Laptop recommendations

[nepenthes gracilis]

Hey folks, I'd like your input on laptop brands so far I'm torn between Alienware, Clevo, IBM thinkpads, and the least favorite choice, Dell. I'm going to College (http://www.cobleskill.edu) this fall and need a laptop, problem is I just don't know what would suit my needs, I really like Alienware, and since they buy their laptops from Clevo, I like CLevo as well. IBM is a recent target as I saw a thinkpad at the hospital today when I was there, and it is a sharp looking and fast responding machine.

Any input is WELCOME!

Thanks!

Dustin

[tekknoschtev]

I speak from experience - skip Toshiba. I know thats not on your list, but I have had nothing but problems with mine. Then again, I'm not a casual computer user, I use(d) my laptop for everything. While under warranty, the mobo died. Just out of warranty the harddrive died. After that, I have had two power supplies go on it. Its been sitting in the corner for the past two months while I catch up on my bills to buy a new one.

I work in a computer repair department at MSU in the College of Engineering, and all of the toshiba's that come in have had catastrophic failures. We reccomend Dells, and if you go dell, get their warranty (get the extended warranty on ANY laptop you purchase). Dell is really good about their warranty, and 9 times out of 10, they'll either overnight the part you need to fix it, or they'll have a tech out the next day to repair the problem.

We've had very few gateways come in, but IBM is along the same line as dell with their warranty work.

[nepenthes gracilis]

Thank you for the reply tekknoschtev I never ecen considered a Toshiba thank god!

That's my only problem with Dell is you have to send it in.

[tekknoschtev]

Quote[/b] (nepenthes gracilis @ April 01 2006,8:59)]Thank you for the reply tekknoschtev I never ecen considered a Toshiba thank god!

That's my only problem with Dell is you have to send it in.

Most of them you have to send it in. It may be just because of the volume we have, but if something has broken, they've either just overnighted the parts to us, or sent a technician out. Most personal laptops that go in for warranty work have to be sent to them.

[nepenthes gracilis]

Oh I see, well that makes sense. So you're saying sometimes they'll pay for the overnight shipping both ways or just you pay to send it out, they pay to send it back

Thanks

[tekknoschtev]

In cases where the entire laptop needs to be sent in, DELL works with DHL, and they'll have a DHL truck come with a box and packing materials to pick it up. You pack it up and the DHL guy takes it away. In "3-5 business days" (sometimes its over night) you'll get the laptop back, no shipping expenses for you.

[Outsiders71]

Never shop by brand, shop by what is inside. I recommend buying an AMD 64 laptop over any Intel. You'll get more life out of your laptop this way because 64bit will be a reality starting next January.

[nepenthes gracilis]

Thanks for that info tekknoschtev.

Outsiders, I've heard really positive feedback about the new Intel Pentium M. I love AMD as I have one in my current desktop and its never failed me, although years ago I had a P2 and it was nice as well. What is your reasoning for not liking Intel, the fact about AMD 64 bit? Right? What exactly is the 64 bit?

[tekknoschtev]

Quote[/b] (Outsiders71 @ April 01 2006,9:33)]Never shop by brand, shop by what is inside. I recommend buying an AMD 64 laptop over any Intel. You'll get more life out of your laptop this way because 64bit will be a reality starting next January.

64 bit isnt everything. At least at the moment, there arent many applications that can fully utilize 64-bit technology, and in reality, laptops arent something that gets "upgraded" they get replaced. In my mind, I'd go for the pentium M simply for the battery life it offers, but for cost, I went with the celeron.

I've got no digs for or against Intel or AMD, other than the fact that if you want to eventually go towards a linux install, that linux is finicky on most laptops, and I can speak from first hand experience that getting it rolling on an AMD64 is a bit of a challenge (at least with Gentoo). Not that the linux-ability should make you chose or pass on a laptop if you're simply going to use windows.

[nepenthes gracilis]

I'll probably use XP pro since Cobleskill campus prefers its students to have it, they give you a ton of software I guess like Office pro for one.

I'm kinda caught between Alienware, Dell and IBM right now..... Clevo's are coming up really expensive, and Alienware are Clevo's on steroids at a cheaper price....so kinda a no brainer.