lap top recommendation?

[Frank]

Want to get my wife one for Christmas.
<$500

15 inch screen

no AMD processor
min 3 gig memory

Is GW still good option? emachine?

Son says to avoid Dell with their current problems.

Toshiba nixed here in ng but friend has one and said OK.

[Joan F (MI)]

Last I saw laptops rated Toshiba was well regarded, in second place I
believe, with Lenovo in first? I have a Toshiba Tecra which is a very nice
machine, light weight and has a silver keyboard which I find much easier to
see than the black ones. You might have to spend more than $500 to get a
really nice one, watch the specials. I got mine at Tiger Direct for $800,
they usually run around $1600.

Frank wrote:
| Want to get my wife one for Christmas.
| <$500
|| 15 inch screen
| no AMD processor
| min 3 gig memory
|
| Is GW still good option? emachine?
|
| Son says to avoid Dell with their current problems.
|
| Toshiba nixed here in ng but friend has one and said OK.

[SC Tom]

Post by Frank
Want to get my wife one for Christmas.
<$500

15 inch screen

no AMD processor
min 3 gig memory
Is GW still good option? emachine?
Son says to avoid Dell with their current problems.
Toshiba nixed here in ng but friend has one and said OK.

I got this deal in email today:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115858&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL100510&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL100510-_-EMC-100510-Index-_-LaptopsNotebooks-_-34115858-L0B

Sounds like a decent machine, and has some impressive specs for the price.
Unfortunately, there are no reviews for it on Newegg, but a search may show
up some reviews elsewhere.

[chicagofan]

Post by Frank
Want to get my wife one for Christmas.
<$500

15 inch screen

no AMD processor
min 3 gig memory
Is GW still good option? emachine?
Son says to avoid Dell with their current problems.
Toshiba nixed here in ng but friend has one and said OK.

I consider Gateway still a good option, because my laptop is 4 yrs. old,
and has never had a repair. I know quality trends can vary in that
length of time, but all of the Gateway desktop computers [3] I have
owned never failed me either, until lightning fried various parts while
I was at work. :)

I would certainly check recent reviews on them in the PC magazines
online if I found one I liked.
bj

[Frank]

Post by chicagofan

Post by Frank
Want to get my wife one for Christmas.
<$500

15 inch screen

no AMD processor
min 3 gig memory
Is GW still good option? emachine?
Son says to avoid Dell with their current problems.
Toshiba nixed here in ng but friend has one and said OK.

I consider Gateway still a good option, because my laptop is 4 yrs. old,
and has never had a repair. I know quality trends can vary in that
length of time, but all of the Gateway desktop computers [3] I have
owned never failed me either, until lightning fried various parts while
I was at work. :)
I would certainly check recent reviews on them in the PC magazines
online if I found one I liked.
bj

Appreciate replies. I'm just wondering what brands I should avoid. Son
had said to avoid Dell and I don't like HP because of very frustrating
calls we've had with them on printer problems. Toshiba sounds like an
option along with GW.

Wife's use will not be intensive but I want to get her something she
would like. I'll probably hit the computer stores in a couple of weeks,
see what I like, check reviews and purchase someplace on line.

Frank

[chicagofan]

Post by Frank
Appreciate replies. I'm just wondering what brands I should avoid. Son
had said to avoid Dell and I don't like HP because of very frustrating
calls we've had with them on printer problems. Toshiba sounds like an
option along with GW.
Wife's use will not be intensive but I want to get her something she
would like. I'll probably hit the computer stores in a couple of weeks,
see what I like, check reviews and purchase someplace on line.
Frank

After reading a number of web site "user reviews" at shopping sites,
you'll get an idea about that. :)

My personal choices have been to avoid Dell and HP, although I have had
friends who buy both, and in spite of their problems with the hardware,
continue to buy them. :)

I also have a prejudice against Toshiba, because of a new DVD recorder
experience, but Joan has a good opinion of their computers, which is
what you are concerned about.

Good luck ... there's a world of information online. :)
bj

[Ben Myers]

Post by chicagofan

Appreciate replies. I'm just wondering what brands I should avoid. Son
had said to avoid Dell and I don't like HP because of very frustrating
calls we've had with them on printer problems. Toshiba sounds like an
option along with GW.
Wife's use will not be intensive but I want to get her something she
would like. I'll probably hit the computer stores in a couple of weeks,
see what I like, check reviews and purchase someplace on line.
Frank

After reading a number of web site "user reviews" at shopping sites,
you'll get an idea about that. :)
My personal choices have been to avoid Dell and HP, although I have had
friends who buy both, and in spite of their problems with the hardware,
continue to buy them. :)
I also have a prejudice against Toshiba, because of a new DVD recorder
experience, but Joan has a good opinion of their computers, which is
what you are concerned about.
Good luck ... there's a world of information online. :)
bj

All I can say is that Dell and Lenovo are generally well-designed, with
service manuals freely available, and spare parts in abundance.

HP and Toshiba totally suck to repair. Intricate over-complicated
assembly. Hard to find spare parts. HP has some service manuals
available, Toshiba none.

I have no experience working with Fujitsu and Panasonic laptops, not
enough with Acer-eGateMachines to form an opinion.

Finally, every brand name has its share of lemons. Witness the recent
settlement of the nVidia class action lawsuit identifying HP, Dell and
Apple models of laptops for recall and repair... Ben Myers

[BillW50]

Post by Ben Myers
All I can say is that Dell and Lenovo are generally well-designed, with
service manuals freely available, and spare parts in abundance.
HP and Toshiba totally suck to repair. Intricate over-complicated
assembly. Hard to find spare parts. HP has some service manuals
available, Toshiba none.
I have no experience working with Fujitsu and Panasonic laptops, not
enough with Acer-eGateMachines to form an opinion.
Finally, every brand name has its share of lemons. Witness the recent
settlement of the nVidia class action lawsuit identifying HP, Dell and
Apple models of laptops for recall and repair... Ben Myers

To add even more confusion, 2009 Consumer Reports ranked Toshiba as the
most reliable. While Dell and Lenovo were dead last. I personally prefer
Gateways (have four of them) or Asus (also have four of them) myself.

[Frank]

Post by BillW50

Post by Ben Myers
All I can say is that Dell and Lenovo are generally well-designed, with
service manuals freely available, and spare parts in abundance.
HP and Toshiba totally suck to repair. Intricate over-complicated
assembly. Hard to find spare parts. HP has some service manuals
available, Toshiba none.
I have no experience working with Fujitsu and Panasonic laptops, not
enough with Acer-eGateMachines to form an opinion.
Finally, every brand name has its share of lemons. Witness the recent
settlement of the nVidia class action lawsuit identifying HP, Dell and
Apple models of laptops for recall and repair... Ben Myers

To add even more confusion, 2009 Consumer Reports ranked Toshiba as the
most reliable. While Dell and Lenovo were dead last. I personally prefer
Gateways (have four of them) or Asus (also have four of them) myself.

I had previously read Ben's comments on Toshiba and was prejudiced
against them but a friend has one and is happy with it and I checked lap
tops at Best Buy yesterday and clerk was high on them saying they had
less problems than other brands.

As someone that only buys a new computer every few years, it is
frustrating to always have to make yourself current as to what is going
on with a market that rapidly changes.

Now I'm confused where to buy, on line or local.

[Joan F (MI)]

I always buy on line, more variety available and you can search for
bargains. I just bought this Tecra a couple of months ago for $800, they
usually run about $1400. I really didn't need another laptop but was a bit
unhappy with the one I had, had found out that I don't like the numpad on a
laptop, it throws the rest of the keyboard off center making it more
difficult to automatically position your hands and it was quite heavy. This
also had a silver keyboard and I wanted a light colored one, easier to see
in dim light. I wanted to stick with XP (this also has a CD with 7 so I can
upgrade if I ever want to) so every once in a while I would check out what
Tiger Direct had in that category. I saw this one and jumped on it, good
thing as they were gone the next day. I love it, light and fast and pretty,
too.

Frank wrote:
| I had previously read Ben's comments on Toshiba and was prejudiced
| against them but a friend has one and is happy with it and I checked
| lap tops at Best Buy yesterday and clerk was high on them saying they
| had less problems than other brands.
|
| As someone that only buys a new computer every few years, it is
| frustrating to always have to make yourself current as to what is
| going on with a market that rapidly changes.
|
| Now I'm confused where to buy, on line or local.

[Frank]

Post by Joan F (MI)
I always buy on line, more variety available and you can search for
bargains. I just bought this Tecra a couple of months ago for $800, they
usually run about $1400. I really didn't need another laptop but was a bit
unhappy with the one I had, had found out that I don't like the numpad on a
laptop, it throws the rest of the keyboard off center making it more
difficult to automatically position your hands and it was quite heavy. This
also had a silver keyboard and I wanted a light colored one, easier to see
in dim light. I wanted to stick with XP (this also has a CD with 7 so I can
upgrade if I ever want to) so every once in a while I would check out what
Tiger Direct had in that category. I saw this one and jumped on it, good
thing as they were gone the next day. I love it, light and fast and pretty,
too.

Figure I have over a month to fool around as present is for Christmas
and her birthday which is following week. She's not a heavy user and I
may even buy AMD processor. Of late, I had been buying on line at
Amazon and there is a function in Firefox that gives comparative prices.
My normal routine is to find what I like in the store, look at it, and
then buy on line.

I was happy with old GW, ordering on line, and then at their store when
they had them.

[Ben Myers]

Post by Frank

Post by BillW50

Post by Ben Myers
All I can say is that Dell and Lenovo are generally well-designed, with
service manuals freely available, and spare parts in abundance.
HP and Toshiba totally suck to repair. Intricate over-complicated
assembly. Hard to find spare parts. HP has some service manuals
available, Toshiba none.
I have no experience working with Fujitsu and Panasonic laptops, not
enough with Acer-eGateMachines to form an opinion.
Finally, every brand name has its share of lemons. Witness the recent
settlement of the nVidia class action lawsuit identifying HP, Dell and
Apple models of laptops for recall and repair... Ben Myers

To add even more confusion, 2009 Consumer Reports ranked Toshiba as the
most reliable. While Dell and Lenovo were dead last. I personally prefer
Gateways (have four of them) or Asus (also have four of them) myself.

I had previously read Ben's comments on Toshiba and was prejudiced
against them but a friend has one and is happy with it and I checked lap
tops at Best Buy yesterday and clerk was high on them saying they had
less problems than other brands.
As someone that only buys a new computer every few years, it is
frustrating to always have to make yourself current as to what is going
on with a market that rapidly changes.
Now I'm confused where to buy, on line or local.

If you buy a Toshiba, cross your fingers or pray to your favorite diety
that it will not require service for any reason except for the routine
ones like memory upgrades. Also, figure out early on how to keep the
air vents clear of dust and dirt. Toshibas often suffer from clogged
air vents that cause overheating, not good for the long haul.

Store clerks will tell you anything to get you to buy, especially if
they are on commission... Ben Myers

[BillW50]

Post by Ben Myers

Post by Frank
I had previously read Ben's comments on Toshiba and was prejudiced
against them but a friend has one and is happy with it and I checked lap
tops at Best Buy yesterday and clerk was high on them saying they had
less problems than other brands.

Store clerks will tell you anything to get you to buy, especially if
they are on commission... Ben Myers

Best Buy clerks work on commission? I really don't know, thus why I am
asking.

I got curious and Googled it. And it seems they don't, but they do
usually have to make a quota. Hmm... I guess the threat of being fired
would normally be a pretty good motivator too without the extra pay.

[Ben Myers]

Post by BillW50

Post by Ben Myers

Post by Frank
I had previously read Ben's comments on Toshiba and was prejudiced
against them but a friend has one and is happy with it and I checked lap
tops at Best Buy yesterday and clerk was high on them saying they had
less problems than other brands.

Store clerks will tell you anything to get you to buy, especially if
they are on commission... Ben Myers

Best Buy clerks work on commission? I really don't know, thus why I am
asking.
I got curious and Googled it. And it seems they don't, but they do
usually have to make a quota. Hmm... I guess the threat of being fired
would normally be a pretty good motivator too without the extra pay.

Quota. Commission. What's the diff? I said "if" about the commission,
being uncertain of the facts myself. There is a difference when the
paychecks are done, but not in employee motivation... Ben