Looking to buy a new laptop

[Tangman]

Hi All,
I'm looking to get a new laptop. Currently considering the

Toshiba Satellite 1735

Seems like Toshiba has priced their laptops very aggresively; can't seem to find too many reviews about it, was wondering if ppl heard anything about it.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

I've heard bad things about DSTN...HPA should be a bare minimum.....if not TFT

 

[shawnmos]

This looks like a nice laptop to me. I don't know about the screen though.

 

[Eug]

If the screen isn't TFT, then I personally wouldn't even consider it, but that's just me.

 

[mcveigh]

don't even think about it unless it is TFT.
of course you might really NEED one, even then i'd still hesitate

 

[chansen]

Before you buy, compare a DSTN screen next to a TFT screen. If you can make do with the DSTN, then this is a fine laptop. Personally, I find the quality difference too great to recommend the Toshiba. For similar money, you could get a Dell Inspiron 3800 with TFT, or likely many other laptops with TFT. By all means sacrifice processor speed for screen quality.

Regards,
Craig

 

[Tangman]

What exactly is HPA? And how does it compare with TFT?

 

[1]

With prices falling, you can get a lot of laptop for $1500-$2000. Personally, I wouldn't consider anything less than 14" inch TFT screen. In my opinion, Sony is the best, but too expensive. Compaq, a great laptop with many features for the least amount of money.

 

[cavingjan]

TFT is the classic active matrix screen that can be viewed from most angles. HPA/DSTN is the old passive matrix in which you need to look at it straight. Viewing these from an angle is really hard (great for a paranoid person on a plane). Also the passive screens have a little slower refresh (or at least did) so you have little ghosts like your mouse trails.

 

[aircooled]

Tech TV (Fresh Gear) didn't like the Toshiba at all!! Said the screen was very hard to look at.

I love my IBM Thinkpad!!!

 

[Tangman]

Is there an actual difference between HPA and DSTN? Or just some marking jargon to confuse consumers?

 

[FordLorider]

www.winbook.com might give you some options. have no idea how good the company but I always see their advertisements

 

[Zenmervolt]

I second aircooled, ThinkPads are sweet machines. I wouldn't give up my ThinkPad for any other notebook in existance. You ought to be able to find an IBM A21e for under $2,000, which is still a good price. IBM's tech support is terrific as well. Can't help you with the Toshiba, but I get the distinct impression that the screen is where they are saving the money.

Zenmervolt

 

[Raspewtin]

IBM support is unbelievable. I couldn't believe how great IBM service is. Thinkpads are the best.

 

[Workin']

<< Is there an actual difference between HPA and DSTN? Or just some marking jargon to confuse consumers? >>

I think they are technically different but look equally bad. Feel free to correct me, but I think

HPA = High Performance Addressing
DSTN = Dual Scan Twisted Nematic

I'll join in with the others who have recommended IBM ThinkPads. Best screens, best build quality, best support.

 

[cavingjan]

I would steer clear of winbook if you can unless you are geting their top, top of the line. They used to be as rock solid as Dell but in recent years, they haven't been doing so well. PC Magazine rated them the worst of the major laptop vendors for support and they had an extremely high DOA rate on laptops to customers requiring immediate service before the user even hit a key.
I prefer Dells, IBMs, and believe it or not, I have a cheap CTX laptop that still going strong after the abuse I put it through (think fine dusty environment plus travel for 5 months a year).

 

[Herr Yunta]

The single most important part of a laptop is the screen. My three year old IBM TP 770x has a better screen then that. At a minimum, go with a TFT.

 

[SPAnDAU]

If your thinking of Toshiba, you should see if anybody still has the 2800-S201 in stock. The processor is only 50MHz slower, but you get a 13&quot; TFT screen. I've used a few 2800's and while they may be near the low end of Toshiba's line, they are still really good.

I personally own an IBM i series (AKA the cheapest notebook you can get from IBM) and it is pretty good, so an IBM machine wouldn't be a bad way to go either.

As for service, I've found both companies phone support to be great, but if you notebook breaks, the Toshiba will generall be fixed much faster than the IBM. This is because Toshiba has a much better parts distribution system, and any replacement comoponents that may be needed are much easier for the repair depot to get.

 

[BassDominator]

If money is no object, go with IBM. You definitely won't be disappointed with their quality and support, even with their price/performance ratio being not so hot. As far as bang for the buck goes, I couldn't be happier with my Dell Inspiron. It's no hot rod, but still a great traveler.

 

[Eug]

I think it's a mistake to recommend a laptop based only on brand, unless it's for reasons of warranty and support. Dunno about Toshiba, I know for a fact that some of the Dell and IBM laptops are simply rebadged third party brands. Dell does this with a lot of their laptops, and I believe IBM does this with their lower end ones. This doesn't mean they're bad - I bought a 3rd party laptop which is the same as the Dell Inspiron 4000. However, most of the low end IBM laptops are suck in my opinion, but then again they're quite cheap. I like the higher-end IBM laptops in general, but then I think they cost too much. And BTW, the DVD in my 3rd party laptop is a Toshiba.

For laptops I think it's best to recommend specific models based on personal experience, and not necessarily brands.