…so I need your help.
What kind of computer should I get? What brand? Laptop or desktop? Tell a faggot what to do, people!
(And while you’re at it, don’t forget to send in those Mailbag Monday questions! There’s still time before the September 9th edition so send them to dirk.mancuso@gmail.com!)
Hi,
I happily owned Compaq laptops for years, but after they merged with Hewlett Packard I bought an HP laptop. My advice: Whatever you do, don’t get an HP. I had an experience where I had to send it in for warranty work (after owning it for only 3 months), they accused me of causing the damage, returned it to me more broken than it was went I originally sent it in, sent it back to them again, they held it hostage for weeks, and finally replaced it after holding it for about a month. (I work from home and my computer is a lifeline. A month of lost income wasn’t fun.) If you google HP & hostage, you’ll get about 400,000 hits; Hewlett-Packard & hostage returns another 50,000 hits. Obviously, I’m not the only one who’s had similar experiences.
J
By: J on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 6:32 am
Yes, HP is a bitch. Though I am still working on one. If you can afford a lenovo try it. My ultimate laptop would be an Apple.
By: fixator on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 6:51 am
Laptop. Not having access to a computer while I was away all summer sucked.
By: Sarah on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 6:52 am
Either one but just make sure its a MAC.
By: flyguy on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 7:15 am
I, too, vote for Mac laptop. (My first computer was a Mac and I had it for 7 years–I loved it.)
By: Aaron on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 7:55 am
I had a Compaq before the HP merger, it just got old, but I loved it. Now I have this:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_studio_17?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~laptop_studio_17_anav2~~
and I love it, sorry about the long link. My dream laptop? The Macbook Air or the Macbook Pro!
By: Jer on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 8:13 am
I have an old HP and dial-up so I have the worst of both hells. On the bright side I have become good friends with all the tech guys at my ISP. I think the laptop is what you’re used too and they are getting better all the time. I vote lap-top.
By: ed on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 8:33 am
Is this ground hog day? Didnt you post this before? Thinkpad is the best PC laptop. MAC the best latop. I’ve had Toshiba, HP, Gateway, Sony – Gateway held together the best. Since you probably have to get vista get at least 2GB of memory.
What happened to the one you ordered? Where are the promised posts?
By: Dennis on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 8:39 am
A laptop indeed. A desktop is so passe. Of course they don’t call laptops laptops anymore, but notebooks. I think it had something to do with Playgirl having a copyright on the term.
I would recommend a DELL, but I have seen overwhelming support here and elsewhere for Macs these days – the one brand I quickly abandoned after college.
By: Steven on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 9:14 am
My preference goes to mac. But if economy is an issue and you are rough on computers… then go for a PC kind.
If you plan to do a lot of coffeehouse work, then laptop it. Otherwise, might as well do the desktop thingy.
By: cb on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 10:30 am
Bernadette comes with me everywhere. She’s a Macbook, and I owe her my life.
By: seriouslyflippant on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 10:45 am
I have an HP – have had it for years and have never had a problem with it.
By: KBear on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 12:02 pm
I love my laptop. I take it to bed with me, outside on the swing, on the couch. It’s nice not being tied to one spot like the desk. Oh, and we’ve had 5 Dells over the years. Must be good, we keep going back to them.
By: Summer on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 2:07 pm
You’re getting conflicting advice here. You may have expected that.
First, definitely get a laptop/notebook whatever they are called. Mobility is great.
I use a Toshiba Satellite and have no trouble with it in the year I’ve had it, except that I have worn holes in my N,S,D,E, and Space keys. My two college students each got Dells, and that has been a headache for both of them. I’ve heard marvelous things about Macs, but have no personal experience. I have often heard Gregory sing their praises, but he’s an excellent singer, so what are ya’ gonna do?
By: javabear on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 3:36 pm
well can only speak from personal experience but i just bought my second dell laptop/notebook/whatever and i’m happy with it. the old one has been running almost 24/7 for 2,5 years and is STILL working and measures up to current “specs”, i just needed something smaller. i have had to contact Dell service at least twice. once because my adapter died (they sent me a new one right away, free), and once because one of the fans died so it kept shutting off due to overheating. i sent it in and got it back in about a week, no charge. this is european dell, but im assuming they have the same standards all over the world.
Good luck with finding a new precious
By: Christina on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 6:21 pm
one word… Toshiba. Enough said.
By: Tyler on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
at 8:12 pm
I’m a Mac guy myself, but a Toshiba I had years ago was a decent machine.
By: BML on Thursday, August 21, 2008
at 1:41 am
I bought an iMac earlier this summer. Best computer decision I’ve ever made.
One more reason to dread coming into work, having to deal w/ this cruddy HP laptop.
By: Lorelie on Thursday, August 21, 2008
at 5:45 am