Which Laptop Brand Should I Buy?

[TripleB]

In looking at some "Black Friday" specials on laptops I've found the following. The website didn't link to most of the laptops so I'm not 100% sure of which model therefore I'm probably going to have to go on reliability and the little bit I know about each.

Here are my choices:

Compaq Dual-Core 15.4" Laptop w/1GB, 80GB, DVD-RW, Free Printer (which I don't need) $349.98

Toshiba Satallite Laptop with AMB Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Laptop $399.99

Compaq Presario Dual-Core 15.4" Laptop w/1GB RAM $299.99

HP AMD Dual-core 15.4" Laptop w/1GB, 160GB, DVD-RW $449.99

Sony 15.4" Laptop with 1 GB RAM, 120GB HD, DVD Burner $399.99

Thanks for any input.

TripleB

 

[TokyopunK]

Do you plan on playing games on it or are you just going to use it for work and data processing?

 

[lilxjohnyy]

seems like work because screen rather small

 

[D-man]

I have had two Toshiba's for a couple years with nary one single problem.

 

[angharad]

I wouldn't recommend Compaqs - they're the lower-end HPs, essentially. I had mine for a few years and wound up having to replace nearly everything on it. If you get one, definitely get an in-store warranty for it.

 

[LuckyR]

Do you plan on playing games on it or are you just going to use it for work and data processing?

That price range is going to have a very poor graphics card...

 

[Tennis-Chris]

Apple MacBook

A little more pricey but there is no comparison.:mrgreen:

 

[Voltron]

^^^

I'm going to agree, I've got a MacBook Pro and I love it, never had any problems at all.

 

[ollinger]

Why not do what you usually do -- demo 20 or 30 of them and then make a provisional decision?

 

[abenguyen]

i like hp. sony is overpriced

 

[TripleB]

Should have mentioned it before....this laptop is for my 11 year old daughter: simple word processing for school papers, internet research, and currently playing on Webkinz (don't ask).

Would prefer to stick with Windows based so I can take info back and forth between my computer and hers. Will not have a printer hooked up to it so it may be easier to zip drive her info, bring it downstairs, and print it.

Thanks for the input so far.

TripleB

 

[cujays]

your letting an 11 year old have a labtop!!!!
sweet

 

[Breakaz54z]

Most definitely get the cheapest one in my opinion if it's gonna be for your daughter. Or, go with the HP. HP is a great brand. As said earlier, Sony is overpriced and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're going to be using it yourself

 

[meh]

Actually, since the Sony is basically the same price as the other offerings, you may as well go with it. They're beautifully made machines, excellent build quality.

 

[movdqa]

I find that HP/Compaq quality has declined - a result of relentless cost-cutting.

I never liked Toshiba.

I love Apple but it's probably out of your price range.

Dell is my second choice after Apple.

Think about what you need in a laptop. Sometimes going ultra-cheap isn't the best as you find that you need some feature that you can't add.

Consider the operating system. If you don't want Vista, that limits your choices.

Consider a discrete graphics card if you're going to go with Vista. In general, it's not a bad idea anyways.

Consider the issue of weight.

 

[abenguyen]

i change my opinion. if its for your 11 year old daughter, get the cheapest one. still runs fast and gets everything done and it won't matter that much to her what it looks like as long as it works

 

[Buuurnz]

I got a samsung, I def. can recommend that brand! stylish lookin and working just fine!

 

[hjminard]

I have had great experiences with Toshiba laptops.

 

[Double Fault]

I have a Toshiba and it has worked flawlessly for two years.

In that price range, there really isn't much of a difference.

 

[abenguyen]

I have a Toshiba and it has worked flawlessly for two years.

In that price range, there really isn't much of a difference.

yea toshiba's are nice my dad has one. they're cheap and good. but i pesonally like hp as it is reliable

 

[HeadPrestige]

toshiba notebooks in general arent the best built, or most competitively priced notebooks out there.

If you really wanted good opinions on laptops... check out the forums at notebookreview.com ... i am a member there-- and they will not steer you the wrong way.

 

[ananda]

^^^

I'm going to agree, I've got a MacBook Pro and I love it, never had any problems at all.

NO. let her first use a windows (and suffer). Then when she comes across a MAC, she'll never think of moving back.

Think of Windows like an oversized lightweight racket. The Mac is like a Prostaff 95/90 Tour. heh heh.

 

[35ft6]

Should have mentioned it before....this laptop is for my 11 year old daughter: simple word processing for school papers, internet research, and currently playing on Webkinz (don't ask).

Would prefer to stick with Windows based so I can take info back and forth between my computer and hers. Will not have a printer hooked up to it so it may be easier to zip drive her info, bring it downstairs, and print it.

Thanks for the input so far.

TripleB

If it's for you daughter, get her a Macbook. Moving files back and forth between OS is a thing of the past. Of course, if you don't have the correct software, it might be a problem, but that also applies between two Mac computers and two Window computers.

I'm always amazed by how cheap Window computers feel. They feel like they were snapped together.