K RAM, at least 40G hard disk, DVD burner, wireless b, and at least a 14 inch screen.

I see Celeron, Pentium, and AMD Athlon chips in the various computers. My understanding is that Celeron is a poor man's Pentium. Is this assumption correct? What about AMD? As good or better than Pentium? Any compatibility issues with AMD? I mostly use my computers for email, web surfing, Microsoft Office, and I want to start burning DVDs from my old videotapes.

I will use the computer mostly as a desktop replacement. It doesn't need to be ultra light. I want something built to last with a good keyboard.

Any help from you all would be greatly appreciated.

[N_Jay]

Get a DELL (shop the bargain sites like www.bensbargains.com).
Get a pentium.
If you realy want to do the video tapes get a desk top as add in cards are cheaper, and extra hard disk space is cheaper.

Get a good USB keyboard and Mouse, and save the built in oners.

[sfhondapilot]

Also check out this thread at slickdeals.net.

Dell is running a code promotion and many codes are available at the slickdeals thread.



Dell Elf Promotion


Slickdeals thread (over 3500 replies)

[guitarman]

I thought about DELL, but decided against it because of reported reliability problems. Apparently DELL ain't what they used to be.

[N_Jay]

None are what they used to be.

Dell is good for the money and has good service.

[rfs830]

pctorque.com look at the 3790

[wuttja]

Originally posted by guitarman
I've been looking mostly at Toshiba and HP. I want a bright screen, 512K RAM, at least 40G hard disk, DVD burner, wireless b, and at least a 14 inch screen.

I see Celeron, Pentium, and AMD Athlon chips in the various computers. My understanding is that Celeron is a poor man's Pentium. Is this assumption correct? What about AMD? As good or better than Pentium? Any compatibility issues with AMD? I mostly use my computers for email, web surfing, Microsoft Office, and I want to start burning DVDs from my old videotapes.

I will use the computer mostly as a desktop replacement. It doesn't need to be ultra light. I want something built to last with a good keyboard.

Any help from you all would be greatly appreciated.

I've had good luck with my Compaq laptop. It has a nice 15.4" widescreen, and the Pentium Centrino processor. It has longer battery life and built in wireless (most are 802.11g now which is compatible with the .b too). This is actually the first Pentium processor I have owned, always had AMD in my desktops (still do). They work just fine too and are cheaper.

In the Dec. 04 issue of Consumer Reports, they rate the Compaq Presario x1000 (that's the model I have) as the top workhorse laptop. #2 is the HP Pavillion zt3000.

Jason
'05 EXL-RES on order...

[guitarman]

Originally posted by rfs830
pctorque.com look at the 3790

Sager? Never heard of them, but looks promising. Do you have one or know anyone who does? What can you tell me about the build quality and is it quiet?

[robrecht]

I've always only owned laptops. Even at work I only use a laptop and would never buy a desktop. That being said, part of the higher cost of using laptops is that they will not last as long as a desktop. Mobility has its costs in durability.

What brand? I actually believe Dell's laptops have gotten better than they were several years ago but that's just based on my own work computers. A few months ago, however, I decided not to buy a Dell for home use because the DVD+ burner didn't seem like it would be as compatible with our other DVD- players (TiVo, Pilot's RES).

I often love SONY's screens and DVD burning flexibility BUT their reputation for reliability seems deservedly poor in my experience. Plus I'm still disappointed in their less than honest marketing of their MemoryStick.

Not sure which brand of laptop I'll buy next for home use, but I won't spend the premium on the latest and greatest 3k laptop (you're smart to stick to a lower price point). Luckily DVD burners in laptops are now available for less. I've often been impressed with features and price offered by Fujitsu but I have no impression of their reliability.

Good luck and let us know your experience.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by guitarman


Sager? Never heard of them, but looks promising. Do you have one or know anyone who does? What can you tell me about the build quality and is it quiet?

I have had at least 11 portable computers. (all the way back to the luggable Compaq days).

I would NOT get a portable from a non-major supplier.

And I am the kind who builds desk-top machines from scrap parts.

There are too many little issue that can creep up, that the company does not discover till they have sold several hundred thousand units. (Hinges, cooling, Power supply issues, etc.)

[robrecht]

Originally posted by N_Jay


I have had at least 11 portable computers. (all the way back to the luggable Compaq days).

My first Compaq was the SLT-286, just after the luggables died out. I loved that machine, especially the detachable keyboard (like the luggables). Compaq had some imagination in the design of laptops before they became commodities.

[krygny]

Originally posted by N_Jay
None are what they used to be.

The whole business has gotten so competitive, all the manufacturers have cheapened down their systems beyond the point they should be. For desktop systems, the most egregious violation is their cheap power supplies and fans. Since there's no way to monitor thermal operation in these things, you won't know that a fan is not working or a power supply is overheating until you smell smoke; ... or a component has simply failed from overheating and the POS just won't boot.

For notebooks, the only mainstream manufacturers that still build to minimum acceptable standards are Apple and IBM. You'll pay a bit more, but it's probably worth it. I've never owned one but many people I know love their ThinkPads, and wouldn't use anything else. If price is paramount, get a Dell (and hope for the best).

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by krygny

The whole business has gotten so competitive, all the manufacturers have cheapened down their systems beyond the point they should be. For desktop systems, the most egregious violation is their cheap power supplies and fans. Since there's no way to monitor thermal operation in these things, you won't know that a fan is not working or a power supply is overheating until you smell smoke; ... or a component has simply failed from overheating and the POS just won't boot.

For notebooks, the only mainstream manufacturers that still build to minimum acceptable standards are Apple and IBM. You'll pay a bit more, but it's probably worth it. I've never owned one but many people I know love their ThinkPads, and wouldn't use anything else. If price is paramount, get a Dell (and hope for the best).

I don't know how they are today, but a while back I fielded a large group of Toshibas in a service organization, and was amaized at how well they held up (almost as good as IBMs).

Dells are as good as any of the other "cheaper" brands, but provide much better service. Also since they are produced in such quantity, and have had good accessory compatability over several generations, there is a good change that you can get replacement parts for a LONG time (very important in a "personal" computer) (i.e. one you buy, rather thna one the company buys).

IBM always seems to like to do one thing or another that is just a bit different. This has caused me unforseen compatyability issues, so I don't recommend IBM any more.
HP used to do the same, but I think with the Compaq deal they have stopped that anoying habbit.

Sony are nice, but pricy, and also seem to like to do things THEIR way! (PCs should be compatable!!!!)

[hondacuraplanet]

I've got a Dell laptop, and it's soon going in the trash

It's got the "shuts off after 3 seconds, move it and it locks up" issue that seems to be common among Dell owners. There is no known reliable fix that anyone's found. I found at least 50 people that have this issue on the Dell tech support forums.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by hondacuraworld
I've got a Dell laptop, and it's soon going in the trash

It's got the "shuts off after 3 seconds, move it and it locks up" issue that seems to be common among Dell owners. There is no known reliable fix that anyone's found. I found at least 50 people that have this issue on the Dell tech support forums.

Purchased new or used?
Sounds like you have some internal loose connections.
Has anyone worked on it?

Where I used to work we LITERALLY had thousands of Dells, and the biggest problem was our stupid IT guys installing the wrong drivers.

We had stuff break, but no big issues.