The Laptop Guide - Post here for questions, deals, etc.

[Cadsuane]

Also check out the lenovo thinkpad x220 and x1. Solid computers that are usually going on web sale at the manufacturer website, you can get one for under 900 as long as you're not getting the convertible tablet.

edit: gah, fucking necropost.

[Vandole]

my aunt is looking for a decent laptop for her to use and i'm too lazy to really search. are there any decent laptops going around now in the ~600 range?

[Rellikard]

Samsung have been making solid laptops for a bit and a couple at a decent price range.

Samsung
$499 http://tinyurl.com/3lnf7vv
$649 http://tinyurl.com/3klowvx

Lenovo
$369 http://tinyurl.com/3qwgapj
$569 http://tinyurl.com/43q836h
$629 http://tinyurl.com/3gu8knv



Dell - Have been making shit quality PCs past few years unless you get one of the higher end unts; hardware has been pretty cheap. Been noticing DC Jacks break pretty easily due to AC Adapter hanging and usually need to replace entire motherboard. No longer give you Recovery DVDs.

HP - They're thinking of getting out of the PC game all together so don't want to go there. Also, pretty much all HP laptops from late 2006-early 2008 after around 3 years had motherboard issues.

Sony - Still one of the better PC makers but they had a few models couple years ago that had fan problems and problems where the HDD would slide out of place. Some of their models have issues w/ the speakers.

Toshiba - Some of the best speakers for a laptop if you need amazing sound (the ones w/ the Harmony speakers). Had an issue about 5yr ago w/ overheatting. Had a class action lawsuit against them. 2-3 years ago they had a few models that had an issue w/ the video chipset; never resolved. Also, all Toshiba laptops will have Toshiba hard drives which is one of the 3 worse hard drives. (Toshiba, Fujitsu, Heitachi)

Asus - Good computers but past couple of years, their laptops at times have issues where the wireless card would disable itself or die all together pretty early on (1-2 years). Thought it was certain models but problems still popping up here and there with new models too.

Samsung - Had no problems with them whatsoever and usually are quick take care of your warranty and they use their own HDDs or I guess soon Seagate HDDs so you're in good hands there. In the past year, I can count on my hands the number of Samsung computers checked in. One of the few companies that still give you Recovery DVDs.

Also I've noticed AMD chipsets have had more motherboard failures than Intel's. Reason I didn't choose an AMD laptop.

[Callisto]

Starting to look into a new laptop and could use some recommendations...the laptop would not be used for gaming, but I would need it to be capable of streaming 720p video from a USB capture device, so processor/memory/hard drive are the main points and gpu is not much of a concern. Anyone know of something decent in the $5-700 range? I usually use Satellites but I know they aren't always the beefiest machines.

[Edgie]

What do you guys think about this computer.
At 588$
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Product Features
A powerful Intel Core i3 processor with Turbo Boost
The 15.6" LED-backlit LCD produces bright, colorful HD images, which combines with SRS premium sound for impressive gaming and multimedia
The Q530 includes HDMI, a 3-in-1 card slot, 3 USB 2.0 ports (1 sleep-and-charge), and PC-to-PC connectivity for real-time sharing. And a low-light webcam makes videoconferencing possible virtually anywhere.
Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

Hardware Platform: PC
Processor: 2.53 hertz Intel Core i3
Number of Processors: 2
RAM: 4 GB
RAM Type: SODIMM
Hard Drive

Size: 500 GB
Type: Serial ATA
Ports and Connectivity

USB Ports: 3
Cases and Expandability

Size (LWH): 10.04 inches, 14.9 inches, 10.04 inches
Weight: 5.2 pounds
Power

Rated Charge (normal use): 5 hours

[The Stig]

The description lies. i3 380m does not have turbo boost.

Otherwise (it shouldn't matter too much anyway if you're looking this type of laptop), powerful and decent enough for all day to day tasks and old games ( < 2007~)

[Khamsin]

Been looking around for a new laptop, something with i7 quad core, a capacity for 16 GB (doesn't have to actually come with 16 GB), and a GeForce GTX 560M or higher video card. Anyone know of any good deals?

So far I found: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230197

Don't really care about the 3D, but the 3D ones tended to have better video cards. Though, it does have a (assuming single) 1.5TB 7200 rpm HDD, which may not be a good thing based on some comments in the other laptop thread?

I've seen some laptops with SSD+HDD combos, and some with hybrid 4GB flash capability, but some of the other specs didn't match up to what I was looking for.

[synistar]

That G74 is probably running a dual HD setup since my G73 has dual 500GB 7200RPM. Usually people swap out one of the HDs for an SSD.

And reason you would want to stay away from 7200RPM HDs is primarily battery use. Don't expect to get more than 45 min on that sucker unless you're plugged in. Only reason I got a G73 was I wanted a small PC footprint for the limited space in my room as well as portability when I LAN at a friend's place.

[Eragon]

Been looking around for a new laptop, something with i7 quad core, a capacity for 16 GB (doesn't have to actually come with 16 GB), and a GeForce GTX 560M or higher video card. Anyone know of any good deals?

So far I found: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230197

Don't really care about the 3D, but the 3D ones tended to have better video cards. Though, it does have a (assuming single) 1.5TB 7200 rpm HDD, which may not be a good thing based on some comments in the other laptop thread?

I've seen some laptops with SSD+HDD combos, and some with hybrid 4GB flash capability, but some of the other specs didn't match up to what I was looking for.

I've been looking at this one a bit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230142

Looks basically the same as the one you posted, with a smaller HDD, for $500 less.

[Khamsin]

I've been looking at this one a bit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230142

Looks basically the same as the one you posted, with a smaller HDD, for $500 less.

$500 less is good, 500GB though is not. That's what I have currently and it's a tight fit as is. I've had to delete a few things to make other things fit. And I'm not even a music/movie hog.

If you could buy it without the OS for even cheaper, provide my own and swap the HDD myself, I'd be all over it. I also suspect that it only has room for one HDD.

[Cream Soda]

My friend is running a mac, looking to swap to pc

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,3
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP53.00AC.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.48f2
Serial Number (system): W892372Y642
Hardware UUID: E4FF49F8-46E8-54D3-B77E-BB418CDA7B37
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

Basically she wants something better than that for under 800. Which is easy to do, but wanted to see the best you guys could come up with in that price range.

[machiko]

I was using my laptop for FFXI yesterday, it seemed to freeze up so I restarted. After that the power light would come on, fan comes on and it reads CDs if I insert it but nothing else, the screen remains black and it doesn't seem to attempt a boot at all. I also tried an external monitor and that didn't work either.

Could this be a dead video card? I also read something about needing to reflash the bios, under these kinds of circumstances but i'm not sure about that. Would a dead video card on a laptop (acer aspire / nvidi 8600m) cause it to act in this way? I've had video card problems in the past on desktops but they usually at least worked for a while with artifacts on the screen or whatever before freezing up, my laptop does nothing right from the start.

So does this sound like i need a new Videocard or could it be a bios problem as I've read on other sites? Tried booting without the video card in and the screen at least powers up with white light).

[Seanr]

Anyone know of any deals for half decent laptops (with optical drive, no net book crap) for around 300 or under? I got a fairly computer illiterate friend who was going to buy a shitty $100 old IBM something or other with a 30 gb hard drive which immediately alerted me to the age of the laptop and I told him I'd choke him out if he bought that because then he always brings me his computers to work on and load software onto, etc. I'm not touching shit old computers anymore...

[Headspace]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+1...2125&cp=1&lp=1

Just got this laptop for $599 plus tax. The processor is a dual core, which idk if it states otherwise, I was told that bby.com was wrong about the processor.

It sucks that it's a 14", but I think I could deal with that for the price, since I wont' game that much but still want to game some.

Thoughts?

[The Stig]

I was using my laptop for FFXI yesterday, it seemed to freeze up so I restarted. After that the power light would come on, fan comes on and it reads CDs if I insert it but nothing else, the screen remains black and it doesn't seem to attempt a boot at all. I also tried an external monitor and that didn't work either.

Could this be a dead video card?

Dead or damaged, yes. It happened on my Dell XPS m1210. According to testimonies on the web, I was lucky in that although my card is not dead, the shit between it has mostly worn off/none existant. Therefore, should my laptop heat up at all for doing whatever, then the laptop will instantly throw video glitches/crash/black screen.

In your case it does sound more or less dead.

Anyone know of any deals for half decent laptops (with optical drive, no net book crap) for around 300 or under? I got a fairly computer illiterate friend who was going to buy a shitty $100 old IBM something or other with a 30 gb hard drive which immediately alerted me to the age of the laptop and I told him I'd choke him out if he bought that because then he always brings me his computers to work on and load software onto, etc. I'm not touching shit old computers anymore...

Any low end Acers, Sonies, Toshibas, HPs, Dells, should work. I had a quick browse at wallmart.com (the only cheap american retailer I can think of lol) but it seems the cheapest laptop is $350 with a Celeron CPU (meaning, extremely shit). I was surprised that there wasn't cheaper alternatives. Laptops with an i3 CPU here in the UK cost as low as £350, and when ported to American money should usually be cheaper, but I cannot find any so far.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+1...2125&cp=1&lp=1

Just got this laptop for $599 plus tax. The processor is a dual core, which idk if it states otherwise, I was told that bby.com was wrong about the processor.

It sucks that it's a 14", but I think I could deal with that for the price, since I wont' game that much but still want to game some.

Thoughts?

Don't understand, do you mean you got the same model laptop, same spec, etc, or did you buy one of a slightly different configuration which has 2 cores? Otherwise $600 for such a laptop, 14inch too (i7 CPUs in chasis smaller than 15 are usually a bit more expensive, in UK anyway) is an extremely good price, deal and such

[Headspace]

Don't understand, do you mean you got the same model laptop, same spec, etc, or did you buy one of a slightly different configuration which has 2 cores? Otherwise $600 for such a laptop, 14inch too (i7 CPUs in chasis smaller than 15 are usually a bit more expensive, in UK anyway) is an extremely good price, deal and such[/INDENT]

I'm not entirely sure lol. I got it through an employee purchase program through Dell and the guy who told me about the program told me that bby.com and in store signage list it as something different in regards to the processor. All he said was that it's a dual core processor. I'm not entirely sure if bby.com states that it's something else or not, because I'm not completely hip to computer lingo.

Here's the processor that's in it. http://ark.intel.com/products/53464/...0M%20processor

and here's how Dell lists the specs:

2nd generation Intel® Core™ I7-2640M processor 2.80 GHz
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1
14 inch High Definition (720p) Truelife™ WLED Display
8GB, DDR3, 2 DIMM, 1333MHz
750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M 1GB graphics with Optimus

[The Stig]

I see, then yeh it's a dual core. My bad I've not come across that model often so I read it as one of the other ones.

You're still getting a very powerful laptop, CPU wise, it sits along with the other CPUs in what in my mind is "tier 1" (for laptops). The graphics however leaves a bit to be desired, but you'll be fine running games NOT at max res/detail. To speak bluntly, your graphics card is more tailored for the average user.

Still, so much power in a 14inch, is still good.

Core wise, unless you plan on making music videos or messing around with 1gb photos or running virtual PCs, 2 at that speed is more than enough.

[Headspace]

Didn't really want to get a 14" because I'd want a bigger display but this works out because I'll get the portability I don't get out of my monster 17" dell that's on it's way out. It's very hard to find a laptop with that kind of processor and dedicated video for $1000 let alone $600.

[Headspace]

Double postan

What kind of games could I conceivably run on this and at what settings?

Skyrim?
XIV?
SWTOR?
THE SIMS?!?

[Zerk]

First time posting in this subforum but my laptop just decided to freak out.

I went out to a movie and left browser open/editing software running along w/ skype, came back few hours later and my computer was turned off (no sleep mode on) and when i tried to turn it back on the fan (i think) decided to be a noisy little fucker and sounded like there was a rock in there or its just grinding on something.

Opened it up, looked inside and there's nothing in the fan and it looks fine, used a can of air to clean the inside, put it back together and started it up, it keeps making a loud ass lawn-mower type noise. Grabbed what i needed off of it while i could stand the noise and turned it off, wondering if anyone has had this problem before or might know how to fix it, I'm thinking i need a new fan but hoping not.. I've only had the laptop for ~10 months and its a refurb of this model: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VAIO-VPCF...9632324&sr=8-1

any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

EDIT: It normally used to make a quiet-loudish whirring noise, but now it sounds like a wood-chipper/lawn mower..