Laptop computer question

[GypsmJim]

Acers have been around for a while and I have never heard of any problems with them. I can promise you the components probably come from the same place for all the brands for the most part. Just need to decide how big of hard drive and screen you need. I also would not go used I would go new myself.

Yes the hardware components are the same. What's different is the way the manufacturer sets them up.

E.g. Dell, Acer, Lenovo, IBM are great. HP is awful.

 

[Huskerguy]

Question for the experts on Dells. I had a desktop many years ago and wanted to add some RAM. My tech guy at the school I was at was telling me how inexpensive it was. Turns out Dell was using some propritery RAM and it was really expensive. I have steered away from Dell ever since.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Many things you ought not buy used. One is computers . . .

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Question for the experts on Dells. I had a desktop many years ago and wanted to add some RAM. My tech guy at the school I was at was telling me how inexpensive it was. Turns out Dell was using some propritery RAM and it was really expensive. I have steered away from Dell ever since.

I searched the Internet regarding this question. Apparently Dell has utilized this practice. I would contact Dell Sales prior to a purchase and ask this specific question.

For many years I have visited the Dell website, looked up the Dell Part Number (DPN) for my Dell, then visited the Amazon website and obtained the Dell RAM that I needed. I have never had a post-installation performance problem.

Unless the designs have changed, RAM chips (boards) need to be replaced or installed in pairs. There are usually four RAM board slots on a system board.

Bill

 

[Dave_n]

I have been very happy with Dell. Don't mess with used machines, since new laptops start at about the same price. As noted above, you need to decide what you are going to do with the computer since that makes a difference in what size screen to buy, hard drive size, what software you need, etc. With a new computer, you will have several options for warranties, but price is affected you will need to decide how much you want to pay. It is not so much the whether the computer will break, but how good the software support service works.

Today, I would recommend the lowest base model and add what options you need. The Inspiron 15" or 17" 3000 Laptop is faster than a top of the line laptop from 5 years ago and unless you are a power user, no need for more speed. I would shy away from Walmart and chain store HPs and obscure Asian computers like Asus, Acer, Evoo, etc.

Asus and Acer are the producers of most of the laptops sold under various names. Likewise, Lenovo is the renamed IBM that was sold to the PRC around 10 or so years ago. Personally I have a 5 year old Asus that tuns rings around comparable HP and Dell laptops. Dave_n

 

[GaryS]

There are different levels of Win10 between Pro and S. I have the "Home" version and it does everything I need.

Wow! I just discovered Windows 10S. It's scary! It looks like I'm going to have to get Windows 10 Pro if I want to run any software not purchased from the "Company Store".

 

[armadillo]

For web surfing and reading email, I found that a Chromebook is all you need. I got one for my wife first because she kept getting viruses on my desktop. With the Chromebook - if anything goes wrong you just hit 4 keys and it reverts to the factory settings.

Mine even has a HDMI port so we can watch livestreamed stuff on my big screen TV.

We only use a real computer for word processing now days.

 

[Ogandydancer]

Just my two cents worth but I would stay away from anything with an Athelon/AMD processor. Regular Intel not intel Celeron is what I am currently shopping for and, looking hard at the Lenovos. I also agree with not trying to upgrade anything to Win. 10 from 7 or 8.1. As far as this s version goes I am unfamiliar with what it is. I only use my windows laptops for my amateur radio stuff, everything else I use is Apple.

 

[glowe]

Question for the experts on Dells. I had a desktop many years ago and wanted to add some RAM. My tech guy at the school I was at was telling me how inexpensive it was. Turns out Dell was using some propritery RAM and it was really expensive. I have steered away from Dell ever since.

That is not a question, it is your opinion. That may be true or not, but buy what you need up front and never worry about RAM. Today, I doubt that computers ever need RAM upgrades.

My experience with Dell is that every Dell computer I owned ran until Windows quit supporting, starting with Windows 95. I only owned one Lenovo and it did not last. Both hardware and software gave me more problems than the laptop was worth and was the shortest life computer I ever owned.

The big minus for me about Best Buy, Walmart, etc. is that you have to buy the configuration that these stores offer. No custom builds, and they never seem to have what I needed so that is a huge advantage with companies like Dell and Lenovo. Go online, add or remove what you need, pick your protection plan from the several options available, place the order, and you will be happy with your purchase.

Just curious how many remember the "Holstein Cow" computer - Gateway?

 

[rwsmith]

.........

Just curious how many remember the "Holstein Cow" computer - Gateway?

They started building computers in a barn, hence the cow spotted boxes.

 

[gmarshall99]

Am I the only Apple Mac user on this forum? I have a Mac mini, software updates are frequent and always free, comes with its office suite software, and talks to my iPhone, iPad and shares photos, texts and emails.

Costs a bit more but I think its worth it. Left the windows world 4 years ago and haven't looked back.

 

[Ogandydancer]

That is not a question, it is your opinion. That may be true or not, but buy what you need up front and never worry about RAM. Today, I doubt that computers ever need RAM upgrades.

My experience with Dell is that every Dell computer I owned ran until Windows quit supporting, starting with Windows 95. I only owned one Lenovo and it did not last. Both hardware and software gave me more problems than the laptop was worth and was the shortest life computer I ever owned.

The big minus for me about Best Buy, Walmart, etc. is that you have to buy the configuration that these stores offer. No custom builds, and they never seem to have what I needed so that is a huge advantage with companies like Dell and Lenovo. Go online, add or remove what you need, pick your protection plan from the several options available, place the order, and you will be happy with your purchase.

Just curious how many remember the "Holstein Cow" computer - Gateway?

I believe Acer bought them out.

 

[jdh]

Am I the only Apple Mac user on this forum? I have a Mac mini, software updates are frequent and always free, comes with its office suite software, and talks to my iPhone, iPad and shares photos, texts and emails.

Costs a bit more but I think its worth it. Left the windows world 4 years ago and haven't looked back.

No. 13" Macbook Air, 20" iMac, 27" iMac, still have the old 27" iMac for a back up. Won't even start on the iPads and Iphones around the place.

 

[mick1213]

I been pleased with the Lenovo laptops but I have no use for any of the Windows os since XP. My Lenovo has Linux Mint loaded, no fuss, no worries with it.

 

[JM4151]

Computers!

I bought an Acer Chromebook 15, two years ago and have not had any problems with it. Only use it for E mails, facebook, and U tube. My son is a school teacher and this is what his school district issues to all the students. Not as easily prone to virus's either.

 

[7tenz]

Am I the only Apple Mac user on this forum? I have a Mac mini, software updates are frequent and always free, comes with its office suite software, and talks to my iPhone, iPad and shares photos, texts and emails.

Costs a bit more but I think its worth it. Left the windows world 4 years ago and haven't looked back.

Nope your not the only one. Consider the free updates and upgrades of the OSs it is a bargain compared to Windows that cost, what, $1-200?

I'm actually using an 8yo Toshiba Windows 7 right now for Internet only because of it's 17" screen. I use the smaller Mac laptops (12' and 13") when this one won't handle something and for portability.

Check out the new Macs. Going back to RISC with the M1 proc. My next one when my current Intels are toast.

 

[chief38]

My advise:

1) UNLESS you are TRULY going to travel with your Laptop - buy a Desktop instead! They are less expensive, have more memory, are faster, have bigger screens, and just all around better computers.

2) Get an iMac - not a PC. Just going by my own 30 year experience with both. The iMac is more costly up front - but won't cost nearly as much down the road in repairs and or frustration.

 

[glowe]

Nope your not the only one. Consider the free updates and upgrades of the OSs it is a bargain compared to Windows that cost, what, $1-200? . . .

Not sure where you get your information, but in the last twenty five years, I have never paid a dime for updates on my Windows machines. All I know is that Apple products are priced well above most Windows products.

I had iPads and Apple phones, but always had a home based Windows PC and had to switch due to the lack of compatibility. I can simply plug my android phone into my PC and add or download images, documents by simple drag and drop. Same with my Samsung tablets. Simplify is my goal, and I will always have a home PC for storage and security, so no more Apple products for me.

Oh, almost forgot that Apple quit providing updates for my iPad a couple years ago and rendered it useless!

 

[oink]

A word of caution about potential laptop upgrades. Many if not most laptops are not ram upgradable. The ram is soldered in and there are no empty slots. Also, increasingly the SSD hard drives are PCIE which are currently more expensive. I'm not sure if anybody is soldering those in too but probably.

My experience with Dell support has not been good.

I recently bought a Lenovo ThinkPad T490. The ram is soldered in but it does have an empty slot. It does have a 500GB PCIE HD. It's doesn't have the fold over tablet capability (it will fold flat) but it does have a touch screen, a touch pad and a tracking stick, which I like. Lenovo support has been good the one time I've unfortunately had to use it (improperly installed touchpad). It is a Chinese owned company which I really don't like. Unfortunately I do like the ThinkPad layout.

On my previous Dell I upgraded the ram (from 4 to 8) and the HD to a SSD and from Win 8 to 10. The sound card has always been junk and Dell never fixed that. Otherwise it has lasted since 2006. It now crashes regularly but passes all scans, bios or virus. However, all of the upgrades worked fine when done years ago.

Don't expect to get a cheap laptop and upgrade it. It may not be upgradable. Check first, if you can find someone with a brain. Internet research may be required. Buy a new computer. I bought my new Lenovo direct from Lenovo as none of the stores carried or could get a model I wanted.

 

[pasound]

I currently have a Lenovo laptop, purchased two years ago at Best Buy on a Black Friday sale. Came with W10, and has smoothly upgraded each new W10 version. No problems, and it gets daily use, both at home, and work. Previously I had an ASUS. It lasted nearly 10 years, and was upgraded from XP to Win7 to W10 without a problem. Screen finally failed, so I bought the Lenovo. I administer over 40 laptops at work, mostly for public use in our museum and classroom. The first group were HP's, running Win7, and many limped along over the five years we kept them. The new batch are Dell's, and are all about 1 1/2 years old. Several seem to run their batteries down without being turned on. Both these sets were from Statewide contracts with the companies. I personally would stay away from both brands.