Laptop recommendations?

[hoop]

OK, it's finally time to break down and get a laptop.... never owned one before, and have limited use with one. I'll still be using my desktop as the workhorse (photo and video editing), but a laptop would be awful handy when on the road. Looking to spend no more than a grand..... What am I looking for as far as performance? any recommendations? Thanks!

[ccarter]

Not to be a fanboy.. but..

I would get a MacBook hands down.. no contest. I'm a Windows Network Admin and made the jump at the beginning of the year for my personal laptop and couldn't be more impressed. They have great specs, good warranty/support, and are most impressive for photo/video type stuff.

[Flatliner]

I would recommend a lower end dell with as much memory as practical. Don't spend too much. I have done the high end laptop thing, ($2500 with Kick A&% video card) and it just didn't work out real well. I am much happier with my $500 laptop and high end custom desktop.

I will defer to ccarter on the MacBook thing because I just don't LIKE apples, never have.

[ccarter]

Originally Posted by Flatliner

I will defer to ccarter on the MacBook thing because I just don't LIKE apples, never have.

INFIDEL!!!!!!!!!

[georoc01]

More than any other piece of hardware, laptops can be really subjective as far as ergonomics go. I would go down to your local computer superstore and try as many as you can to see what layout you like.

Currently I have an HP that is treating me very well. Prior to that, I had an IBM(lenova) which I didn't like quite as much, a Dell which was a nice machine, and prior to that a Micron which while heavy, had a metal frame and was the most indestructable laptop I have had. Eventually one of our field personnel swapped me for it because he was using it in his pickup year round with temps going from -20 degrees to 110 degrees F.

[scubasavvy]

I don't like Apples either, but if you're going to be doing a lot of creative stuff like photo and video editing, you can't ask for a better setup than a Mac Book. My roommate has one, I can't stop playing with Garageband.

[greyzen]

So I happen to know from first-hand experience, pretty much everything there is to know about Dell portables pre-lastyears model.

They are amazing computers, and the trick is to buy the one that is high"er" end. Getting the razor edge is frankly, not very bright.

*Most* people don't use the level of computer they buy anyhow, so unless you happen to be one of those few that actually maxes out your system the cost-effectiveness just isn't there.

Secondly, please pay attention when I say this...
GET THE FREAKING COMPLETE CARE WARRANTY

Portables are nothing, if not portable. I don't care if the warranty costs you 500 dollars and you have to get less processor so you can afford the system. The first time you drop it, step on it, sit on it, leave it on your car roof, etc. that 500 bucks will seem cheap.

Want funny real-life stories? PM me, I happened to be very connected to a certain fortune 25 computer company for several years

[ccarter]

Originally Posted by georoc01

More than any other piece of hardware, laptops can be really subjective as far as ergonomics go. I would go down to your local computer superstore and try as many as you can to see what layout you like.

Currently I have an HP that is treating me very well. Prior to that, I had an IBM(lenova) which I didn't like quite as much, a Dell which was a nice machine, and prior to that a Micron which while heavy, had a metal frame and was the most indestructable laptop I have had. Eventually one of our field personnel swapped me for it because he was using it in his pickup year round with temps going from -20 degrees to 110 degrees F.

I started purchasing HPs for company use.. their nx/nc business line models. They're pretty nice and after removing some of the crap that comes pre-installed and loading them down with anti-spyware, anti-virus software they make nice smooth running machines I rarely have back in the office to work on.

We used to use Dell desktops/laptops and would literally have 1-2 in for maintenance a week out of a 150 machine inventory. Their servers aren't that reliable either. I think of Dell as kind of a disposable computer.. buy 'em since they're cheap but be ready to do a lot of warranty work on them. Coincidentally they started selling their machines at Wal-Mart.. if that doesn't speak volumes of their reliability then I don't know what does.

Originally Posted by scubasavvy

I don't like Apples either, but if you're going to be doing a lot of creative stuff like photo and video editing, you can't ask for a better setup than a Mac Book. My roommate has one, I can't stop playing with Garageband.

Gah! You people are killin' me!

Garageband is a time killer though..

[RocketMan]

The one I recommend is the one I bought for my daughter when she when to college. A Toshiba. It has got to be the most durable laptop around...why? Well my wife ran over it with our car and it still works. Now that's durable.

[JCAT]

I like DELL hands down for laptops.

I bought my Inspiron 7500 in 98 or 99 and its still ticking. Its a P3 with 256 ram on board, does have a CDRW in it though.

It survived a year in Iraq and Kuwait and probably still has sand in it! It's a tough piece of technology. However, it looks the part too.

Some true conversations follow.

Young punky 20 year old---Hey Jcat, is that your VCR or what?

TSA agent---Sir?,,oh wow, it's a laptop!! It's,,uhm,,uhm,,very sturdy.

Wife---Please, I'll buy you what ever you want, just get rid of it.

I think you should by a Dell, but that’s only my opinion.

(my desktop is somewhat newer)