ajoesmith Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I need a new laptop should i get Vista with all its problems or stick with XP? im thinking of getting XP also ive always got a computer with an Intel processor, what about AMD? any good? The laptop isnt for gaming or any other intense stuff, just regualr run of the mill work useage, word, excel, internet and of course RWG!!!! Any help is much appreciated. also any brand of laptop? i usually go for a dell but maybe others are better????? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppen Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I need a new laptop should i get Vista with all its problems or stick with XP? im thinking of getting XP also ive always got a computer with an Intel processor, what about AMD? any good? The laptop isnt for gaming or any other intense stuff, just regualr run of the mill work useage, word, excel, internet and of course RWG!!!! Any help is much appreciated. also any brand of laptop? i usually go for a dell but maybe others are better????? cheers It depends...what is your price range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajoesmith Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I dont need a super duper laptop, just normal usage Price range is about $700 - $800 but could go a bit over if justified Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstone Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 It's a tough one - especially since laptops are company income tax deductible, and personal fringe benefit tax free here in Oz. So a lot of them are overpriced because some other sucker is picking up the tab (like business class air tickets). Officeworks often have ones with manufacturer cash back offers that are as decent as anything else on offer. (See staticice.com.au for price comparisons). The benefit of the store is that you can go in and see them. Be aware of that some of them have mobile processors, some of them regular processors which use up more power and thus have a shorter battery life. It's possible to get one that will do all those things for less that AU$800 (using XP), the issue becomes longevity. You wouldn't want to use Photoshop on one of them say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajoesmith Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Man the laptops are cheap in the states!!! how about this one http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DELL-INSPIRON-6400...1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new & improved osteopath Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 if you are willing to go to about 1000 (a little over)- you could get a MacBook which will both run Windows and Mac OSX. The OSX is less vulnerable to viruses, and they are really hot machines- I have one for home and one for office, and they are killer. The belief that Macs are more expensive is only true if you do not take into account all of the software and extras that come with a Mac; camera, photo and music management, basic word processing, good browser & mail apps- you really cannot go wrong. ALSO if you get 'Apple Care' you have limitless support. Good hunting!!!! -O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajoesmith Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Need an American member to help me out Laptops are way cheaper in the states that Australia. but most sellers on ebay wont ship overseas. anyone that can help me out please PM me asap Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstone Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Don't forget the GST when you import it. You will have to pay it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 @ajs I have been using Dell Laptops for 10 years and have had only one problem [a hinge that broke]... Just purchased 2 new ones off the Bay back in December - Inspiron E1405 I would be more than Happy to accommodate you in the shipping process... TT PS: I haven't looked lately, but can you still get a new unit from a seller with XP? I helped a friend last month with a Dell Desktop off the Bay and could only find Vista Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Just did a SEARCH on the Bay... Countless good buys on new units between $600 - $800USD from solid reputable resellers... TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polynomial Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Duno about US pricing, but stay away from Vista unles you have loads of RAM. I'd recommend IBM or Toshiba if on the budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkerouac Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 My suggestion for current and future needs: Don't get less than 1G of memory, aim for 2G if you want to be set for the future. I prefer Toshiba for laptops. I have been using Vista since day 1 and am absolutely delighted with it. I would make sure that your new laptop comes with it installed... but check to make sure that people using your configuration (laptop plus adapters and basic apps) are happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I am old school. Have been with IBM since they invented the PC in 1982 (??). They are still very well constructed and their recovery software is the best. If inclined toward IBM look at the seller Thinkpadworld on eay. His prices are very good. If you are inclined to stick with XP you can pick up a last year's dual processor set-up with 1.5-2.0 gig of RAM within your price range. MAC's are great. But buy new and with warranty. When they break and are out of warranty it is very expensive. The first thing to go is the link from the motherboard to the screen. Ended up replacing three this year. Then again, my irresponsible kids are the users. They are the coolest but you are either already a MAC user in which case you will use them until the day you die or you are not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 AJS go to Dick Smith or Harvey Norman and rent it, you will get the lastest unit for around $30 per month and it's tax deductable. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) Need an American member to help me out Laptops are way cheaper in the states that Australia. but most sellers on ebay wont ship overseas. anyone that can help me out please PM me asap Thanks Go with Dell.....and chk there web site often....they have sales going on every week....there Inspiron 1501/1505 were on sale last week for US$799 wt 120Gig HD and 1 Gig RAM...got one for my brother and my friend, each......and stay away from Vista? Edited May 19, 2007 by HikeUSA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I'd advise anyone from buying outside their native country. You will get stiffed a lot on import duty. Oh, and any warranties will probably not be valid (and your household insurance may use it to wiggle out of any accidents it's covered for, too) and you really want a warranty on a laptop as when they go wrong, they go wrong expensively. I buy Apple myself. The new MacBooks are amazing for the price and you can run MacOSX or Windows or even both. If Apple are outside your budget, I'd steer clear of Vista, which means if you're buying a laptop with OEM Windows, you want a Dell loaded with XP. It's really that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 New Apple's must be cheaper where you are. I can't get one properly outfitted for less than $1200 and you end up at $1400 if you go to 1.5-2.0 gig of RAM - and that is on the 13" screen. 15" screen and you are promptly at $2,000. Now I am buying at the Apple Store (which is totally cool and open 24 hours a day here). If someone nows how to buy them cheaper please let me know. I don't use them but my 3 older kids would rather die than use something else. Unfortunately, kids are hell on laptops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedo Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 AJS go to [censored] Smith or Harvey Norman and rent it, you will get the lastest unit for around $30 per month and it's tax deductable. Ken I second what Ken says here, basically you are leasing the laptop, with the option at the end to buy it, upgrade or return it. Works out cheaper in the long run, and although you don't own it by the end of the 3 years it is obsolete anyway and if anything like my current laptop (that I still have 2 months of payments to go on) it will take 10 minutes to boot up by that time without reinstalling windows (which I don't have my reinstall CD either ) But you are a student over here, right? So that may mean difficulties i actually getting a lease, a bit like being able to get a loan as you are not a resident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 I could be wrong but I think he has permanent residency Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppen Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 New Apple's must be cheaper where you are. I can't get one properly outfitted for less than $1200 and you end up at $1400 if you go to 1.5-2.0 gig of RAM - and that is on the 13" screen. 15" screen and you are promptly at $2,000. Now I am buying at the Apple Store (which is totally cool and open 24 hours a day here). If someone nows how to buy them cheaper please let me know. I don't use them but my 3 older kids would rather die than use something else. Unfortunately, kids are hell on laptops. @ OP : with that price range you could go new and get something like one of the Toshiba satellites, but second hand you could pick up a bullet-proof IBM/Lenovo thnkpad t40 with centrino processor with about 1 or 2gb RAM for well within your budget, I have used these for years and they are the most solid workhorses of computers I have handled. @Kruzer00 : If you want to buy an Apple for your children, and if they are in higher education, make sure to get the education discount offered by the company and you could have a 13" with 2gb Ram for $1160 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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