New Laptop - Any Suggestions or Recommendations?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:59pm

Other than not getting a Mac, just because of compatibility issues, I am looking to get a laptop to add to my desktop at home. I probably will keep my current desktop, but want the ability to work and play somewhere outside of the room where it is currently located.

I am thinking of an HP or a Dell.

For the HP: HP dv6000t
For the Dell: Dell Inspiron E1705

Any suggestions or red flags?
Updated On: 5/13/07 at 12:59 PM

[pab]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:24pm

By the way, I have a MacBook Pro and I have no compatibility issues with PCs. I run the Mac OX, Windows XP, Vista and any PC software out there on my laptop.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 01:24 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:38pm

Pab - do you think that price-wise it is worth it to buy a Mac if everything else you use is a PC?

I had thought of getting a Mac notebook, but just thought since work and home is all PC based, it would be more trouble than it is worth (plus, they are a bit more expensive).

I can be convinced to buy an Mac if it really is worth the money.

[pab]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:52pm

The base price of PCs (desktops and laptops) are always cheaper but after the various add-ons (sound cards, web cams etc.), the lack of viruses and the overall reliability of the machine, a MacBook or MacBook Pro, IMO, is a bargain.

You have the best Operating System on the market, again the opinion of myself (and many others), and you have the ability to run other operating systems on your Mac (including Linux).

To me buying a Mac (Desktop or Laptop) makes the most sense. I personally run the Mac OS for all my audio and video work, but at the touch of a button I can switch to the PC side and work there. I can also copy and paste between Operating Systems. That, as far as I know, is not possible on a PC.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 01:52 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 2:21pm

get a PC (especially when all else you use are PC's), and get a Dell....they have an 800 for tech support, and Gateway does not. Of course now that I have unlimited long distance doesn't matter.

I didn't like how HP treated me on the phone, had to finally ask for a manager to get a price, and was even told by her that if I didn't get it at that exact moment the price would change.....didn't like that kind of salesmanship.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 3:19pm

I have an HP Pavilion laptop and I love it! It does everything I want it to. Only downside is the battery life, and it's not the lightest thing to lug around. But it's a killer machine.

You should check out cnet.com for laptop reviews. It's a great source of information and comprehensive reviews for all electronics.
Link to CNET.com

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:59pm

Yep, I was on CNet, and that is where I got the info on the HP and the Dell I was thinking about

My mom may be able to get me a discount on a Mac, and I can get a discount on a Dell through work . . . I just hate tech support in India for Dells.

Thanks for the advice.

[Anakela]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 6:27pm

I have an old Dell laptop (an Inspiron 2650) that I am still using and still *love* (have an add-on external hard drive for all iTunes, video clips, etc, or else it would have probably died a long time ago), and I will probably need to replace in the next year or two, but for right now I have no complaints about my Dell laptop. EXCEPT that tech support being in India really does suck sometimes, but I have had to call tech support maybe 3 times in the five years or so that I have had my laptop.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 6:29pm

I have a Dell Inspiron E1505, and it works very well. However, I don't really know anything about computers, so...

[courtnyj]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 6:36pm

I had a dell for three years and had to call tech support WAY too often. I also had to send my laptop away twice for repairs. (It sad but it was really hard to not have my laptop for those two weeks) Dell has better tech support than other PCs, but I prefer not having to call tech support at all now that I have my Mac. I've had it for a year and a half and never needed tech support. Keep that in mind while you're looking at Dell's tech support options which usually cost several hundred dollars. Also, I've had no problem with compatability between my Mac and the PCs at school.


PS, you can get 10% off apple products if you are a student or a teacher. I work for Starbucks and get 17% off...if you can find a friend who is a student, or find a friend with a corporate discount it will help lower the cost a bit. Updated On: 5/13/07 at 06:36 PM

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 6:43pm

i have a Dell Insipron E1505 and really really wish that i bought a mac instead... macs are so much better...

[Marlene]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 10:28pm

I'm actually looking for a laptop as well. Can someone please elaborate on the PC/Mac operating system integration? I've always been tempted to take the plunge and switch over to a Mac...but I've been using a PC since forever. My mac experiences have been limited to school computers...as we have ibooks we can take out, but I actually don't like them that much and end up using one of our desktops.

I don't own a Dell, but a friend of mine has had pretty frustrating conversations with their tech support that always want her to pay to have something replaced.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 10:36pm

Don't know if this matters to you or not YWIW?, but Microsoft now makes Word and Excel for Mac. I have those on my MacBook. I only have one program on my PC desktop at home that is incompatible, but otherwise it's smooth sailing all around my place with my Mac on the wireless.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 12:02am

That is actually one thing I am looking at - whether a lot of my "fun" stuff will be compatible.

My mom actually still teaches, so she is going to see if she can get me the teachers discount - if I can get the 10%, I am now leaning towards a Mac.

Thanks.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:09am

I have had a lot of problems with my HP pavilion laptop- but get an extended warranty and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[midnghtdolphin]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:30am

my old laptop was a dell. i had more issues with it... it was a piece of junk. however, i love the gateway that i have now. i haven't had a single issue with it... knock on wood. the dell i was calling customer support like every week and they replaced the motherboard in it and it still didn't work.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:34am

Only thing allowed in my house by Buzz are HP lap tops and iBooks (or whatever the Mac lap top is called. I don't use it he does.). I have yet to have a problem with any of my HP laptops other than normal wear and tear. I currently have an HP pavilion and love it!

[pab]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:45am

"Can someone please elaborate on the PC/Mac operating system integration?"

You have a few PC solutions on a Mac. Intel Macs (Desktops and Laptops) are capable of running a program called Boot Camp, which is by Apple. It's in Beta now and will be a part of Leopard (OS 10.5) when it is released in October. This program will allow you to partition your hard drive so that one part is for Windows and one part is for OS X. When you boot the computer you can decide which OS you would like to start in.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

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Another solution is Parallels Desktop for Mac. This software is even better, in my opinion, because it will allow you run Windows, and its software, at the same time you are running the the Mac OS so you don't have to shutdown and then restart your computer to boot into the other OS.

As long as you have a copy of the Windows OS that you would like to use and the PC programs that are needed to run on that system, they can be installed on a Mac and run thanks to the Intel chip.

http://www.parallels.com/

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Yet another solution is a program called CrossOver Mac:

"CrossOver Mac allows you to install many popular Windows applications and games on your Intel OS X Mac. CrossOver includes an easy to use, single click interface, which makes installing Windows software simple and fast. Once installed, your application integrates seamlessly in OS X. Just click and run your application directly from the OS X Finder. Clicking a Windows file or document — including email attachments — will launch the appropriate Windows program, allowing you to work on the files. Best of all, you do it all easily and affordably, without needing a Microsoft operating system license."

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

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By the way Microsoft has been making Office for the Mac for a number years, going all the way back to OS 9. All Office application files (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) for the PC are compatible with those on the Mac. And those on the Mac are compatible with those on the PC.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 2:15am

Right now I'm writing a paper with word for mac and creating a power point presentation with power point for mac. I actually like working with these programs on a mac better than on a pc. More user friendly.

God, I've become such a shill for Mac!

[Craig]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 8:34am

PAB-

How compatible is the windows install? Meaning - is ittrue 100 percent compatibility where ANY program that runs on a PC will run on a mac, or are there some that have issues (do you know?)

Have been both a PC and Mac man myself - but haven't owned a Mac in many years. Although I prefer the PC personally for various reasons - one of the biggest being my existing software library which would be expensive to re-buy for a Mac, I wouldn't rule out my next purchase if I knew that I could add software for the Mac, but still use my existing library for the PC

thanks!

[steveshack]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 8:43am

Toshibas give you the biggest bang for the buck.

[pab]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 9:57am

"How compatible is the windows install? Meaning - is it true 100 percent compatibility where ANY program that runs on a PC will run on a mac, or are there some that have issues (do you know?)"

I personally use Parallels Desktop for Mac and so far it's been 100 percent software compatible. The install was no problem at all.

I've mostly used Windows XP on the PC side and I can even use my built in iSight camera in PC applications. It's not like the old Virtual PC, which I found to be sluggish and limited. If you can run it on a PC you can run it on a Mac with Parallels. You are running an actual Windows OS and it runs fast.

At the moment Parallels can't handle accelerated 3-D graphics so if that is a need for you then I would recommend using Boot Camp for the games or applications that would require it and that should take care of those needs.

I would assume that there might be some add on hardware that Parallels might not support but so far I've only had to use my iSight web cam. I've not found any software that does not work.

Updated On: 5/14/07 at 09:57 AM

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 11:45am

I was considering purchasing a Mac laptop this summer, but was also concerned about compatibility issues. Thanks pab for posting all of that information -- I'll definitely be buying a Macbook in July!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 12:02pm

Once you go MAC you won't go back!

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:05pm

i have no suggestions other than to buy it in a store.
we ordered my laptop right from dell and we have been told that if we bought it from a store, we would be getting much better custoner service and repairs.