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Posted: 3/13/2011 6:14:48 PM EDT
My wonderful wife asked me to summon the minions of arfcom, (proud moment)to help pick out a good laptop to replace her HPiece that she keeps having problems with. So what is good in the $400 range she is looking at a walmart  sony viao , toshiba or acer. bring the wisdom o arfcomers
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:16:18 PM EDT
[#1]
Given those choices, I say Sony.
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:16:20 PM EDT
[#2]
I have been happy with the Toshibas we have bought at work...
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:21:45 PM EDT
[#3]
Mac, please spend a bit more and get a mac. These days, with all the malware floating about, the average PC user doesn't stand a chance.  Keep your eye out for a decent deal for the refurbs
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:29:01 PM EDT
[#4]
no can do on the mac this is for work and must use windows, vpn, hippa and all that jaz. she works as a contracted med transcriptionist .
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:31:04 PM EDT
[#5]



Quoted:


Given those choices, I say Sony.


My Sony Vaio has been rock solid for 4 year so far. I'd go with Sony, then delete all the bullshit that comes preloaded on it.



 
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:31:04 PM EDT
[#6]
Out of those choices I say Toshiba.
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:38:05 PM EDT
[#7]
The problem with many of the <$400 laptops is that they tend to max out at 3 to 4 gig of ram, but they come with Win7-64 bit.





64 bit isn't happy running on 3 to 4 gig.  My ~$550 Toshiba came with the 3 gig max when my G/F surprised me with it.  Nice gesture, Tosh is OK, but the choice of win7/64 sux in this config.

 
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 6:49:53 PM EDT
[#8]
Be sure to get one that comes with a camera




Link Posted: 3/13/2011 7:08:51 PM EDT
[#9]
Impossible to answer without pics





of computer
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 9:20:17 PM EDT
[#10]



Quoted:


The problem with many of the <$400 laptops is that they tend to max out at 3 to 4 gig of ram, but they come with Win7-64 bit.



64 bit isn't happy running on 3 to 4 gig.  My ~$550 Toshiba came with the 3 gig max when my G/F surprised me with it.  Nice gesture, Tosh is OK, but the choice of win7/64 sux in this config.  


I have zero issues with 4gb ram with Win 7 64.  I run Photoshop and Illustrator constantly as well.



 
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 9:32:27 PM EDT
[#12]
Need pics of wife to give accurate answer.
Link Posted: 3/13/2011 9:55:49 PM EDT
[#13]
Toshiba FTW!



My Cousin repairs computers, he said to stay far far away from the Sony computers.  Anything else Sony is GTG.

Link Posted: 3/14/2011 4:26:22 AM EDT
[#14]
The problem with Toshiba is they are strictly depot repair.  They will not even send replacement memory modules.  It's a royal pain in the ass.  I never had that problem with other manufacturers.
Link Posted: 3/14/2011 6:44:52 PM EDT
[#15]



Quoted:





Quoted:

The problem with many of the <$400 laptops is that they tend to max out at 3 to 4 gig of ram, but they come with Win7-64 bit.



64 bit isn't happy running on 3 to 4 gig.  My ~$550 Toshiba came with the 3 gig max when my G/F surprised me with it.  Nice gesture, Tosh is OK, but the choice of win7/64 sux in this config.  


I have zero issues with 4gb ram with Win 7 64.  I run Photoshop and Illustrator constantly as well.

 
It's not a question of 'issues'.  I'm sorry I was unclear on that.  I 'm generally either unclear or long winded.  



64 bit tends to run slower on 3 to 4 gig of ram than the 32 bit version in many cases.  It likes to romp in big ram spaces.



 
Link Posted: 3/14/2011 7:23:39 PM EDT
[#16]



Quoted:





Quoted:




Quoted:

The problem with many of the <$400 laptops is that they tend to max out at 3 to 4 gig of ram, but they come with Win7-64 bit.



64 bit isn't happy running on 3 to 4 gig.  My ~$550 Toshiba came with the 3 gig max when my G/F surprised me with it.  Nice gesture, Tosh is OK, but the choice of win7/64 sux in this config.  


I have zero issues with 4gb ram with Win 7 64.  I run Photoshop and Illustrator constantly as well.

 
It's not a question of 'issues'.  I'm sorry I was unclear on that.  I 'm generally either unclear or long winded.  



64 bit tends to run slower on 3 to 4 gig of ram than the 32 bit version in many cases.  It likes to romp in big ram spaces.

 


I think they all love lots of RAM.  I have two machine with the same MOBO, RAM, similar CPUs (obviously one is 64bit), but different video cards.  The 32 bit machine is considerably slower.



I haven't purchased any laptops in a while except my Dell Mini.  I didn't realize they are coming with 64 bit Win 7 nowadays.  My experience is based on all of the laptops I fix from guys at work. I always recommend RAM upgrades when feasible.  This reminds me that I need to order a 4gb module for my mini.
 
Link Posted: 3/14/2011 9:15:22 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
My wonderful wife asked me to summon the minions of arfcom, (proud moment)to help pick out a good laptop to replace her HPiece that she keeps having problems with. So what is good in the $400 range she is looking at a walmart  sony viao , toshiba or acer. bring the wisdom o arfcomers


Here you go Link

Its $600, but you don't want anything less than quad core in your PC.  Since its for her work (and a write off) spend the extra $200 now and enjoy.

AMD Phenom II Quad-Core Mobile Processor P940, 1.7GHz, 2MB L2 Cache

4GB DDR3 1066MHz memory, 500GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive, 15.6" HD diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT display
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