Posted: 4/28/2009 12:48:10 PM EDT
|
My wife and I are supposed to go help a friend of ours pick out a notebook computer tonight. Why it's me she's asking for tech advice I'm not sure, but anyway. She'll be using it for Web browsing, e-mail, iTunes, and basic stuff like word processing.
If you had to pick the BEST VALUE out of any notebook computers from this particular store, what would it be? http://www.nfm.com/index.aspx?Ne=1070&N=1127&sid=120ED5CADD33&vno=250 Update: She ended up going with the Sony VAIO. |
|
For what she needs any laptop there will do the job, the cheapest one has a good enough processor, 2gb RAM and 160GB hard drive and will do everything she needs. If she can go higher in price I would look for one that has 4GB RAM (or buy 4GB RAM on newegg for $35 and upgrade yourself) and a screen size that she is comfortable with: if she wants portability go for a small lightweight laptop, if she is just going to keep it in one spot (i.e. the kitchen  ) then go for a larger screen. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Sony VIAO Apple MacBook not anything else I saw. OP is looking for best value, neither of those fit that definition. Negative! The Sony is not bad, you are getting good backing on their product, service that you will not get for the Toshiba. Don't get the Toshibas, they have had quality issues with their laptops for years. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Sony VIAO Apple MacBook not anything else I saw. OP is looking for best value, neither of those fit that definition. Value not price. Toshiba Satellite and HP Pavillions are no value......... But opinions are like........ I gave my advice, I buy computers for a corp and fix them when they go bad. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Sony VIAO Apple MacBook not anything else I saw. OP is looking for best value, neither of those fit that definition. Negative! The Sony is not bad, you are getting good backing on their product, service that you will not get for the Toshiba. Don't get the Toshibas, they have had quality issues with their laptops for years. Maybe the cheapest of the Sony Vaio's is ok, I just don't like spending that much on a laptop when I picked up a Dell Studio 15 with Core 2 Duo T6400, 4GB, 250GB HD for $430 a couple of weeks ago. The Vaio's are reliable in my experience if you are willing to pay the extra $$$, I have a 6 year old Sony Vaio PCG-Z1A that still works acceptably for web browsing. |
|
She'll be using it for Web browsing, e-mail, iTunes, and basic stuff like word processing
Is this a "carry around" or a leave it at home laptop? I bought the wife a ASUS 1000HE netbook, a 2GB memory upgrade, and a Samsung USB-powered DVDburner all for just over $500. WinXP Home, 2GB memory, 160GB HDD, wireless, bluetooth, onboard microphone, speakers and 1.3Mpixel webcam. She loves it. Because it's small and isn't a hassle to take everywhere. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Sony VIAO Apple MacBook not anything else I saw. OP is looking for best value, neither of those fit that definition. Value not price. Toshiba Satellite and HP Pavillions are no value......... But opinions are like........ I gave my advice, I buy computers for a corp and fix them when they go bad. I agree with you about opinions, I write about consumer electronics and tech for a living and I know that everyone has an opinion My comment was related more to the higher price of Sony and Apple (you are paying extra for the brand in both cases) than the reliability of Toshiba and HP (cheaper usually equals less reliable and/or poorer service but just about every brand has planned obsolescence built in these days i.e. get the product to fail soon after the warranty expires but not so quickly that the consumer will go to a different manufacturer for a replacement). |
|
Quoted:
She'll be using it for Web browsing, e-mail, iTunes, and basic stuff like word processing
Is this a "carry around" or a leave it at home laptop? I bought the wife a ASUS 1000HE netbook, a 2GB memory upgrade, and a Samsung USB-powered DVDburner all for just over $500. WinXP Home, 2GB memory, 160GB HDD, wireless, bluetooth, onboard microphone, speakers and 1.3Mpixel webcam. She loves it. Because it's small and isn't a hassle to take everywhere. She might take it here & there occasionally, but it wouldn't be like she'd be taking it to work every day or whatever. So what I'm hearing is apparently that the bare minimum acceptable is: 2GB memory 160GB hard drive Sony is a bit more expensive but may have a better reputation than Toshiba? Are there any processors to stay away from? |
|
Minimum 3GB RAM if it comes with Vista. I would look for a Intel Core 2 Duo processor as I feel they have an edge over AMD laptop processors at the moment (but that is just a personal preference) Some other thoughts: You can never have too many USB slots. A built in SD card reader is nice if she has a digital camera that uses SD memory and wants to transfer pics quickly. Does she have a wireless network at home? if so make sure the laptop has wireless that matches the fastest speed of the network (probably 802.11g or less common draft 802.11n) |