Laptop pondering.

[saxikath]

The power cord/supply on my laptop is on the fritz again. I've already replaced it four times, I think, and the last time was within the last couple months.

Combined with the fact that I'm about to get a bonus check from work, this is spurring me to replace my laptop. It's time.

For various reasons, switching to Mac is really not an option, though it's tempting. So I ask the general LJ braintrust: what are the good PC machines out there? I want something that's relatively light (under 6 pounds) -- I don't need the ultralight, though. I want something with decent graphics, though I don't need real high-end stuff, and with the usual sorts of things -- good processor, decent hard drive, CD/DVD burner, etc.

I've been considering the HP dv1000. Anyone know anything about the quality of HP machines/service? My current machine is a Dell Inspiron, and I have mixed feelings about the quality/service I've gotten. I know people with ThinkPads, and I've been thinking about that too.

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I've had good luck with both Toshiba and Dell laptops, not so good luck with Compaq. My company and university both use Dell, and the things seem to be pretty reliable. I can't say anything about HP.

[acroarcs.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine in college had worked for HP in high school, worked for them every summer, and got a permanent job with them after graduation, and he still spent all of senior year complaining that the laptop they'd given him was the most worthless piece of crap ever. He eventually went out and bought himself a different company. That was in 2003-04, but I doubt HP's gotten any better given their concentration's in other areas and Compaq (HP's other half) has never had good laptops.

If you have mixed feelings about Dell's service, you'll probably have definite bad feelings about anyone else's.

I myself have consistently used low-to-medium-end (can you have a medium-end?) Toshibas for the last five years. Some problems with the battery, and the newest one has some of those wonderful power cord/supply problems (though that seems to have been mostly taken care of). I haven't been able to complain about their reliability otherwise, though.

[saxikath]

Actually, the service from Dell wasn't that bad, it's mostly that trying to find which power cord I needed to replace mine for a few-years-old machine proved frustrating.

[fizzixrat.livejournal.com]

I have had good luck with Toshiba laptops (and service) myself. The first one had a defective hard drive, which they swapped out for a replacement in a matter of days. Five years on and it's still working (as my mother's machine). The newer Toshiba laptop is three years old now and still going strong.

I've heard good things about Thinkpads for years, but one does pay extra for them.

I have not been impressed by Compaq and HP's laptops (and wasn't Compaq bought out by HP a few years ago?). Too many recalls over overheating batteries and so forth, and I certainly didn't find their desktops (which we had in the school I used to teach at) any better.

HP is good at laserjet printers, but I don't know that I'd buy anything else from them.

[diagonti.livejournal.com]

For a laptop, support is critical. With a desktop, most anyone with a screwdriver can fix most things with commodity parts. Laptops are all custom builds. If you plan on keeping it 3 years, get the 3 year warranty.

If there are useful accessories you want like a CD-burner or a docking station, get it with the laptop. That way they will be covered by the warranty.

Investigate what it takes to get additional power supplies. Often ebay can provide them relatively cheaply. The convenience of being able to leave a power supply each place you normally use your laptop can make the laptop feel much more convenient. I have a power supply at work, in my bed room, on my desk, and in the TV room.

IBM makes solid machines, but you pay a little extra for them. And watch what warranty you get - it matters. Out of warranty repairs on IBMs are frequently more expensive than replacing the laptop if it is anything significant.

Dell makes decent machines, and is good about fixing things that break. They are my default recommendation.

I've had bad experiences with getting support for Sony, Compaq, HP, and Gateway. In addition for all that Sony laptops are often swoopy and sexy, they frequent come with a number of custom cables & peripherals that you need, are easily lost, and hard to replace.

[andyt.livejournal.com]

I've had good support for my Fujitsu tablet (Lifebook T3010D). The machine itself has had a few quirks, and if I were getting a new one now, I'd still get a tablet, and it would be a Fujitsu, Toshiba, or (maybe) the new Gateway tablet.

I definitely would not get an HP — we had an HP tape drive that yielded such a bad eupport experience, we'll never buy anything from them again