Need a new laptop

[Mic]

We purchased the "back-to-school special" basic Compaq for my two oldest daughters when they started college. The first I purchased at Staples for @$400 in July, 2006(I don't know why I still have the receipt!). I purchased the 2-year warranty/accident coverage through Staples for half the cost of the computer(can you say STUPID?). When the network adapter went out and I took it to Staples to fix, I was told to contact Compaq, which I did. Compaq paid for the shipping and replaced the adapter in about a week, so I can not complain. Two years later, in August of 2008, we purchased a similar Compaq for second daughter from Best Buy; hers had a bigger harddrive than oldest daughter's, and more RAM(3GB) because it was running Vista, but it was basically the same computer. It was also @$400. We did not purchase any warranties or protection plans. Both girls basically check email, run Office programs, occassionally watch a movie...basic everyday computing. Both computers are still in good working order. Now our son, who starts his freshman year of college in a week, is a computer engineering major. He wrote down specific specs he "needed", such as an i7 processor, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, and a high-end graphics card. After going over my receipt from Newegg for parts he ordered to build a gaming desktop in October, I realized he was asking for a gaming laptop. My husband, who is an older version of my geek son, decided to purchase an Asus for him from Best Buy, but when we got there, he fell in love with a Sony Vaio that had a blu-ray reader and slightly better graphics card, so my son's computer cost 4 times what my daughters' computers cost. If you are going to be playing World of Warcraft or online gaming, a $400 will not do the job. But if you will be using the computer for everyday tasks like photo editing/storage, word processing(Office), email, etc., a $400 computer may be perfect. As far as brand names go, everyone has a preference. I have personally been happy with HP/Compaq, Dell, and to a lesser degree, Acer. My son built his own desktop with individually-ordered parts, and everything has worked fine since October. Just decide what you need the computer to do before you buy, or you may find yourself spending more money to upgrade the computer than it would have cost to buy a better one to begin with. I always check sites like slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com before I make a major purchase, and read consumer reviews of the product. Yeah, I was pretty upset that DH changed his mind about computers right there in the store...I had already read the reviews for the Asus and researched price.

 

[dawson5]

I've probably bought 5-6 computers from the Dell outlet. They are all working - even the one that is 12 years old.

My sister is a MAC consultant. She like most MAC fanatics thinks there is nothing else worth having. I used my dad's MAC for about a month last year. I just did not see the benefit. I think there are certain design fields where the software available on the MACs is better. But often software (like Southwest Ding) is late coming to MACs.

If you really think you want to spend the money for a MAC then do so. But they are not infallible. My sister's MAC has been in the shop multiple times. It's kind of like a cult.

I just want to add to this. My neighbor is a Mac person--I think she has 6 lap tops right now. We live about 1 1/2 hrs outside of Chicago. That is the nearest "real" Apple store. Whenever she has issues, she sends them off. Another friend of ours bought her Mac from Best Buy. She has had it in quite a few times for the same problem. I just want to add that if you do go the Mac route, make sure you know where you would take it for any kind of repair. I keep telling the friend who takes hers in to BB, send it off or take it with you when you travel for baseball and find an Apple store. After hearing how many times she's taken it in now and BB can't fix it, it would be easier to have it done right the first time.

 

[MsDisney23]

go to walmart.com