Looking to buy a laptop, anyone have any advice or reccomendations? I know the ACER is a hot selling laptop right now, they can't keep them on the shelves.

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the ACER is a hot selling laptop right now, they can't keep them on

you get more bang for your buck with an HP. Sony is overpriced, Acer is so so IMO, Compaq is owned by HP but just a little less quality...kinda like Sony and Vizio. It all really depends on how much you are willing to spend, what you need it for, etc etc. Will you be using it for music storage? video games? movies? work? internet? all the above?

Toshiba is a very good value. I know several folks with them.

Always felt Dell and HP where some of the better PC/Laptop makers. HP is the way to go IMO. Like the others said though what you need it to do plays a big part in it.

Avoid Compaq and Gateway.

Or, if you are wealthy, there's always a Mac.....

Said the former Apple employee.....

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Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
Or, if you are wealthy, there's always a Mac.....

Said the former Apple employee.....

Well, yeah, if you want to dish out some cash MAC is good because you can load both platforms
on that laptop. I just dont like the "1 button mouse" concept. I dont like the MAC platform either, but I hear the components (hardware) seem to be better than what you can get from a pc laptop.

If I had money to dump, I would get something from Alienware. Get the Quad CPU, Geforce 512 gig, 300+ 10,000 rpm SATA, Blue Ray +-R-RW, 17 inch HD screen, etc etc...lol

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Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
Toshiba is a very good value. I know several folks with them.

I like mine!

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I just dont like the "1 button mouse" concept. I dont like the MAC platform either, but I hear the components (hardware) seem to be better than what you can get from a pc laptop.

funny what you get used to. When I first switched to a PC I thought "Why the heck do they need two buttons on the mouse?"

As for components, I worked in New Product Development at Apple and before we would put out a new system every new component went through literally months and months of testin. Last project I was on we built close to two thousand computers to be used for S/W development, H/W testing, etc., etc. before we built the first system to be sold.

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Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

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I just dont like the "1 button mouse" concept. I dont like the MAC platform either, but I hear the components (hardware) seem to be better than what you can get from a pc laptop.

funny what you get used to. When I first switched to a PC I thought "Why the heck do they need two buttons on the mouse?"

As for components, I worked in New Product Development at Apple and before we would put out a new system every new component went through literally months and months of testin. Last project I was on we built close to two thousand computers to be used for S/W development, H/W testing, etc., etc. before we built the first system to be sold.

Wonder what windows does? Lets see...

Power turns on... Check.
Start up takes 10 mins... Check.
Blue Screen of death... Check.

Ok good to go ship her out!

I have had a 2 button mouse on my MAC for years. I actually use a Microsoft mouse, it is a nice tool.

Since I left Apple and once I moved to AZ I haven't even seen a Mac. That's about 11 years worth of product development so I have no idea what they are like anymore.

I like my Mac! Runs pretty good. Never get the blue screen of death. A little on the pricey side, but it a company laptop, so I need something that doesn't fail often.

I was told both Dell and Gateway give gov't employees 10 to 15% discounts.

With that said, my son just graduated from jr. college with a double degree: computer programming and computer game design and development (with HIGH honors, the proud papa in me has to boast).

He's headed off to a university in the fall to finish his B.S., and the wife and I told him to pick out or put together (customize) a laptop for his next three semesters at the university, and we'll pay for it.

Any ideas?

I know a little about the Toshibas, my littlest one got one last year, but will it (Toshiba) be capable enough of doing the things my son will have to use it for in his field of study?

Jerry if $ isn't an issue for the laptop go with a high end "gaming model" from HP or Dell. They are pretty bullet proof from my experiance, and the gaming models are souped up normlay with the latest and greatest.

Their websites also let you take a standard model and tweak it by upgradeing or pulling hardware or software off.

I still have Dells gaming laptop from 2003. Out dated now but still run's good. Even after spilling a Cornona on it one night in Key West...

Money isn't the issue, I want to make sure he gets a good one to suit his needs.

Thanks for the H/P & Dell tips. Have had a couple of H/P's as home computers, and he has a current H/P desktop, but doesn't want to drag it to the university.

He's a software guy; a couple of his friends are hardware guys, and he's talking to them, too.

I've mentioned to him talking to Tigerdirect.com, which I've had great luck with on different issues.

I'll let you know what his decision ultimately is.

Keep in mind the $29 a month payments might sound great, but watch that interest. Mine with dell was like 29%.

Sorry, old school here.

Payin cash, the only way. Just wanting to make sure he gets the one he wants and needs.

Daughter has a Toshiba, four years running good.

I have a used Dell that survived a trip to Iraq. Better cooling setup than the Toshiba. The Dell just seems beefier. Be careful with high end if battery time is important. They seem to use more juice.

Both brands are good. User comments at consumer sites are helpful too.

I really like the HP laptops. At the higher end they have the HDX 16t and HDX 18t models. They are set up for gaming and can be upgraded with just about any feature you want. Just ordered myself an HDX 16t for grad school. I have owned a COMPAQ and Mac in the past, but my current HP has been the best by far. It survived my road trips at ATG, my tour at PATFORSWA, and a patrol boat in Hawaii. It has been tossed of my rack a couple of times during heavy seas and I even dropped it onto the concrete floor by mistake during my time in Kuwait and it still works great. If you are worried about battery life, you could always get one of the high capacity batteries. HP makes a 12 cell battery for most of their laptops.

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Originally posted by n1dp:
Daughter has a Toshiba, four years running good.

I have a used Dell that survived a trip to Iraq. Better cooling setup than the Toshiba. The Dell just seems beefier. Be careful with high end if battery time is important. They seem to use more juice.

Both brands are good. User comments at consumer sites are helpful too.

That's how old my Toshiba is as well and have used it every day for college when I was in-seat and while I was off in California for A-school. Still runs like a champ without any upgrades to it yet.