Looking at Laptops....Anyone have input?

[BlueStar]

I am beginning the search for a new laptop. I will be using it for mainly pictures and doing work with pictures so need something with a lot of umph to keep up as I take a lot of pictures. I am teaching myself basic photography and may eventually do some amateur horse photography after a few classes at the community college. If anyone has experiences good or bad with brands or operating systems please voice those opinions. Also if anyone knows of good photo editing or graphics software that would be welcome to.

Thanks in advance.

 

[minimama]

I have owned more laptops than I care ot admit to, and a multitude of different brands as well. The best for us has always been, and teh only one I will buy now, Dell. We have almost all Dell at this point and love them. Love working with the company, love teh way things work on the systems, just love them.

 

[BlueStar]

Thanks. What model Dell do you currently have? I have pretty much narrowed it down to Sony, HP, and Dell so that is good to know. I am looking at a 3gb memory and 160 or 250gb hard drive. My ultimate would be a MAC just because its going to be used for pictures and graphics, but will wait till I know for sure that photography is the direction I am going....

 

[LowriseMinis]

I will say this: DO NOT BUY AN ACER.

 

[minimama]

Acer or Gateway, ugh! Run away from both of those. Terrible. I have a Dell Inspiron 1720. I ordered mine with every bell and whistle available at the time, last year so of course obsolete now. LOL But it is used to run my business and has worked better than I could have hoped for.

 

[BlueStar]

Why not ACER? Hubby is looking into their new little teeny thing. The netbook? I think.

 

[Sonya]

I do not like my Dell laptop at all, gave that one to my husband and bought myself an inexpensive campaq, which I like much better. It does not have lots of bells and whistles though, I don't think it would be good for what you want to do, I mainly just go online with it. My Dell is very slow, but it is a couple years old.

 

[LowriseMinis]

Well, I can't talk about the issues with my laptop due to pending legal action.

My brother's laptop has been back to Acer for repairs for the EXACT SAME ISSUE about five times, each time taking 6-8 weeks to complete-and most of the times when he got it back, he had to send it right back again. It works okay now, but out of the two years he'd had it, he's only been able to use it for about a year due to all the time it's spent getting fixed.

 

[Laura]

Barbara and I both have Toshibas and love them, my former laptop (still here, just older and slower) is a Compaq and it was great for being about 5 years old now.

 

[BlueStar]

Well, I just went and looked at a couple and am drawn to the HP. I have had really good luck with everything HP I have had in the past so may go with it. Second choice would be a Dell I think. I LOVE the Sony Vaio as well but have heard they have a lot of propreity in their computers so not as versatile. Any more opinions would be great.

Also Lowriseminis~ If you are able to PM me privately on the issues you have experienced with Acer, I would greatly appreciate it so that I can pass it along to my husband.

Thanks again guys!!

 

[gimp]

Once you know what you want check out www.tigerdirect.com or www.buy.com. I picked up a "basic" laptop for under $400...dvd burner, XP, wireless, but no bells and whistles. Most of my electronics are from one or the other now. I research by going out to retail places then buy via the internet.

 

[Teedee]

I buy 100 + laptops for our school district a year. I can recommend a couple but everyone has their favorite. The one thing I would recommend is wait just a little longer until after Thanksgiving? Sorry I ldidn't look to see if you were from the states. You will find some really good deals. FYI March is new computer month and so they blow out the old models the Christmas before which is not a bad thing. I personally will never buy another desktop.

Dell (usually overpriced but great machines)

Toshiba ( LOVE THEM both personally and for our schools and price )

Gateway (Hubby's favorite and it is a good sturdy machine)

Acer (I like them but you are buying a cheaper machine)

Basically you get what you pay for. Do you homework, look at processor, processor speed, memory and pick the machine that fits your needs.

Good Luck!

Tammi

 

[garyo]

I am suprised that so many have spoken highly of Toshiba. Last year I had two new, less than six months old, Toshibas quit workikng entirely. Toshiba said I could send them in for repair but would give no timeline as to when the repair would be done. Luckily the retailer refunded my money as long as I bought another from them.

I now have a Sony Vaio which I like, but hate Vista.

I will never buy another Toshiba.

Gary

 

[BlueStar]

OK I have heard really negative about Vista. Could someone please explain what is so bad about it? I have never seen it let alone use it so have no idea but everything I look at has it.

I am leaning to HP still but up in the air. Teedee....I have no idea even what I need except a lot of memory...could you help me figure it all out?