Laptops

Mable

Active member
Sep 20, 2004
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For you computer geeks out there, is it my imagination or is the Lenovo (IBM) laptop - the thinkpad series, really a better buy than say HP ot Toshiba? I have heard the construction is superior and the key board is better.
 
Better in what way? I think if you had a Lenovo, HP, Toshiba and Dell notebook beside each other and had 10 people in the room, you would probably end up with 10 different lists.

I have never used a Lenovo except for a certification exam and I have used the other three I mentioned. Personally HP would be at the bottom of my list and Dell at the top. Toshiba would be second and Lenovo third.
 
HP sucks, I've had 2 plus I know friends who've had HP laptops. Toshiba IMO is the best laptop; they're built like tanks and I've never heard anyone having a problem with them. Never even heard of Lenovo (IBM) laptop so I think that says something.
 
Call Computer Direct416-499-9198 they have off lease PC.s. I got a Dell laptop that still had 10 mhs warranty left on it for 289$
 
go with the Lenovo or Dell ... Mac if you don't mind overpaying for looks
 
5hummer said:
Grab a MAC. You'll thank me afterwards.

If you can't do this then Lenovo, I've had them all.

OTB
 
sailorsix said:
Call Computer Direct416-499-9198 they have off lease PC.s. I got a Dell laptop that still had 10 mhs warranty left on it for 289$


Wow that is a good deal! Do they have a website?
 
tarkovsky said:
HP sucks, I've had 2 plus I know friends who've had HP laptops. Toshiba IMO is the best laptop; they're built like tanks and I've never heard anyone having a problem with them. Never even heard of Lenovo (IBM) laptop so I think that says something.

I had a Toshiba laptop...and I had problems. First the screen froze and it took 3 weeks for the authorized Toshiba repair shop to get the part in from Japan! About 3 months later, something else went...took it back to Staples where I got it. After about a month and a half of them trying to get parts to fix it...they gave up...gave me an HP of my choice, and transfered all the data for me. Haven't had any problems with the HP....and would buy it again.

Now, tarkovsky, you have heard of someone with a problem with Toshiba...and I bet, I'm not alone :eek:
 
a lot of repair technicians use the IBM (LENOVO) these are guys who drive around with the laptops in their truck all day. i believe all bell canada techs have lenovo laptops (i may be wrong) but these guys do bang and crash around all day.i think i would go for one of them if i were in the market for a new laptop. that said my HP has been trouble free for two years and works fine. i run xp pro on mine went to vista and went back!!!!!
 
The Lenovo laptop lines that USED TO BE IBM products are the best made laptops out there. All the newer Lenovo designs that they came up with post-IBM are crap.

It's true right now that the Thinkpads are the best constructed, most durable laptops available at a reasonable price but I would imagine it's not going to last as the Lenovo engineers gradually "improve" on them.
 
Sukdeep said:
That's funny. I've had five IBM Thinkpads (including two branded as Lenovos), one Dell, two HP, no Toshibas.

The Thinkpads are the best built and feel like quality, but I like the HP's overall for usability and features. Forget the Dells.

Agree.

I've been using a laptop for 10 years for work purposes and my last (ever) Dell was the biggest POS ever. Slow, slow, and slower. Would regularly seize up (running Window XP), you'd want to copy a file to another folder and it would always drop in an adjacent folder. Drove me nuts.
 
I'm kinda different, i use a ASUS laptop, they're famous for making good motherboards for desktops. as far as laptops go i've had good experiences with an IMB about 6 years ago, and a toshiba tablet i still use from time to time. i had a very bad experience with a dell after the service period expired, but while under its coverage you really can't go wrong with a dell. never owned a hp, so i can't provide a first hand opinion. as for Macs i would get one if i didnt mind severly overpaying(30% or more) for a computer and software compatability isnt an issue, but being able to use almost all software out there is a big plus for me so no mac.

imho if you're not getting a mac then wait for microsoft to come wout with windows 7. i have vista and absolutely hated it until i spent an afternoon disabling all of its useless resource sapping extras. even now it runs slightly sloer than my xp tablet. spec comparison is 2.0ghz dualcore with 2gb ram 160gb hd and vista runs slower than 1.5ghz single core centrino with 512mb ram and 160gb hd with xp tablet edition.
 
Really, it depends what you want a laptop for. I'm an Apple fan, so I would definitely suggest that you look at a Mac, but if it won't run the software you need, it is nothing more than an anchor.

As for the pricing of Mac's, they are certainly not the cheapest thing out there, but they are not as over priced as some would suggest.
 
for business models: lenovo, hp, dell and toshiba (in that order). the business models are mosre expensive than the home models but have better performance. they are not usually found in your local future shop, best buy or staples. go to the website and check online availability.

for home models: hp/compaq and toshiba. you can get them at your local retail store. they're cheaper than the business models and if you're not a power user, it should be good enough most of the time.
 
My little over 1 yr old Toshiba has been running great.
Picked Toshiba because of its good rep and the fact there are 6 authorized repair shops <6 miles away from me, so there's no need to ship it anywhere for any needed warranty repairs. So far, knock on wood, all runs perfectly.
 
I'll chirp in, had all types of laptops over the last 10 plus years and used them all. Highlights of my experience:

1. Toshiba, paid over $3,000 about 4 years ago, top of the line, needed two hard drives in two years, always crashed. Good thing I had warranty at FS, but it needed over a month each time to fix it and no laptop. Never buy Toshiba again. Toshiba used to be the best laptop over 15 years ago, it's lost it's lustre, not that great any more.

2. IBM thinkpad are built like Mercedes, still have it and after 10 years still runs great no mechanical problm, however can't upgrade to today''s standards. Lenovo, not as well built, but still above average nonetheless.

3. HP is not my cup of tea, poor keyboard desin for my liking and most unstable of the laptops I had. I had to reformat the hard drive twice in two years. Maybe bad luck, but I'm jinxed now.

4. Dell business models are great,had it for 3 years no problem and still running great. Best thing about Dell is its warranty, get it, well worth it. If you have an issue, they will replace it in a few days, no questions asked, make sure you get the top warranty offered.

5. Mac's are great but has limitations, titles available, etc.. Great for graphics, great looks, well built, a bit over priced.

6. Sony, way over priced and not stable, Acer is well priced, but not as well buit and not for the long haul. All other no names, stay away.

That's my life experience, I now have a Dell Latitude for business and Mac for fun and games.
 
In almost 15 years in the IT industry, I have had just a little time to formulate an opinion here....

Toshiba - Excellent up to about 1997 when they branched out from a purely laptop line to include desktops and servers. Now, if you were to choose Tosh, look to the business lines (Tecra, Sattelite Pro).

Dell - Never had any luck with Dell, always been a pile of crap - laptop, desktop and server. Maybe its just my luck....

HP / Compaq - Prior to the merger with HP in 2002, I wouldnt touch any HP computers with a 10 foot bargepole, but after the Compaq knowledge and reliability was brought in house, they have become much more reliable. Aagain I would look more towards the business product lines rather than the consumer lines.

IBM / Lenovo - I have recently been doing a lot of work with IBM gear, and I have never seen so many issues fixed with firmware revisions.... That being said, the ThinkPad range is a rock solid and well featured range of machines.

Sony - Forget It, overpriced and underspecced. You are paying for the name.

Acer - They can be the dark horse, depending on the model, and it seems the day it was built, you can get a complete hunk of garbage, or a very well specified and put together machine.

Mac - Not a huge fan of the Mac, never really got into it. OK, they are very nicely built and look great, but for the spec they are kinda expensive.

For the record, right now I am using an IBM Thinkpad T60 and T43, an Acer Aspire One Netbook, and my 10 year old Toshiba Tecra 8000 is still working away quite happily as my bittorrent client in the basement.