Laptop/desktop recommendations

[winneythepooh7]

OK my Dell laptop I bought in September is a piece of crap (No, I am not surprised LOL ;) ). I am wondering if you computer gurus out there can give me some good recommendations of brands to look at. I basically just need the computer for work, to write treatment plans and such on using Microsoft Word. I also use it for the internet constantly. I am wondering though if it would be wiser to just get a desk-top? As you can tell, I am pretty clueless in this area. I am wondering if the reason I have had so many "issues" is because I've used it a lot for the internet.............I plan to just charge it and pay if off, but I would like to keep my price range under $1500.00 or less. Thanks :D.

[Morgan81]

What kind of Dell did you get? You might just want to see if you could upgrade it rather than dump it altogether. Technology moves quick, but not so fast where a 7 month computer should be abandoned.

[winneythepooh7]

It's a Dell Inspiron 1600. Can I bring it somewhere to upgrade it (told ya I'm clueless). Another major reason I HATE Dell is that is next to impossible to get a live person on the phone for assistance. When you finally do, even though you pay for this service as part of the warranty (and I know I shouldn't say this) they barely speak English and really haven't been able to solve any of the issues I have had. I would rather just take it someplace then if that is the case and pay $100.00 or so for someone to fix it. Thanks for letting me rant!

[steph78]

I am surprised to hear you've had so much trouble with Dell customer service - I have always had great experiences with them. My friend bought a Dell last summer and broke one of the keys (it was the R key, it was really funny every time I got an e-mail from her because it would be missing all the R's) and she called Dell to see if they could do anything and Dell sent someone to her house at a time that was convenient for her, and they replaced her whole keyboard for free!

Maybe you could ask Dell to send someone to look at your computer in person if that is covered under the warranty you have? It would probably be a lot easier on you to have someone look at it in person than trying to explain the problem to someone in a call center halfway around the world, and if you've already paid for the service I feel like they should look at it for you!

[SpaceMonkey]

What are your issues with it exactly?

Do you have anti-virus/anti-spyware software installed?

[winneythepooh7]

Let's see, the CD/DVD drive stopped working (I have to get it replaced and have been lagging on my end, that is my fault), I have all the anti-virus software and such but I got a virus on it yesterday somehow and it is running slow as dirt now. The AOL is also all screwed up now and I uninstalled and then installed it again. I have also had a ton of problems in the past with the wireless connection and it just stopping for no reason.

[SpaceMonkey]

Hm. Well, I don't have any real experience with AOL, but as far as anti-virus stuff goes, make sure that you are regularly updating the software's virus definitions, otherwise it won't know what to look for. The rest of it just sounds like basic hardware failures, so if you can get Dell to service you under your warranty (be persistant!) then I would just go that route over buying a whole new machine.

If you do want a new machine, I'd go with a desktop unless you have a specific need for a laptop or you foresee yourself regularly taking advantage of its mobility. You always get more bang for your buck with a desktop, and they are easier to lock down if you are worried about theft. I'm a Mac-head, so that's always the first thing that comes to my mind, and the new iMac Core Duo is a good value. But, if you have a lot of money already invested in Windows software, then you should stick to a Windows machine. Dell, from what I understand, is actually a pretty good brand when it comes to desktops (IBM rules for laptops), so that might be another reason to try to get them to just fix the machine you already have instead of buying a new one. Generally, anyway, computer companies all get their components from the same factories in China or Taiwan, so reliability is pretty similar across all brands.

[winneythepooh7]

I just uninstalled all the AOL software. I am not going to use it for the time being. Maybe this will also be a way for me not to be online as much in the evenings LOL.

[Maverick434]

Attempt to have the laptop fixed under your warranty first, if that doesn't work then you might think of purchasing a new one. As for upgrading a laptop, in the end it usually becomes cost prohibitive. Hewlett Packard and Toshiba both offer solid contenders in the laptop market. Stay away from Gateway.

Lance

[Kitty]

Yeah, I"ve heard HORROR stories about Dell customer service.

I actually want to get a MAC for the home because they have less probs. w/ viruses, etc.

I have a Sony right now..and its crap, as well.

[coll214]

Hmm, I've always had good luck with Dell warranty services (and i've called frequently, including this AM :googly:) for work and friends... if the computer is under warranty, i'd look into having the parts replaced that are causing the problem. And if it's software related, have you thought about re-formatting? it's a pain in the ass to do, but it'll clean up those old problems. And make sure to put antivirus AND spyware software on there and update and run them on a regular basis. If your having trouble with AOL's service, it may not hurt to call them as well...

[SmilesSoSweet]

I bought a desktop Dell in 2004. It's great! I haven't had to call customer service once. I use my computer for a lot of things - internet, email, word documents, AutoCAD, Photoshop, etc. I run my internet on a cable modem, and now that I have a router, more spyware protection and a good anti-virus program, my computer runs really well. I did purchase more RAM, but I have yet to install it. I'm waiting to find a friend that can do it for me for free. hehe (I do know that if I do anything to the computer myself, Dell won't honor their warranty. I think my warranty is done next month, since it was a two-year warranty.)

The desktop was a lot cheaper - after rebates it was $500 for everything - monitor (a large one, not flat screen), CPU tower (40 gigs, Pentium 4, CD drive and CD burner, 256 RAM and a lot of ghz in the processor, I forget and a bunch of other stuff). This computer should last me a long time.

I went with the desktop because of the price and because I have a desktop at work, so I really didn't need a laptop. I can also do work from home because my home computer is networked with my work's server, so I can easily access files that I need from my desktop PC at home. It work great.

So far I haven't had any complaints with my Dell computer. I just need to add the RAM so I can run AutoCAD quicker, but other than that it's fine.

[winneythepooh7]

I might get another desktop down the road. I have a couple hundred left to pay off on the one I bought my parents for Christmas ;). It's not a major necessity right now, I guess. It's just weird when it crashes and we are like "Oh my GAWD! What are we gonna do without the internet!!!!!" LOL.

I looked at MACS recently and had no clue how to even work them LOL.

[blueyes]

See, Winney, I'm in the same sort of situation as you b/c my computer has some unidentifiable problem which causes it to reboot spontaneously whenever it feels like it. It's not a virus - I'm running Norton at least twice a week and have been for over six months - it's not spyware - I run two programs to clean it at least twice a week - it's not hardware failure - unless it's my RAM. Which is entirely possible, since I have fried RAM in this same computer at least once before (and I'm still trying to figure out how I did that).

I'm seriously considering getting a new Mac mini with the Intel chip. I sort of feel like I'd be cheating on my PC...but for what I do with computers, a Mac will suffice just fine.

And Macs have pratically no virus problems b/c almost no one creates viruses for Macs. Serious bonus.

[Illuminous]

I am sooooo waiting for the new Mac iBooks with the Intel chip.

[Cole]

I LOVE my iBook. I've only had one problem with it in four years, and they fixed it right away, and it cost me nothing. :D

[old_school_soul]

Winnie,

I whole-heartidly recommend a Mac. They aren't that different from Windows in terms of how to use the operating system itself, you just click different places. A 5 year old can figure it out. At any rate dump your AOL. AOL is a piece of shit no matter what platform it's on. Why are you wasting your money with it?

[Umbra]

OK my Dell laptop I bought in September is a piece of crap (No, I am not surprised LOL ;) ). I am wondering if you computer gurus out there can give me some good recommendations of brands to look at. I basically just need the computer for work, to write treatment plans and such on using Microsoft Word. I also use it for the internet constantly. I am wondering though if it would be wiser to just get a desk-top? As you can tell, I am pretty clueless in this area. I am wondering if the reason I have had so many "issues" is because I've used it a lot for the internet.............I plan to just charge it and pay if off, but I would like to keep my price range under $1500.00 or less. Thanks :D.


I bought an Acer Aspire 9503 notebook from newegg.com, the other day. It has a fantastic seventeen inch screen among other pluses. The only downside to it has been that the sound and modem crashed; I fixed that by taking out the battery, putting it back in, and restarting the machine. Weird fix but it worked. It costs about $900 or so. Here's a link:

Link: (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115199)

[lonestar]

I like my IBook, but I am pissed that Apple has switched to Intel architecture. I always like the PowerPC. I will get a Powerbook next regardless, though.

[old_school_soul]

Lonestar,

Why would you be pissed they switched to Intel? What did you like better about the PPC?

[wordsmith]

Macs are my favorite, too, but I'd never be able to afford one for myself. I have as much access as I want to my one for work, though, so that's nice. But I def. prefer them.

[lonestar]

As a Mac user from pre Imac days, we were always told that Intel processors were inferior...that PowerPC's RISC heavy architecture was much better/more efficient than Intel's CISC-based architecture. In fact, the G5 is considered the fastest processor in the world! It's clock speed may be lower than the comparable Intel chip, but its architecture was better and it was consequently faster.

Now, all the sudden we are switching? Come on, man do we have to give the whole store to WIntel because Steve Jobs is pissed that he is not Bill Gates?

[SunDevil]

As a Mac user from pre Imac days, we were always told that Intel processors were inferior...that PowerPC's RISC heavy architecture was much better/more efficient than Intel's CISC-based architecture. In fact, the G5 is considered the fastest processor in the world! It's clock speed may be lower than the comparable Intel chip, but its architecture was better and it was consequently faster.

Now, all the sudden we are switching? Come on, man do we have to give the whole store to WIntel because Steve Jobs is pissed that he is not Bill Gates?

It's because Intel made some big adjustments to their chips to take the good parts of the RISC design, and still allow high clock speeds and less power & heat. And with 2 cores on one chip, it works better with cpu intensive tasks, while keeping the system responsive.

Plus, I'm sure cost was an issue as well. And, I'm sure Steve Jobs might try to take over the Windows market one of these days.