Laptop Choice?

We are a Dell estate at work - our Dell account manager reccomends Acer (off the record) - they are now what Dell used to be. Technically, reliably, cost effective etc.

Would not touch an ACER with a ten foot pole ... total crap construction wise. Dell's business range is pretty solid build wise and spec wise they are alright.

Dunno about their "home" range ... but I don't touch anything computer wise from a big company that has the with the words "express", "inspire", "lite", "home" ... usually means a load of shit.

Would not touch an ACER with a ten foot pole ... total crap construction wise. Dell's business range is pretty solid build wise and spec wise they are alright.

Dunno about their "home" range ... but I don't touch anything computer wise from a big company that has the with the words "express", "inspire", "lite", "home" ... usually means a load of shit.

THEN what would YOU recommend then eh?

Eggwobble..*pffft!
*

re: linux on netbooks

it certainly used to be the case that the flavour of linux these things shipped with was crap. I had a 701, and xandros was rubbish. My dad's HP Mini had opensuse, and that was similarly crap. I wiped it and installed debian, and did the same for him. So researching the OS might still be as important as the actaul machine - certainly a more mainstream linux might be a good choice from the point of view of future support (I believe the Dell's come with ubuntu, not sure about the others).

That said, with linux, viruses are much less of an issue, which can be a real boon on a computer used mainly for browsing.

But the problem is that Linux is crap ... it just a mess of code that just happens to work... serious lack of direction. I used to administer Redhat Linux boxes .... I have run ArchLinux, Gentoo, Debian. Redhat is better than the rest since as much as a mess it is ... redhat have made a effort at telling you how that mess works and stuff you used to configure redhat 9 will probably work on Fedora core 11 or 12 (or whatever the latest version is).

I swear by Windows and OpenBSD ... Windows can do everything you ask of it and more but you need to know how to look after it ... don't install shitware ... don't let stuff load of boot that you never use etc etc. OpenBSD is the don if you are a computer nerd ... clear consitent documentation ... stuff either works (the stuff that they told you that works) or it doesn't work (the stuff that they told you that don't work). Unix manual pages are well written and accurate. Linux by constrast is a mess, I used to administer several redhat server as part of my job and it was a nightmare compared to the OpenBSD boxens I had set up.

To keep windows running well is a bit of common sense .. not installing crap free software .. use open source software on windows where possible ... http://www.opensourcewindows.org/.

Use MSCONFIG to keep track of processing being started on boot. People at work usually marvel at home well my machine works because I make sure I only use the lightest programs and I make sure stuff isn't running that isn't needed to be running.

Yeah, I'm amazed at how shit OTHER people's Windows machines run. :)

THEN what would YOU recommend then eh?

Dell, Toshiba, Samsung. You get what you pay for.

Good build quality ... which is most important IMO in a laptop. Samsung's NC-10 netbook has quite a bit of praise by various reviewers.

I own a Dell D420 and would not be selling it unless it had slightly better upgrade options (ram is maxed at 2gb which isn't idea for developing with Visual Studio, SQL server , Office 2k7 and Various Image programs). The build Quaily is solid, you can feel that it is well put together ... if you are intending on using it "out in the wild" this is essential. I had my last acer falling apart with bit of plastic coming off the case ... I was not impressed.

HP for me.

I did take a tiny little Sony Vaio to Australia and I loved how small it was.. but it wasn't half slow!! I had installed VS and SQL and svn and blah blah to do some work.. it took that long just to load Windows I didn't bother.

Yeah, I'm amazed at how shit OTHER people's Windows machines run. :)

Same here ... It not like I am that fussy about what runs ... as long as I am using it ... running skype, msn, dropbox, outlook, lastfm, winamp, uttorent in the background ... but I want them running because I use them all the time.

HP for me.

I did take a tiny little Sony Vaio to Australia and I loved how small it was.. but it wasn't half slow!! I had installed VS and SQL and svn and blah blah to do some work.. it took that long just to load Windows I didn't bother.

I haven't owned a HP ... some of their cheaper stuff IMO looks naff but I have never had my hands on their better class stuff. Build quality I am willing to spend the extra money on because if you are actually using you laptop as a portable workstation you need it to be tough.

EDIT: As for Macs ... I view computers as tools ... If I need MacOSX to do something I will use MacOSX. The new Macbook Pro 13inch is actually cheaper than the same spec PC hardware at the moment ... so will probably be my next laptop ... running Windows 7/MacOSX/OpenBSD.

To keep windows running well is a bit of common sense ..

Bingo, it's not impossible to look after Windows with a bit of common sense.

Bingo, it's not impossible to look after Windows with a bit of common sense.

Is there an echo in here?

@echo off

Would not touch an ACER with a ten foot pole ...

"I have bad experience with Dell..."

"I have bad experience with HP..."

"I have bad experience with Acer..."

"I have bad experience with Apple..."

the list are endless.

^

Good point ... but ACER are really crap ... the build quality is atrocious.

My flatmate had a posh one.. it worked ok (it was babied) until his missus splashed soup? over it and it died.. took ages for them to fix it. Not sure what this says about Acer. Nothing really.

but ACER are really crap ... the build quality is atrocious.

I don't think so, perhaps the one you tried probably shit but the Acer 5532 I brought for my grandfather to replace his ageing computer was pretty decent;

I had a less posh one ... I spilt beer, wine and probably sneezed on it a few times ... Sister has it now along with the germs.

I don't think so, perhaps the one you tried probably shit but the Acer 5532 I brought for my grandfather to replace his ageing computer was pretty decent;

Ed I was partially joking ... all the evidence I know we have give to what gives a good is anecdotal as you pointed out quite well.... I was just making a joke about it ... maybe I should put more smileys after stuff.

EDIT: BTW I am glad your grandad seems to be enjoying his laptop.

oh fair enough, it is quite hard to try and express something the way you want it on the internet without the use of smiley!

The thing is with geeks like things to be perfect. I find with my non-techy mates... they are quite happy for stuff to work and not to mess with it.

TBH I think there is a big markey there and no-one has really exploited it.

On the Subject of grandads..... My Grandad I am sure would like to have a computer ... used to have a BBC Microcomputer.... I am pretty sure my nan has forbid him one other she would not get a lot of attention these days.

My vista runs beautifully. kisses

Yeah still no closer. Im waiting until the end of the month before buying. Have an endless drum roll until then.

^ what is ur budget?

2 million..

Up to 400.

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&ca35=Intel+Core+2+Duo&store=5&cat=10&condition=new&ca140=15

Look at a list like that ... read up reviews and then make a decision ... the acer that comes up first has good impressions after a quick google ... but it best to make your own research.

Up to four hundreds worth of 2 millions?? fucking hell lilly, go out much do you?

Whatever you buy, make sure the Ctrl key is the one in the bottom left.

Don't buy any piece of shit (yeah, you IBM!) with the function key outside the control key.

I'm not fucking joking.. this is THE most important aspect of a laptop purchase. It's an instant fail if the Ctrl key isn't the lowest/most left.