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New laptop

Doc

Doc

Bottoms Up
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US Navy Veteran
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I've procrastinated about as long as I can on getting a new laptop.
My last 3 laptops have been Dell, and have worked fine. But in talking to them I was reminded of all the crap they load on your laptop. I would prefer a bare bones one from them just give me the OS CD. They went so far as to tell me my copy of Microsoft Office could not be loaded on my new laptop. :confused: I even told them I was loading linux on the old laptop, so I would free up that license. They wanted to argue about that. :pat:

So, I'm looking to expand my horizons. I'm looking to spend around $1000.
I'm considering a laptop by alienware. A coworker pointed out the brand, and it comes with a upgrade to Vista which I see as a big plus.
Any other manufactors you would consider if shopping for a laptop?

the link for alienware:
http://www.alienware.com/product_pages/notebook_all_default.aspx
 
We bought the kids a Winbook last year on Black Friday from MicroCenter for $399. It doesn't get used that often, but for $400 it has been a good little laptop. I would seriously consider one of their higher end machines for myself. It didn't seem to have a bunch of extra "junk" like Dell other than a 90 Norton.
 
Check out generic laptops.

http://www.discountlaptops.com/

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DiscountLaptops.com Sell Quality [/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DiscountLaptops.com has been in the laptop business since 1995. Over time, we realized many of the so called "laptop manufacturers" produce what seemed to be, an identical product. This seemed odd to us, so we dug a little deeper. What we found was very interesting. Hopefully, the information below will shed some light on who is making what.....[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]First, let me explain the different levels of manufacturing.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Original Design Manufacturers - ODMs
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ODMs are the true manufacturers who actually cast, and assemble the main unit which includes the motherboard, outside casing, and display. A few examples of ODMs are Quanta, Compal, Clevo, Mitac, Asus, Aopen (Acer), Uniwill, and TwinHead-- probably companies you have never heard of before. But you have definitely seen their systems under other well known brand names. ODMs are usually located somewhere in Asia, and may have distribution centers in the US. ODMs distribute their product to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
OEMs add the ram, processor, hard drive, and software to the systems. The OEMs perform final assembly and stick their label (Brand) to it, and call themselves manufacturers. In our opinion they are really service providers, not true manufacturers. Their products are then sold directly to dealers/resellers like DiscountLaptops.com or directly to the public (ie. DELL). If this doesn't make sense, think of the cell phone industry. You can by the same phone from many wireless service providers (i.e.. Sprint, AT&T, Cingular, etc..) the only difference is the label. The wireless company is simply a service provider, not the true manufacturer (i.e.. Nokia, Motorola, LG....)[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Lets move on. So, who makes Toshiba notebooks? One would assume Toshiba right? Nope, wrong. Toshiba actually buys their product from several ODM manufactures in Taiwan. To name a few, Compal, Clevo, and Mitac. OK, they may make a few (and I mean just a few) of their models themselves, but most are bought from other ODM manufacturers. Toshiba simply labels and services it. HP, same story. HP has been in the notebook business from the very beginning. They buy their systems from ODMs as well. Mitac, an ODM manufacturer gained strength in the notebook market from a large contract with Compaq (Compaq was acquired by HP). Unfortunately, HP has become mainly cost conscience as of late and their quality has slipped a bit. IBM buys from Quanta and and Arima. IBM is leaving the notebook and PC market as of recent news. DELL buys most of their systems from Aopen (Acer), Compal and Quanta. Most systems offered by ChemUSA are manufactured by Compal. Sony, HP, Sharp have all had, or still have contracts with TwinHead. Sager buys from Clevo. Clevo is the ODM for many boutique laptop shops such as Hypersonic PC, Alienware, Hollywood PC and many more.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This brings us to our brands. I would call them manufacturers like everyone else, but as you know now, there are only a handful of true manufacturers (ODMs). Since only OEMS can buy directly from ODMs, our brands are all considered OEMs.[/FONT]
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Thanks guys. I've also been browsing newegg's selections.
They have ASUS and Sony Vaio's that look promising.
 
FWIW - I've seen a lot of complaints re the Sonys. Unexpected failure, proprietary parts, non-standard user interface. Sort of like their Beta VCR's.

I swore I would never buy another Compaq laptop after several bad experiences with bad keyboards several years ago, but that's what I bought recently. The feaure set, convenience, and apparent quality seemed excellent for the price, under $550. Compaq #V5201US from Fry's.

I especially like the keyboard Mute button and the Wireless Mode On button, since I connect wireless at home and Ethernet to a hub under the dinnertable at the ranch. That button is simpler than digging around in menus while error mesages flash.

HP makes very similar laptops but their user interface didn't suit me. Who wants a dedicated key for 'Fetch mail using Outlook Express' when you don't use that program.

There was one feature I should have paid more for: a SD slot to slip in my camera memory directly. It appears in the multi-model manual, but it's not on my model. A $3 USB/SD adapter serves the same purpose but isn't as elegant.

For professional use I would step up from the model I got. But for me with a desktop as the primary PC, this Compaq laptop is everything I could want.

I keep trying to buy another for my wife but she says she is happy with the old HP laptop that I leave at the ranch (Pentium 600.) Of course it's always a contest who will get to the new Compaq first, to read news (and here) over morning coffee. Maybe I'll try a different strategy; "If we gave the HP to one of our penniless kids then we would have to replace it with something...".
 
DaveNay said:
How so?! Almost none of the laptops sold by the "big names" are made in-house.
Click to expand...
While that may be true, other parts are innacturate, such as the comments about IBM plus errors of omission, which are somewhat convenient to apparently boost the brands they sell but not discuss other makers that may be larger or more reputible.
 
B_Skurka said:
While that may be true, other parts are innacturate, such as the comments about IBM plus errors of omission, which are somewhat convenient to apparently boost the brands they sell but not discuss other makers that may be larger or more reputible.
Click to expand...

What is inaccurate about the IBM comment? IBM sold their PC and laptop business to Lenovo, and on the IBM web site, I can only find server systems for sale, no PC's. There are a couple of IBM badged laptops still on their site, but they are all manufactured by Lenovo.
 
Doc, if you are looking for cheap, they don't come much cheaper than this: [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Acer Aspire 3680-2574[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- Intel® Celeron® M Processor 410[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- 512MB PC4200 DDR2 RAM[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- DVD-ROM / CD-RW[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- 14.1" Widescreen XGA Display[/FONT]
save.380.jpg
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$199.99 - 10 available at this price [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reg. $579.99 / Price after instant savings & $50 Micro Center mail-in rebate / 760025 / 10 available 12/26/06 at this price per store with coupon[/FONT]

If you were at MicroCenter at 8 AM Dec. 26, I bet you could get one.
 
jwstewar said:
Doc, if you are looking for cheap, they don't come much cheaper than this: [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Acer Aspire 3680-2574[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- Intel® Celeron® M Processor 410[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- 512MB PC4200 DDR2 RAM[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]- DVD-ROM / CD-RW[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
- 14.1" Widescreen XGA Display[/FONT]
save.380.jpg
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$199.99 - 10 available at this price [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reg. $579.99 / Price after instant savings & $50 Micro Center mail-in rebate / 760025 / 10 available 12/26/06 at this price per store with coupon[/FONT]

If you were at MicroCenter at 8 AM Dec. 26, I bet you could get one.
Click to expand...
I was just about to add the same advertisement.....

I bought,basicly, the same unit with XP Pro and dual layer DVD-R a few months ago and love it.. Its been a nice addition to the living room(I may go get one of these too if I can get there in time:cool2: ).. Mine has the wide screen for a great picture, real easy on the eyes.. Not alot of frills as far as software, but for the price and my needs it was a great deal..:a1:
 
Wow, thanks for the heads up guys (jwstewar & HGM). I would like to pick up one of those as a backup machine. I had a bad experience with Acer about 10 years ago, so I have not looked seriously at them. Since they are still around they must be doing something right now days. No Micro Center anywhere near me though.

I agree BD. 1 gig for sure.

Hutchman said:
Doc, Dell now owns Alienware. I don't know if that will affect what they load on the systems or not. Hutch
Click to expand...

Well don't that beat all? Did that happen recently?
 
I'm thinking about getting up early Tuesday mornin' and makin' a trip to Columbus. I was hoping to avoid the trip while I was on vacation, but I might just have to take my B-day money and get me a new toy. It is either that or a "tune" for our Trailblazer to try to increase the gas mileage a little bit.:confused2:
 
jwstewar said:
If you were at MicroCenter at 8 AM Dec. 26, I bet you could get one.
Click to expand...

:pat: :pat: Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong on that one. I was dumb enough this morning to actually attempt this. Pulled in the parking lot and there was a line stretching clear around the shopping center. Decided I was going getting one of the laptops.:mad: But there was a couple of other things I wanted, so I decided to go to CompUSA. Couldn't tell if they were open or not when I got there. Finally decided they were. It was me and about 4 or 5 "sales" people. They didn't have everything I wanted and were A LOT higher on the other things I wanted. Went back to Micro Center. They still had a line to GET IN. They were doing the one out/one in thing.:confused2: Decided I didn't need the other things that bad. Went to Harbor Freight and bought a 1/2", 3/4", 1" pipe threader for $16.99. Figure I use it once I'll have my money back.:hide:
 
Doc, I'm sure I'm not as PC savy :confused2: as most people here as I've been a Mac guy ( work ) for years. About three years ago I was given a Sony Vaio that I use for internet and have had good luck with it. A young (20 yr old) friend who is knowledgeable took it the first week stripped it then reloaded it with a different OS and different programs M office was replaced with OpenOffice from Sun Microsystems and Mozilla Firefox I'm yet to have a conflict or problem :oops: I haven't been able to get out of and since I use Macs I'm pretty :soapbox: spoiled with trouble free performance. Maybe you could find someone or a relative of a friend that knows what this kid that helps me knows. If you want more specifics PM me and I'll call him.
 
Thanks RK! Hi to Mrs Santa also!!!!! :D

I believe that is the best thing to do with most of the new systems sold today. Dell is the worst at loading pure garbage in the OS. I build my own servers and workstations. Laptops frustrate me because I have to buy them from a vendor instead of piece by piece. No need for more info from your friend, but thanks for the offer.
I've found I can procrastinate a little more. I'm waiting for one that will come with Vista.
 
The Dell machine can be formated and loaded with just the OS they supply. You don't have to load the BS. Done it bunches! MSoffice should not be a problem, still running 2000 on all my machines .
 
Big Dog said:
The Dell machine can be formated and loaded with just the OS they supply. You don't have to load the BS. Done it bunches! MSoffice should not be a problem, still running 2000 on all my machines .
Click to expand...

Dell doesn't provide the raw WinXP install disks anymore. They have a "restore partition" that can be used to restore the system to the factory state....including all the crap. :mad:
 
DaveNay said:
Dell doesn't provide the raw WinXP install disks anymore. They have a "restore partition" that can be used to restore the system to the factory state....including all the crap. :mad:
Click to expand...

Dave that ain't so............. I just did it!!

I formatted the HD and loaded only the OS from the restore disk, there is no Dell BS on my machine. The only issue is loading the drivers. I loaded the bare OS from my Dell supplied disk. Now there are some imbedded graphics but thats it! My desktop is 6 weeks old.

Dell doesn't like you to do it because the restore partition is used when they do tech support. A clean OS is not something they want anyone to know or endorse.
 
Big Dog said:
Dave that ain't so............. I just did it!!

I formatted the HD and loaded only the OS from the restore disk, there is no Dell BS on my machine. The only issue is loading the drivers. I loaded the bare OS from my Dell supplied disk. Now there are some imbedded graphics but thats it! My desktop is 6 weeks old.

Dell doesn't like you to do it because the restore partition is used when they do tech support. A clean OS is not something they want anyone to know or endorse.
Click to expand...


The last three systems we bought from Dell did not include any disks what so ever. I had to complain to them and they did send them out to me at no charge. They did tell me I did not need them anymore. I still wanted them. Now is this on all of their systems I don't know, don't make much difference as I don't think I will ever buy another Dell again. I have had good luck with them until this last two years and had problems with the last three. And their tech support stinks now.

murph
 
thcri said:
The last three systems we bought from Dell did not include any disks what so ever. I had to complain to them and they did send them out to me at no charge. They did tell me I did not need them anymore. I still wanted them. Now is this on all of their systems I don't know, don't make much difference as I don't think I will ever buy another Dell again. I have had good luck with them until this last two years and had problems with the last three. And their tech support stinks now.

murph
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I have not experienced what you speak of and I've bought 6 systems in less than 2 years. If you don't get disk, ask and they will send them. What little tech support I've used has been good and comes out of the Phillipines, they can be understood when speaking to them.

Now I do get corporate discount with my prefered account and I'm not sure if that matters but Dell has been good to me!

BTW... my latest machine came with disk without being ask...........
 
Big Dog said:
Now I do get corporate discount with my prefered account and I'm not sure if that matters but Dell has been good to me!

BTW... my latest machine came with disk without being ask...........
Click to expand...


I guess I can't comment. My last three including my daughters lap top did not come with the disk. I also have a corporate account through Carrier Corporation so I don't know if that means something or not. On the 3 systems which one was shipped at a separate time from the other two I did not realise I didn't get a disk until the product got to our place and I called back in to get them. They were nice about and had to qualms about it, they just didn't come with the disk. Now maybe it is because I bought the less expensive units?? Don't know.

murph
 
Re. the Dell CD's, I wonder if you buy from their business side, you get them but if you buy from their home user, you don't. :confused2:
 
bczoom said:
Re. the Dell CD's, I wonder if you buy from their business side, you get them but if you buy from their home user, you don't. :confused2:
Click to expand...

I don't know ........... I did buy 2 systems last year that came with no disk and they sent them when requested.
 
As far as the Dell CD's go, they handle it different with each system. I work for a state government agency and we buy computer equipment from several different companies. On Dell's current systems, the XPS desktops come with the reinstallation CD and the Dimension desktops come with the recovery partition on the hard drive.
Gateway is not so consistent. We bought a laptop model from Gateway last year that came with the recovery partition. This year we bought the same model again and it came with the reinstallation CD's. I, of course, prefer the CD's.
 
My newest PC ...........

Link

is a Dimension E521 (Athlon) that came with re-install disk. Like mentioned before I use a employee purchase program and a personal prefered account. Don't know if that mattered but I did get disk. It did have the recovery partion but not anymore. I wiped the partition and BS, did a complete format of the HD and went with a base XP install from the disk supplied and added the drivers, so far so good! AFA laptops, I have a company Dell that is pretty bare with no Dell BS and a one year old HP (*snicker*) zv6270, both have been flawless.

I don't mean to be contradictory but I haven't been exposed to alot of the above forementioned with Dell.
 
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