Laptop/Netbook Questions.....What to buy?

[PackinMama]

I'm thinking about buying a laptop or netbook and I have a couple questions. I figured that some of the more tech savvy members here could help me out.

I want a portable computer mainly to surf the net and to back up my pictures. I'd also like to be able to download files to transfer to my home pc. I want one that will be able to pick up Wi-Fi signals at places like McDonalds and the like since I can't get high speed here at home. However, I'd also like to be able to use it at home if I want to......so I need one that also has a modem for a dial up connection. I'd really like to have a DVD player/burner too....but, I could do without it I suppose if it meets all the other requirements. I guess I could use a jump drive for transferring and saving data if it doesn't have a DVD, right?

I see that most of the little netbooks don't have a DVD, but I can't tell and don't know if they have a modem for a dial up connection. The advantages I see with the netbooks is that the battery life is much longer than most of the bigger laptops......so I could use it for longer periods of time when I'm out at the Wi-Fi spots. Another advantage is that they can be had for around $300 or less.

I did see a Compaq laptop at Walmart for $348 that seems nice.....except that the life of the battery is only a couple hours. I suppose I could get an extra battery.....

So, mainly I'd like to know:

#1- Can the netbooks connect to the net via dial-up as well as pick up Wi-Fi signals?

#2- What sould I look for when I go shopping for one? (Brand, processor, etc.)

#3- Does anyone know of any really good deals out there right now? I'd like to keep it under $400. I don't need anything fancy or lightning fast (remember, I'm used to dial up), I just want it to work good for surfing the net and storing pictures.

Thanks!

[Il Duce]

I have this one and it does all of the above. also, the netbooks dont have the dvd drive as they are too small and they are awfully slow as well.

i got it at the time with a bag, a microsoft wireless mouse and a 4gb flashdrive for 432 out the door.

Acer - Aspire Laptop with AMD Athlon Single-Core Processor - AS5532-5535

[TGO David]

I'd shop around and find someone wanting to sell previous-generation MacBook, as you'll probably find one for not a whole lot more than you're wanting to spend on an underpowered Windows netbook. I've seen the last generation (silver key, aluminum body) MacBook Pros going for under $800 in some auctions.

I'm a Windows guy 8am - 5pm M-F but I'm a diehard Mac fan after hours. It's nice to have a laptop that just freakin' works without constantly screwing around with bad apps and malware.

[Guest 73challenger]

So, mainly I'd like to know:

#1- Can the netbooks connect to the net via dial-up as well as pick up Wi-Fi signals?

Thanks!

I do not think any netbook has a modem anymore. The only alternative would be to use a USB modem like this.

[enfield]

My son-in-law has an ASUS Linux netbook. It's sitting on my desk now, fried during a BIOS upgrade. It'll have to go back to ASUS for repair. It's a common problem with ASUS netbooks. Let the buyer beware.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I have never gone the Mac Book route but everyone I know who has them likes them.

Compact is now HP's cheap version.

I am a Toshiba man for laptops and this is my second with two HP's that bit the dust in about two years, in between the two and the first Toshiba is still running....it was just before the days of burning CD's and watching movies on laptops.

I would look into the Toshiba Satellite version. I paid about 500 for this one and it does all you describe....just no more floppy drive. It has a 350 gig hard drive and a 2.2 duo core processor.

The bigger the hard drive (storage) and the faster the processor the happier you will be.

If you gotta have a net book radio shack usually has them super cheap with a two year deal with ATT&T that would allow you access to the internet anywhere anytime (supposedly). They were just way too small and slow for me and the monthly access was IIRC around $70 a month with taxes and fees and such.

Go check out some Toshibas....I think you will be much happier than with a net book.

And again I know nothing about Mac's except most people like them.

EDIT: This one has a 9 cell battery rather than the normal six cell....it gives me 6-8 hours worth but after a year it is starting to be a little less, but I dont use it on battery much anyway.

Edited May 15, 2010 by Sgt. Joe

[PackinMama]

I do not think any netbook has a modem anymore. The only alternative would be to use a USB modem like this.

Cool! Thanks for that link. That would solve the problem then if I decide to get a netbook.

That would also be handy in case the modem on my home pc ever failed.

[PackinMama]

I'd shop around and find someone wanting to sell previous-generation MacBook, as you'll probably find one for not a whole lot more than you're wanting to spend on an underpowered Windows netbook. I've seen the last generation (silver key, aluminum body) MacBook Pros going for under $800 in some auctions.

I'm a Windows guy 8am - 5pm M-F but I'm a diehard Mac fan after hours. It's nice to have a laptop that just freakin' works without constantly screwing around with bad apps and malware.

I would like a Mac if I had that much to spend, but $400 is my limit right now. I remember using them when I was in college and I liked them. I know they're way more dependable and harder to screw up. Maybe the next home pc will be a Mac.

[PackinMama]

I have never gone the Mac Book route but everyone I know who has them likes them.

Compact is now HP's cheap version.

I am a Toshiba man for laptops and this is my second with two HP's that bit the dust in about two years, in between the two and the first Toshiba is still running....it was just before the days of burning CD's and watching movies on laptops.

I would look into the Toshiba Satellite version. I paid about 500 for this one and it does all you describe....just no more floppy drive. It has a 350 gig hard drive and a 2.2 duo core processor.

The bigger the hard drive (storage) and the faster the processor the happier you will be.

If you gotta have a net book radio shack usually has them super cheap with a two year deal with ATT&T that would allow you access to the internet anywhere anytime (supposedly). They were just way too small and slow for me and the monthly access was IIRC around $70 a month with taxes and fees and such.

Go check out some Toshibas....I think you will be much happier than with a net book.

And again I know nothing about Mac's except most people like them.

EDIT: This one has a 9 cell battery rather than the normal six cell....it gives me 6-8 hours worth but after a year it is starting to be a little less, but I dont use it on battery much anyway.

Walmart had a good deal on a Toshiba....I think it was $398. I'm going back there tonight and I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads up on HP and Compaq!

Anyone know how the Dell laptops are? I have a line of credit with them....I could get one and make payments I supppose.

[TGO David]

I don't like Dell anything. Every IT shop I've been a part of has used them at one point or another and eventually switched to something else. Dell's laptops are notorious for LCD and hard drive failures.

[kb4ns]

I don't like Dell anything. Every IT shop I've been a part of has used them at one point or another and eventually switched to something else. Dell's laptops are notorious for LCD and hard drive failures.

I swore off Dell years ago after receiving the not-so-helpful "assistance" of "Bill, George, and Bob" in Pakistan. Of course, now a days, that's probably all you'll get from any company's tech support.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I don't like Dell anything. Every IT shop I've been a part of has used them at one point or another and eventually switched to something else. Dell's laptops are notorious for LCD and hard drive failures.

Ditto that and every single Dell or Compact that was taken to Iraq crashed within a month or two.

I had my HP then and kept it covered when I was gone from the room, I couldnt convince the young guys that that stupid sand got so small it came thru the walls and thus all their computers bit the dust (pun intended;))

[gnmwilliams]

Here's the thing about today's computers. Brand, to an extent, means nothing anymore. Yes there are different speeds and different storage capacities, but an Intel processor is an Intel and an AMD is an AMD. What makes a computer different or "better" is how well the parts are all put together and how helpful their product support is. I worked for CompUsa for 8 1/2 years and saw many many different brands and models come through our doors. "Brand" meant nothing to us. One month we'd have a bad run of Toshibas, but than all of a sudden, the Sony's, the pride and joy of the computer world at the time, would start having battery problems. And i'll even admit that Mac's havent been perfect either. Better than most, but certainly not a perfect track record. Personally, I think the netbooks are a little underpowered, even for photos and basic web browsing. Look for something with at least 2gb of ram and a decent sized hard drive. That's what photos will eat up, storage space. Windows 7 would also be a good choice to have. Look in Sunday ads for some good deals. Shopping purely by brand is a hit or miss game these days. Some brands will have a good run one month and turn around and sell pieces of poo the next. Sometimes even the same model numbers will have a bad pallet or two from the warehouse and the next be perfectly fine. Type in the models you're looking at into a website called www.cnet.com and see what they have to say about them. Oh and www.newegg.com has some great deals on refurbished laptops with warranties still on them.

Edited May 15, 2010 by gnmwilliams

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

IMHO.

I've sold computers for about three years now, and we have the Dell and HP "Netbooks" as they call them, personally, I am a Mac fan.. Have a MacBook and have loved it since the first time I opened the screen, it's amazing. But on the Netbook topic: 99.99% of them have the Intel "Atom" Processor. This, I have been told by all reps (Dell, HP, and even Intel) is by far the lowest grade processor Intel makes and they have to put it in them to keep the price low. Honestly, I've played around with the Netbooks and seen that they do well for just surfing the net (sometimes) and even playing cards on them, but if you get any type of anything on them, its going to slow them way, way down.

Advice from above that was good: Find a older generation iBook or something and try that out... If you go that route, you'll end up buying a Mac. I never thought I would like one, and thought that $1200 was "too expensive" for a computer, but ever since I bought it I realized that the $1200 I spent on this will be the only thing I spend on a computer for a while, unless I buy the Magic Mouse.

All in all, the netbooks are good for what they say they are "Net" and that's about it. If you're looking for a good, reliable second laptop that you can carry around smaller and going to do anything but surf the net on them, I'd look the other way.

This phrase goes with everything now-a-days, but ESPECIALLY with computers: "You get what you pay for"

[Guest 1817ak47]

the small ones have smalller keyboards thattned to be difficult to use, lack of cd/dvd drive means buying a external of some type. do you have a spare internal cd/dvd drive around. if so you can get a usb adapter to use a internal one as a external. from my exp with hp and compaqs is that they have alot of software that is very annoying, though very appealing to those who know little to nothing about using computers.

[Guest 1817ak47]

not sure about dell laptops, but there desktops are used in alot of call centers, and college campuses and are very reliable and rarely have a hardware failure. I was at pellisippi in the cad course for 2 years. and spent alot of time in front of computers and used them almost every day there.

[Guest db99wj]

Check with Abailey362, he manages an HHGregg. He might be able to find what you want at a good price.

[Guest dboonekilledabearhere]

I am not a WalMart fan but I did my my wife an Acer laptop from them that has worked very well. Check out the Toshiba and Acer links below.

Walmart.com: Toshiba Black 11.6" Satellite T115D-S1125 Laptop PC with AMD Athlon Neo X2 Dual-Core Processor & Windows 7 Home Premium: Computers

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-AS5517-5358/14006092

[Erik88]

I have a Toshiba satellite that rocks! I think they can meet your budget too

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I have a Toshiba satellite that rocks! I think they can meet your budget too

P238's and Toshiba's....what a combo ehh?

[TGO David]

You know, I don't know why I didn't think about this sooner but I've actually got a new Samsung netbook that I won at a conference a while back. I loaded it up with XP rather than the stripped down Windows 7 Starter that came on it.

I could probably be persuaded to sell it for a reasonable price. I originally thought I'd just use it when I was on-call, but keep carrying my full-size laptop that work issued me instead.

[PackinMama]

David, I sent you a pm.

[Guest mistwalker]

Only real question is: do you have access to 24hr, round-the-clock free tech support? If answer is no, and you want a computer that actually works - then only purchase an Apple Maintosh.

If you love pain, heartache, constant frustration, endless virus attacks and don't mind having an expensive "door-stop" that never really works, then buy any PC running Microsoft Windows.

[kb4ns]

If ... you want a computer that actually works - then only purchase an Apple Maintosh.

If you love pain, heartache, constant frustration, endless virus attacks and don't mind having an expensive "door-stop" that never really works, then buy any PC running Microsoft Windows.

We're headed towards dangerous territory here.

We have enough "debates" going on TGO between the "Glock vs 1911" and "OC vs CC" longstanding disagreements.

[PackinMama]

I can't speak for Dell's laptops, but I've had Dell desktops for years. The one I have now is six years old and is still running great. I've never had it in the shop and just recently got a virus that I was able to take care of with a system restore. I run Windows XP pro. The one I had before this one was a lot of trouble though. It ran Windows ME and I absolutely hated it. That's got to be the worst Windows version ever released. That pc was in the shop more than it was home it seemed.