Laptop Advice

[PucktheCat]

My venerable Dell laptop is very close to dead, and I am looking into options to replace it.  My Dell experience hasn't been all that good, so I wanted to know how people have fared with other brands, and what the general reputation of the various laptop manufacturers is these days.

If it matters, I will use this computer for fairly routine applications, but I multitask a lot so performance isn't entirely irrelevant.  I carry my laptop pretty much everywhere, so weight and physical sturdiness are relevant.  The most important thing though, is reliability.

I figure there are a few laptop users on this board: give me advice!

[Roxas]

I own one from www.sagernotebook.com, and am very pleased with it, and most that I know that have bought things from them feel the same.  The one I have is rather lightweight, extremely powerful considering its age (roughly three years now), and after all the wear, tear, and beatings I've given it, the only problem is that it's missing its 'H' key.  They also provide excellent customer service and technical support.  I highly recommend them. 

I also hear good things about Toshiba, Sony, and Alienware laptops, so if you're looking for a more "mainstream" brand, I'd go for one of those.

[combo_dude]

The Toshiba (Equium) I've got is pretty good; a lot of my friends here at uni highly recommend an iMac, if you were considering an Apple computer.

[Klep]

Honestly, if you don't have a specific reason to need a PC, you should just get a Powerbook if you can afford it.  They're pretty much better in every way, and now you can easily set up a dual boot.

[PucktheCat]

Well, for law school exams I need a PC.  But that's a pretty weak reason, really, since I can borrow a computer for the few days where that matters.  The other issue would be just general compatability issues that might come up in a business/legal setting.  Since I can't be sure exactly where I will be working a year from now, it is hard to anticipate all of possible issues that might come up.  Unfortunately, the legal world just isn't that Apple friendly.

I do like them though.  My wife has one, and I've been using it a bunch in the last few weeks.

One thing I could do is try to nurse my poor Dell for a few more months.  Then, if I get an offer from my summer employer (*knocks wood*) I will know one way or another whether an Apple will work.

@Roxas: Thanks for the tips.  Sager looks fairly attractive.  I will keep it in mind.

[nataz]

powerbooks now can boot with windows XP, which is hott.

I can't really see not getting a powerbook right now. You get the best of both worlds. The powerbook is a solid piece of hardware for the price with good service/track record, and now that it dual boots its actually usefull in the real world.

[Anusien]

Honestly, if you don't have a specific reason to need a PC, you should just get a Powerbook if you can afford it.  They're pretty much better in every way, and now you can easily set up a dual boot.

Price?  I have an AMD 64 laptop (right before Duo Core became popular) and it cost me significantly less than a comparable Intel laptop would have.

[PucktheCat]

powerbooks now can boot with windows XP, which is hott.

What's the story with the XP boot now?  Do you partion the drive?  Is anyone here actually running dual boot?

[Klep]

powerbooks now can boot with windows XP, which is hott.

What's the story with the XP boot now?  Do you partion the drive?  Is anyone here actually running dual boot?

Apple now provides a tool (I forget the name) which apparantly makes it a nearly trivial process to set up drive partitions to set up a dual-boot system.

[Anusien]

Boot Camp

[JACO]

I've supported and worked on laptops from pretty much all the bigger companies (IBM, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, HP, etc.) over the past half dozen years, and I can tell you that Dell often has the best deals and the best support. If you're not going to buy a PowerBook and do the dual boot (which sounds interesting, but is really only practical if you're going to be producing music or doing hardcore graphics on the Apple), then I'd go with a Dell with a 3-year complete care warranty. If you drop it or someone you don't like smashes it, they will replace it or whatever is wrong with it, usually within a day. I currently am using a Dell Latitude D610 (these have recently been replaced by the D620), and it is without a doubt the best and sturdiest laptop I've used (out of at least a dozen and a half).

[Bram]

Well, for law school exams I need a PC.  But that's a pretty weak reason, really, since I can borrow a computer for the few days where that matters.

Well, that's just silly though, innit, buying a brand new notebook and knowing in advance you can't use it for one of your intended purposes? I'm a big Powerbook fan myself, but I'd never buy one, purely for compatibility reasons. I currently own a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo, which serves my purposes just perfectly. I recommend a 15.4" widescreen. Widescreen on a laptop is more useful than you think, if only for revision purposes. You can open two A4 documents (or letter, for you Americans) side by side, fully. It's also useful for photoshop (you can open 4X3 digital pics and still have room left for toolbars). Last but not least, movies look better on it I've worked on 17" widescreen notebooks, but t'hose are just too damn large and heavy. They're more desktop replacements than portable PC's.

[PucktheCat]

Well, I only have ~6 exams left.  I wouldn't consider it if I wasn't going into my last year, but it is possibility.  The larger concern is support and compatability in the real world.  I have a feeling the support people that most law firms have may be less than helpful with Powerbook issues.  I could probably make it work, but I'm not sure I need another potential source of difficulty in my life.  I agree with you about screen size.

I have to say that JACO has made a pretty good case for me to swallow my distaste and just get another Dell.  Boring, but for my needs boring is mostly a good thing.  By the way, how did you use a half a laptop?

Thanks to everyone for their input.  I will be making a decision in a couple of weeks (after my first summer paycheck).  Until then, more suggestions are always welcome.

[Bram]

I could probably make it work, but I'm not sure I need another potential source of difficulty in my life.

Best summary of attitudes towards Apple ever 

[JACO]

I have to say that JACO has made a pretty good case for me to swallow my distaste and just get another Dell.  Boring, but for my needs boring is mostly a good thing.  By the way, how did you use a half a laptop?

Not a half a laptop, but a dozen and a half laptops (about 18).

Dells aren't flashy, but the 610 (or now 620) has been the best experience I've had, and is a good combination of size (14 or 15" screen, less than 5 pounds), speed, power, and value.