Laptop Talk

[Umbran]

Everyone's support sucks.

Okay, that maybe ought to get a little delving into...

A while back, my wife's laptop (a Dell), started having problems. At different times, the mousepad and keyboard went screwy on her. Eventually, something bizarre happened and networking - both wireless and ethernet - died, and at that point we just bought another.

However, before the end, when we were having other hardware issues, I found Dell support pretty helpful. But, helpful for me may be different from helpful for others. I wasn't about to send the hardware to them. But, buying new parts from them? Easy, and not really expensive compared to other online vendors I consider trustworthy. Finding instructions on how to swap parts out online? Super easy. And for me, at least, the instructions were clear as day to follow.

So, my experience with their support was entirely positive. Left me wondering about their hardware quality, but the support was good.

And I don't really expect software support from my hardware vendor. More like I expect the hardware vendor to, for the most part, keep his grubby paws out of the software end of things, other than pre-loading select applications.

 

[jonesy]

By the way, I'd recommend making sure that the laptop has an already setup factory settings restore. Many don't, and some require you to make one yourself to an external harddrive. For example some Acer laptops that I've come in contact with have had a hidden harddrive already holding the restore data and all one needed to do to get the original settings back was to hold a key combination down when turning the computer on. Really easy and helpful if the system gets messed up.

 

[Plane Sailing]

One of the things to consider is screen resolution (or whether you are going to pay for an external monitor and the hassle of connecting it up). Personally I like high resolution screens (the more real estate on a screen the better for me) and that has always been the limiting factor when purchasing a laptop.

My last laptop was an inspiron 9200 from Dell which is still functioning well as a backup PC for my children even though it is five years old now - no complaints about it at all. My work laptop is an HP and it is OK, but not especially impressive (screen res too low!). My previous PC was a Toshiba and it was pretty good at the time.

All of these have suffered from the lame 'helpful' additional software which the vendors choose to load on for you. All a bit of a disaster really in that respect.

 

[Umbran]

One of the things to consider is screen resolution (or whether you are going to pay for an external monitor and the hassle of connecting it up). Personally I like high resolution screens (the more real estate on a screen the better for me) and that has always been the limiting factor when purchasing a laptop.

Part of the point of this thread is helping me think through such things, and finding out what I really consider important.

At a couple of my past workplaces, they gave me these wonderful, huge, hi-res monitors. I loved the real-estate. At home, technically, I do have an office with a desk. I could, if I wanted, put a monitor on it. But, I've lived in this house for over three years, and I've *never* used the office desk for computing. So, I think you are correct, that the screen resolution and size are important considerations. I'm only apt to get an external monitor for home if I'm also significantly changing my habits at the same time.

 

[Kzach]

I'm basically a Windows user, not terribly interested in switching platforms.

I'm more interested in reliability and good customer support than cutting edge performance.

I can't help you if you're going to contradict yourself.

 

[Mark CMG]

The type and amount of gameplaying you do might be the biggest factor, at least that is what generally separated the mules from the thoroughbreds when I was looking.

 

[Alan Shutko]

At home, technically, I do have an office with a desk. I could, if I wanted, put a monitor on it. But, I've lived in this house for over three years, and I've *never* used the office desk for computing.

I won't say never, but I've been primarily a laptop user for a decade or so. Right now, I have a 13" MacBook Air I use. But it's awfully nice to go upstairs to the 27" display when I'm working in pictures or big documents.

Which reminds me of another thing to check for: the quality of the screen. Dell, for instance, sells some beautiful wide-gamut screens... But the monitors and laptops we buy at work are terrible dull dim things compared to a modern smartphone or my MacBook.

 

[Umbran]

I can't help you if you're going to contradict yourself.

As far as I can tell, the Mac superiority in hardware reliability is mythological. I had been curious, and asked in the IT shop of a place I worked last year - the company used a mixture of Mac, Dell, and Lenovo hardware for desktop use. The Macs had a one-third *higher* rate of hardware complaints, per user.

And, as previously noted, while I am not interested in building my own, cracking something open to replace a part is not something I balk at. If I were using a Mac? Fat chance there!

 

[Umbran]

The type and amount of gameplaying you do might be the biggest factor, at least that is what generally separated the mules from the thoroughbreds when I was looking.

Well, for the past seven years or so, I've been using second-hand equipment bought off my employers. So, I was always a bit behind the tech curve, and honestly fell out of serious computer gaming. Other than Plants vs Zombies, that is

I think my gameplaying will be casual, at best. There's some noise among my friends that I might want to play Diablo III with them, but that's not enough to shell out the really big bucks. But, since this is in part a present to myself, an XPS-grade machine isn't out of the question.

 

[Mark CMG]

Well, for the past seven years or so, I've been using second-hand equipment bought off my employers. So, I was always a bit behind the tech curve, and honestly fell out of serious computer gaming. Other than Plants vs Zombies, that is

I think my gameplaying will be casual, at best. There's some noise among my friends that I might want to play Diablo III with them, but that's not enough to shell out the really big bucks. But, since this is in part a present to myself, an XPS-grade machine isn't out of the question.

Not that I computer game (much) but I guess finding out what Diablo III requires should give you an idea where to start, at the least.