Questions on buying a PC for the first time...

[Steviekick 0]

So my trusty iBook is dead, and I'm going to replace it with some sort of Windows based laptop. This will be the first non-Apple computer I have ever purchased and feel somewhat clueless going in.

 

What are some things I should consider/be aware of?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I would like to piggy-back on this thread and take suggestions for a new laptop. I don't really want to spend much more than a grand. It will be primarily used for work purposes.

[Steviekick 0]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...f=10&loc=01

 

This is the model I'm pondering.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

What features are you interested in? What your price range? Have you checked Consumer Reports for reviews?

 

I've had two Dell laptops and they've been pretty good but peoples' opinions vary per user.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...f=10&loc=01

 

This is the model I'm pondering.

 

That's actually the one I was considering as well. What's the story on Dell laptops? I've heard good things in general, but every once in a while you get a horror story.

 

Like I said earlier, I'm going to be using mine mostly for work. That means a lot of Microsoft Office and internet, but not much else. I want a solid machine, but nothing extravagant.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Again I had and have a positive experience with Dell laptops. I'm sure with all products, there have to be lemons. The good thing about them is that you can customize them. I think for the most part they are reasonable in price.

 

With that laptop in the link I would check the Dell forums on the Dell website http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?~ck=mn and see what problems come up for that model.

[Steviekick 0]

Pretty much, I'm looking at it for the same reasons that Cheech is. I'll check that forum out.

[Guest Smues]

I've had good experiences with Dell and Sony laptops and ok experiences with Toshiba and HP.

 

All of our office laptops are Dell, and we haven't had many issues. They're pretty durable too. I'm at least the third person to use the laptop I currently have, and I've had it for two years just myself, so it's probably 4-5 years old, which is ancient for a laptop. Consistant use and lots of travel, and other than I think a fan is dying/dead it's still kicking.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

That reminds me, my on campus job made me use these new HP laptops. They had a few pop ups telling me to back up the system and I think check for updates. Also, the network drivers mysterious uninstalled from my computer one night. I swear I didn't do it. Overall, the experience wasn't bad.

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

I just got a Gateway laptop with 250 gig hard drive, 3 gig RAM, Core 2 Duo Centrino processor, 15" screen, all for $500. It's doing well so far.

[Rendclaw 0]

I have had a Sony laptop for 3 years. I love it, even though I wish I could run it with 2 gigs of RAM. With a decent speaker system and a 500 gig external drive, its close to my main system in performance, and that system is 4 years old.

 

[Youth N Asia 0]

I love my Compaq. Since they got bought out by HP they're way better machines that they used to be. If you have a grand to spend, on top of sales, I imagine you could get a killer machine