Laptop/Notebook purchase. Need advice and input. ON TOPIC!

Triathlon Forum
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I have a 7yr old. Dell that has seen better days. Time to up the ante for a new laptop.

Seeing as Consumer reports has not given me what I want I turn to ST for any OBJECTIVE input on notebook computers.

As much as I would like a MAC book pro they are outta the price range and thus I am left looking in the 500-1000 range for a laptop that will have some serious memory power behind it and will mostly be used for MSOffice and web surfing.

Oh yeah… Bluetooth compatability is a must.

To make this on topic I like running cycling peaks and a few other training software programs (i already know about the intel macs) and will be using this computer to run my multisport coaching business so there ya go… on topic! :slight_smile:

Thank you in advance. :slight_smile:

2

My wife just got an Acer at Walmart for about $695 it has 2 gig of RAM and 160 gig HD with Dule-core Pentium.
Not sure about the blue tooth 5610-2762 5610Z DVD recorder, wireless LAN, 15.4" screen

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Acer%20Aspire%205610-2762%20Laptop%20Computer:1994836776

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3

As much as I would like a MAC book pro they are outta the price range

I hear you on that… I just spent over $6000 on a Mac book Pro with all the latest and greatest software for my wife who is a graphic designer… Fortunately, she’ll pay that off with just a project or two.

4

I’m on my third iBook. I love 'em. Out of the box and ready to go.

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1st - Windows Vista blows chunks, and I’ve never been a Windows hater.

I work in IT, so I’ve gone through a lot of systems. My absolute favorite laptop (besides my MacBook Pro) is the Lenovo ThinkPad. It’s bombproof, it doesn’t get hot, and it’s reasonable $$$. I have a Dell Inspiron with Vista, not too crazy about it. Whatever you do, get XP instead of Vista.

6

my wife uses a pc at work
won’t allow one in our house

dirt.

7

I have had a dell for the past few years, I am switching to a mac. I am buying the macbook. The middle of the line white model. It is slightly higher than your budget, but a little extra time saving for it will be worth it in the end.

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second on the ThinkPads…I’ve had several brands of laptop in the last 5 years…Dell, HP/Compaq, IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads, even a Gateway. The ThinkPad is by far the most durable and best machine I’ve had. Of all the Windows machines, its by far the best.

I also have an G4 iBook, and as much as I love the Mac OS over Windows…is not built as well as the Thinkpad.

And to keep this on-topic…most ThinkPad’s have an IR port for capturing your HR data off of your Polar device. :slight_smile:

9

Many manufacturers are sending out laptops with stuff preintalled and NO REINSTALLATION DISCS. you MUST ask for them. DELL does this and some others do as well. After a year (just when you crash) the warrenty is over and they will not send you the discs. Make sure you get the hard copies.

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“also have an G4 iBook, and as much as I love the Mac OS over Windows…is not built as well as the Thinkpad.”

g4 that is like having a one speed in the mac world ;+)

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Another mac user here, but if you want to go the Windows route, I’ll add my voice to the IBM/Lenovo crowd. Great machines - durable, dependable, and the best keyboard around. Tons of them on eBay if you don’t want to spend money on a new one (or get pressured into buying Vista.)

12

They have an IBM/Lenovo “family and friends” deal that is a substantial discount. Ask around for a friend of a friend.

13

For just “MSOffice and web surfing” you don’t need a Mac Book Pro. A simple MacBook would be fine and you can have one for $949 right now off of Apple’s refurbished website. My wife’s got a refurb MacBook that she loves and I absolutely love my refurb iMac. We’re both on our second refurb Mac’s. Not because they died or anything but simply because it was time to upgrade. You get exactly the same warranty from Apple when you buy refurbished.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nplm=FB061LL/A

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I’ll 3rd (or 4th or 5th - whatever) the ThinkPads, and going with XP instead of Vista. Rock solid machines, but maybe a little more pricey than other brands. I also like Dell (had a couple GREAT service experiences with them believe it or not).

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And to keep this on-topic…most ThinkPad’s have an IR port for capturing your HR data off of your Polar device. :slight_smile:

I have to in some cases but really don’t like coaching with HR as the primary metric… it’s simply too subjective. If you think about it HR can only tell you if something is going wrong… dehydration, sickness, etc. Power and pace are much better tools.

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I used to live in Austin… you get to know a lot of dell folks. One just moved to NC to work for lenovo. I’ll ping him. Thanks.

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I second the macbook suggestion. I just got one and am very happy with it. I got the black one, not the pro. I added the microsoft office suite. Straight out of the box works great. Took it to Kona and it immediately found wireless networks to hook up with.

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Lava Java… what’s the code there… Kona Coffee… it’s something like that. Spent too much time chilling there after Honu. :slight_smile: Oops… October’s just around the corner. :slight_smile:

Mac’s are outta the price range. :frowning: I’d really like one too. The only ones that are close have really small screens. The bigger screen ones… totally_ blow the budget.

For those raving about the Lenovo IBM think pads… what price ranges am I to expect. I had always thought of these as high powered machines that were more than I really needed.

Thanks again for all the input. Giving me some ideas about where to research next.

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oh yeah… i’ll get the one with Vista… just to see what it’s like. I have a copy of XP and Office of my own that I’ll probably install.

If I do go the dell route thanks for the heads up on getting the original Discs.

20

I’m a Crusin’ Coffee girl so as to Lava Java, I don’t know the code. However Denny’s is free wireless and a ton of people don’t have passwords on their networks.