So I've been looking at laptops from Dell, Toshiba, Sony, and Intrex, all around the range of $1000-1500. Does anyone have any recommendations or horror stories dealing with any of these companies? So far Dell has the best deal. Thanks for the help.

9/19/2006 3:36:54 PM

search

9/19/2006 3:47:14 PM

Why Intrex? Is it because they are local? In general, you won't get your money's worth in hardware from them. Only thing you may get is good local support.

9/19/2006 3:51:45 PM

i got my pc from them and got great support. They replaced my soundcard and speakers which i ruined on my own. other than that, i have not had a single problem with my computer. ive just heard so many people complain about this and that going wrong with their notebooks and id really like to avoid any company that a lot of people have been dissatisfied with.

9/19/2006 3:56:22 PM

with any company you are going to have people that swear by them and swear at them; that's just how the world turns. for example, there are many people who hate Dell but me personally, i have never had any issues with Dell after owning 3 different systems from them (2 laptops, 1 desktop). but wiht that in mind, stay away from Sony; there shit is overpriced.

9/19/2006 4:02:12 PM

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123409-page,9/article.html

Shameless plug for Lenovo...

9/19/2006 4:02:15 PM

stick with either Dell or a Lenovo ThinkPad

9/19/2006 4:14:36 PM

Dell or think pad.

Thinkpads from: ncsu.edu/bookstore

Dells from: dell.com/ncstate
or
slickdeals.net (whatever deals they have listed for dell)

ThinkPads will generally cost a little more (even after discount) but tend to be rated higher in reliability and customer service. Dells will be much more customizeable, though customizing your Dell makes the deal less attractive usually.

[Edited on September 19, 2006 at 6:16 PM. Reason : ]

9/19/2006 6:15:43 PM

Everyone looks at the final price. Laptops through the bookstore usually have a hefty extended warranty. Stuff on slickdeals is usually always the most basic config they could find.

You have to decide for yourself if it is worth the extra $$. Also keep a close eye on resolution of the lcd. Same idea applies, slickdeals usually goes with a stripped down version.

9/19/2006 6:31:39 PM

i'm apparently the only one on this messageboard who really loves toshiba...and i'm betting i'm the only one who works with 10+ toshiba laptops every day...over the past 3 years, i have had NO trouble with ANY of them

best bang for your buck, hands down

i think a lot of people hate them because of how cheap their laptops were in the past (which i agree with, because i owned one of their flimsy ones)...i've yet to find anyone who really thinks toshibas suck who has actually owned one in the last few years

also remember that toshibas come standard with a 1 year full warranty...and that you don't have to send them in to get fixed...digitz on hillsborough st is an authorized dealer/service center (i've yet to work with them, but the toshiba support person told me they'd give me a brand new toshiba if they couldn't fix the problem in 24 hours)

toshiba ftw

[Edited on September 19, 2006 at 6:45 PM. Reason : .]

9/19/2006 6:44:07 PM

Macbook...can't go wrong with bootcamp so you can run windows...

9/19/2006 7:07:58 PM

Get a Thinkpad

9/19/2006 9:11:22 PM

so a few of my follow up thoughts are:

1. the dell i was looking at had a 2 year parts and service come standard while the others only had 1.
2. would the warranty for notebooks through the school continue after i graduate?

so far everyone has been a big help. thanks

9/20/2006 12:18:27 AM

Quote :

"Stuff on slickdeals is usually always the most basic config they could find."

thats not accurate, ive seen a few recent deals i've seen come with a core duo proc, 1gb of ram, 160Gb+ hard drives, dvd burner etc. i wouldnt exactly call that stripped down.


http://www.bensbargains.net/ is the spot

9/20/2006 12:26:20 AM

Quote :

"2. would the warranty for notebooks through the school continue after i graduate?"

The warranty is not through the school, it's through IBM/Lenovo and it's good for at least 3 years on nearly all the models the bookstore has ever had. You can upgrade it to a 4th year or to cover accidental damage or whatever if you want too. That doesn't go away when you graduate.

The ability to take it in and have it looked at in the bookstore also doesn't go away when you graduate. They'll even look at and work on (reformats and reinstalls only for the most part) out of warranty thinkpads, but only if they were purchased there.

9/20/2006 12:57:45 AM

dont waste your time at local shops.

oh and http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_search.aspx?type=topic§ion=3&searchstring=laptop&username=&usertype=match&sortby=date&sortorder=descending&page=

9/20/2006 10:50:39 PM

i def searched, but none were asking the questions i wanted the answer to. You guys helped a lot, this
info was not in any other threads.

9/20/2006 11:31:11 PM

http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html best laptops ever.

And you get a discount buying as a student too.

[Edited on September 21, 2006 at 1:36 AM. Reason : ]

9/21/2006 1:35:43 AM

i was gonna say to pm synapse and ask him but he doesnt help me anymore

9/21/2006 1:36:28 AM

I'm one of those instant gratification people. I'm interested in the Lenovo 3000 V100. Is there anywhere I can view these in person, maybe play around with it a little?

I hate ordering shit without actually seeing it first.

[Edited on September 21, 2006 at 10:23 AM. Reason : Thanks]

9/21/2006 10:23:00 AM

anyone?

9/21/2006 12:30:05 PM

MacBook Pro

9/22/2006 12:10:38 AM