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Archive through October 05, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2006 Jun. ~ 2006 Dec.: Buyers Banter (ARCHIVES): Laptops: Archive through October 05, 2006 users admin

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Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 6:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Ds is considering putting his hard-earned summer money into a new laptop. I promised him I'd check with you guys before he dips into his newly swollen bank account.
Dell Canada is offering their Inspiron 6400 Notebook for CD$1,299 with free shipping. Is this a good deal? Has anyone had any Dell laptop experience, good or bad?

Spygirl
Board Administrator

04-23-2001

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 7:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spygirl a private message Print Post    
Lumbele, the last 3 computers I've bought are Dell, and I will only own Dell from now on. My husband and I bought 600m laptops last year and we love them.

Any of their machines are great, depending on what she wants to do with it. But regardless of what she gets, encourage her to get the extended in-home warranty service as well as the you-can-drop-it-off-a-cliff-and-it-is-still-covered warranty. They really have that for some notebooks and it is soooooo worth the extra hundred bucks or so.


Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Lum, you will definitely need an extended warranty with a Dell. I have had nothing but trouble with mine and now with my printer, which is also a Dell. The company itself does not get stellar ratings in the customer service department either.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i have a toshiba laptop and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
My only thing is that my laptop is too bag. I have a Toshiba M40 and I LOVE IT, except for the size. It isn't the weight, but the dimensions. I can't fit it in anything other than my huge napsack. Honestly, if you can get a really compact one, it won't be such a bear to take to school and back.

I specifically bought my lappy to transcribe the teacher while they were lecturing, but I already reevaluate whether I can just write it out instead of carrying my laptop to school.

Seriously, you don't THINK size will be an issue, but if your DS has to carry it a lot, it will become an issue.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 11:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
It all depends on what your priority is. These are just generalities.

Big screen (nice to look at) = big size (harder to carry around)
More power/larger = lower battery life
Bigger battery = heavier

Toshiba are very good. I've heard different things about Dell and the experience in Canada may be different from the States (but I'm not sure).

Buttercup
Member

09-10-2000

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 12:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Buttercup a private message Print Post    
I love my Toshiba as well. I've had several over the years since that is what the companies I worked for provided. Never had any problems.

I did have an IBM T40 before which also was great. The only reason I switched is because I needed more memory and a bigger processor.

Good luck!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 7:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
I had a low end Dell (free for teachers -- thus the low end) and it was nasty. However, after a half-dozen "repairs," I finally told 'em -- look, send me one that works! If you send a tech again, it will be on the front lawn in PIECES!! (However -- they DID send a repairman EVERY time I called, so their service was excellent.) I got a "refurbished" as a replacement, but used it 3 years w/no problems at all. DH just replaced it for me w/a brand new, mid-line version Dell and I ADORE it! It has a CD/DVD burner on it, widescreen monitor, and more USB ports than I'll ever use! Weighs less than 6 pounds so easy to tote. :-)

I will add, though, that my DB has an Imac notebook he swears by. He's dropped it on the GARAGE floor and it didn't even damage it!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 7:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
BTW -- I have the Dell Inspiron E1505 for comparison w/the Dell you're looking at. :-)

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Lumbele, I JUST bought Bigdog the Dell Inspiron 6400, which is the same machine as the E1505. It was a special deal and great features, Duo Core Pentium M processor, 1 Gb RAM, dual layer DVD writer, 100 Gb hard drive, wireless, 10/100 ethernet, 56k modem, 4 USB ports, and a firewire port. It was $699, which I thought was a great deal for all those features. This morning Dell briefly had the same machine for $604, with an 80Gb hard drive, but you could upgrade to 100 for $30 more.

One thing I don't like about it is that it does not come with recovery disks and no feature for creating your own. Instead, they have partitioned the hard drive and put the system recovery on the partition, so you immediately lost 20 Gb of hard drive. Plus, if your hard drive fails, you have NO recovery system, no operating system after you replace the hard drive.

BUT, the computer is going back. I got all the software installed and gave it to Bigdog to try out. It hung up on the first CD he tried to play in it. It hung up when he started his Juno e-mail software. It hung up on Wordpad. If I get a computer, and I start getting error messages on it right out of the box, it is going back. I am NOT spending the next three years troubleshooting what is wrong with it.

I also bought Bigdog a Dell laptop computer about 15 months ago, and same thing happened, except I was getting the error messages as I was installing my own software. This one at least let me install the software and THEN started acting up. I thought the problems with the other one were just because it was a bottom of the line model. The Inspiron 6400 seemed to me to not be bottom line despite the attractive price.

I think I will now give up on Dells after two lemons in a row. On the other hand, I also have a 600m that Spygirl has, and it works great!

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Anyone know anything about the Dell 5150? We are thinking seriously about it. It's a desktop. Maybe this is the wrong thread...

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 1:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
MB, don't know the 5150 specifically, but I have had the Dell Dimension 4600 desktop for two years with no problems.

Froggiegirl621
Member

02-14-2003

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 1:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Froggiegirl621 a private message Print Post    
I adore Dell computers! It's the only brand that I trust.

We just bought a Dell Inspiron B130 which is their "base" model, so to speak. We did upgrade a few things, but only spent just under $500 (we did get a bit of a deal on shipping and tax). I think it's a great machine - no problems so far and it serves it's purpose: surfing, email, watching DVD's during travel, and watching BB7 live feeds!

We also have a Dimension 4500 desktop and love that as well. We've had it over 4 years now and have had no problems at all.

I highly recommend getting a Dell!


Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 1:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Froggiegirl, WHERE did you find the Dell for under 500 bucks, if you don't mind my asking?!? The one we want with a few tiny upgrades (floppy, router, and something else I don't remember) would cost us $1275. Money is really tight right now, and I'd love to find a deal like that. Keeping in mind we'd be ordering from Dell.ca (Canada)

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 1:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
Unfortunately prices for electronics, including computers, are sooooo inflated in Canada. I travel back and forth so much, that if I were to buy a laptop, I'd definitely buy it in the U.S. (actually, we have bought all of our laptops in the States now that I think about it!).

Even when the exchange rates worked in the U.S. dollar's favor, the Canadian prices of computers & peripherals were WAAAAAY above the U.S.'s. And now that the exchange is pretty darn near even, the difference in prices is a crime.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 3:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Thank you all for your input! Much appreciated!
He would like a Toshiba, but with the bells and whistles he wants on it, that would set him back at least 500 bucks more, so Dell it is.
As a matter of fact a sing-song voice (I love that East-Indian sound) just called wanting to confirm the order with him (he ordered online).
Ds ordered the extended warranty, as some of you recommended. Juju, he also ordered a recovery disk (for 10 extra bucks).
This particular model comes with its own backpack, but if it gets too heavy for this 6'4" 23 yo male, there is always that new pilot's suitcase (on rollers) that his grandmother got for a steal and his mother had to smuggle through customs.LOL

Teach, the school he was student-teaching with last fall lend him an Imac, but there were a couple of things he didn't like with it, and that's why no Mac for him.

Latest news: Mr. Sing-Song offered extended onsite repair warranty for another 100 bucks which ds refused, but he did take him up on the upselling offer of a 7200 RPM 100 gig hard drive for 150 instead of 350 dollars more.

Froggiegirl621
Member

02-14-2003

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Froggiegirl621 a private message Print Post    
Mame - Dell.com!
And I lied...we paid $570.30 I had to log onto my Dell account to verify. But still a great deal!


Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 6:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
I have a Dell Inspiron 1300 and I really love it.....I tried to compare shop and no one could touch the price I got...i think it was $699 Cdn plus taxes.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 6:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Well we've done it! At Dell.ca, We ordered a Dell Dimension 5150 desktop with a few bells and whistles! Took a big hit though financially. About 1600 bucks. It's gonna be PB&J at our house for a while. LOL. But in about 3 weeks, no more armwrestling over the 'puter! (We opted NOT to go for a laptop as its easier to upgrade a desktop. The NEXT one WILL be a laptop though, dang it.)

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 7:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Yay new computers!!!

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Schoolmarm a private message Print Post    
Ok, I just love my Apple G4 PowerBook. Light weight, big screen (or you can get the little bitty one) and fast with lots of storage.

I do a fair amount of graphics and music and I couldn't live without it.

<Marm ducks for the tomatos being thrown because she is a Mac owner!>

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 8:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
If I had the bucks, Marm, that's exactly what I would have! :-) No tomatoes - -and NO VIRUSES with those machines!

Ktbb
Member

08-10-2003

Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ktbb a private message Print Post    
Anybody heard anything about Gateway? Am looking to get my so one for Christmas, and they had a great deal on one.

Emmy
Member

05-05-2004

Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 3:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Emmy a private message Print Post    
New Dell E1505 over here. Shipped fast, works great, and really good deal (gift from Dad!) If you call them and tell them your budget, they'll help you spend your $ wisely. JMHO

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 5:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Ktbb, I have not heard anything good OR bad about Gateway lately. I think I would be willing to go with one if it were a really good deal.