Our HP dv4 laptop apparently has kicked the bucket (caps/scroll lock are blinking once every second and screen won't turn on, which apparently means the CPU isn't responding), so we are in the market for a new laptop.

I don't want a macbook since I will be using the computer to run autocad a bunch. We don't use it for much gaming, other than when my wife decides to play The Sims every now and then. We do need something with a lot of space for music and pictures.

We don't really want another hp since this one has died fairly quickly, so that narrows the choices down to a Samsung, toshiba, asus, dell or whatever else best buy sells.

What say you, computer people?!

7/26/2012 5:27:32 PM

compaq man

compaq

7/26/2012 5:45:14 PM

my last IBM (lenovo, whatever) laptop lasted 6.5 years, went through 2 keyboards (my fault) and 3 cooling fans (not my fault)

so get one of those and don't buy it from best buy...

[Edited on July 26, 2012 at 6:56 PM. Reason : add another note]

7/26/2012 6:55:19 PM

I typically don't recommend going to big box stores 1) because it often seems that they have 1-2 selling features, but the rest is subpar 2) I like "custom" builds 3) some of them seem stupid expensive.

Lenovo is making some great machines now. However, I've used Dell for years and have been very happy (except for the battery on my last purchased notebook - long battery cycles, but completely dead after 2 years, on my 2nd battery now and need a new one).

I know a lot of people don't like Dells, but my 7 year old Latitude D620 is still running like a champ. My 4 year old XPS M1530 is still running great and that's what I have AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 on. It's a "gaming" laptop and works great for AutoCAD (this is the one that the batteries keep crapping out on). I did have AutoCAD on the D620 for a while. It ran fine, but a little slow due to the older/slower hardware on a 7 year old machine (expected for running Civil 3D on that machine).

I've had various part failures over the years - couple HDDs, keyboard, dead screen pixels, motherboards, RAM, and fans; so I wouldn't say Dells are the best built/parted machines; however, I know how to use my warranties and got replacements as soon as I noticed something was wrong. I also got extended warranties for a few years and got a lot of value/use out of those (much more value than what the warranty cost).

7/26/2012 7:42:51 PM

In 2002, I got a Dell Laptop. It would get very, very hot, but Dell said this was "okay." After sending the laptop to the service center for 3 seperate and different failures, I got an "equivalent" model to replace my lemon. My first Dell Laptop lasted 2.5 years. My second laptop lasted 1 year before it died.

But It's been 6 years or so now since I've dealt with Dell. I <3 Asus and HP though.



[Edited on July 26, 2012 at 8:14 PM. Reason : .]

7/26/2012 8:13:31 PM

Thanks for the input guys

I've heard lots of good things about Lenovo, but they dont sell them at Best Buy and we have a Best Buy credit card so I was hoping to buy there if I could help it

I've also heard that toshibas are a good value for the price, same about Asus. Dell wasn't even on my radar, but I'll give it a look after your comments

Anyone have any thoughts on Samsung? I have several Samsung products, but haven't heard much about their laptop quality

Also a friend recommended a gateway laptop, I didn't even know they were still in business, but he's fairly computer savvy...

7/26/2012 8:45:22 PM

I was also just reminded by my wife that we have an hhgregg account (zero balance), and a quick look at their website opens up the Sony vaio and compaq brands

7/26/2012 8:48:18 PM

BestBuy does sell Lenovo.

7/26/2012 9:22:46 PM

i had a Toshiba i was very happy with. the one problem i had with it was that the area where i would rest my left palm got warm and after the inevitable many consecutive hours i would spend with my palm touching that area, it became too much an annoyance

i've got a Lenovo T420s now that I'm also super happy with.

7/26/2012 9:25:52 PM

Dude. don't go to a fuckin box store to get a laptop. You NEED a warranty, otherwise you end up like you are right now, buying a new fucking laptop. Go somewhere online and get a laptop ad buy the highest warranty they offer. Then, when something goes wrong, use the fuckin warranty. It pays for itself the first time you use it.

still can't believe people will buy a laptop from a place without any kind of warranty that's worth a shit

7/26/2012 9:55:51 PM

Look for a new i7 with the Integrated HD 4000. Pretty good on-board video card to satisfy the needs of a non-gamer. Check out the Samsung Series 9 Laptops.

7/26/2012 11:29:27 PM

I've had 3 Dells since 2004. Haven't had a single issue with any of them. Dell support is awesome. Chat with them online and they'll be at your house within 1-2 days to replace the part. At least that's how my last warranty was. My current Dell laptop is my companies laptop.

7/27/2012 2:43:55 PM

?topic=591091

7/27/2012 4:24:04 PM

all the new lenovos at work have the MONSTEROUS power bricks. And screen resolution is not what it used to be.

maybe it's just the models that IT is getting.

If i was buying a PC laptop, I'd be getting an Asus.

7/27/2012 4:37:23 PM

could just be that model.. I got a new lenovo a few weeks ago and the power brick is pretty small, about 1 x 1 x 6" or so

7/27/2012 4:46:27 PM

my T420s has a pretty small power brick, but I just got a T520 today and it has one of the humongo ones

[Edited on July 27, 2012 at 4:54 PM. Reason : fortunately it's just gonna sit at a desk most of the time]

7/27/2012 4:53:36 PM

I've been doing some comparing all day today and I really like these:

Asus - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Aluminum+Lake+Blue/5584485.p?id=1218666586495&skuId=5584485

Sony vaio - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+15.5%26%2334%3B+VAIO+E+Series+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Aluminum+Silver/6087069.p?id=1218716809130&skuId=6087069

Lenovo - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+IdeaPad+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive/5593862.p?id=1218720760463&skuId=5593862

There are others, but those three are the early leaders

7/27/2012 5:17:40 PM

Quote :

"but my 7 year old Latitude D620 is still running like a champ"

Key word--Latitude. The Dell "business class" machines (Latitude and Precision series for laptops) are well-built workhorses that will last for ages if treated well. The Dell consumer grade models are, at least at the lower price points, crap. XPS models are a mixed bag.

If going with BBY, I'd go Asus, Toshiba, or Sony (in that order). Got the fiancee a Vaio there in May and it's been a great machine so far. That model has been discontinued at this point (naturally, her classes started at a weird time so we couldn't wait for the new ones to hit the market in July) but it's a 14" with an i5, 6 GB RAM, and some other nice features, and ran $699. If it was me I probably would have gone Asus, but since the laptop was hers, I let her pick within some guidelines (ie no Dell or HP).

Of the ones you listed there I actually like the Sony best. Primarily because it has the 3rd gen Core i7, which is more up to date than the 2nd gen i5 in the Asus. I don't trust Lenovos that aren't Thinkpads, for a similar reason to the way I feel about Dell business vs. consumer models.

[Edited on July 27, 2012 at 5:50 PM. Reason : Thinkpads and Latitudes are great. And priced accordingly. ]

7/27/2012 5:47:57 PM

If you do buy a lenovo from a big box store you can purchase an in-warranty extension and/or upgrade direct from lenovo after you take it home. An additional year can be as low as 69 bucks that way - which is why they don't heavily advertise it and why they don't list prices online. Just google "lenovo warranty extension" or "lenovo warranty upgrade." That way you actually have an extended manufacturer warranty rather than just a store service contract.

Heck they also do out of warranty extensions for 150 bucks up to a year after the warranty expires (you have to ask) and that's a lot cheaper than most out of warranty repairs and extends it for the rest of the remaining year.

[Edited on July 28, 2012 at 7:31 AM. Reason : sdf]

7/28/2012 7:29:52 AM

What about this bad boy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+ThinkPad+42963MU+12.5%22+LED+Tablet+PC+-+Wi-Fi+-+Intel+Core+i7+i7-2640M+2.80+GHz+-+Black/4273386.p?id=1218467189483&skuId=4273386&st=Lenovo%20think%20pad&cp=1&lp=13

Thanks for the help you guys, btw

7/28/2012 12:01:38 PM

Quote :

"I will be using the computer to run autocad a bunch"

Onboard video and autocad...you just put yourself out of a large portion of laptops.

Quit being a pussy and man up. Tablets aren't worth the hassle.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+ThinkPad+418065U+14%22+LED+Notebook+-+Intel+Core+i5+i5-2540M+2.60+GHz/4994924.p?id=1218591030953&skuId=4994924&st=thinkpad&cp=1&lp=3

7/28/2012 12:56:38 PM

Quote :

"Dude. don't go to a fuckin box store to get a laptop. You NEED a warranty, otherwise you end up like you are right now, buying a new fucking laptop. Go somewhere online and get a laptop ad buy the highest warranty they offer. Then, when something goes wrong, use the fuckin warranty. It pays for itself the first time you use it. still can't believe people will buy a laptop from a place without any kind of warranty that's worth a shit"

You realize most manufacturers allow you to extend your warranty as long as the current one is still valid?

Dell:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/warranty_store_sign_in?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml

Samsung allows you to extend your warranty after product registration.

HP:
http://h20559.www2.hp.com/portal/site/cpc/template.PAGE/public/?javax.portlet.tpst=67778a6e4bb58e57aad4ab02b053ce01&javax.portlet.prp_67778a6e4bb58e57aad4ab02b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3Daction%25253DclearHierarchy&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

Acer:
http://us-store.acer.com/ESP/

ASUS also allows it within 90 days of purchase (product registration required).


But ridiculing someone for buying from a store because of the warranty is fucking retarded. There are many 3rd party companies who offer warranties and many of the companies you can go back to them and buy a warranty from them. Hell, I personally would wait as long as possible to buy an extended warranty. Why buy at the beginning when you don't know if you really want to keep it for the next 3-4 years or whether after a year and a half you may get the upgrade bug and replace it with something newer/better/different?

7/28/2012 1:44:54 PM

I am consistently impressed with the quality and longevity of Toshiba laptops, especially their Satellite computers. I own a Toshiba netbook that I am convinced is one of the best you can buy for the price. ASUS is another favorite, as people have pointed out.

I second buying a laptop online and not at a major box store.

7/28/2012 7:47:03 PM

Since he wants to use his best buy card--they do price match. Online as well as local retailers. If you find it for a lower price online, make note of the price and ask them to match it. They should do this. Then you can use your card for the 18 mos/no interest financing.

(If you were planning to order it on the web site this might be a problem. Instead, call a store, process the order over the phone and get them to do the price match, then get it shipped to you or do in-store pickup)

Quote :

"Quit being a pussy and man up. Tablets aren't worth the hassle."

What's the hassle? With a convertible tablet like that one you get the best of both worlds. Touch screen with pen input, and regular laptop functionality. I love love love the Thinkpad X-series tablets--had an X61t for work in 2006-07--and if you're willing to go to that price point that's an awesome machine.

[Edited on July 28, 2012 at 11:20 PM. Reason : Get it!]

7/28/2012 11:16:18 PM

I have a Samsung 3-series that I am impressed with. Toshiba is also great. ASUS is a good bang for the buck, but I'm really off-put by the build quality of the case. Lenovo is just ok when it comes to reliability, but they have one of the more rugged designs (and heaviest).

Here's a chart from PCWorld covering laptop reliability and satisfaction as a whole from most laptop manufacturers:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html

7/29/2012 5:17:25 AM