Help - I need a new laptop

I bought a WIFI Fujitsu Lifebook and picked up an Earthlink wireless card. It's extremely lightweight and is an awesome machine. I too dumped my Dell boat anchor for the Lifebook. I paid about $1700 for it four months ago. Well worth looking at.

 

hmm, I have a few drawers full of old notebooks. this particular inspiron isn't in one of them or else I'd send you a new motherboard. I just looked at one that I have a spare for, it's a C600, which has a different chipset. Intel 815EP as opposed to the 440BX chipset that you have. It only needs a fan, but runs pretty darned well.

as for new recommendations, I hate to say it, but all are pretty hit and miss. I've been with this particular Latitude D600 (yes, a Dell) for the past ~9 months now. it's worked well and has lasted longer than any other notebook I've had in the past, and I've had many of them. they typically do not last me this long.

a few weeks ago, dell had the $750 off notebook deal for that one day. I posted it up, but... if dell leaves a bad taste in your mouth, I understand.

 

Stay away from Sony laptops. They look great but break easily.

 

I have had three IBM T series laptops and have been very happy with them. They are built like a tank, light slick and user friendly.

 

For $2k I'd not imagine you can do better than an IBM T42.

 

after a string of toshiba and compaq and other laptops through the 90s, i became a sony slut. great stuff. i buy them refurbished from the sony factory store. as much as half off retail price, fully reconditioned, with warranty. http://www.sonystyle.com/ and look in the "clearance" sections (if memory serves).

doody.

 

Compaq = total absolute worthless piece of crap. I know, I have one. Never again. Absurdly pathetic reliability/quality, poor repair service ... I can go into details if someone asks. I admit I use my laptop daily (student) and carry it around in a special backpack, but I still try to take care of it, and the problems I'm complaining about are not related to general wear.

Toshiba = have heard mostly good. I'd buy one without hesitation.

IBM = Best reputation ... they're just so damn ugly!!!!

 

Zorro is right on Compaq/HP laptops. They are junk. Sony Vaios aren't too bad, but their service is absolutely horrible, and if something goes wrong during extended warranty, good luck buddy, it ain't gonna happen.

 

For a PC, laptop nothing is better than an IBM T series.

I love my T42.

 

I am a Solution Exec with IBM, so I am impartial to IBM laptops. I get some great deals for friends and family, so if anyone would like to get an IBM, let me know and I will point you to the site. Typicaly we get 35% off the regular IBM web site prices on any Laptops or Desktops. We also have some great deals on referbished including flat panel screens. Shipping is always free. If you would like more information PM me, and I will set you up. This is open to any F-Chat members.
Adam

 

from one Sony slut to another..I agree with you. I run up and down three flights of stairs with my Vaio and I love it. No problems what whatsoever.

 

I have had Toshiba, Sharp, Sony, Compaq, IBM, Dell and AT&T brand laptops (yes AT&T made laptops back in the day).

The Sharp was pretty good, Sony was a SuperSlim (less than 1/2" thick) and honestly, for all the abuse I gave it, it held up really well. The power plug broke but that's because it used to slip off my lap when I was lying in bed and land on the power connector. The Compaq is a TOTAL PIECE OF JUNK. The screen has been getting more and more dead pixels by the week. Replaced twice under warranty - the warranty ran out and the DAY AFTER it ran out they refused to replace the screen. Known design flaw and they deny it. power supply died, hard drive died, keyboard has some keys coming off, etc, etc. The Dell was OK, but not great - I'd say average.

My brother has an IBM ThinkPad and it has held up WONDERFULLY. I am amazed how well it held up. It's probably 5 years old and nothing has gone wrong with it - EVER. He worked in Boston for 3 years commuting and going to client sites with it. I'm amazed. They go for a premium, but IMO it's probably worth it.

kdross, regarding your existing Dell laptop - if it's just the power connector thats broken, I can fix it for you. My company designs and builds circuit boards and I have all the equipment to do board-level repair on circuit boards, even in cases of cracked PCB's. If you want it fixed, and will pay the shipping both ways, I'll fix it for ya free of charge. The fixed area would probably a bit more fragile than it was new but it would at least get you some more use out of it until you get a new one maybe. PM me if you wanna do that.

 

IBM's done a great job the past 3-4 years with reliability. But they're ugly and a bit back spec'd for the $'s. I've known a fair number of Sr exec types who wear the keys down with use and they keep running.

I'm a Toshiba guy myself, we just bought another three this month for our group , and I've got all my Toshiba's from the past 11 years still running: P90, Celeron233, P750, P850, Centrino1.1 - and local support for problems.

Had one Dell, Inspiron 7000 - would never go back, 4 months to get a trouble ticket opened on a known problem - yikes.

One of our guys had a Compaq - known AMD design problem, but would only continue to replace the motherboard with the same until the 1yr warranty expired. Took 1 month to ship/return, took another month for the problem to re-occur. Finally the warranty expired. It was a low-cost consumer market.

Good luck!

 

I also suggest the T Series [either T41 or T42] from IBM. I bought 3 of them for work and they are the best laptop we ever had.

They have everything that you want from gigabit ethernet, wireless to the "air-bag" protection on the HD.

 

IBM will configure the Laptop as needed. Their customer service for aftersales support is great. It is 24/7 in Atlanta not overseas. My work laptop is a T41, which replaced a T21 that kept cranking for years and thousaands of miles on the road. I still have an old 600 that I keep in the media room for checking something on the internet while I am watching TV.

Again, anyone who needs any IBM equipment, send me a PM and I will hook you up with up to 35% off, free shipping, and you can order with your CC.

 

I got an IBM T42 for college. That was the laptop St. joe's wants all there business students to have, and I couldn't be happier. So far in the last 4 months I have had 0 problems(knock on wood) and it can handle anything I give it.
Erik

 

/Peter
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When I was purchasing my T40 they had two different configurations. One with less hard drive which was at 7200 RPM 40 or 60 gig with faster cache and larger graphics memory and the other with the 4500 RPM much bigger drive (80 gig) but less buffer as opposed to the other. As one said they configure a laptop to your liking. Otherwise they were identical from every other sense. The faster drive and deeper cache is good if you do video transfers and editing.

 

Another vote for the IBM T-series. You have to option them up a bit, but they are built like tanks.

 

Since everyone recommended the IBM T42 so highly, I've been doing some research, and WOW, this will be my notebook. I have to order one in the next six months or so for school, and this will be it.

Also, ASG86TR's discount he is letting us use took the price from:

$2,187.99 without ASG's discount, to
$1,793.85 with the discount.

Shipping is free on notebooks, so no discount necessary there.

 

Not to show up at the funeral asking the widow if she's willing to hock the hubbys ring, but, what are you planning to do with the old one?

If you're just tossing it out, I would be happy to take it and see if I can't fix it.