Buying A New Laptop

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

I know this topic has been talked out, I have talked about it so much I'm sick of it! That being said I still haven't bought a new laptop ( I've been talking about it for months)! I just got back from Best Buy, I needed to buy ink for my printer. I was looking at the MacBook Pro 15" and it is spectacular. The 13" was beside it and it is a huge difference in screen size. Surprisingly a worker asked if I needed help (this never happens to me), I asked if he knew when new ones were being released, I said in September or holiday time, he said these were the newest. I know the second I buy one the new models will be released! I know no one can I advise me how to spend my money, but I'm not sure I want to pay like $2,000 for the Mac Pro15" I don't know if I should get an HP laptop or Mac.

henderson · ‎03-18-2010

My husband has been in the IT business for over 35 years and retired as a Network Analyst for the Metro Police in Las Vegas (9 yrs. there). He doesn't like Apple computers/Macs and we have always purchased Dell computers online. We now have 3 Dell's we use. Laptop for me and one upstairs for my husband. Also another one, I forget what's it is, but it's very small and we use for travel to download pictures and get our email.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

There are LOTS of other great choices out there but if your only choices are HP or Apple - Well, I'm out.

BUT, I do have one piece of advice (from personal experience) - If you do purchase something from Best Buy, try to make sure you don't get a 'Best Buy build' model.

They put all kinds of BB stuff on their own builds that can eventually cause problems, and the most insidious thing I found is that you cannot uninstall any of that stuff. I don't know how they do it, but they hide it in the operating system or something.

I had one that worked fine for a few years and then something that had been put in the OS precluded further Windows Updates. I believe this was Win7 and when there was a new Service Pack it could not be installed and that left me vulnerable. There was nothing I could do but stop using it.

I have Toshibas, A Lenovo, a Sony VAIO, and recently purchased an ASUS. I have had great experience with those first three brands. This is my first ASUS and, so far, I really like it. Operating-wise, it seems very good (if you stay with PC, go for the i7 processor!) and physically, it seems very well-made and durable.

If you haven't had Win10 yet - well, I hope you like it. I have to say that I don't like it too much but I keep tweaking things to make them the way I like. Just - when you first pull up the computer for the first time, be sure to NOT enter through those pages of stuff that, by default, keeps track of you in numerous ways. On the lower left of the screen you'll see an opportunity to UN-choose all that stuff. Be sure to do that. I bet a lot of people don't even notice that and just keep entering through. That rather irks me because, initally, it didn't look like you could change it.

Also, just enter through that 'start a Microsoft account' thing. You CAN enter through that without starting an MS ID. I made the mistake doing that once, a couple of years ago (because I didn't think I had a choice) and it was nothing but grief.

Anyway, that's my advice from personal experience FWIW.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

Not being anywheres near tech savvy, I was given a Mac a few years ago and I LOVED it! It's a lot different than PC but when it made sense to me, I really enjoyed it. Had it for a couple years than the lid hinge broke and was more expensive to fix than I wanted--remember I got it free! And I would have bought another one however, I didn't have the many$$ a new one cost. So back to PC for me. I just bought a Lenovo laptop from Best Buy, as it got great reviews and I got it at a great price. My daughter is a Dell girl and buys new every 3 or 4 years from them. Keep doing your research. And I don't know how much the new ones really change all that much from the previous year. Maybe a few little things. I got mine to suit my needs and what I do on a computer. My daughters is based on her gaming needs so it is more powerful than mine is. Also I opted to buy a laptop from an opened box that saved me another $50 or so.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

@Jordan2, i am still keeping a eye out for a lap top,last week on best deals .com they had a dell that was a good price i thought,maybe check that out.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

knittykitty · ‎03-10-2010

I LOVE my Toshiba CHROMEBOOK. Not a Windows or MAC, runs on Google. FAST, sharp, perfection. Got mine at Costco on line. Several other brands also make Chromebooks.

Good luck!

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

goldensrbest wrote:
@Jordan2, i am still keeping a eye out for a lap top,last week on best deals .com they had a dell that was a good price i thought,maybe check that out.

Hi Goldens! I recently got my new ASUS at Amazon for what I believe to be an outstanding price (less than $550) for a huge hdd, more than enough RAM, and an Intel i7 processor.

Except that I'm still working on loving Win10, I really like this computer very much. ASUS tends to have very good marks. Otherwise I won't go to a brand because I place quality WAY above price.

I was also very pleased to realize, after I received it, that it has a Toshiba hard drive. So often, no matter the brand, you can end up with some generic hard drive that is less integrous, in build AND endurance, than some.

Jordan2 · ‎03-16-2010

@chickenbutt wrote:
There are LOTS of other great choices out there but if your only choices are HP or Apple - Well, I'm out.

BUT, I do have one piece of advice (from personal experience) - If you do purchase something from Best Buy, try to make sure you don't get a 'Best Buy build' model.

They put all kinds of BB stuff on their own builds that can eventually cause problems, and the most insidious thing I found is that you cannot uninstall any of that stuff. I don't know how they do it, but they hide it in the operating system or something.

I had one that worked fine for a few years and then something that had been put in the OS precluded further Windows Updates. I believe this was Win7 and when there was a new Service Pack it could not be installed and that left me vulnerable. There was nothing I could do but stop using it.

I have Toshibas, A Lenovo, a Sony VAIO, and recently purchased an ASUS. I have had great experience with those first three brands. This is my first ASUS and, so far, I really like it. Operating-wise, it seems very good (if you stay with PC, go for the i7 processor!) and physically, it seems very well-made and durable.

If you haven't had Win10 yet - well, I hope you like it. I have to say that I don't like it too much but I keep tweaking things to make them the way I like. Just - when you first pull up the computer for the first time, be sure to NOT enter through those pages of stuff that, by default, keeps track of you in numerous ways. On the lower left of the screen you'll see an opportunity to UN-choose all that stuff. Be sure to do that. I bet a lot of people don't even notice that and just keep entering through. That rather irks me because, initally, it didn't look like you could change it.

Also, just enter through that 'start a Microsoft account' thing. You CAN enter through that without starting an MS ID. I made the mistake doing that once, a couple of years ago (because I didn't think I had a choice) and it was nothing but grief.

Anyway, that's my advice from personal experience FWIW.

@chickenbutt are you talking about BB's Blue Label laptops that are exclusive to them? I'm always leery about buying something that is exclusive to one store. I would rather buy something that is sold in several retail stores.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Jordan - That sure sounds like it. Back when I made that purchase either they weren't naming them or I just plain did not do due diligence and notice that I was purchasing a 'BB only' model.

There were some BB programs I was able to uninstall, but there was enough imbedded into the operating system that caused problems for me, anyway. I don't think they should be able to do that, but then I'm not queen of the world so I have no say.

Live and learn, eh? That was my learning to pay better attention. I seem to learn about 50% of stuff the hard way. D'oh!