buying a new laptop. sony vaio or compaq? help!

[scabzzzz]

My personal life and IT life says Dell is the way to go if we're talkin quality and support...

A lot of Dell stuff is compatible with other Dells.. HP is crap.
Ive ONLY AND EXCLUSIVELY used Sony computers since my very first computer and I love them. So has my family. Overpriced, yes. But I've had zero trouble and never had to do anything but upgrade and reformat.

Otherwise, s0urce is the man!

[lylefk]

I ran the computer dept and geek squad at best buy for a few years and can say that I have personally had great experience with 2 brands of laptops: Toshiba #1 and Sony #2. I've owned 3 toshiba laptops and they'll all been perfect. Nary an issue and they get used EVERY day. I also had a Sony laptop that was perfect (desktop too). Overall I def. recommend Toshiba. Cheaper spec to spec.

As far as servicing them, who cares...let the techs deal with that, that's what the warranty and the tech services are there for. Most users aren't going to be replacing internal components in a laptop themselves anyway.

The typical end user is more concerned with things like the operating system being stable, the wireless card picking up signal quickly and reliably, battery life, etc etc. In this, Toshiba has always been good to me and the hundreds of people I've sold them to. I NEVER had a customer regret purchasing one.

Just my .02

[wildstoats]

I'll toss my hat in for the HP business class laptops. I have had an HP Compaq 8710p for about a year and a half now and it has been a rock solid machine. But like my Source said:

Recommending a laptop without knowing what you intend on using it for is pointless. I'd disregard every suggestion you've gotten until you post what your needs are.

[s0urce]

Otherwise, s0urce is the man!

wtf, qft

[richardkeith97]

Thanks 4 ur input evryone. All i do is upload pics 2 sell stuff on ebay and go online. My gf has a toshiba and its been great but she paid like 1000 4 it and the mst im willing to spend is 500. If i get somethng brand new im getting an extended warranty. I used to have a compaq and its been great. I thnk it was a c600 or sumtin.

[Ryan Stewart]

What is your first language?

[bmw325csi]

I can only say that you should stay away from HP. My first one's HD went out twice, the second one I got, the lightscribe failed followed by the battery. All in all My favorite laptop has been Sony.

BTW Apples are Ghey!

[richardkeith97]

Srry im on my phne since i dnt have a laptop!

[Ryan Stewart]

In all fairness when considering makers like Dell, HP, Sony ect you need to look at the class of computer.

The pro-level ones will be usually be good but you are looking at $1000+. For $400 they are all going to be hit and miss as those are the really churned out models destined for Wal-Mart. So you will find plenty of people who say that each brand is shit and the odds are good that you will join them.

[equate975]

HD's failing doesn't have anything to do with the laptop. It's not like dell makes dell hard drives or anything. Each manufacturer just buys them from a HD company, so its a crap shoot on what they are going to use on some model at any given time. I've been replacing a lot of HP's because they are using seagates, and seagates are pure garbage these days. Who knows, in a few months dell might be using seagate and HP might be using WD. Dell A might have a WD, and Dell B might be using a seagate, it's not something thats published so you don't really know what you are getting.

I wouldn't stay away from any particular brand just because of HD's going out. I would blame the manufacturer of the HD over the manufacturer of the laptop.

[mongule]

If all your doing is uploading photos, internet low tech stuff....consider a netbook maybe.

I bought one a month ago and i paid 340$ (CAD)

they are cheap and i have been very surprised at the performance.

I had an asus G1s before this and its was pretty much top of the line 2 years ago ( not counting alienware) although it now suffers from the typical 8600m gt crapping out but anyways had I known (or had they been available ) I would of gotten this aspire one instead at that time.

[ACMF74]

I have had a Dell for the past 5 years and it has been fantastic. I did have a HD failure but that was it. IBM's are nice but Dell is my first pick.

[equate975]

fwiw

http://www.frys.com/product/5827443

[s0urce]

If all your doing is uploading photos, internet low tech stuff....consider a netbook maybe.

I bought one a month ago and i paid 340$ (CAD)

they are cheap and i have been very surprised at the performance.

I had an asus G1s before this and its was pretty much top of the line 2 years ago ( not counting alienware) although it now suffers from the typical 8600m gt crapping out but anyways had I known (or had they been available ) I would of gotten this aspire one instead at that time.

qft, a netbook would do the trick, and its actually a portable laptop! HEY NOW

[mongule]

They are very portable, I cant really say anything about build quality of acer cause i've only had it for a month but so far so good.

I have windows 7 on it and it runs very well.

I got used to the screen/res real quick and it has ot been a problem.

It even plays some old games decently and plays 720p with coreavc codec

new ones are coming soon with the Ion chipset, most likely going to be more expensive though.

overall its very good bang for your buck.