Buying a new laptop. Help please!

[laughinplace199]

Hi,

Our existing HP laptop is a piece of junk and we are looking to replace it.

We are looking at a Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i5-480M Processor. Here is a link to it:
http://www.staples.com/Dell-Inspiron-i17R-17.3-Laptop-(black)/product_917195?cmArea=SC3:CG71P4118:CL161747:SS1057085

Does anyone have experience with this laptop? The reviews I've read seem decent, but I'd love to hear from someone who has one.

Thanks!

 

[Charade]

The specs are good (so is the price) but that's a pretty large laptop being that it's a 17.3 inch screen. Have you "played" with it at the store? A lot of name brand laptops in that class are functionally similar. The difference is in how it "feels". Like the touch pad, the mouse buttons and the keyboard. If I were buying my wife a laptop today, I wouldn't buy the same one she got last year because of the keyboard and mouse buttons.

Another thing to remember is when you have a laptop like that (with a numeric keypad on the side) is the touchpad and mouse buttons might not centered with the screen. I'm used to my work Dell where they are but it doesn't have a numeric keypad. When I use my wife's, I have a natural tendency to center my hands with the screen.

 

[Magic Mom]

I hated my HP, it was a lemon from day 1. This laptop is a Sony, and I love it.

 

[focusondisney]

Hi! I have a Dell 15 inch Inspiron that I got late last April. So just about 1 yr ago. I know just about nothing about computers. I only use it to go online (almost daily) & looking at DVDs & pictures. Since I don't do any kind of work or bill paying I didn't get any kind of office or works programs on it, so I can't say anything about specific programs.

Anyway, I have had no problems with it. It is reliable & comfortable for me. The screen is easy to see (no issues with glare, etc), good audio & long battery life.

 

[golfgal]

That is basically the one we got for DS18 to use in college. It has the i7 processor though, I think. His is the 19" one. He LOVES the keypad keyboard too. He has had his for just about a year and loves it. We have several Dell Laptops and have had no issues with them-other than our oldest one needing a new screen because the lightbulb burned out (DS18 fixed it for about $40).

 

[Wishing on a star]

Once you do Mac,
You never go back!!!

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Once you do Mac,
You never go back!!!

You got that right! I my MacBook

 

[laughinplace199]

The specs are good (so is the price) but that's a pretty large laptop being that it's a 17.3 inch screen. Have you "played" with it at the store? A lot of name brand laptops in that class are functionally similar. The difference is in how it "feels". Like the touch pad, the mouse buttons and the keyboard. If I were buying my wife a laptop today, I wouldn't buy the same one she got last year because of the keyboard and mouse buttons.

Another thing to remember is when you have a laptop like that (with a numeric keypad on the side) is the touchpad and mouse buttons might not centered with the screen. I'm used to my work Dell where they are but it doesn't have a numeric keypad. When I use my wife's, I have a natural tendency to center my hands with the screen.

DH wants the 17 in screen (our current HP has a 17 in screen as well). Thanks for the suggestion of playing with it in the store. I hadn't thought about that. We will definitely check it out in person and see what we think.

Thanks!

 

[Cinderella94]

Add me to the "I'll never own a PC again!" camp!

 

[jimmytammy]

We bought our 1st Macbook last year based on what my friend, who recently started his own comp. repair co., gave advice on. His comment about it was he wasnt smart to advise that way, because PCs keep him in business. He was right! We havent had a minutes trouble out of our Mac, so much so that we decided to give that one to DD for her college studies and bought us a MB pro(what I am using right now). A few dollars more than a PC, sure, but crashes no more, fast off and on, fast access to email and internet. Only thing I miss is word and excel for business, so I hit the PC for that, but DW says she will get that transferred.

Bottom line...go Mac and as others say, you wont go back!!

 

[airhead]

I got a lot of good info here on the DIS and that's what I ended up with. I was worried that the 15.6" screen would be too small,but its not. Its a perfect size!

 

[katiebug86]

Once you do Mac,
You never go back!!!

You are SO right. I just got my macbook pro two days ago! I was so skeptical at first because I never have used a mac before. One hour in using it I will never buy another pc!

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I got hooked on Macs with one of the old clamshells probably 5 years ago. I got one on eBay almost as a joke (they were old even back then). I messed with it for a while, and thought WOW this thing is really cool. I ended up putting away my Windows computer and using that ancient clamshell a lot. It was just too old to cut it, ended up getting an iBook, and eventually a MacBook.

 

[Dancind]

Another long time Dell family that converted to Macs last year. No more crashes, no more lost files. Why did we wait so long?

 

[golfgal]

Another long time Dell family that converted to Macs last year. No more crashes, no more lost files. Why did we wait so long?

People here keep talking about crashes and lost files--what do you do that this happens? We have had many, many, many Dells for the past 10+ years and have never had an issue like this.

 

[disneyred]

I know a lot a people did not like ACER , but I bought it for the kids because of the price and all the features I got included in the great price... so far so good..the kids love it..they play games , watch movies and oh yeah do some homework on it...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We've have a Dell desktop for a little over two years, with Vista no less, and NEVER had a crash. EVER. No blue screens.

We also have two 15 inch Dell laptops we bought for the kids for Christmas, and they have been very happy with them.

The specs on the laptop you posted are very good. But, if this is NOT your only computer, I'd question needing that big of a hard drive. You also need to take into account that it's going to be pretty big at 17.3 inches. So, if you already have a desktop, I'd consider a 15 inch model like the Inspiron 15R.

Or, if you are interested in a tablet, you might want to look at the Inspiron Duo, which can convert between a laptop and a tablet.

As for Macs, if you really want to change operation systems, go right ahead. I don't like the Mac OS at all.

 

[stevenpensacola]

another vote for "get a Macbook"....

people like to complain about the cost of a Mac, but when you compare apples to apples (sorry) the costs are comparable to similarly equipped PC.

or at least get a Toshiba laptop. I believe these have much better ratings than the Dells.

Dells have had a few problems ...especially in regards to the power plug on the rear of the machine eventually breaking, and needing repair.

 

[Buckalew11]

I bought an Asus and really like it.

DD has a Mac and loves it and would not want to go back to anything else.

 

[lovephotography]

I love my MacBook .