Buying a New Laptop...And Settling for A PC

I'm no pc guru. I have a Dell desktop and it's great - lower end though as that's the budget, lol, and a Compaq laptop.

I used to have a compaq and I wasn't real happy with it. I'm probably going to go with low-end dell laptop. Have you had a lot of service problems with your dell?

The Dell is 2 years old on day and night daily and never had any issues ever with it. It's very reliable.

I'm on the Dell now, actually, lol. Usually am.. the laptop is usually for travel.

I'm probably going with a Dell. Thank you for helping me through my insomnia last night. I did fall asleep shortly after our discussion.

One of the best computers (no problems) was an Emachine. I have to warn you, however, you are going to hate Vista if you don't already use it...or at least I do!

Why haven't you joined Team Corn?

Thanks for posting your article to the Gather group, Bookin'.

You're so kind to always accept my articles while few have anything to do with books ; )

I have had a HP Laptop for three years and never had a problem with it at all. I also have a HP desktop for about 5 years now. We have never had a problem with it either. I love HP products. I purchase mine from staples and you can order them online even if there is not a Staples store near you. I make my purchases through Ebates so I get money back as well. :)

I've never used an HP, so I'll look into them Connie. (And I'll order mine through some kickback program, probably mypoints!)

The only brand I would avoid is a Dell, they are totally a hit or a miss. I have been to two schools now where they issue Dells to students and by the end of the first year, half the class realizes they got a lemon.

Oh that's bad...and that's what I was leaning towards. Thanks for the warning.

My son used to drive semi trucks and when he would deliver to Dell he said they had pallets full of PCs that had been sent back for repair.

My HP Laptop that my son gave me burnt out and the cord malfunctioned after only 3 years now I am on a custommade desktop...if you have a lot of added extra issues you need it might be the way to go...get some ideas from friends, ETC on who to go to so they don't rip you off. BTW, I just went to Windows 8 and it is like 10 times faster...really. I think I am going to love it! My dad knew the guy that was selling this used desktop and he even let me make payments...that was the way to go for me..I got a GOOD price!

It sounds like you got a great deal. I have to have a laptop. (I'm lying down watching t.v. even now...LOL!)

I only buy Toshiba products, like your Mac it never gives me a momnts trouble.

Thanks. I've never used anything by Toshiba. I'll have to look it up.

If you have a Costco Card you might look at Costco.com - I got this lapper for less than 1/2 the price that everyone else wanted there and ended up buying two.

I like the build your own kind of desktop computers, but aside from the weight, I was very happy with my Sony laptop.

Another one of my friends swears by her Sony laptop, too. Thanks for the input Marianne.

My old computer and David's are make-it-oursleves... but I currently have a Dell desk top (the price was right and the memory is outrageous!) and an HP laptop that I bought for school. In the 15+ years that I've had pc's I've never had a major virus problem. David and I both know how to repair or replace things on desktops so that's never been a problem. I've had my laptop for just under a year.... so far so good. David is using a lap top owned by the university that is several years old and except for the battery (which won't hold a charge and needs replaced bad) it's never failed

Good to know your experience.

I'd have to agree with a comment above, Emachines are pretty reliable systems.

You're better off (in my opinion) looking for an Emachine with an AMD processor.

I agree

Thanks.

Just leaving a comment Amanda. I'm so computer illiterate it isn't funny. Hope you find a good one.

It's always good to see you!

You do what you have to do! If you can't afford a MAC, you can't afford one.

We just have Dells and a computer that my husband built here. He's had the laptop since his high school graduation, so almost 7 years now, and other than the battery, we've never had any problems with it. We do plan on replacing it soon, but mainly just because we want to get something lighter for traveling. We'll probably leave the laptop that we currently have set up on a desk like we have it most of the time anyway. :)

We've had horrible luck with Compaqs. My sister and I each bought one in 2004, and by the time I bought my Dell 3 years later, mine had been worked on three times, in addition to the little things that my husband had done. My sister had just given up on hers after my uncle (the computer guy at a large high school) had looked at it several times as well. My husband wiped mine clean and had it working again when we went home in 2008 so I took it with me so I could get some work done (my parents have an Emachine that they bought when I was probably 15 or 16, so over 10 years ago). We left it there for my sister since hers was so messed up and my parents' is so sloooow. The computer that used to be mine is still giving her problems, and she doesn't even use it more than once or twice a week. She actually brought it up here with her just last month for my husband to fix it yet again.

Thanks, Carla, for taking the time to share your advice. I didn't know your husband was an attorney. Now I know who to go to for legal advice. LOL

My husband is definitely not an attorney....he's a mechanic.

I have had terrible luck with all of my computers lately...yet on the cheapies I bought for my daughter and husband they have had better usage!

Very useful observation.

Although I've always owned PCs, my advice to you would be to bite the bullet and get the Mac. You may say now you'll save $1500 with the PC, but remember, you get what you pay for. Because you've owned a Mac, problems with the PC will make you crazy. I promise, you'll be sorry if you don't get a Mac. You may get recommendations, but ALL PCs have problems. If you get one, don't get a Dell. You'll need lots of tech support, and Dell charges for theirs, even tech support online or by email. HP is much better. You should definitely buy whichever brand you choose from Costco. They provide tech support, and it's good and they don't keep you on hold. Believe me, you'll need tech support.

Maybe I will hang on for a little while and get the mac. Thanks for all of your advice.

Will you be able to put your data saved on the lap top on the new one?

I hope so. I've had to back-up the hard way...e-mailing it to someone and then transferring it to a CD.

Good luck in your search Amanda. We need to get a new laptop soon, as ours is literally falling apart. It's a Dell, and it is 4 years old. The battery has been weak almost from the beginning, and we are having lots of other issues as well.