Turning to the Dark Side: PC Laptop suggestions?

I'd go with a 15'4 widescreen (HDTV 1080p). I've got an HDMI port which has proved extremely useful (1 cable plugs straight into most people's entertainment systems for music, movies, TV). Why do you care about weight or battery life if you're only travelling occasionally? These things involve costs and compromises.

Ugh. I've been a loyal Dell customer since high school (like 17 years!) and, in going through the process of ordering myself a new laptop recently, I've had nothing but major, major issues. The order was initially placed Oct. 18th. Its now nearly two months later and I still haven't received it. The order was cancelled and re-input mulitple times by Dell (unbeknowest to me at the time) due to internal production issues - basically, one Dell automated system didn't let another Dell automated system know wtf was going on. More than once. Very, very annoying.

Since actually humans got involved, their order support staff have been nothing but counter-intuitive, with one of them even inadvertently cancelling it again. The latest and greatest was that I just got an e-mail informing me that they "forgot" to expedite my current order (the 3rd!), and as such, the laptop may not even arrive before year-end. It was then recommended that I cancel and re-order with "expedited" status and should get it in about two weeks.

If I'd known the damn thing would take this long to arrive, I may have waited to order it until their black friday/blue monday sales and saved a few hundred bucks for the proce I'm supposed to pay the same system I ordered in October. Idiots.

I am officially no longer a Dell customer.

Hah. I had a similar experience with Dell, I ordered a machine, a plain-old standard configuration, they took forever to deliver it. The next machine I bought was a toshiba from a Best Buy (or similar chain), I found something I liked, and walked out with it $1100 later. Life's too short for Dell's nonsense.

Last two times, most recently earlier this year, Dell came through for me ahead of schedule. And I pick a whole bunch of non-standard options.

So, Mamacita, did you decide what to get?

Great article on the netbook vs. notebook thing:

http://talkingdigital.org/home/2009/11/10/netbooks-are-not-dead-and-they-are-not-notebooks/

tl/dr: If you need a notebook, a netbook is not a substitute. A netbook is not intended to be a primary computer and is really only for on-the-go web-based applications.

My old ibook died on friday. Tuesday my dad got me his work hook up and I am now the proud owner of a gorgeous Acer that runs fast, looks great and was $250.

BrooklynJack wrote: So, Mamacita, did you decide what to get?

Well, my bro-in-law convinced me to get the same laptop as him, he also has a school discount. I now have Lenovo T400 thinkpad. It's very fast, I just need to get used to this windows 7 thing.

New computers are groovy

I can't wait for the Mac tablet! It's sure to be out within a few months.

I'm on an upgrade itch... really thinking about an SSD, but it doesn't seem quite mature enough for me - the ones worth having are a little too rich for my blood. Oh well, a new case and GPU(s?) will have to do it for now...

WhyFi wrote: I'm on an upgrade itch... really thinking about an SSD, but it doesn't seem quite mature enough for me - the ones worth having are a little too rich for my blood. Oh well, a new case and GPU(s?) will have to do it for now...

Yeah, I flirted with the idea of upgrading my laptop with a 256G SSD earlier this year, but at $800 I decided to wait until my next laptop to make the switch unless the price comes down considerably over the next year or so.

Mamacita wrote: 13 or bigger screen, lightweight, no traveling except maybe to a coffee house or bar on rare occasions. Long battery life. Lots of fun-use will be on music, photos and watching Neflix and videos. I'll pay more for something sturdy and wont crack with constant use and that will last me +4 years (I hope).

I have an MBA-required lenovo. It's heavy, solid, a little slow. Also have a very light, sleek, Sharp circa 2005. It's awesome. But it looks like they discontinued them. Maybe look for a used one because it is a champ.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=WhyFi]I'm on an upgrade itch... really thinking about an SSD, but it doesn't seem quite mature enough for me - the ones worth having are a little too rich for my blood. Oh well, a new case and GPU(s?) will have to do it for now...

Yeah, I flirted with the idea of upgrading my laptop with a 256G SSD earlier this year, but at $800 I decided to wait until my next laptop to make the switch unless the price comes down considerably over the next year or so.
It's just about time...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL081710&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL081710-_-EMC-081710-Index-_-SSD-_-20250002-L0B

WhyFi wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=WhyFi]I'm on an upgrade itch... really thinking about an SSD, but it doesn't seem quite mature enough for me - the ones worth having are a little too rich for my blood. Oh well, a new case and GPU(s?) will have to do it for now...

Yeah, I flirted with the idea of upgrading my laptop with a 256G SSD earlier this year, but at $800 I decided to wait until my next laptop to make the switch unless the price comes down considerably over the next year or so.
It's just about time...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL081710&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL081710-_-EMC-081710-Index-_-SSD-_-20250002-L0B
Almost, but I'm holding out for 256GB. A 128 would be full immediately if I installed it today. I need more space if this is going to be a viable HD replacement for me.

Yeah, for you, and for a lappie, it's almost, but not quite there... for ME... : ) I usually keep my primary drive, well, not cluttered. 50GB or so, 80 or 90 if I have a few games installed. I think I'll pick one up and install it in my free time in the coming weeks.

I'll gloat - er, report back later.

Guy Kawasaki's computer beats yours
http://holykaw.alltop.com/how-my-8-gig-of-ram-512-gig-ssd-macbook-pro-g

vidro3 wrote: Guy Kawasaki's computer beats yours
http://holykaw.alltop.com/how-my-8-gig-of-ram-512-gig-ssd-macbook-pro-g

Yeah, a 512 GB SSD would be awesome. Just an unreasonable price point for now. These things will rapidly get cheaper and the price will drop exponentially in the years ahead. It's just not there yet. I remember paying about $100 for my first 128 MB USB flash drive. I anticipate SSD drives will follow the same curve as USB flash drives. I'm generally an early adopter of these things, but I try to wait until it passes the inflection point, pricewise.

Now I've gone and done it... waiting on the arrival of an Intel SSD and a new GPU.

doctorj wrote: IBM/Lenovo... Solid. Boring. Slightly pricier than the competition. The laptop of choice for accountants, public servants, grandparents...

Lol, every PC does the same thing. What makes an IBM more boring than an identically equipped Sony/HP?