I get by with a little help from my friends...

[vixalicious]

So I'm considering breaking down and buying a laptop for personal use, mostly because I'm about to break my third laptop in a year and work may start getting annoyed with me soon. Believe it or not, I don't actually know that much about computers - I haven't bought one since 1998. I've always used what the company gave me. I've only ever bought Compaq's, and I was happy enough with them, but they are more expensive.

I don't want to spend much more than $400. I need it to surf the internet, download music/manage iTunes (all music stored on external hard drive), write, IM, & minor photo editing (mostly in the 'rotate and lighten' arenas).

Does anyone know about Acer? ASUS? eMachines? Velocity?

Anyone familiar with Frys: Have you ever bought anything refurbished, and how did that work out?

Those of you with the mini-laptops - do you like them? will they do all the things I want to?

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[zillah975]

I've heard really good things about Acer. The others, not so much.

But don't rule out the name brands. For full-size laptops, you might have a look at Dell's Inspiron 15, and the Compaq Presario CQ60Z series looks pretty good.

I've got the HP Mini 1000 netbook and I love it, though it can be a little hard on the wrists eventually -- the keyboard is, like 92% of full size and is one of the biggest netbook keyboards out there. The battery life is about 2.5 hours and it's only got a 16GB hard drive and two USB ports, though -- I got it because of the keyboard and because it's a solid state hard drive, and I couldn't find an Acer in a store to compare keyboards. I hear that the Acer also has a nearly full-sized keyboard and better battery life.

CNet's laptop reviews, including netbooks

WOOO! LAPTOP AHOY!!!

[vixalicious]

I had looked at the Dell - it came to about $660 the first time around, but stripped of the bells and whistles, I can get it down to $424, but the Compaq has a better battery for $5 more, so that's definitely an option. I couldn't find a reveiw on it though. Hmm. It's an option though.

[incoherenteye.livejournal.com]

for that price, you're probably looking at a netbook, which is a mini laptop. HP's have the best. Acers are renowned for quality as well.

[vixalicious]

Yeah, for some reason I have a hard time selling myself on the mini, although I don't know why. On the surface, it seems like such a good idea, but I'm afraid I'd get it and it wouldn't power enough. I'm going to have to think about it.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, it's usually not recommended to just have a mini. It's mostly meant to be portable for travel. Though, my friend just has a mini and she seemed pretty happy with it. My eyes would die after a while. Such small screens!

Still, the problem is if you're only spending 400 dollars on a normal laptop, it's probably not going to last very long.

[aubieturtle.livejournal.com]

Fry's has a reputation of being the anti-Nordstrom's. If anything goes wrong, they give you a really hard time about repair or replacement. I've also seen lots of reports of them selling returned items as new. Probably best to stay away.

The laptop section of dealnews.com usually has links to good prices on laptops.

Netbooks for the most part will have the ability to do the tasks you mentioned. The downside to them is the size and resolution of the screen. Also be sure to get one with Windows. Yes the anti-Microsoft people will try to steer you to Linux, which is a fine operating system, but it simply isn't mainstream.

[vixalicious]

Yeah, I'm not compu-geeky enough to go for Linux - I've used it for work, and I can do a few things, but I know my limits. Thanks for the link, I will check it out!

[sofiaviolet]

My sister has a Samsung NC10 that was about $430, and it's her main computer. She seems to like it.

[vixalicious]

I didn't know you had a sister! Thanks for the info, I'll check Samsung out as well.

[typhoo.livejournal.com]

My Toshiba was like $500 ish at Best Buy and I love it. At the time I researched the others like Acer but was just skeptical of the brand. People seem to be satisfied according to the reviews that I read.

[vixalicious]

Acer is always so cheap, it makes me not trust it! But I guess they are above board.

[marny-h96.livejournal.com]

I've upgraded the "baby notebook" to an Asus EEE PC 1000H and I'm quit4e happy with it. The battery lasts for up to 7 hours (depending on the configuration). So far (without said configuration), it lasts 4 hours.

And I'd be more than happy to give you my used (hardly ever) Toshiba laptop if only I knew how to get it to you without paying a horrendous amout of money :-(

[vixalicious]

Aw, thanks for the offer! Shipping would be horrendous on that though. Maybe if I haven't sorted myself out by D*Con? :)

I'll check out that Asus model, thanks!

[marny-h96.livejournal.com]

Let me know before August 29th and I'll be happy to bring the Toshiba with me :D

[vixalicious]

You rock!

[vixalicious]

Hey, how much do you want for it? I forgot to ask. :)