Laptop

[lunatron]

I am thinking about buying a laptop. Any advice? I really don't want to get a Vista machine. I have only heard bad things about that OS. Anyone know any other good options?

Comments

[sapphirebreeze.livejournal.com]

Erm... used?

I know a lot of people would recommend Macs, but they tend to run a bit more expensive, and if you're already invested in PC/Windows software, there are more problems (even with emulators).

I've mentioned it before, but I've been very happy with every Toshiba laptop I've dealt with (which is... two. The one I used to own and I put through hell, and the one I'm assigned at work and am currently putting through hell).

[koilungfish.livejournal.com]

Buy the laptop you want for the hardware, then wipe Vista and reinstall the OS you want. It's not too hard - I did it for my brother a couple of months ago. Took an evening. The instructions are in the manual.

Or buy a Mac. But wait until October, because OSX Leopard comes out then so either you get the shiny new OS or get a cut-price older one.

[dragoness-e.livejournal.com]

You're going to get contradictory advice here. When I worked at CompUSA, before I bought my laptop, I went to the Customer Service department and asked them which brands they had the fewest returns on, and which they had the most returns under warranty.

Answer: fewest returns- Apple laptops hands down. In the PC-compatible department, the "best" of the brands we carried were HP and Sony laptops.

Most returns, most complaints: TOSHIBA and Acer laptops--also our cheapest laptops.

For me, the HP proved to be the best compromise between reliable brand and not-too-pricey--and I caught a model that met my specs on sale because it was discontinued. I later bought my husband a Sony when they had a model with specs I liked on a steeply-discounted sale as part of a big promotion, but otherwise I would not have purchased it, because Sony laptops tend to be very pricey.

[dragoness-e.livejournal.com]

If you buy your laptop at a major consumer electronics chain like CompUSA, Best Buy, etc, pay attention to stuff like rebates being included in the "list" price. CompUSA does actually honor their rebates, but are very bad about the "list" price including the rebate, with the actual price you pay at the register being in fine print.

Salesmen get commissions on and have quotas for how many "extended warranties" they sell, so they'll push them hard on you. If it's one that is actually honored by the store without a lot of hassle (CompUSA was good about that, I've heard bad things about Best Buy, though), it's worth it for high-ticket items that are likely to break before the warranty expires... like laptops.

Salesmen also may get bonuses for how many extra accessories they can sell you on the same ticket as the laptop, so watch for them pushing laptop bags, coolers, other accessories on you. If you actually intend to buy that stuff, fine, do it, it'll make the salesman all puppy-like adorably happy, but be aware they aren't pushing that stuff at you because they are disinterested buddies just looking out for your welfare.