Who makes the best notebooks?

[MBrown]

Who makes the best notebooks. Im thinking of buying one because of the portablilty. And also are they easy to upgrade? Like say putting in a new videocard?

 

[pkme2]

We have used Dell Inspiron 600M notebooks for our students for the past 2 years.
The Centrino 2.0 and the 64MB video w/ 1GB RAM are recommended. The video card is not upgradeable, but quite suitable with our Vegas Video 6.0.
We recommend the 7k60 HDD for maindrive and use the media bay with another 7k60, for digital video work.
We use the original HDD as a USB external for transferring files.
We have good luck using the 600Ms and if you're looking for a well-built practical laptop, we recommend the Inspiron. (The Dell Latitude D600 is the same unit)

 

[deathwalker]

I have a Dell and like it...I think Acer is making a very good laptop now also. Some devices are ez to upgrade...memory...hard drive..optical drive. I would discourage considering video upgrades (only a few can be upgraded)..it never proves to be cost effective upgrade. I suggest getting the graphics capability up front.

 

[Commodus]

What you define as "good" depends on what you're looking for in a laptop.

Given your existing machine, I wouldn't worry about absolute gaming performance. It would be redundant unless you expect to frequently spend days or weeks away from your desktop.

Upgradability... don't expect it. Technically, both ATI and nVidia have their own video upgrade solutions, but they're not really interchangeable and you can't count on there being a module for an upgrade by the time you're ready. On most laptops you can only ever upgrade the RAM and hard drive, and in the case of the latter you'll likely void the warranty (since you have to disassemble the case).

What kind of programs do you want to run? That's probably the most important question, since it dictates what kind of laptop you need. If you're just browsing the web, listening to music, and so forth, you don't need a fast video chipset or even a large screen. I find that Apple's 12" iBook is good if you actually use it as the term "laptop" suggests: it's comfortable on your legs, it's compact so it will go anywhere, and it gets good real-world battery life for light to medium duty (4 to 4.5 hours, roughly).

If you're going to do "heavy lifting," on the other hand, then you have to ask whether you want a full-on desktop replacement (like the Dell Inspiron 9300 or XPS) or whether you want a balance between speed and portability. Don't get a 17" screen if you're carrying this thing to and from class; you'd be better off with a 14" or 15" screen, and you should focus on something which is light while still having enough power to do what you want.

Also, if you go with Dell, either get an extended warranty or get the XPS model - not that they're overly prone to part failure, but you don't want to struggle with an Indian call centre any more than you have to.

 

[ManyBeers]

Sony are the best.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Sony are the best.

Funny.... I think they are craptastic.

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Sony are the best.

sure they are.. in Bizzaro World

IBM Thinkpads, hands down.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Acer = Bang for the buck performance.
IBM = Super crazy expensive, uber performing with godly support.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Acer = Bang for the buck performance.
IBM = Super crazy expensive, uber performing with godly support.

IBM/Lenovo only looks more expensive when you compare their machines against the consumer grade laptop of another vendor.

When you look at their R50+ series and new Z60m, you find much better comparison in prices.

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: WackyDan

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Sony are the best.

Funny.... I think they are craptastic.

Don't be silly

 

[scottish144]

Sony are good, but overpriced. Acer, as previously mentioned, is the best bang for the buck. If u have about $2000, get an Acer Ferrari 4000.

 

[antyler]

Huh funny i dont see HP mentioned anywheres in here. Must be because they are in close relations with Compaq. Thats never good. I have an HP zv6015. I love it.

 

[The Linuxator]

Why does this thread need to exist the answer is obvious : BIG BLUE !!!!

1- Need a laptop with a competetive price go with the R50e, I got mine with the specs below in my sig for $ 849 less expenssive than anyone else.

2- Need the best laptop quality wise, well take a look at the T-series ( or the Z-series if you like widescreens) made out of composite material, it has so many security features, that not even the father of hackerz can access your data, between the Biometric fingerprint reader and the integrated IBM security chip say goodbye to data theft, your harddrive is encrypted and your laptop is the only machinethat is able to access it.
Go check the videos on IBM's website those things have survived fires, big time drops and still powered up and booted into OS.

3- And one of the main things I like about Thinkpads, is that those laptops are famous all around the world they are supported everywhere, Linux support is a major A++
I have had my WiFi, on screen display (volume, brightness, ...ect), speedstep, sound card, video card all with drivers installed and functioning properly in Linux in a matter of seconds.

 

[GnomeCop]

this is practically an IBM forum so you will definitely get more ppl saying they are great here. Of course, thats not unwarranted, they are decent notebooks, but opinions are like buttholes... everyone's got one, and they all stink.
Just stay away from the ones that a majority fo ppl say suck, and you should be OK.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: GnomeCop
this is practically an IBM forum so you will definitely get more ppl saying they are great here. Of course, thats not unwarranted, they are decent notebooks, but opinions are like buttholes... everyone's got one, and they all stink.
Just stay away from the ones that a majority fo ppl say suck, and you should be OK.

:laugh: It's kind of hard to not let your opinion dominate, when your talking about Computing's most glorious name. :thumbsup:

ps : That IBM forum isn't bad idea now that you mentioned it

 

[NM130]

How about a Voodo with X2 4800 and a 7800GTX GO? You think IBM's are expensive...

http://voodoopc.com/showroom.aspx?productID=1083

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: NM130
How about a Voodo with X2 4800 and a 7800GTX GO? You think IBM's are expensive...

http://voodoopc.com/showroom.aspx?productID=1083

The main word that I can remeber from the first post is that he is thinking of buying one for portability, not weight lifting. IBM s are reputable to be orientded towards buissnes men and not towards gaming, they are most suitable for ppl that want a secure, durable, ever lasting, infinetly supported and somehow affordable by removing the non-sense features and using the money saved towards the price / more quality on the notebook itself,.

IMHO that vodoo is DTR that feels like just another remake of the SAGER DTR it even look identical, too much for innovation there. plus who the hell needs a dual core in their notebook ? gaming notebooks are just an illusion to whomever wants a real portable PC, think about battery life there is no way that thing can last you a good 30 minutes of gaming without the power cord being hooked up, not so portable then huh ?

 

[scottish144]

Get an Acer Ferrari 4000.

http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/acer/117/1/1/

 

[scottish144]

HPs are nice, until u look at the graphics cards. Almost everything is integrated :frown: . Also, screw the ZV600. If u MUST use HP/Compaq, get an R4000.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: scottish144
Get an Acer Ferrari 4000.

http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/acer/117/1/1/

eventhough I am recommending a Thinkpad, but if you are not a Big Blue Diehard, such as me and many others here, Acers aren't bad at all and if you can afford the ferrari one I would go by what scottish144 is recommending, but you don't have to get the ferrari model to have something good take this Acer for example, that seems like one hell of deal after rebates

 

[Hacp]

IBM because it looks soo cool! Thinkpads are the coolest looking laptops ever! And I'm NOT being sarcastic.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: Hacp
IBM because it looks soo cool! Thinkpads are the coolest looking laptops ever! And I'm NOT being sarcastic.

:thumbsup: A tribute to a fellow Big Blue Diehard .

 

[Gunther]

IBM .

 

[gk1998]

IBM

 

[nullus]

IBM T series if you want a "big" laptop (screen wise) or X series if you want an ultraportable. Both are hands down the best out there.

The problem is that most people compare cheap disposable laptops to IBM T and X series and then say that IBM is much more expensive. This is wrong. If you want a price comparason, compare business class notebooks to the IBM T and X series. And always remember that whatever you compare, the IBM will be built *much* better when compared in the same class to other notebooks.

Also note that there are a *lot* of advantages to having an IBM compared to others, not just the superior build quality and support. Examples include amazing part compatibility and availability. Ease of part maintanence/removal/exchange, etc.

Now the whole question of how well Lenovo is going to keep up with the expectations of IBM laptops is a whole different story.