Thursday, April 14, 2011

L is for Laptop Emergency

My computer is old.


Okay, maybe not that old

But old enough in computer years to be considered over-the-hill.  It's been struggling to start up lately and sometimes it just shuts off on its own.  I've had more than a few scares and am now in the process of transferring my pictures and important files onto a thumbdrive.  

The problem is, I know I have to buy a new laptop soon, but I don't know which one to get.  I've always been a PC girl.  My husband, however, has been painfully trying to bring me away from the dark side (as he sees it).  I'm open to getting a Mac, but I don't know much about laptops to really decide.  I know some are prettier than others, but I probably shouldn't buy one based on looks alone.

Do you, dear readers, have any suggestions?  I need your knowledge because I'm completely at a loss and I really don't want to just go to walmart and pick out the cheapest one I can find.  Not again.

Can you help me?

11 comments:

  1. I have the MacBook. Just their normal laptop. Cost about $2k when all was said and done - never had a problem with it. It's got CD/DVD burner, and all of their core programs.

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  2. yeah. i know nothing here. my pc is a dell, and has served us the best of any pc i've had... but alas,she's getting quite elderly as well. maybe they could go to the same retirement home.

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  3. I have a MacBook and I love it. My dad spent his whole life working on PCs and just bought his first Apple products last month and is a total convert. If you live near an Apple store and something happens to your computer you can take it to the Genius Bar and they will diagnose it for free- this is like a $70 value.
    Also Macs hold their value well. You can check craigslist to see what used Macs sell for but it is usually more than what a PC would sell for.

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  4. Hmm. I hear Mac laptops are very nice; lots of kids at my uni have them. But, it never fails that when we have to do any file sharing, the files never arrive correctly (since most of the world is still operating on PC, not Mac). If you don't do a lot of that, I'd say go for the Mac. If you do a lot of file sharing with PC users, maybe a PC might be a better fit. I have a Toshiba and I'm satisfied for the most part.

    Hope your computer holds out until you can get everything on your thumbdrive!

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  5. Mac users are devoted to their Macs. Must be a reason for that, unless they're just anti-Windows types, bucking the norm and making a statement. I don't think I'd like a laptop instead of a desktop model. I like a full-sized keyboard, and I definitely HAVE to have a mouse instead of those silly finger pad thingies.

    Good luck deciding! May you get a good one this time. :)

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  6. I don't have advice other than steering clear of Toshiba. My current laptop is one, and my last laptop was one, and it's just such a delicate thing, and not very good. Blah.

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  7. The first question that you should ask yourself is: "What am I going to do with this?" If it's just writing, any laptop will do. Just make sure that you feel comfortable when composing on it.
    If you're planning on using it outside, make sure that the screen gives you as little glare as possible.
    If you're going to work "on the go" make sure to have one with a decent battery.

    As for Mac vs PC, I don't believe there's a difference for the low-end stuff. Both can connect to the internet and both go kaput when submerged in liquids. Macs generally have higher price tags associated with them, so it depends on your preferences and how much you're willing to spend.
    Alternatively, skip both Mac and PC and get an Ubuntu laptop. :P

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  8. Oh no! my PC did this to me and put me in the same dilemma over Christmas. I've always been a PC girl, but I went with the MacBook Pro in the end. Mine is the smaller version, so not as costly as some of them. It took me a week to get used to the different functions, but it's great now.

    The battery life is brilliant. I also bought an add on Microsoft Word to use on it to send stuff to my CPS. And I can use Scrivener for Mac, which is awesome!

    The best thing is to go and try one out. Someone at the Apple shop showed me how to use it to help me decide. :)

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  9. Computer shopping can be a pain in the ass. I've become, sort of the go-to guy among my friends when it comes to picking one out! Partly, because I ask so many damn questions to the salespeople.

    I'm no guru, but I'd suggest checking out a local Best Buy, only after you do some preliminary research online. Macbooks are tremendous, but I use a middle-tiered HP. And it's a beast.

    Good luck with your search!

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  10. If you stick with PC, Dell and HP are probably your best bets.

    If you convert to Mac, think about what you'll be using it for. If it will mostly be word processing, internet browsing, and other basic tasks, the MacBook or MacBook Air might be good choices (check out Air if you are very mobile with your laptop). If you are going to do heavier lifting like video editing, gaming, etc, MacBook Pro might be better.

    I grew up on an Apple IIe, then spent most of my years with PC, then 2 years ago got a MacBook. I've totally converted to Apple, and my next desktop will be an iMac. It's been such a great experience.

    Drop into an Apple Store if you haven't already to play around with their laptops. The staff is usually really helpful too.

    Good luck! Getting a new computer is so much fun! :)

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  11. I just purchased (well, actually my husband bought it for me) my very first laptop. It is a Toshiba Satellite L655 and I love it. I got it on a Monday and on Friday I tore my ACL and have been laid up, so I've gotten to know my new laptop pretty well. Couldn't afford a MAC, but got this one a great deal at Staples. Best of luck!

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