Laptop Buying Advice

[Vrylakos]

Hello Folks!

This next year I'm going to be going to school to get my Masters Degree in Library Science. It's an intensive 2 year course, and I've seen one co-worker go through it. It's part face-to-face, but mostly done via Distance Education.

I'm thinking my desktop model is getting a bit old, and I want to make sure I'm set for the start of classes. Ideally, I'd like to be able to access the net anywhere so that I can do classwork online during my lunch hour, or where ever I get stuck. That's just ideally, though. Typing papers on my lunch is fine too.

So, I'm cruising Costco, keeping an eye on Ebay, but really have no idea what to look for, or what to watch out for. Toshiba products I'm a bit iffy on, due to recent experiences, but if their laptops are good, I'm all ears.

So, anyone have any experiences, advice, horror stories, or good stories about laptops?

Thanks in advance!
Vrylakos
Master of Library Science to be!

 

[Aeolius]

While I would immediately recommend either an iBook or PowerBook, it would be more sensible to ask what your budget is for the laptop.

 

[Silveras]

Toshiba products I'm a bit iffy on, due to recent experiences, but if their laptops are good, I'm all ears.

Actually, I am quite pleased with slightly-more-than-a-year-old Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop.

 

[Vrylakos]

While I would immediately recommend either an iBook or PowerBook, it would be more sensible to ask what your budget is for the laptop.

Well, I'll be squeezing it into my financial aid money, so I'm thinking around 1000-2000 dollars. Lower the better, I suppose.

As for Macs, I bought my first computar, a Quadra 660AV - and lo it was a Mac. Since then I've been sort of given these hand-me-down Windows computers, or Diabolical Experiments my father has constructed in his role as a retired Mad PC Scientist. My Mac-Fu these days is pretty weak... and I think the tech requirements of my MLS program requires a Windows machine, now that I think about it.

Looks like a G-5 will have to wait until I get my degree and start making the big bucks...

Vrylakos

 

[Vrylakos]

Actually, I am quite pleased with slightly-more-than-a-year-old Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop.

Really? Can you tell me why, exactly? Like I said, I've had no experience with their laptops, just their PDAs and consumer electronics.

Thanks!

Vrylakos

 

[d20books]

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!

If you want a desktop, Costco carries the "Medion" line of computers. I HIGHLY recommend them because every bit of their hardware is off-the-shelf and not proprietary like Toshiba, Compaq/HP, Dell, etc. Every bit of the hardware has native drivers built into Windows XP. If I were to get a PC, that's the one I'd get.

If you want a good computer, desktop or laptop, I'm EXCEEDINGLY happy with my Macintosh. I know, I know...

I'm an ultra-techie. I got tired of my PCs and moved to Macs. Been happier for it. Some of the tech industry's TOP techie geeks that I've interacted with, I've converted to Macintosh and they are much happier for it too. They now proselytize the virtues of Macintosh too.

The only issue is that they are more expensive than PCs. On the other hand, PCs tend to be obsolete much faster while the Macs tend to stay in there swinging for much longer. I have a Powerbook G3/500Mhz from January 2000. It is STILL 100% everything I need. It went from Mac OS 9.1 to 10.2.8 without problems. The only thing stopping me from upgrading to 10.3 is that I'm eyeing a new iBook G4/1Ghz that will come with the new OS. After four years, I just want something new too. It isn't that my present Powerbook isn't doing the trick

 

[Vrylakos]

Believe me, I know the virtues of the Mac. Solid system, and my Quadra never gave me any problems. I still have it.

However, I do need the Windows machine for this MLS program's distance learning angle. Macs will have to wait until after.

Thanks for the head's up on the Medion line at Costco. I'll take a look, even if a laptop is in my future, a desktop may also need to be acquired.

Vrylakos

 

[d20books]

My Mac-Fu these days is pretty weak... and I think the tech requirements of my MLS program requires a Windows machine, now that I think about it.

Microsoft bought the Virtual PC for Macintosh. It is far superior to run Virtual PC with Windows XP Pro on a Macintosh than to run the actual Windows XP Pro on a PC, if you want my opinion.

Other than the few Windows apps, most everything you can get for the Macintosh now. Office v.X Professional is the full Microsoft Office Suite for Mac, WITH the Virtual PC with Windows XP Pro bundled in it.

Because Mac OS X is actually BSD (a type of Linux, roughly), it never crashes like a PC. It is also universal in its ability to interact with PCs, Linux/UNIX, and Macintosh.

As for learning Mac OS X, it is actually MUCH more intuitive than any previous Mac OS. OS 9 was the last of the old Macintosh ways. The only time I've seen people having problems with Mac OS X is when they try to be "too Windows" centric. It is a new beast all its own and much easier to use if you "flow" with it. It becomes second nature REALLY FAST.

My own mother (aged in middle 60s) has stopped using her PC. She waits for me to come by for a visit with my Powerbook. I think she wants to see my Macintosh more than me or her 2-year-old grandson sometimes

 

[gariig]

The Dell 1100 series laptops are pretty nice. My girlfriend has had one for 3 months and no problems. They are fairly bulky and i think in the upper end of 7 lbs(that is heavy for laptop). My 2 coopers

Gariig

 

[d20books]

Uh... not Dell.

The Dell 1100 series laptops are pretty nice. My girlfriend has had one for 3 months and no problems. They are fairly bulky and i think in the upper end of 7 lbs(that is heavy for laptop). My 2 coopers

Gariig

I know I live in the "town of Dell", but my sister-in-law bought a Dell laptop. Under normal use, the motherboard fried itself only two months after the one year warranty went out on it. Even after talking to their support (since a motherboard should last a decade), they were no help and would not do anything for her.

Maybe this is just one horror story, but it directly effected me since I had to help her deal with getting a new laptop.