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        New Message Board Archives >> Oct-Dec 2003 >> Question about laptops (non ch)
        
(Message started by: Melissa on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:12pm)

Title: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Melissa on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:12pm

I am deciding on which laptop to purchase. I can't decide between a Dell Inspiron 1100, Sony Vaio FXA63 , or Toshiba Satellite 3005-S305 . If there is one of these that I should absolutely not buy because of bad experience, please let me know! I would hate to spend so much money on something that I could have prevented if I had just asked someones opinion. Any thoughts? BTW, these are used, not brand new. Thanks for your help!

:)mel

Title: had not proteccRe: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by ClusterChuck on Oct 28^th, 2003, 10:44pm

I am not too smucken fart on puters, but I have a Dell Inspiron 8100, and I love it. It has been trouble free for almost two years now. The only problem I had, was with garbage that I had loaded in and then a virus that I had not properly protected myself from.

That is the only problem I have had with it, and that wasn't the puter's problem.

Just my [smiley=twocents.gif]

Chuck

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Melissa on Oct 29^th, 2003, 11:08am

TY for your imput Chuck. I will be purchasing a Dell Inspiron 2650. I did some checking on reviews, and this sounds pretty good to me! Thanks again!

:)mel

Title: TheRe: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by TomM on Oct 29^th, 2003, 11:16am

The Vaio's generally are slimmer and lighter because all your peripheral drives (DVD, CD, Floppy) are separate pieces and must be attached to the laptop by a cable. If that does not bother you and you want slim and light, then get the Vaio otherwise all are good brands.
Lastly consider battery time. Will you be traveling and requiring hard usage w/o an external power source? Extra batteries are available in different sizes (AmpH).

TomM

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by gmlevenhagen on Oct 29^th, 2003, 11:32am

My [smiley=twocents.gif]

Skip the PC altogether and get a Mac

I love my Ibook. its the best laptop I have ever used!!!

Gena

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Miklos on Oct 29^th, 2003, 11:34am

My company, First Equipment Company, sells used laptops. If you want to call and give the features and specification you are interested in, we (not me) can probably give you a quote. The tech center just received a bunch of Dell Latitudes back from lease at Frito Lay, and they are in the process of being refurbished. FEC is an authorized IBM PC repair center along with a couple of other brands.

Office phone (toll free): 888-780- 8631, ext. 278

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by kissmyglass on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:01pm

I have a Toshiba Satellite & it overheats & shuts down a lot. My last one was an IBM & from now on I will buy nothing but an IBM....

Kev

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by catlind on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:10pm

I've got a Dell 5100 and I love it. I did have a compaq and it was the biggest nightmare I've ever had with any computer. The Dell does everything it's supposed to and the only problems have been with user error hehe.

The Dell setup is also very easy to format and start over again, you don't have to do alot to get things working the way they were.

The biggest downfall with the Dell is the weight. It is a very heavy laptop IMHO.

Cat

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Melissa on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:31pm

Thanks everyone for your opinions! ;;D And Miklos, TY for the phone#, I just might take you up on that since I am such a fruit when it comes to making puter decisions. ;;D

:)mel

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Svenn on Oct 30^th, 2003, 11:55am

My advice is to stay away from Dell.
Their service sucks

Svenn

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Mark C on Oct 30^th, 2003, 12:19pm

on 10/30/03 at 11:55:49, Svenn wrote:

My advice is to stay away from Dell.
Their service sucks

Svenn

When I bought my Dell a couple of years ago their service was top notch. To cut costs they have farmed out their tech suport to India and it has really went downhill. As far the PC itself it is very nice, but I now consider my 3 year extended warranty pretty much useless. If it breaks I will just repair it myself. Check out these links....
here (http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=cc_general) and here (http://www.ihatedell.net/). Keep in mind Dell sells over a million PC's a month so this is not a good cross section of their customer base, but the problems all seem to be the same.

http://www.ihatedell.net/ihdellbanner2.gif

I think I will just build or buy local my next PC.

Good Luck,
http://www.drfeller.com/Mark/mark.gif

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Melissa on Oct 30^th, 2003, 1:12pm

Well, those posts were a little too late ::), I did buy a Dell Inspirion 1100 for $645.00, BUT if anything happens to it, I will be taking it to a local here that fixes puters. SO, I feel OK with my purchase. Thanks everyone again for your help!

:)mel

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Mark C on Oct 30^th, 2003, 1:31pm

Dell has a 30 day no questions asked return policy so if you do have a problem send it back pronto. I didnt mean to scare you away from Dell, their service has changed though. Most people never need their service anyway so I wouldnt worry....sounds like you got a good deal too...did you get them to give you free shipping?

The Dell Tech forum is one of only a couple of MB I hit....this one being home of course.

Let us know how it goes...I love new stuf! ;;D

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by Melissa on Oct 30^th, 2003, 1:37pm

No Mark, had to pay for shipping, but it's Airbourne Express, so I know it'll get here pretty quck! As soon as I figure it all out, and set up my isp, I'll post from my new puter on how I either love it or hate it, LOL

Oh, and yeah, I love new stuff too! ;;D

:)mel

Title: Re: Question about laptops (non ch)
Post by jflynn on Oct 30^th, 2003, 4:03pm

With laptops my issue is the pointing device: trackball vs. touch pad vs. "cat tongue" pointer. I hate the touch pads personally and will never buy another laptop with one.

Incedenatlly I just bought a used Panasonic laptop as a beater from eBay for $199 shipped. It works great, a Toughbook which is very sturdy although a bit heavy. Major bargain. Tigerdirect.com is another good place for refurbished and new laptops.

I highly suggest setting up a wireless network to share resources with other computers in your house and to be able to have Internet access anywhere around your home wirelessly. You can get the hardware to do this for well under $100 these days. You'll need to follow instructions closely to set it up butit's not hard.