Laptop Recommendation (Starch)

bruce pirger

Just make sure to say away from the "cheaper" ones like Winbook, ProGen, etc. Sending my Winbook back today, for the second time in 3 months.

We've had many IBM's around and drag them everywhere observing...south pole, mountain tops, dusty deserts, etc. No problems....

I have only seen one dell in service and far as I know...no problems. Have had a few problems with Dell desktops though...but mostly all AOK.

Just avoid the cheapies... You know, you get what you pay for...

Starch

Anyone?

I'm looking to upgrade my laptop to something faster and more powerful. What are you all using? Anyone familiar with the new "Centrino" (I think that's what it's called) processor that is supposed to be geared more toward wireless?

Starch

DanHolohan

I just got

a Dell Latitude and I'm very pleased with it.

Bill_14

Suggest the

Dell Latitude with wireless options. Build your own at www.dell.com.

DanHolohan

That's

what I've got. Wireless. I can sit outside and still be online.

BillW@honeywell

Another vote for Dell

I have the Dell Lattitude, no problems, great machine. Ask about business leases or deals they may have. Make sure you have PowerPoint as part of your software package...it's great for presentations and training. Good Luck!

Dave Yates (PAH)

lap top

Ditto.

Wireless here too! I was doing a heat loss calc on a high end home & it picked up his mega-bucks in house video, CD and stereo system. I had an entire library of 1,200 CDs and Videos at my disposal!



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ScottMP

Does'nt

that scare the birds away ??

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DanHolohan

No,

but it's tough keeping the poop off the keys!

Starch

Thanks, Guys,

...I'll check out the Dell. Sounds unanimous!!!

What kind of battery life do you get out of your Lattitudes?

Starch

DanHolohan

I have

two batteries. Each is good for 3-1/2 hours.

BillW@honeywell

Battery life

I also got 2 batteries, they last about 3 hours or so, shorter if they've been left in a cold car in the winter. Invest in the automobile charger, as well as the regular one.

Jackchips

No, no, no

You must buy HP. How else are my shares going to go back up.

Oh, fine-buy the darn Dell.

Paul Cooke

Time for a new laptop

Starch

Is this a picture of the one you're replacing?

Paul Cooke

Found this picture of your old laptop

Starch

Seems like a good idea to upgrade.

Can I have your old one?

Paul Cooke

Found this picture of your old laptop

Starch

Seems like a good idea to upgrade.

Can I have your old one?

Paul Cooke

Found this picture of your old laptop

Starch

Seems like a good idea to upgrade.

Can I have your old one?

kk_2

You should really seek out a registered, licensed computer professional. A lot of people think that choosing and setting up a computer are DIY projects, but a professional is equipped with the training and tools to do the job right the first time.

The money you save will more than likely be spent on wasted hours, lost productivity, and trips to the doctor for valium prescriptions.

So, my recommendation - let a properly trained professional do it.

Bryan_5

KK,
I like that response. Seems to me that we have heard that a time or 2 on the Wall.

DanHolohan

That's exactly

what we do here. We have a computer consultant who takes care of all our needs. She also deals with all the glitches as they come up. She's been with us since the day we started the business.

Bob_5

Everyone is a computer exert....

>> The money you save will more than likely be spent on wasted hours, lost productivity, and trips to the doctor for valium prescriptions. ...So, my recommendation - let a properly trained professional do it. <<

Shhhhh ... Please keep this advice under wraps ... I make my living off fixing the problems that small business inflict upon themselves by DIY!! I was "helping" a mom and pop tax service last month and discovered that their 2 neighbors were using THEIR wireless service ... pretty scary. It's amazing the porn and virus that I find on most machines!

My best recommendation is to keep business/pleasure computing seperate. Maintain your financials on a distinct machine and implement a sound and TESTED back/recovery process.

Bob

anthony_7

Being a computer expert

In the industry for over 10 years. Time and time again GO FOR IBM THINKPAD!!! IBM has the best reputation for LAPTOPS. They have the best warranty service and the latest in technology and features. You do pay a few more bucks but in the end its worth it. DELL is #1 in desktops but many problems with Laptops.

For the laptop depends if you want sub notebook meaning you plug in your floppy and other peripherals as opposed to full notebook with floppy, dvd -cdr in one machine.

As for the wireless its not there yet and not to secure. So unless you need to do internet stuff on the road stay away.

Firedragon_4

Hate to be a

kill joy, but after using a laptop everyday for presentations, internet and writing on-the-road for 15 years go with a Compaq Armada. I'm on my third and would not buy anything else. My niece has #1, and #2 is still working too!
Don't know what will happen after the HP merger, but since all our printers(4) are HP, not too worried.

Nothing against Dell, my first PC (desktop) was a Dell and it held up very well including an up-grade, but I agree with the writer who said the laptops aren't that great!

I'm not crazy about wireless over security issues too! I use a cell-phone adapter, sweet! Maybe there's no difference?

As one person said the key to computers is 'backup' and then backup, backup, backup. We use Zip's and CD-RW's now mostly. But the old-timer in the corner still is running with three different Syquest formats on 5 drives and it is the 'library' unit. We've scanned over 300,000 pages of old literature and specs on HVAC and it's quite the archive. You really didn't think I was that smart, did ya?

Patchogue Phil_10

Computer Professionals

Another $0.02

If the Professional does not even mention doing a ByteLoss calculation on site, then show them the door. You could wind up with a grossly undersized laptop.

And make sure they have expertise in laptops! Too many hacks out there who know nothing about laptops. They think their desktop experience will suffice. Then you'll have to pay $$$ to have a real laptop Certified Comfort Specialist fix the mess.

larry

Take a look at:

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2002/05/24/wlan.html for a high level overview of the security problems with wireless (802.11). With the right effort (from a licensed wireless networking professional of course), it can be made secure enough.

Also consider how you plan on using the notebook. Will it stay in office settings or will you take it on jobsites? If it's going on the job, you might consider a ruggedized notebook. Companies like Panasonic do a number of these units. Many notebook designs are relatively fragile. Ruggedized notebooks might cost more than a Vitodens, but then the Viessmann matrix burner isn't made out of magnesium alloy either, and a fast Pentium 4 can generate enough heat to be your computer and boiler all in one package!

Richard Miller_2

PLEASE!

Take a look at Panosonic. They have a rugged model with some fabolous specs. I know a bunch of LEO who have them in their patrol cars. They claim you could almost drive over them and they would still work. One local cop let his fall off his car roof. No problems. These suckers are TOUGH as nails.

John Starcher_4

Wow!!!!

Who-da-thunk this would have generated so many responses??

I really appreciate all the feedback from you all.

Dan, I think you need to add a "Find a Computer Geek" feature to this site, so as to make it easier to locate a licensed professional insured bonded encyclopedic myopic computer professional in my area.

Thanx again, guys.

Starch

Richard Miller_2

John...

I have an HP I have been very happy with. 2 years old. After it got jerked off my desk onto a concrete floor by a JERK (not welcome in my house anymore!!!) I lost the harddrive. My insurance paid me over 2K and I bought a new (and better) drive off eBay for 120 bucks. Installed it myself without a problem. Everyone warned me about it but hey!

The great thing is that if I screw it up the only loss is a few bucks. Unlike heating and plumbing, which if screwed up, can KILL YOU. And will!

I know the posts here were funny. But there is a BIG difference between screwing up a computer and screwing up a boiler!

Richard Miller_2

Ooops

Deleting the text of my double post so I don't look 100% stupid. Just 63%.

John Starcher_4

I agree.

My post was tounge-in-cheek, as I'm sure the other ones were. I am a closet "geek" as I love to fool around with my computers, no matter how much they frustrate me, raise my blood pressure, and waste my time. I really don't know why I keep coming back for more, but can't seem to stop myself!!! Biggest cost to me is my evening time. Not even close to the cost of an improperly installed water heater vent.

Starch

Paul Cooke

Found this picture of your next laptop

Here's

Paul Cooke

You can have my old one...no reasonable offer refused

Starch

This is one of the original laptops. Not as portable as the new ones, but very rugged.

Jackchips

Not bad Richard.

There are many of us who would like to look at least 37% smart. :-)