Laptop shopping sucks

[maderr]

I've got three different laptops on dell.com - they all have more or less the same stuff (including a bunch of crap I don't want but can't deselect) but they range from $1400.00 to $1900.00

I hate shopping for comps. I can't buy one anytime soon, but the way my comp is acting I'll have to buy it a lot sooner than I had originally planned.

But first I have to figure out what the hell I'm doing. I just need a laptop that's ideal for school, travels well, and can play dvds and handle a lot of downloading. And mp3s. And it needs to last for a long time, b/c I don't want to have to buy a new one in like two years.

Any advice is welcome. Bleh.

Comments

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

I've heard that IBM laptops are very durable, which means they travel well, even if they're carried as hand luggage a lot. On the other hand, if you mean "travels well" as in from place to place on the bus in a backpack, then IBM-type durability may not be necessary. ^^;;;

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I just mean it can stand planes, and maybe the occasional train or subway. IBM, eh? Cleary I've got lots of research to do yet.

[starparty.livejournal.com]

I'd ask mom about hers.. She bought it at Costco and it was only like 1200 and I think it's got all the bells and whistles that you want..

And tell me I can't have a laptop too. I *really* want one. But if we hook Arrow up with wireless cards... *drool*

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Question for Saturday.

I am thinking of mixing some interesting killer drinks for the Saturday BBQ; however, I want to know if anyone besides Greg is interested in booze.

If not, I'll just bring chips or something boring.

[starparty.livejournal.com]

Err how killer are we talking? I'd be interested in a few light drinks but nothing too over the top.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of stuff in the category of
one strong drink per person rather than a few light drinks (which would equal out to about the same), but I haven't yet figured out exactly what.

I figure Megan could stand it if she does straight shots of vodka; however, if you don't think you could, I'll try to allow for that as well.

I don't want to buy the stuff and have people not willing to try it ^^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

b00ze!!!

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

Very well then.
I have made a shopping list to concoct several interesting things (though I will not attempt an amaretto sour because I may not be able to do it justice ... and I will have run out of pennies by then).
Hopefully, the Romulan Ale will suffice for S's "light" drink. If not, I can make several Coke-based drinks if there is Coke available which I think is maybe duh.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Bwahahahaha. Drunk Twins, it will be stupdendous.

[raielchan.livejournal.com]

I did suggest drunken HALO to Greg ^^;;

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Yes! That is a must.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

You don't need a laptop.

And I can't do wireless, b/c I know they don't have the stuff for that in London. Too expensive anyway - wireless jackst he price up.

I shall ask your mother.

[jawsgoose.livejournal.com]

My laptop wasn't on the Costco website for some reason even though it's been a standard item for a long time. It's a Toshiba - I'll show you tonight

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Most laptops come with wireless cards now.

...Actually, most computers come with wireless cards now.

[starparty.livejournal.com]

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?cat=84

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=&topnav=&cat=4338&hierPath=84*&Browse=

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11005813&whse=&topnav=&cat=4338&hierPath=84*4338

[twilight-angel.livejournal.com]

I actually bought a Dell just this past summer. Erm...Inspiron 8600, I believe. Anyway, before it caught a bug from my school's network, it was working fabulously. And if you play a lot of DVDs on it, it's great because it has a rather wide screen, too. It's not too heavy, but it's also not a lightweight notebook. But I'm happy with it, and many people here at college enjoy Dells as well. Anyway, hope that helped.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Helps bunches. So far I've muched preferred Dells to other brands, and your comments are right up my alley. Thanks ^_^

[audaxfemina.livejournal.com]

My family bought me a gateway laptop for graduation from college, because they knew I was headed for grad school. I have an M350, which has great speed, a wireless LAN card, which I love muchly, and a 3 year warranty. $1400, all my extras included. Base price was $900, and it wasn't refurbished, like a lot of dells are.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Iiiiinteresting. I shall look into gateway then.

[hayama-sb.livejournal.com]

www.laptopworld.com is local. It's located over in Tri-County, next to the Larosas (which is is the same strip mall that Old Navy & Borders is in, just on the other end of the strip mall from Borders)

I got my HP laptop from there (actually from them at Computerfest) & the only issue I had involved me sending it to HP to get something fixed (I think the bios upgrade they did fixed it, even though they said they could find nothing wrong) It was a "display" model, so no surprize it was screwed up.

Figure that may give you another option.

[suyari.livejournal.com]

Averatec.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Wow. I think we have a winner.

[suyari.livejournal.com]

^^

[torah.livejournal.com]

I bought a Sony Vaio off uBid (www.ubid.com) for $1100, which is probably more than it's worth, but oh well. I like it. Unlike my junky desktop computer, it took my wireless network card quite well. And it has sweet software that makes MP3's easy (you can rip the music off a CD and transfer it to a portable storage device, like an iPod). And I can even play games on it.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I'm sorely tempted to get a Vaio - I know several people that have them and they're all pleased. But I also was told that it's difficult to get them fixed if something goes wrong.

[nepenth.livejournal.com]

mew. so many choices, ne? i was 'puter shopping last year. while dell is usually what i end up with if only for two reasons, they seem to replace nigh well anything as long as you are covered and they have a fairly decent tech team as long as you can handle going through 3 incompentent idiots before getting to a decent tech support person.

ibm is supposed to be durable as is sony, but i don't remember them having much in the way of replacement/ fixxing/ tech support. and sony is mad expensive.

hp and gateways tend (in my experience) crash burn and die very easily.

apples are fairly durable but i'm a pc person so i don't tend to see them as anything than eyecandy, and they tend to be a little more expensive than pcs.

cnet tends to have fairly good reviews and you can read what was good and bad about any notebook/laptop.

::snoggles:: hope that helps!

[maderr.livejournal.com]

*glomps* helps muchly. thanks ^_^