Need help chosing a new laptop

[JiJi]

Hi guys.
I currently have a Dell XPS M1710 laptop which I love, and I've had it for a little over a year (I think ) but it's been giving me some trouble lately and I want to buy a new laptop.

I know very little about computers so I don't know what kind of specifications to look for other than hard drive and ram space, and I know those two can be replaced (I think) so they're not what I should be looking for (right?)

I'm looking for a laptop that would operate smoothly even after I install a bunch of programs.

I was told that the porsche laptop is the best one, but I was told by a sales clerk and they're not always trust worthy. Please don't ask me about the model because all I know is that it was yellow lol.

I would really appreciate it if some of you could recommend to me the best laptops out there. Cost is not important so please don't recommend something just because it's cheap, I'm looking for the absolute best.
Also, if the one recommended could be even better with adjustments, please tell me about them.

[Kage]

Go to this website http://www.notebookreview.com/. It will help you with your laptop decision.

[kpkelley]

If price is no option:
http://www.voodoopc.com/#/productsenvy

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by JiJi

Hi guys.
I currently have a Dell XPS M1710 laptop which I love, and I've had it for a little over a year (I think ) but it's been giving me some trouble lately and I want to buy a new laptop.

I know very little about computers so I don't know what kind of specifications to look for other than hard drive and ram space, and I know those two can be replaced (I think) so they're not what I should be looking for (right?)

I'm looking for a laptop that would operate smoothly even after I install a bunch of programs.

I was told that the porsche laptop is the best one, but I was told by a sales clerk and they're not always trust worthy. Please don't ask me about the model because all I know is that it was yellow lol.

I would really appreciate it if some of you could recommend to me the best laptops out there. Cost is not important so please don't recommend something just because it's cheap, I'm looking for the absolute best.
Also, if the one recommended could be even better with adjustments, please tell me about them.

Well it depends if you want the top end for gaming on it etc. In that case I have no idea. If not and it's for regular Windows applications and occasional game .. then the Thinkpad T series with a discrete graphics card .. instead of the integrated graphics card. Greatest keyboard in the world and takes abuse like nothing else. There is a refresh of the line coming .. so the current ones are being discounted AFAIK. Upgrading the RAM is really cheap as well.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

If price is no option:
http://www.voodoopc.com/#/productsenvy

or this one:
http://www.velocitymicro.com/category.php?cid=3

[clyon]

Originally Posted by JiJi

Hi guys.
I currently have a Dell XPS M1710 laptop which I love, and I've had it for a little over a year (I think ) but it's been giving me some trouble lately and I want to buy a new laptop.

I know very little about computers so I don't know what kind of specifications to look for other than hard drive and ram space, and I know those two can be replaced (I think) so they're not what I should be looking for (right?)

I'm looking for a laptop that would operate smoothly even after I install a bunch of programs.

I was told that the porsche laptop is the best one, but I was told by a sales clerk and they're not always trust worthy. Please don't ask me about the model because all I know is that it was yellow lol.

I would really appreciate it if some of you could recommend to me the best laptops out there. Cost is not important so please don't recommend something just because it's cheap, I'm looking for the absolute best.
Also, if the one recommended could be even better with adjustments, please tell me about them.

why not just fix your computer??

what is the O/S?

when is tha last time you defrag the drive or updated the drivers????
If you not do the basic maintenance on the the next computer your just going to end up in the same spot in a years time.
Try taking the 'junk' off the HHD & save that stuff to an exteral drive & then goto Safemode & then do a defrag. Maybe upgrade, max out the computers memory & get a faster speed too.



If you do need a new notebook you can spend up to $4k on a new notebook, but what do YOU need?? a desktop replacment (17"+ screen), something very small & light for travel (10" screen) or in between sized like 15"o 14" screen

[Pacioli]

I have had a laptop from Vigor for a little over a year, and have been very pleased.

http://www.vigorgaming.com/

[JiJi]

Thank you everyone! I'm checking out all the links and suggestions provided right now. I really appreciate all the help. You guys are great!

Originally Posted by clyon

why not just fix your computer??

what is the O/S?

when is tha last time you defrag the drive or updated the drivers????
If you not do the basic maintenance on the the next computer your just going to end up in the same spot in a years time.
Try taking the 'junk' off the HHD & save that stuff to an exteral drive & then goto Safemode & then do a defrag. Maybe upgrade, max out the computers memory & get a faster speed too.



If you do need a new notebook you can spend up to $4k on a new notebook, but what do YOU need?? a desktop replacment (17"+ screen), something very small & light for travel (10" screen) or in between sized like 15"o 14" screen

Like I said in my OP, I barely know anything about computers, so I don't know how to do the stuff you're talking about. I try to keep as much free space as possible, and every now and then I would save everything on an external hard drive and delete the files from the computer, but I wouldn't notice any significant difference.
A couple of months back my computer crashed (I'm not sure if that's what happened but something went wrong) and I took it to get fixed and the guy said something about the hard drive. But ever since then, my computer has been getting worse. When I play any video, if I don't have headphones plugged in then the video freezes, and when I work on the Sony Vegas editing program, the video doesn't play smoothly in the prog itself and I didn't have a problem with it before.

I could take it to get fixed, and I probably will, but my birthday is coming up and my mom asked me what I wanted and I told her I want a new laptop, and she told me that since she doesn't know anything about them, she'll let me chose one and then she'll get it for me. So yeah, I want a new one

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by JiJi

I'm looking for a laptop that would operate smoothly even after I install a bunch of programs.

Honestly, switch to Mac then. Because any PC running Windows is going to potentially run into the kind of issues that your current notebook has. That's just the nature of the beast.

But rather than buying a new machine, why not back up your data and clean install Windows on a freshly formatted drive? Reinstall your needed apps after that, and you'll be SHOCKED by how much better your system runs. It's unfortunately just the nature of Windows... programs don't uninstall cleanly and Windows doesn't do anything to help the situation. You may have a few trojans that your AV hasn't picked up on (or properly gotten rid of) also. Over time you start loading extra .dlls and stuff for a lot of apps you no longer even use. Your system becomes sluggish for no good reason. It's a good way for manufacturers to convince you to replace a year old notebook, but it really is obnoxious from a consumer perspective -- and something Microsoft should have addressed long ago.

[JiJi]

Thanks for the advice JadedRaverLA. I really do love my laptop so I guess that would be the best thing to do. I guess I'll ask for a different B day present then

and about a Mac computer, I'm thinking about getting it as a desktop (is that the correct term?) and not a notebook.
I guess once I format my Dell xps I'll install the heavy programs on the desktop and that should balance things out.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by JiJi

Thanks for the advice JadedRaverLA. I really do love my laptop so I guess that would be the best thing to do. I guess I'll ask for a different B day present then

No problem. I just hate it to see people spend a ton of money to replace a computer that just needs to be restored.

Originally Posted by JiJi

and about a Mac computer, I'm thinking about getting it as a desktop (is that the correct term?) and not a notebook.
I guess once I format my Dell xps I'll install the heavy programs on the desktop and that should balance things out.

Don't rush into getting a Mac. What I said before was true (that the OS does a far better job of not getting bogged down with old app dlls etc), but its a major transition, and not something you should just jump at. Realize you'll need to buy all new software, and some of the software you're used to won't even be available for Mac (though there's almost always equivalent programs available). You can still share data pretty easily between your PC notebook and your Mac desktop, but the machines would actually be running different software (Windows software vs. OS X software), which means added software costs.

If you are used to PCs, definitely spend some time on a Mac before getting one. You may love it and be an instant convert. Then again, you may not. Better to find out before dropping some serious money on an iMac or a Mac Pro. I use both regularly, and prefer OS X, but I like Windows Live Writer for blogging better than anything on OS X, I need Blu-ray playback which OS X doesn't yet provide, and many games are available for Windows only... so I still end up using Windows a lot.

Anyway, if you're still interested in a Mac, post some of the software you currently use, and I (or another member) can quickly tell you if its available for Mac or what some good Mac alternatives are.

[JiJi]

Oh no, I'm not rushing. I've been thinking about getting a mac desktop for a while. My brother has a mac notebook which I have used a bunch of times and I liked it. I prefer PCs though, but I do like the smoothness of the mac and the way it looks. I've had a mac notebook years ago so I'm familiar with it.

I'm just sick of always being disappointed with my laptops. I hear all this praise and when I get it I realize that it's not really any better than my previous one. It might perform great the first few months, but eventually it will slow down and I hate that.

[toef]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Anyway, if you're still interested in a Mac, post some of the software you currently use, and I (or another member) can quickly tell you if its available for Mac or what some good Mac alternatives are.

I'm picking up an iMac today. I started out using Macs as a kid, thanks to my dad, but in high school switched over to Windows. Now, about 8 years later, I'm ready to switch back.

I posted in another thread, but maybe you can help me. Do you know of any good DVD collection software for Macs? I've come across Delicious Library, which looks really nice (and incorporates the iSight for easy barcode scanning), but do you know if it's any good? Collectorz' also has a Mac version of their Movie Collection software. Do you know about either of these, or any others?

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by toefer

I'm picking up an iMac today. I started out using Macs as a kid, thanks to my dad, but in high school switched over to Windows. Now, about 8 years later, I'm ready to switch back.

I posted in another thread, but maybe you can help me. Do you know of any good DVD collection software for Macs? I've come across Delicious Library, which looks really nice (and incorporates the iSight for easy barcode scanning), but do you know if it's any good? Collectorz' also has a Mac version of their Movie Collection software. Do you know about either of these, or any others?

Try out Delicious Library. It's considered better than any other Mac (or Windows) program for DVD collecting by many people. I can't think of a major feature its lacking, and its really easy to use and has a much better interface than most. Out of curiosity, which iMac model did you go with?

[Seeking_Alpha]

Originally Posted by JiJi

Oh no, I'm not rushing. I've been thinking about getting a mac desktop for a while. My brother has a mac notebook which I have used a bunch of times and I liked it. I prefer PCs though, but I do like the smoothness of the mac and the way it looks. I've had a mac notebook years ago so I'm familiar with it.

I'm just sick of always being disappointed with my laptops. I hear all this praise and when I get it I realize that it's not really any better than my previous one. It might perform great the first few months, but eventually it will slow down and I hate that.

Well most of the things people do on laptops (web surfing, watching videos, pictures, music, creating documents) don't change and thus don't require major leaps in processing power. So its not really surprising that your new one isn't much different than your old one. That makes the advice of previous posters (reinstalling windows) even more valid. I strongly suggest doing research via google searches on how to reformat & reinstall windows if you have the cd (you can buy windows xp from amazon for less than $100). Just save your documents, videos, music, pictures on an external hard drive. In case you do your research and still feel that it's beyond your ability then I am sure some local computer repair specialists can do it for you. It will still be cheaper than buying a whole new laptop or mac.

If you do still decide to get a laptop don't spend too much money on processor speed or video memory (intel integrated is good enough). Focus on hard drive size and RAM. I suggest minimum 2 gigs for Windows Vista, any less and you'll regret it.

Battery life is also important to me. My experience and anecdotal evidence is that in this case, HPs are terrible and Dells are good. No experience with Lenovo, but their prices are attractive.

Macs are very nice and user friendly. Also superior to Vista in many aspects. However they are also much more expensive. And will have you learn new stuff with new programs, something which some people don't like. Also if you have specific software for your job or business make sure it is compatible with OS X.

Finally, I don't quite understand the logic of getting a mac desktop. My feeling is that desktops are basically gaming machines, and when it comes to computer gaming Windows Vista with DX10 is king.

Hope I helped

[Galley]

You know what they say "Once you go Mac..."

[TheSentinel]

You like warm apple pie?