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Reliable Everyday Laptops


Trainmaster5

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No, the issue was not with the graphics card. The issue was with the motherboard connections to the AC adapter jack. The computer would intermittently fail to receive a charge when plugged in, and the battery would die (it got worse over time).

 

Then the HD failed.

 

Then the motherboard failed.

 

The first issue with the cold solder joints is probably what GC is describing below. It was an issue among SEVERAL Compaq/HP laptops:

 

Yup, that was exactly the reason. And it was a good thing it was still under warranty. So far aside from that problem, the laptop functions well as far as I can tell.

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I've been a regular custumer of the "egg" for years. I've built my own desktops since Windows 3.1 and started using NewEgg when I got tired of Tiger Direct back in the Win '95 days. The problem with sites like those is that sometimes the customer ratings reflect overly toward the dissatisfied people because "most" satisfied buyers don't post their ratings, myself included. That's why I took the time to ask forum members their thoughts. I have to be honest here. I'm not a high school teacher but I do grade these responses. I look at other posts the responders have made on various threads throughout the forums, subway,bus, career, off topic, etc. to try to gauge the maturity and intelligence of the posters and I work from there. Let's put it this way, I do have some people out here with opinions I respect and trust more than others. I don't always agree with said posters but I do know that I'd like to buy American, if possible, or if I'm lost in S.I. and need an express bus or in Italy and need a good vino I'd trust their opinions more than some fantasy map types. Everyones opinion does count, however, although it appears that some didn't really read ALL of my original post after reading a few replies. That being said, I know subways, desktops, and Brooklyn more than most but ,my laptop people, the thread is yours. I await your opinions.

 

Damn. If I ever need another desktop, I'd probably go to Newegg... $1,000 for the equivalent of ricing a PC out (complete with neon!)? I'll just build something half decent for $800...

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Damn. If I ever need another desktop, I'd probably go to Newegg... $1,000 for the equivalent of ricing a PC out (complete with neon!)? I'll just build something half decent for $800...

 

I paid $500 to build a gaming PC myself. The most expensive part was the Core 2 Quad, coming in at $210.

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This is what Im working with right now for photography and browsing.Toshiba NB505

 

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVBWQIPCOkBWQolI3ebe7Z7jkBJMUuYpYYjbWqMLFRwSYJ-h_B

 

Laugh if you dare.:P

 

Ahem......... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha :P

 

 

but seriously, that thing is way too small for me.

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Been using my Toshiba L355D-S7815 laptop for more than 2 years. Been working fine without any issues. Runs HL2 fine with the integrated graphics card.

 

Unless you got an ATI card in that laptop like I currently do in my Acer, you didnt see my other post regarding the intel chips...

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Made my way to Best Buy this evening for a look and some hands on experience. Let's just say it was enlightening. Was approached by a nice friendly " sales associate". Nice looking young lady, but dumb as a brick. I dismissed her politely and began my hands on testing. With those notebooks that still had all of their keys. WTF goes on in Best Buy? Do they sell machines by the key? After a few minutes I was approached by another "associate" who must be related to either Hewlett or Packard. He kept trying to steer me that way even when I walked over to the Apple display to ditch him. I got rid of him by asking about switchable graphic display adapters. He didn't understand me , I meant integrated Intel HD with discrete Nvidia graphics built in. Last time I saw him he was by the Nintendo DS section. After 20 minutes or so an older gentleman " associate " came over and we started talking about computers in general. He said he remembered me buying peripherals for the desktops I build. I told him I was thinking laptops now and asked him some general questions about quality, style, power, etc.. For all of you earlier posters out here I thank you for your help and advice. From what you, and he, said the best brands carried by Best Buy are ASUS, Toshiba, and surprisingly, Dell. My hands on experience with the ASUS and Toshiba models they had really impressed me. He also said that Lenovo and some Acers might work for me but they weren't in stock at that store. Dell I would buy direct if I go that way. He also said that I should take a ride over to J&R before I buy for a more varied hands on experience as Best Buy only carries a limited selection of the manufacturers' offerings. I think I'll take his advice 'cause I have plenty of free time these days. BTW, most H-P notebooks that I've encountered DO suck.

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Made my way to Best Buy this evening for a look and some hands on experience. Let's just say it was enlightening. Was approached by a nice friendly " sales associate". Nice looking young lady, but dumb as a brick. I dismissed her politely and began my hands on testing. With those notebooks that still had all of their keys. WTF goes on in Best Buy? Do they sell machines by the key? After a few minutes I was approached by another "associate" who must be related to either Hewlett or Packard. He kept trying to steer me that way even when I walked over to the Apple display to ditch him. I got rid of him by asking about switchable graphic display adapters. He didn't understand me , I meant integrated Intel HD with discrete Nvidia graphics built in. Last time I saw him he was by the Nintendo DS section. After 20 minutes or so an older gentleman " associate " came over and we started talking about computers in general. He said he remembered me buying peripherals for the desktops I build. I told him I was thinking laptops now and asked him some general questions about quality, style, power, etc.. For all of you earlier posters out here I thank you for your help and advice. From what you, and he, said the best brands carried by Best Buy are ASUS, Toshiba, and surprisingly, Dell. My hands on experience with the ASUS and Toshiba models they had really impressed me. He also said that Lenovo and some Acers might work for me but they weren't in stock at that store. Dell I would buy direct if I go that way. He also said that I should take a ride over to J&R before I buy for a more varied hands on experience as Best Buy only carries a limited selection of the manufacturers' offerings. I think I'll take his advice 'cause I have plenty of free time these days. BTW, most H-P notebooks that I've encountered DO suck.

 

Yeah Best Buy is not a good place to get a laptop usually. I've bought this one there, but that's cuz I basically knew what I wanted before hand.

 

Also the Geek Squad service is tremendously overrated. The techs that come to you are great and know their stuff, but the in store techs are not much brighter than the sales "associates" you spoke with. Basically never buy extended warranty or tech support.

 

It took them almost a month to send a purchase recquisition for a HD and install it when I used them back in 2007. I had to curse out a manager on the phone after 3 weeks and receiving a "come pick up your laptop or we'll destroy it notice", then the next day it was miraculously "finished"

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Yeah Best Buy is not a good place to get a laptop usually. I've bought this one there, but that's cuz I basically knew what I wanted before hand.

 

Also the Geek Squad service is tremendously overrated. The techs that come to you are great and know their stuff, but the in store techs are not much brighter than the sales "associates" you spoke with. Basically never buy extended warranty or tech support.

 

It took them almost a month to send a purchase recquisition for a HD and install it when I used them back in 2007. I had to curse out a manager on the phone after 3 weeks and receiving a "come pick up your laptop or we'll destroy it notice", then the next day it was miraculously "finished"

 

Those guys at places like BestBuy don't give a f*ck about what they say, nor are they real specialists for the most part. They just care about getting a sale.

 

It's like when I go to a wine bar or a wine store. Me being a wine drinker, I can tell when a person knows their stuff. I'll request a certain wine from a certain region of say France or Italy, then ask about the year that the wine was made and see what they say, as well as expect them to give me detailed description of what the wine should taste like, etc. as that's usually a good indicator of whether or not they know their stuff since some years are known to be better than others and I already have a feel for the wine and the region it comes from.

 

Like SubwayGuy said, it's best to do your own research, then go to a place and test a guy to see how sharp he is and then go from there. If he seems like he knows something you may feel comfortable enough to pick his brain about things that you have questions about.

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In terms of knowledgeable sales staff, i've had a bit more luck at Micro Center than any of the other "big box" stores. That said, rarely do I buy anything from places like that (unless there's some smoking-hot deal.)

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In terms of knowledgeable sales staff, i've had a bit more luck at Micro Center than any of the other "big box" stores. That said, rarely do I buy anything from places like that (unless there's some smoking-hot deal.)

 

Many thanks for your help. I just remembered there's one somewhere around Westbury, L.I..

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