Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Buying a Laptop Before Landing in Beijing

Randerolf · 06-04-2008, 12:21 PM

Hey Folks,

My last few computers were homebuilt, but I will (hopefully) be moving to China soon and want to just bring a laptop. I've seen people sipping coffee and typing away on these mysterious machines in libraries and coffeehouses, but have never owned one and would like your feedback.

The cost should be less than $1000 and it should be an adequate desktop replacement (AMD Athlon 2 GHz 1 Gig Ram). I've got . I may carry it around some since I will be teaching at a university, but the computer should stay mainly in my apartment.

Consumer Reports lists the Dell Inspiron 1721 as a best buy. I'm looking to buy one of these refurbished. It has a 17-inch screen and is a workhorse. I anticipate watching some shows off the web via a ADSL connection, so this screen size should be fine.

This setup only comes in Vista (Turion 64 X2 TL-60 with integrated graphics). I've only used XP and have heard mixed reviews about Vista. Is this a deal breaker? I don't want to fight my laptop while overseas. On that note, are laptops reliable? In other words, is an extended warranty recommended?
Is a fall-sensing hard drive important?

Thanks for your feedback. I'm looking forward to playing the Spore creature creator on the long trip to Beijing just before September.

06-04-2008, 12:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Randerolf Fireball Location: ~	Buying a Laptop Before Landing in Beijing Hey Folks, My last few computers were homebuilt, but I will (hopefully) be moving to China soon and want to just bring a laptop. I've seen people sipping coffee and typing away on these mysterious machines in libraries and coffeehouses, but have never owned one and would like your feedback. The cost should be less than $1000 and it should be an adequate desktop replacement (AMD Athlon 2 GHz 1 Gig Ram). I've got . I may carry it around some since I will be teaching at a university, but the computer should stay mainly in my apartment. Consumer Reports lists the Dell Inspiron 1721 as a best buy. I'm looking to buy one of these refurbished. It has a 17-inch screen and is a workhorse. I anticipate watching some shows off the web via a ADSL connection, so this screen size should be fine. This setup only comes in Vista (Turion 64 X2 TL-60 with integrated graphics). I've only used XP and have heard mixed reviews about Vista. Is this a deal breaker? I don't want to fight my laptop while overseas. On that note, are laptops reliable? In other words, is an extended warranty recommended? Is a fall-sensing hard drive important? Thanks for your feedback. I'm looking forward to playing the Spore creature creator on the long trip to Beijing just before September.