laptop computer advice

I'm looking for my first laptop to supplement my desktop computer. I don't need an all-singing, all-dancing wonder machine, as I'm not a gamer. I also then to keep stuff virtually forever,or until I really need to upgrade - I don't go get the trick item of the week just for grins. I'm a writer/photographer, and I mostly use my computer for word processing, spreadsheets, photoshop, internet correspondence, research and powerpoint. What I need to know is what brands you all recommend, and what brands you have had bad luck with. Also, any particular features/equipment that should wave a red flag.

Thanks for the advice.

You know what I like in a laptop?
Dedicated buttons or wheel for volume control. The Acer netbook that I an writing on right now requires that you hold the Fn key and down key at the same time to change volume. The reality of this is that it is required that you use two hands just to change the volume. That is my pet peeve.

I had an HP 17" dv9000 series that gave me grief. Broken hinges a couple times, seldom would successfully download the manufacturer's internal updates, media control panel buttons would only work when they felt like it, keyboard would get nuclear hot and graphics would start going wonky.

After a little more than 3 years, the integrated video card gave up the ghost on Christmas day. I'm typing this on a new ASUS U50F 15.6" with core i3 processor. I compared it to core i3'd Toshiba, Dell (both 15.6") and Gateway (17"). The ASUS had bigger HDD and more RAM than them and was the same price as the Dell, but cheaper than the Tosh and GW.** Several Geeks at a couple different Best Buys I talked to all gave ASUS, as a manufacturer, high praise; they've been making components for a LONG time and have good reliabilty. Also, less "crapware" than the mainstream brands.

**This was in the middle of Jan, just after the CES, so BB only had the four core i3 I mentioned. They now have a bunch.

Last laptop was an Acer. Not a bad machine. Current machine is a Sony Viao. Great machine. I also have a Asus EEE netbook. Good machine also. When I was shopping for the Sony I ended up getting it because it had the strongest case I found. Most of them felt like cardboard. The entire chassis would flex.

For the money, I always recommend refurbished Dell Latitudes. Stay away from their other lines like the Inspiron and Vostro. The Latitude is their corporate line. I've worked with dozens of them over the years and have seen very few problems.

We currently have seven of them in the family, all of them used daily. Only real problem has been one failed hard drive. If I needed a new laptop, I'd get a D620. My current daily laptop is an ultraportable D410. One other reason I like Dells is that it's very easy to find parts for them, such as replacing a CDRW drive with a DVDRW drive.

I will never, ever own an HP. Their servers and desktops are solid, but their laptops are utter junk.

One last plus - refurbed Dells don't come loaded with ANY crapware to slow them down. All you get is Windows XP. Any new laptop you buy is going to be loaded with a ton of crap software you don't need.

The standard IBM Thinkpad (I know, its Lenovo now) looks boring compared to the flashy bells and whistles that you see on Best Buy laptops, but you can't beat the performance and ruggedness of these guys. I had one for a few years as a work laptop and what it lacked in speakers and buttons and crapwear, it more than made up for with years of faithful service on the road.

I am currently using a Dell Precision Workstation Laptop which is not bad, but after two years I have already replaced the hard drive and keyboard under warranty, and the screen is getting pretty floppy. It can't be upgraded to Win7 so it may be going bye bye soon.

If you're looking for a PC laptop, then I'd second the suggestion regarding Thinkpads. I've got two sitting here at the moment (one I've had a while that still has a serial port, all I need is an Megasquirt to go with it, another one I'm configuring for my mum) and I got one for my wife because the T & X series ones are probably as robust as a non-ruggedized laptop can be. Plus you can get enough spares & accessories on the bay if the need arises.

I wouldn't necessarily want a laptop as a desktop replacement though and I probably wouldn't want photoshop on it either, but I even use mine for occasional software development.

This is a timley thread. I just got a new ASUS N61J It is a darn fast machien. I have always used Compaq and HP but for my home PC's that I build I have used many ASUS motherboards and other components with no issues. This unit comes with.

i7 CPU 4GB ram DDR3 320GB hd 16 inch screen.

So far I like It. Althyough I am actually typing this on mo other laptop (used for all things cars my trusty compaq R4025US.

The only beef with the new machien is it came with windows 7 64 bit home edition. In order to get older programs to run you either have to get a 32 bit windows 7 or upgrade to the 64 bit professional and then run the MS virtual machine with XP. I did the latter of the two as I wanted the benefit if the 64 bit system for current and future software while the couple of 32 bit programs I use will most likely be replaced in the next year or two. Autocad is the biggest issue I have as upgrading to the current version is a serious chunk of $$$$$.

The bad about this work around and the verchual machine is that printing gets a bit strange.

dean1484 wrote: The only beef with the new machien is it came with windows 7 64 bit home edition. In order to get older programs to run you either have to get a 32 bit windows 7 or upgrade to the 64 bit professional and then run the MS virtual machine with XP.

This is actually seldom the case. 64bit Windows7 can run nearly all recent 32bit apps. I myself have Win7 Home Premium 64bit and I've installed a couple dozen 32bit apps with no trouble whatsoever. I've only encountered one app - that the developers haven't updated in about four years - that won't run properly.

Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Lenovo before the others.

Toughbook, then Lenovo for durability then everyone else is in a race to the bottom (aside from the Apple products with the aluminum chassis)

Im on a MSI Wind netbook, and have had no problems, mine runs 24/7 most days, seeding torrents in the background. Its not powerful enough to play games on, and the keyboard is a little small at times, but its light and easy to carry with you. The asus eee netbooks are excellent value as well..

Andrew

My wife and I have been using a new Dell Inspiron 14 for the past six months or so and are very smitten. We have had nothing but good things to say so far - and it was like $400. Lots of dell discounts around - discover has huge cash back and I think bing had some for a while too.

Oh - and I am typing this from my work lappy - a far inferior IBM T60p.

I'm posting this from a puny little island west of Sumatra, on my Latitude D430 that my work bought me. Two years of dual-booting, weird software setups, viruses, virus removal, playing games, badly mistreating the batteries, and not to mention lugging it all over Indonesia into the bush for months at a time, and everything still works fine. The internal wi-fi picks up signals from blocks away. The two batteries it came with originally gave me ~six hours of useful life, now one goes maybe 4.5~5 and one three-ish. Not bad.

When I go on holiday I don't even bother taking my personal Compaq POS, I just take this one.

Check out www.newegg.com for the cheapest prices. They have a nice review section as well.

Andrew

another vote for the Thinkpad, ive had my r31 since, well xp was the new os then ..so a long time.. good stuff. id get a new one, but it just keeps going and going, every day...

i've been pleased with my acer... was the $350 black friday special from 3 or so years ago (thank you grandma)... dumpped vista and put XP pro on it and it was a great machine... i've now had to hack up the power cord, and has a small crack in lid but it's not been treated nicely... sure i'd like a faster processor (1.7ish celly) but it does basic stuff nicely... have the desktop for more intensive stuff.

the one thing I don't like is the shiny screen... it looks good as long as it's dark... but the reflection KILLS.... also battery life was never very good but oh well

+1 for a Thinkpad. They are built tough.

I don't like Dells and I had a horrible experience with Toshiba. I had to have three hard drives replaced and then the screen broke. All the people I know have had great luck with HPs. I love my HP Pavilion and it is easily the best and fastest laptop I have owned or used.

Toshibas are the worst laptops out there I think. Repairing them is good business though.

HPs and Compaqs suck

Sonys are decent but they are a seriously evil company I recommend boycotting

IBM/Lenovo, Dell, and Acer have good reputations. I haven't heard anything bad about Asus or MSI.

And go for a linux distro (Ubuntu is noob-friendly) if you can. Way lower maintenance, proper security, and it'll save you a lot of money in the future.

i'll also go with the thinkpad... they seem to last forever, my dad has had one for about 5 years and it's still running great.

HP/compaq are the same company... don't care for em and I know my dad HATES fixing em (repair tech)...

i have one of these to supplement my desktop and LOVE it

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115656

I just bought one of these as my couch surfing machine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220693

Just saw a thinkpad on sellout.woot.com this morning.