Purchasing New Laptop

[Kimberley24]

I need advice on which laptop to purchase. Yesterday i found out the Dell one i purchased in Dec 2005...wel the monitor dead and it will cost $300+ to replace the LCD panel so i have been advised to just buy a new one.
Now i have lost all faith in Dell. First cause they charge me $49 for a 15 min phone call to tell me mi monitor dead without giving me the cause of it's death. Second, this mornign after i call to find out cost of replacing it the rep ws very rude to me all because i just needed to know the price before making up my mind to buy it then and there on the phone. He went on to hangup on me after lettign me know that if i go online to get it i wasting his time. I am still in shock so that WORST mek mi against Dell now.
Anyways i am thinking of Toshiba, my sis owns one and it's doing fine so far. Yet my technician friend from Ja say Dell better, he just got one and the tech people he knows all use Dell.
Can someone help me make up my mind.....I am thinking of spending between $700-$1000 to get a new one

[Rebycman]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Sorry to hear about your busted monitor. If you are sure you don't want to repair it then a new one would be in order... But first, have you considered calling a local company to see what they'd charge to fix it? Dell support is probably more expensive to use vs a local repair shop. You can buy these lcd monitors fairly reasonably online and from there is just a few wires and screws to get the monitor back in working condition, anyway its just an idea.

Let me start by saying I'm really not a fan of laptop's because they just cant take much abuse before bad things like this happen. If you must have a laptop then I'd really consider what you need it to do before you start shopping. If you simply need a basic machine to surf the web then I'd probably go hit ebay. If you need some serious power under the hood I'd go ahead and buy a new one. As far as who to buy from...well once again I'm not keen on Dell or Gateway because much of their equipment isnt very easy to upgrade. Some minor things like a new stick of ram are easy enough but many of these new motherboards out now are constructed so they cant be upgraded (this forces users to buy a new one or pay Dell for their quality service *chuckle* sorry [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/throwstone.gif[/img] ).

I can give you some specific details on processor/ram etc but first I need to know what you want to use the computer for. No sense in spending lots of money if you just need a basic web machine. So tell me, what ya want this new puter do?

Regards,

-Reby

[j-kid]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

I have a question for you.

Do you travel (like in the car) with your laptop, or do you strictly use it at home?

[Kimberley24]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Thanks for responding... [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]i have to wait until i'm at work to go online.....anyways i use the laptop to surf the web mainly. I save all my pictures on it and my ipod music. I think husy got one specifically for that reason. I have some amount of word documents on it and will probably need powerpoint in the future. I use it mainly at home in the nights lets say fi 2 hrs. It is mainly used on Sundays. I use it pretty much all day at my boring Sunday job to pass the time away. I spend alot of time on Sundays doing Virtual E-Learning courses....stopped that since last year Sept so is not that kill the screen...No virus is on it based on what McAfee says. The laptop has a very good proetective bag well paded. It never drop yet. We make sure the back no get overheated ect...So i treat the damn think like mi baby, in fact it's the closest thing i have to a pet!!!! and i was so depressed yesterday...i'm fine now [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] NOw the important information, i hope to start grad school Sept and may have to do online courses lets say at nights so i may need the laptop for that...hence why i'm thinking perhaps i should get a new one but nothing no wrong with the one i have it just needs a LCD panel or whatever i guess i could try finding local repair. Do you mean like Staples? I really can't afford a new one but willing to make the sacrifice if needs be. I am just so disappointed in Dell...i don't want a desktop too darn big and take up space i like using my laptop in bed....anyways what u guys think i should do? My sister told me it's actually Gateway she got...I am thinking Toshiba from Best Buy

[Gen]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

just fix the LCD and done...you want your computer to last at least 5 years before you get rid of it completely...

like someone else said see if you can get a panel at a decent price...

[Boopie2]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

I was looking at laptops a couple of months ago and this guy tried to have me try a Dell laptop. I started typing and one key flew off of it. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] He looked silly when I handed him the key. so far I liked the Toshiba HP, but still having doubts only because I love my computer may just buy another PC. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/desdentado.gif[/img]


My boss has an old Apple laptop she was going to give to me, her and hubby both have new Apples but she said her old one kept running "hot" one tech told her it may be the battery. She wants to fix it and replace the top for me but I"m going to tell her that's ok I'd rather just buy another PC I've had it for some time now and I want a cd/dvd burner that mine doesn't have.


Just thinking I'm using my boss's Apple laptop while I'm at work I really don't like the keyboard plus you still have to place it on the table or hard surface so what's the point? Plus it seems like you have to have it plugged in the juice seems to run out.

[Yuriatin]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Fi reel Kimberly - one word - <span style='font-size: 17pt'>MAC!</span>

Just a thought. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[Kimberley24]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Uhm husy suggested MAC... what we'll be doing is taking a look at a old laptop he has to see if the monitor is compatible. He will also test it using an external motinor to find out if is a video card issue versus changing the whole monitor issue. After that i will decide on what to do.
As fi Dell [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70400-talktohand.gif[/img]

[Yuriatin]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Besta luck Kimberly.

Me? I was a die hard PC user for donkey years - years I tell you.

Because of the work I do though, I had to start using MACs via my employer. Much more reliable and I've come to embrace them more &amp; more over the years. I still use a PC as well but MACs to me, are the way to go for simplicity and reliability.

[Rebycman]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Kim - Check your local phone book for Computers and see if they have a Computer Repair section. There will probably be a number of local repair shops that you can take it to. You can even buy these LCD monitors from ebay, so peek about before you go buy new.

-Reby

[Kimberley24]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

U guys may think i'm mad but i've been so sad since my laptop died. Anyways i am currently calling a few local shops who claims they may have monitors ect...and if they can't fix it then i'm gonna buy a desktop because i have lost faith in laptops. Guess what happen too...my sister Toshiba laptop end up at a repair store too, the cd part not playing not sure what that's about....Anyways i hope this thing gets fixed this weekend.....

[j-kid]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

Kimberley, the reason I asked you that question is. Most people don't realize that leaving the laptop for extended periods in the car in extreme cold or heat can shorten the life of the laptop. The y are designed for cold and heat, but not for extended periods. Unless you spend the money and get an industrial laptop that is designed for outside use or the specs far exceed the normal laptop, then you looking for trouble, leaving the laptop in the car in minus degree or 120 deg F. temperatures while you are at work, church, the mall for 4 hrs., or using the trunk as a storage place for the laptop. In some cases people have ended up with cracked LCD screens. The same goes for your camera equipment. Your cell phones are usually designed more robust than the laptop or digital cameras.

[j-kid]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Boopie2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

My boss has an old Apple laptop she was going to give to me, her and hubby both have new Apples but she said her old one kept running "hot" one tech told her it may be the battery.


........ plus you still have to place it on the table or hard surface so what's the point? Plus it seems like you have to have it plugged in the juice seems to run out. </div></div>

Boopie, YES, the battery is definately going bad.

[Kimberley24]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

That laptop's never been outside for over an hour and it's always in it's protective bag. Never been dropped either. I do leave it on the floor in my room which can get cold but it's usually off. The screen used to go black when A playing poker is him mash up mi laptop screen u know my sixth sense telling me that is him do it [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

[Boopie2]

Re: Purchasing New Laptop

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=Boopie2]

My boss has an old Apple laptop she was going to give to me, her and hubby both have new Apples but she said her old one kept running "hot" one tech told her it may be the battery.


........ plus you still have to place it on the table or hard surface so what's the point? Plus it seems like you have to have it plugged in the juice seems to run out. </div></div>


After taking a peek at it the thing looks so beat up I don't want her to put extra money in having it fixed. Plus I heard her ask the guy if he could put another cover on it. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70374-lipsrsealed.gif[/img]