Laptop

[forever jewel]

I'm in search of a new laptop. The one I have, Toshiba Satellite, is over 5 years old and can't handle more than two programs anymore. I'm considering another Toshiba, but would like some insight. Btw- my price range is around $700/800. Thanks in Advance!

 

[Vince]

Just bought my son one for Christmas. Can't remember the size of the hardrive, about 120 gig., 1 gig ram, 2.5 processor, Dell, wireless interenet, with windows XP loaded. Don't get Vista. Also got a wireless mouse with it. $800

 

[toppick08]

Just bought my son one for Christmas. Can't remember the size of the hardrive, about 120 gig., 1 gig ram, 2.5 processor, Dell, wireless interenet, with windows XP loaded. Don't get Vista. Also got a wireless mouse with it. $800

Vince, how does HP stack up with the others ?

 

[sweetpea15]

where did you get it from?

 

[Vince]

Vince, how does HP stack up with the others ?

I'm not really up on HP, but the ones I've seen I've been tempted to buy. Best Buy has some nice ones, but they turned me off when all they had was Windows Vista. And one of their geeks kept pushing Vista at me like it was the greatest and everyone I know that has it is unhappy with it. :shrug: May have to try it in the future just to see what is so bad. I can always wipe the hardrive and load XP.

 

[toppick08]

I'm not really up on HP, but the ones I've seen I've been tempted to buy. Best Buy has some nice ones, but they turned me off when all they had was Windows Vista. And one of their geeks kept pushing Vista at me like it was the greatest and everyone I know that has it is unhappy with it. :shrug: May have to try it in the future just to see what is so bad. I can always wipe the hardrive and load XP.

Thanks. I just know they always built a durable, workhorse desktop PC

 

[Vince]

Thanks. I just know they always built a durable, workhorse desktop PC

You should ask one of the real geeks around here. They would know more than I do. Dig through some of the old computer threads and you'll know who to talk to.

 

[chess]

id go with ibm, personally....

HP isnt that bad they have actually impressed me over the years....

if you want good customer service go with dell..

 

[warneckutz]

Try Best Buy (.com) and check this one out:

HP Pavilion Laptop with AMD Turion™ 64 X2 - dv9715nr

It's normally $900 down to $750, plus if you use your RewardZone Card you get dbl points, so you would get about $30 back in Gift Certificates.

 

[runnerboy1500]

Vince, how does HP stack up with the others ?

HP and Compaq both have really great/improved quality since the mid 90s. My dad and several of my friends sport a mix of Compaq and HPs without issues.

 

[desertrat]

Vince, how does HP stack up with the others ?

Read this before considering an HP. I wish I had.
Big Problems with Wireless in HP Pavilion Notebooks » PCMech
There is a discussion on the forums also.
http://forums.somd.com/computers-technology-internet/123625-hp-laptop-network-issues.html

 

[Majere420]

Vista

It's hard to find a new computer with anything other than VISTA installed on it. I have a new laptop from Dell, a E1705, with Vista. The one down side to vista is that it craves RAM. If you have to get vista then get at least 2GB of RAM. I know most system come with only 1GB.

 

[LordStanley]

Read this before considering an HP. I wish I had.
Big Problems with Wireless in HP Pavilion Notebooks » PCMech
There is a discussion on the forums also.
http://forums.somd.com/computers-technology-internet/123625-hp-laptop-network-issues.html

The only thing that worked right with my HP pavilion was the wireless.

In less than a year, the left hinge broke. I wasnt able to open and close the laptop correctly. The poweradapter stopped working. Had to buy a new one while I was waiting for the warrenty replacement to come back.

Last week, the laptop wouldnt bootup. The computer turns on. the CD drive spins up, but the harddrive dosent. It wont even post into the HP startup screen. Its completly dead.
Good thing I bought the 3 year cover all warrenty! I pulled the HD and sent it back to HP.

Other than that. We've been happy with it.

 

[desertrat]

The only thing that worked right with my HP pavilion was the wireless.
In less than a year, the left hinge broke. I wasnt able to open and close the laptop correctly. The poweradapter stopped working. Had to buy a new one while I was waiting for the warrenty replacement to come back.
Last week, the laptop wouldnt bootup. The computer turns on. the CD drive spins up, but the harddrive dosent. It wont even post into the HP startup screen. Its completly dead.
Good thing I bought the 3 year cover all warrenty! I pulled the HD and sent it back to HP.

Other than that. We've been happy with it.

I may try Toshiba next, the P205-S6808 looks good.

 

[desertrat]

It's hard to find a new computer with anything other than VISTA installed on it. I have a new laptop from Dell, a E1705, with Vista. The one down side to vista is that it craves RAM. If you have to get vista then get at least 2GB of RAM. I know most system come with only 1GB.

Is it possible though? I'd be tempted to wipe Vista off and install XP.

 

[Majere420]

Is it possible though? I'd be tempted to wipe Vista off and install XP.

It does run with 1GB but run alot better with 2GB. When I got my Dell I just got 1GB then got my 2GB of RAM from newegg. It's cheaper that way.

Like you said you could put XP on it yourself. one thing to remember is that if the XP you have came preinstalled on another computer (OEM version) you will not be able to use that version.

 

[GWguy]

Is it possible though? I'd be tempted to wipe Vista off and install XP.

It's def possible, but you have to check the vendor's web site to make sure there are XP hardware-specific drivers for that make/model of PC. Without XP drivers, nothing works right.

 

[Tomcat]

I'm on my 4th IBM, not because I've had any trouble, the first one wasn't even a Pentium. They are now Lenovo. I hate using a touchpad and they have a little pencil erasure like thing in the center of the keyboard for the mouse. The new ones have both a touchpad and the erasure. If you look around you may still find one with XP. If not call and check if it is compatible with XP and load it yourself. All that said, the wife just got a Gateway tablet notebook with all the bells and whistles, pretty nice except for the Vista part.

 

[Majere420]

It's def possible, but you have to check the vendor's web site to make sure there are XP hardware-specific drivers for that make/model of PC. Without XP drivers, nothing works right.

You should still be able to download all of the drivers from internet. My friend just got a Dell desktop with no Operation system installed. they did send a drivers disk but it only had vista drivers. I was able to download all of the XP drivers. to get the right drivers you will need to know the moterboard chipset and who made the components that are in your system.

 

[GWguy]

You should still be able to download all of the drivers from internet. My friend just got a Dell desktop with no Operation system installed. they did send a drivers disk but it only had vista drivers. I was able to download all of the XP drivers. to get the right drivers you will need to know the moterboard chipset and who made the components that are in your system.

Depends on the system. I went thru this with a customer's Dell not too long ago, and with my roommate's Dell. They bought laptops expecting to downgrade to XP, and there were NO XP drivers available, only Vista. My customer returned her Dell and found one that could be ordered with XP pre-installed.