Author |
Message |
Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 6:17 pm
Ktbb - as a student, I can say from EXPERIENCE, that I HATE HATE HATE my widescreen laptop. It only fits in LARGE backpacks, and it is very cumbersome. Technically, its considered on the lighter side compared to other laptops, but the sheer bulkiness of it is very annoying. I work at a computer helpdesk at school, and although people think they like the "wide screen", but it is still a pain in the butt to carry. If you can find a smaller one, keep it in mind as a BIG positive. I really like CNET.com for information on consumer electronics. I like to read the editors' reviews. As well, once I've singled it down to a few favorites, I like to read through the "user opinions" to see the common issues and complaints.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 6:27 pm
So much depends on how you will be using it. I love big wide screens and lots of power, but I agree with Eeyore that it's amazing how people start to feel the size and the weight if they have to lug the things around all the time.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 6:43 pm
Totally agree Jimmer. If your son is a gamer, or really into multimedia, then a big screen is good. But yeah, I noticed you said it was for your son, so I'm assuming he's either in high school, or college. Lugging a laptop, on foot, across a university campus, is not comfortable. I think one of my problems is that I don't want to carry one of those "laptop bags" that go across the shoulder, or one of those really obvious TARGUS laptop backpacks, because I think they *advertise* that I'm carrying a laptop, and I would think it makes me stand out as a target for theft, just sitting in the library, or on the subway. I guess that comes with being female though. LOL PS - I have a Gateway PC and it's been really good to me in the past 4 years.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 6:14 am
You can get a really small laptop, for ease of transporting, but get an additional monitor to plug in for game time. Extra money, but it makes the laptop choice easier.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 10:01 am
I bought a Gateway notebook and I love it but more importantly I love the customer service. They are far superior to Dell in my view. The times I went to Dell for customer service, it was a nightmare. With my notebook which comes with a pencil, the pencil stopped working. I went online, went to customer service told them it wasnt working and I had one sent to me in two days. No questions asked. So for customer service, they are great.
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 3:19 pm
Thanks for all the good info. I am thinking about Dell. We don't need it to do too much. Surfing and a little game playing. Nothing too high tech.(more like zuma and trivia games.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 3:56 pm
I've had good luck w/my customer service w/Dell. The "bottom of the line" laptops we got "free" for teachers a few years ago was a real lemon. In a six month time span I had 3 MAJOR problems. Each time they sent a customer service tech. out within 48 hours to replace whatever needed to be fixed. After another 3 repairs, I finally pitched a fit, and they sent me a "new" laptop (it was refurbished, but still a HUGE step up from the other one). I haven't had any problems w/it (3 years now), and the only reason DH got me a new one was so we could have a DVD burner. When we had our Gateway desktop, they had great service too and we never had any problems. I think you'd be happy both ways -- so have fun picking out your favorite! 
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 3:59 pm
My laptop is widescreen and I have a backpack that fits it.. My backpack is a Travelpro with a padded section and doesn't scream computer at all. Lighter would be better. One thing I love with this laptop (it is an HP) is the Centrino chip instead of pentium.. All my laptops with Pentium (I've had PI and PIV, several old Toshibas and several IBM Thinkpads) were way too hot and overheated, while the Centrino is made to run in a laptop and is much cooler. I don't lug mine around every day, but do take it on vacations.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, October 06, 2006 - 11:23 pm
I love the Centrino too. It's necessary for laptops, for sure! Me: lug the darn thing around every day. Hate it.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, October 07, 2006 - 7:40 am
KTbb, just goe this month's Consumer Reports. The Gateway NX260X was ranked first out of five for 14.1 inch budget laptops. No Gateways in the 15.4 inch budget models (but only 3 in that category) Gateway NX560XL second out of eight 15.4 inch workhorse models. Gateway NX860X six out of seven for 17 inch workhorse models Gateway NX100X 12.1" three out of five for 12. to 13.3 inch slim and light models.
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Emmy
Member
05-05-2004
| Sunday, October 08, 2006 - 8:31 pm
Sea, I'm interested in your bag for your widescreen. I don't have anything to carry mine around in. What does it look like? Isn't it heavy on your back?
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 7:23 pm
Thanks so much for all your great info. Can't wait to start shopping!
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 11:35 am
Well she ruined the Christmas surprise, but we got a pretty good deal on a Gateway from Bestbuy. I think the warranty was as much as the laptop itself. Oh well better safe than sorry. She seems to like it, but now I have to think of something else for Christmas
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 11:36 am
Does anyone know if a mouse with a USB port 2.0 is universal? I found one with Donald Duck on it, but its coming from Hong Kong. Kinda scary.
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 11:42 am
I just saw this thread and I have to say that I absolute love my HP widescreen laptop. It has a full size keyboard which is great for my carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 4:33 pm
NT, I have an HP widescreen laptop, a pavillion. do you have trouble with it taking for ever to start up or reboot? I am thinking of having the Geek Squad come and see what is wrong with it, and I have only had it a few months.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 4:52 pm
Dipo my pavillion isn't real speedy at those times. The BEST thing is when I bought it from Fry's a couple of years ago, I got a three year extended warranty. And just after the two year mark, the backlight died in the display.. and.. not only was it fully covered, but my warranty gave me a loaner laptop which was a newer HP with some sort of AMD chip for laptops and it had all the features of mine (hmm not sure if it had a reader for a couple of camera cards) and even a built in web cam.. that was SO nice because I was going back out of town and definitely wanted to bring a laptop.
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 5:27 pm
It does seem to take a while to startup but it's no longer than my Dell desktop at work. Sea, I got mine at Circuit City and the salesman told me that HP has the highest customer service satisfaction rating and I have to agree because I've only had HP computers and any time there was a problem they bent over backwards to help me.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 6:23 pm
Ktbb, yes, the USB connection is universal. You can take your American USB mouse and plug it into a computer in Singapore. And you can take your Hong Kong mouse and plug it into your new computer.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 6:29 pm
Emmy, my backpack is by Travelpro, the first people who came out with the wheeled suitcases. And if it was just the laptop, that would be fine, but I add in my heavy camera and other goodies on trips and yes it is heavy but the backpack at least distributes the weight. I like to walk around airports with free hands and definitely don't want to carry the weight on one side. If I was travelling a bunch I'd go for a smaller lappie, I'm sure.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 7:16 pm
HP is notorious for putting MANY unneeded programs on that slow down their computers. I'm not enough of a geek to be able to give directions, but there is a way to alter which programs run on start-up instead of waiting until you need them. I bet someone in the 'puter thread would know. Once you stop them from running automatically and take off any unused programs, your laptop should start up much quicker. I have ancient computers at school (still on Win 98 w/only 64 MG RAM), so we did this at the beginning of the year. It didn't make them as good as an XP, but it sure helped! I've even done it w/my new lap top -- that "quick launch" bar had WAY too much stuff until I did.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 2:35 pm
Oh you can see how large my backpack is (when stuffed with laptop, cords, headphones, camera, small pack, bottle of water, sunglasses, keys, couple of books, flight info and a cozy/chic hoodie.. look in the road trips section for Oakland gathering Nov25 and there is a picture of the pack with my brother's almost 9 month cat.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 3:44 pm
LOL Sea. I don't know how you do it but is sure nice you can stay in touch while on the road. I love reading your "reports" of where you are and what you are doing.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 5:22 pm
I don't know how she does it either, especially with a bad back. I have carried her backpack for her, and I am twice her size. Danged near killed me.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 7:15 pm
Once I get it on, it is well balanced. Travelpro makes a good backpack. What Juju isn't saying is that I DID warn her about that pack! But I'm not sure what I had in it that time, perhaps a bunch of books.. because I didn't even own this laptop then, or the bigger camera, either.
Spoiler Click below to view spoiler | I think it is much heavier now |
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 9:41 am
Thanks Juju I think I'll go ahead and get it then. Why is it that Hong Kong has the cutest Disney stuff, but America does not?? I just got me a laptop and I love it. It's a widescreen and I wouldn't want it any other way. I also am not hauling it around anywhere though. Just to my chair and back.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 3:22 pm
Ah then no problem.. and I'm sure you will love having it.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 3:48 pm
Um, well, could be copyright violations on the Disney stuff, Ktbb ... don't pay too much for it just in case Customs seizes it or something ...
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Ktbb
Member
08-10-2003
| Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 4:50 pm
No its only around $15 or so. I think it was worth a shot. Thanks everyone
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