Re: Laptops?

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:48:52 -0500, Tom Betka <> wrote:

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:55:41 -0500, "Glenn Dowdy"
<glenn.no.dowdy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


"BKO" <brentolesen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:WZWdnWh5pc_4rlbbnZ2dnUVZ_uiknZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm (finally) going to upgrade to a new computer. I run an old W98
system,
which works well enough for what I'm doing at present, but it is
developing
issues (??? :). I know I can improve my computer experience with a
laptop,
but I don't know much about them. I also know that some of you guys have
solid knowledge about these things. I'm interested in what you think
about
the relative strengths of Windows MX vs. Vista, vs. Linux, vs. Mac. Can
anyone help me? TKS.

I recommend Hewlett-Packard notebook computers wholeheartedly.

Glenn D.


I concur--if you *must* go with a Windows-only laptop, then an HP is
very good bang for the buck. I have several friends with them and they
all seem to love them. I personally have a Gateway but can not
recommend either them or Dell any longer (I used to own Dell), simply
because of the poor customer support. Also Dell seems to charge a
premium for what you get, and I personally think they are quite
overpriced. But I should mention that whatever you buy, you MUST
factor in an extended service plan (ESP)--it's critical for a laptop.
THEY WILL BREAK. It isn't a matter of 'if' but rather of 'when'. The
$200 I spent on my Gateway ESP has already saved me more than the cost
of buying a new machine--new LCD screen, new motherboard, etc. These
things get hot and they will break. Count on it. The brand doesn't
really matter that much, as laptops are laptops in that department.

The newer laptops are running cooler though these days. Make sure you
get one with an actual mobile processor. A mobile processor extends
battery life by using less power, in turn giving off less heat. I
think the Intel Centrino core duo two and AMD Turion 64 X2 are
designed strictly for laptops.

Having said all of this I can tell you that any machines I buy in the
future will likely be Mac machines...laptops included. The Mac OS is
smooth, and there are more & more applications all the time. I just
haven't had any issues with OSX, but I have issues all the time with
my Windows machines.

If you are having issues with your windows machines perhaps it was the
heat you mentioned before. Excessive heat can cause problems in any
operating system and the harder you push your system the more heat.



And with the new Intel-based Macs you can always
run Windows if you don't have enough to worry about in your life; or
if you miss the endless incessant Windows-based problems. But hey...I
digress.

Now why would one want to run Windows with a mac?



So my recommendations: HP for a low cost laptop with excellent
customer service (at least compared to Dell and Gateway), or if you
want to go 'extra-premo good, sir' go for the Macbook Pro. Many people
I know (including ME) have Powerbooks and have owned their machine
for YEARS. They will last that long, for the most part. But again, get
the Applecare ESP because they get hot. My Applecare covered a new
logic board (motherboard), and they replaced the LCD just because they
weren't sure it *wasn't* the problem (it wasn't, btw).

If having a bad motherboard is extra premo good to you well so be it.
I have a think Pad from 1998 that is still alive and kicking. Also, I
have a Gateway M275 tablet notebook and it has been rock solid. I
bought it off Ebay.



But figure the Mac machine will cost 3x what the HP will cost (maybe
slightly less depending upon the model you choose), but it will
probably last twice as long...or longer. I am talking about length of
time in a FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY. The HP machines will likely last many
years, but with the Windows platform things seem to change so often
that your 'functional' machine becomes virtually useless
(performance-wise) within about 3-4 years.

I disagree. It all depends on what you are doing with your PC. Is it
really nessesary to upgrade your software every few years? Heck I
still use Cool edit pro which is like eight years old.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Are you folks MAC or PC?
    ... > virtually every version of DOS and Windows. ... > For processing photos I have switched back to Mac, ... Nobody makes stuff that looks as cool as what Apple does. ... > to work with Windows machines. ...
    (rec.photo.digital)
  • Re: I really do like OS X but . . .
    ... > or laptop running Windows XP Pro - which will not blue screen if you ... > My intel laptop running xp pro with 2 gig of memory has not yet blue ... Regardless of what all the Mac ... then machines which are damned cheap are ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Apple vs. Newegg
    ... The equivilent to OS X would be GNU/Linux, not Windows XP Pro. ... Their 'kazillion and four' machines have a lot more problem than my run of one does. ... The three proprietary apps you want to run all run on GNU/Linux with Crossover Office. ... Less than the cost difference for buying a Mac, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Should Apple do away with OS X?
    ... Donald L McDaniel wrote: ... Windows machines". ... Mac users are not saying that Mac OS provides less choice. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Swapping Laptop Hard drives
    ... The Operating System licence for Windows for Dell & HP machines, not to mention most other laptops is locked to the *motherboard* type, not the hard drive & the install media normally only come with the drivers for that make/ type of motherboard & the peripherals built in to those machines. ...
    (uk.comp.sys.laptops)