Help me get a new cheap laptop. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

biznatch · 08-06-2007, 09:06 PM

OK, I want a laptop computer for web-browsing, mostly, and also handling documents (word and excel mostly), and some multimedia (just downloading songs, etc).
I'm in the US, and I'd like to find one that wouldn't be painfully slow, and hopefully affordable. I don't wanna spend more than $650.

Now, I know Dell sells one for 500 bucks, and I heard they now pack them with Linux.
However, the only options I see on the Dell website are 4 different versions of Vista. I have several questions, that I'm gonna group together:

Should I get a Dell? What other affordable computers brands would you recommend?
I heard Dell refunds part of the price if the customer takes Linux instead of Vista. I can't find this info on their site, so is it true? If it is, how much money do they give back?

Assuming I do get a computer that runs Linux, will I be able to get used to it easily? I've been using windows, and a bit of Mac (only because I had to

) for quite a few years now, but I'm willing to spend some time learning new things.

Any help would be awesome!

MexicanOnABike · 08-06-2007, 09:30 PM

look for atleast 1gb of ram. if you use vista and you want to play games eventually or do more intense multimedia, then get 2gb.

are you looking for a 15inch or 17?

make sure you don't get a celeron processor. if you want to be ready for the new standard of wireless, get one with N technology. atleast 100gb HD if you're gonna download movies/music.

i've seen some good dells. Have you checked the new HP laptops? they got some sweet ones too.

my personal favorite are the toshiba just because i've tried 2 and i was really satisfied with both.

biznatch · 08-06-2007, 09:59 PM

I don't need it for gaming, or storing huge files. My desktop can handle that when I'm not on the move.
I don't care much for Vista, I'd rather go with XP if possible (but I don't think it is anymore on new PCs), since Vista eats up RAM.

I don't care for the size of it, really, I have good eyes and 15 inch is fine.
One of the main factors that would go into buying this is a low price.
Of course, wireless is also required.

cyrnel · 08-06-2007, 10:19 PM

Good deals are out there. Last week a compusa deal was a nice 1gb/100gb/a64/wifi/15"/dvdr/xp 5pound unit for $299 shipped. Watch xpbargains.com, dealhack, etc.

OTOH, if you plan on moving it around daily, try to avoid the fragile low-end boxes. For instance, Dell latitudes are much better at taking punishment than Dell Inspirons. The other strategy is to buy the cheapest POS you can find along with extended damage protection insurance.

XP is readily available. Hell, even office supply stores are stocking it again. For machines with XP look to the business lines. Dell has a broad selection of both XP and Vista boxes.

Grancey · 08-06-2007, 11:12 PM

I bought a Toshiba laptop this past weekend. With a tax free weekend the price was good. You can find reasonable prices if you look around. I've had a Dell for the past 4 years, and the customer service has been extremely poor. Unfortunately, I had to deal with Dell customer service quite a bit.

Hektore · 08-06-2007, 11:12 PM

The linux that Dell ships is Feisty Fawn Ubuntu 7.(04?) I believe. You can go to their website and dl a live cd, pop it in, restart and it will run the OS off the cd. That way you can try it before you even order your laptop. As far as cheap laptops go, I bought an Inspiron and it didn't hold up very well, neither did anyone else's that I know of. You get what you pay for I guess. If you go with a new dell, definitely get the extended warranty.

Something else you could try is a refurbished or scratch & dent system from dell outlet.

biznatch · 08-07-2007, 11:24 AM

Are used, or refurbished systems usually OK? What are your experiences with them?
Also, I tried Toshiba laptops, and the ones I've seen were shit. My 7 yr old desktop PC ran better than that new Toshiba.

Grancey · 08-07-2007, 11:47 AM

If price is your main concern, then go with used or refurbished. A relative had a refurbished Dell, used it for several years and had no problems at all. The one time he had a problem with the motherboard, he called Dell customer service and they worked with him even though it was not a new system. I worked with a guy who refurbished systems as a living and I would swear by his quality.

cyrnel · 08-07-2007, 12:18 PM

Some Toshibas are great, but I also bought one that was terrible. It was a P4 M (S1100?) system that performed at about 70% of similarly clocked competitors. The only thing I could figure was the chipset (early ATI) was the culprit. Store units were the same so back it went.

Refurbs are usually better than used since they have a better chance of being almost new. As a rule, cheap models are generally less durable so consider that vs. how you'll use it. With refurbs, make sure there isn't a huge supply with funny limitations on the warranty. That often indicates there was a problem with that model and the company is washing its hands.

No matter how much a friend loves their model XXX, don't put much into brand loyalty. (But maybe buy the same model.) Recall that none of the mainstream notebooks are actually made by the company with a name stamped on the front. They buy from multiple sources, usually by product line, and every brand has lemons. You're buying a recipe of commodity parts from a Pac-rim designer, and support that's outsourced, offshored, and will probably change more than once during your warranty period. There are exceptions, but not among standard warranties on any sub-$1000 system.

Both HP and Dell telephone support drive people to tears. (Hint: Use online chat instead. You may not get a better tech but at least the information is logged properly.) One advantage to a Dell is they offer some optional extended warranties with US call centers. Still, I've seen their $300 on-site next-business-day extended warranties turn a newly delivered system into two weeks of repetitive calling and techs who replace the wrong parts multiple times. Granted, I see good experiences too, but not enough of them.

Buy at Staples or Costco or similar and you at least get seat-time before purchase, and you can take it back or trade it in within two weeks (Costco is longer).

Someone, please tell me I'm too cynical.

Damnfinn · 08-08-2007, 09:53 AM

Refurbished units are tested when they come back to Dell.
A new unit sent out is not tested. Some times refurbished means the unit was returned due to canceled orders or the company ordering it decided they only needed 15 of the 20 ordered. But all refurbished is supposed to be tested and fully functional.

08-06-2007, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	Help me get a new cheap laptop. OK, I want a laptop computer for web-browsing, mostly, and also handling documents (word and excel mostly), and some multimedia (just downloading songs, etc). I'm in the US, and I'd like to find one that wouldn't be painfully slow, and hopefully affordable. I don't wanna spend more than $650. Now, I know Dell sells one for 500 bucks, and I heard they now pack them with Linux. However, the only options I see on the Dell website are 4 different versions of Vista. I have several questions, that I'm gonna group together: Should I get a Dell? What other affordable computers brands would you recommend? I heard Dell refunds part of the price if the customer takes Linux instead of Vista. I can't find this info on their site, so is it true? If it is, how much money do they give back? Assuming I do get a computer that runs Linux, will I be able to get used to it easily? I've been using windows, and a bit of Mac (only because I had to ) for quite a few years now, but I'm willing to spend some time learning new things. Any help would be awesome! __________________ Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread

08-06-2007, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	look for atleast 1gb of ram. if you use vista and you want to play games eventually or do more intense multimedia, then get 2gb. are you looking for a 15inch or 17? make sure you don't get a celeron processor. if you want to be ready for the new standard of wireless, get one with N technology. atleast 100gb HD if you're gonna download movies/music. i've seen some good dells. Have you checked the new HP laptops? they got some sweet ones too. my personal favorite are the toshiba just because i've tried 2 and i was really satisfied with both. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

08-06-2007, 09:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	I don't need it for gaming, or storing huge files. My desktop can handle that when I'm not on the move. I don't care much for Vista, I'd rather go with XP if possible (but I don't think it is anymore on new PCs), since Vista eats up RAM. I don't care for the size of it, really, I have good eyes and 15 inch is fine. One of the main factors that would go into buying this is a low price. Of course, wireless is also required. __________________ Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread

08-06-2007, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Good deals are out there. Last week a compusa deal was a nice 1gb/100gb/a64/wifi/15"/dvdr/xp 5pound unit for $299 shipped. Watch xpbargains.com, dealhack, etc. OTOH, if you plan on moving it around daily, try to avoid the fragile low-end boxes. For instance, Dell latitudes are much better at taking punishment than Dell Inspirons. The other strategy is to buy the cheapest POS you can find along with extended damage protection insurance. XP is readily available. Hell, even office supply stores are stocking it again. For machines with XP look to the business lines. Dell has a broad selection of both XP and Vista boxes. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

08-06-2007, 11:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	I bought a Toshiba laptop this past weekend. With a tax free weekend the price was good. You can find reasonable prices if you look around. I've had a Dell for the past 4 years, and the customer service has been extremely poor. Unfortunately, I had to deal with Dell customer service quite a bit. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

08-06-2007, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hektore Junkie Location: Greater Harrisburg Area	The linux that Dell ships is Feisty Fawn Ubuntu 7.(04?) I believe. You can go to their website and dl a live cd, pop it in, restart and it will run the OS off the cd. That way you can try it before you even order your laptop. As far as cheap laptops go, I bought an Inspiron and it didn't hold up very well, neither did anyone else's that I know of. You get what you pay for I guess. If you go with a new dell, definitely get the extended warranty. Something else you could try is a refurbished or scratch & dent system from dell outlet. __________________ The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.

08-07-2007, 11:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	Are used, or refurbished systems usually OK? What are your experiences with them? Also, I tried Toshiba laptops, and the ones I've seen were shit. My 7 yr old desktop PC ran better than that new Toshiba. __________________ Check it out: The Open Source/Freeware/Gratis Software Thread

08-07-2007, 11:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	If price is your main concern, then go with used or refurbished. A relative had a refurbished Dell, used it for several years and had no problems at all. The one time he had a problem with the motherboard, he called Dell customer service and they worked with him even though it was not a new system. I worked with a guy who refurbished systems as a living and I would swear by his quality. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

08-07-2007, 12:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Some Toshibas are great, but I also bought one that was terrible. It was a P4 M (S1100?) system that performed at about 70% of similarly clocked competitors. The only thing I could figure was the chipset (early ATI) was the culprit. Store units were the same so back it went. Refurbs are usually better than used since they have a better chance of being almost new. As a rule, cheap models are generally less durable so consider that vs. how you'll use it. With refurbs, make sure there isn't a huge supply with funny limitations on the warranty. That often indicates there was a problem with that model and the company is washing its hands. No matter how much a friend loves their model XXX, don't put much into brand loyalty. (But maybe buy the same model.) Recall that none of the mainstream notebooks are actually made by the company with a name stamped on the front. They buy from multiple sources, usually by product line, and every brand has lemons. You're buying a recipe of commodity parts from a Pac-rim designer, and support that's outsourced, offshored, and will probably change more than once during your warranty period. There are exceptions, but not among standard warranties on any sub-$1000 system. Both HP and Dell telephone support drive people to tears. (Hint: Use online chat instead. You may not get a better tech but at least the information is logged properly.) One advantage to a Dell is they offer some optional extended warranties with US call centers. Still, I've seen their $300 on-site next-business-day extended warranties turn a newly delivered system into two weeks of repetitive calling and techs who replace the wrong parts multiple times. Granted, I see good experiences too, but not enough of them. Buy at Staples or Costco or similar and you at least get seat-time before purchase, and you can take it back or trade it in within two weeks (Costco is longer). Someone, please tell me I'm too cynical. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

08-08-2007, 09:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
Damnfinn Crazy Location: WI,U.S.A.	Refurbished units are tested when they come back to Dell. A new unit sent out is not tested. Some times refurbished means the unit was returned due to canceled orders or the company ordering it decided they only needed 15 of the 20 ordered. But all refurbished is supposed to be tested and fully functional. __________________ I was told to get a life, but all the good ones were taken.