My laptop is circling the drain *Update*

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My laptop is circling the drain *Update*

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:12:23 PM EDT

I got my Dell Latitude CSx500 issued to me about five years ago by my former employer. When I was laid off I was allowed to buy it for a ridiculously low price and it already had a bunch of my docs and things on it, so I took it and ran.

About a year and a half ago the hard drive started buzzing from time to time, then more often and louder, then it went tits up on me. I got a new hard drive at Frys and installed it, loaded WinXP on it and was off to the races again. Luckily I learned to type in high school because most of the letters are now worn off the keyboard and the right-click button on the trackpad has been working only intermittently now for a while.

In a desperate plea to be finally put down like Ol' Yeller, my laptop is starting to make that hard drive buzz sound again. I don't think I'll shed a tear when I stick the barrel of the shotgun into the pen against his power supply and pull the trigger, but I will need a new one, and sooner rather than later.

I've been looking at a few websites and reading some PC magazines, and I'm considering Toshiba and Compaq. I use the laptop mostly for internet time --at least 50% of which is spent right here-- with IE and otherwise use the Micro$oft Office suite, Photoshop, etc. I'm not a gamer at all, so don't need a slamming audio or video set-up, but enough to watch a DVD. I prefer Pentium to other processors just from positive experiences in the past and I would want at least 512mb of RAM. I would like a DVD player and CD writer in my next one, as well as both an ethernet and 802.11g connection. Two or three USB ports would be good.

Any suggestions for a particular make, model and retailer?

Update: I picked up a Fujitsu N3500, and I really like it so far. store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=N3

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:20:43 PM EDT

[#1]

You're going to get alot of religious responses from people devoted to one brand or another, based on unsubstantiated claims or - at best - anectodal evidence.

My answer? Buy something that does what you want, is relatively modern, and priced right. ALL manufacturers have models that have failed somebody. I've had good an bad luck with all of them. I currently own a Dell Inspiron 2600 and an IBM ThinkPad R51. Both have worked flawlessly. I KNOW somebody is going to chime in and say that one of these sucks and you shouldn't buy one. There's didn't work very well. Mine did.

Buy something you like. The brand isn't as important as people let on, if you ask me.

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:21:32 PM EDT

[#2]

Dell refurb, best bang for the $$

eBay has some good deals,.

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:22:58 PM EDT

[#3]

Am I the only guy in the world who has never bought or sold anything on Ebay?

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:25:45 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Am I the only guy in the world who has never bought or sold anything on Ebay?

I think Osama Bin Laden hasn't made the leap yet, but I could be wrong. My 2 year old daugter has yet to sell anything on Ebay, but we're getting there.

Don't feel bad if you haven't. It's no big deal.

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:33:58 PM EDT

[#5]

I work with laptops on a daily basis, Dell Latitude D600's, Dell Inspiron 2650's, and Compaq EVO N180's. In the last year alone, I would have to say I've deployed about 150 D600's to nurses, doctors, counselors, Home Health Aides, executives, etc. Out of the 3 models that we use, I would really prefer that all the HHA's use either the Inspirons or Compaq's cuz I've seen some D600's come back with shattered frames and/or monitors. Yes they drop them off the top of their car on accident which ticks me off. But as far as the executives and our physicians, I don't give them anything unless it's a D600. They all usually get Docking Stations along w/ them. I personally like the Latitude D600 over most models even though I wouldn't mind throwing some Alienwares out in the field. LOL

But the best bang for your buck, and best warranties in my extensive experience and in my opinion has always been with the Dell's. I myself have a D600 and I've never been sorry for it. The new model that has just been released by Dell is the Dell Latitude D610. Here's a link to the Latitude Page.

Good luck in your search.

Posted: 3/12/2005 1:35:33 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Am I the only guy in the world who has never bought or sold anything on Ebay?

Posted: 3/12/2005 2:20:38 PM EDT

[#7]

I just bought an IBM ThinkPad T42.

VERY happy with it.

www.tigerdirect.com

ETA: I also have experience with the Dell D600 models. Good value.

Posted: 3/12/2005 2:24:42 PM EDT

[#8]

www.alienware.com

Best you can buy for the money.

Posted: 3/12/2005 2:32:34 PM EDT

[#9]

Buy what you like and what you can afford. Once you have it though, establish a backup routine and follow it religiously, just in case. 5 years service out of a laptop is pretty good, actually. Don't expect the replacement to last that long.

I'm banging this out on a Dell Inspiron 8100. Great computer, but HEAVY!

Posted: 3/12/2005 7:32:28 PM EDT

[#10]

Thanks for the feedback, gents.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My laptop is circling the drain *Update*

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