laptop PC

[Texas Diesel]

Anyone have a favorite site to buy a laptop? I dont want a portable CRAY computer just something cheap to enable me to get access to my email while travelling and to hook my GPS into (serial).



TIA

 

[Dbonzi]

Texas Diesel

I hate to say it but, as with everything you get what you pay for.

I'm not exactly sure what a cray system is but, if it is cheap, that is what your going to get. Sometimes it works out fine but, most of the time you'll pay for it in the end.

Dennis

 

[Powder Extreme]

I've owned several laptops, the last few being Dell. They are a little pricier but the quality is definitely there. Toshiba also makes a nice product, a friend has one, no problems so far. You oughta be able to get a pretty nice Dell for right around $1,000 not exactly cheap but a couple zeros less than a cray



Jerry

 

[jbone]

Just bought newer desktop for home on U-bid, you can find them on MSN... . kind of like E-bay, but little easier... . check out for day or two before bidding... ... ... ... R, J. B.

 

[billr]

I bought a HP Pavilion laptop from HP online. They're pretty good and HP has some good prices on refurbished ones. Better prices than I could find on Dell.

 

[KPhillips]

Hey TD,



If you just want one for email and GPS, there is a place in Austin that sells used laptops pretty cheap..... I can't remember the dang name right now though... . you could get a used one thats still pretty quick with alot of RAM and storage for probably half the price of a new one... look in the Austin phone book... if you want new, go Dell they are good, thats what I'm typing on now...



kerryp

Bastrop, TX

 

[LSMITH]

I agree with Powder Extreme, and I have had 5 laptops. First, DO NOT buy a COMPAQ!!!!! They are junk and nothing but junk, out of 10 in the office they all died but one in 2 years and Compaq support is horrible. The batteries only charged on 3 of them right out of the box, and Compaq would not stand behind them. Toshiba is a good brand, I have owned one of them and it was a solid unit. Never had any trouble in over 2 years with it. I have had one Sager, they are nice units too. Great prices for the performance, but large and heavy. The only other down for the Sager is the software they come with, basically just an OS and that is it. If you have the software already you are set. I have had 2 Dells now and they are great, support has been OK but not great. Good prices too when you factor in the software bundles if you don't own it already. Gateway laptops have been solid from what I have seen, I know several people with them.



I would suggest a Dell or a Toshiba for a reliable economical laptop.

 

[dewdo]

I have an older Toshiba (166mhz) that I take with me on trips in the trailer or camper to use the GPS as well as checking E-mail along the route. It works well for my purpose, but the biggest drawback is shen the sun is shining into the cab. It washes out. I have the CO-Pilot brand of GPS.



Co-pilot says in their software that there might be some incorrect fixes which there are! When we travel we prefer to use the secondary roads or what some people call "the blue roads. "

On a recent trip from Seattle to Panama City, FL we encountered many problems with their software.



We came across many roads that were not in the system as well as stretches of freeways that weren't. Some of them were new or had been changed, but most apperared to be several years old. I guess I need to update to a newer software package.



I was wondering if another software package (poiisbly Magellan)would be compitable with my Co-Pilot antennae?



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[jweir]

Texas Diesel,



If you buy new, be sure to check and see if it has a DB 9 serial port for your GPS... a lot of the new ones don't.



Jim

 

[bighammer]

I just got my HP Pavilion from Sam's Club Online. It's got Windows XP (home ed) AMD Duron 1. 1G with 384 MB RAM and DVD ROM, 56k modem, 10/100 card etc. for $950. Might not be the best machine, but it seems like the best deal I've seen. I'd avoid buying the top of the line computer stuff because it changes so rapidly.



This thing rocks!

 

[Steve M]

That's funny... We have two Compaq laptops with Compaq wireless router and pci cards. They both work great. Our HP desktop and HP laptop has also been good units. My wife has three Compaq desktops at her place of employment. No trouble there either.

The guys over at the Ford site say Dodges are junk too. We've had seven of them in the family and they've all been great.

Am I that lucky?

 

[LSMITH]

Steve, I have not had trouble with the Compaq desktops. The laptops were used in a commercial/industrial setting. Use was not abusive though. What can I say, they all died! This was about 2 years ago that the last ones left. I hope they are better now.



BTW, I do have terrible luck. If it is gonna break it will break when I have it.

 

[wrk2mtch]

We buy only Toshiba laptops at work and we've never had a problem. The one Compaq that we have is junk (but it is our only one).



If you buy a used one make sure you get one with an active matrix (TFT) screen. The pasive ones are hard to see.



Dell and IBM also have excellent products. Check the manufactuers websites for reman's for the best prices.



Happy shopping!

 

[dmurdock]

the place in austin is called Mr. notebook





http://www.mrnotebook.com/

 

[KPhillips]

dmurdock is correct,



I looked Mr. Notebook up last night and was gonna post it, but he beat me to it. . . .



they seem to have some pretty decent prices, I've thought about buying one for my rig for GPS.



From what I have heard, you can flip the screen in some units so you can mount the unit upside down like on the cab roof and drop the screen to see it, and then flip it back up when not in use.



I haven't looked into this much yet, but its what I was planning eventually for my Jeep (buying a cheapo unit and converting it for just a GPS unit).



kerryp

Bastrop, Tx

 

[SLindblom]

Compaq

I have and don't like a Compaq presario 1277. It is durable enough, it rides with me in the truck (over the road Pete) all the time, but the Compaq system itself I don't like. I'm not a techie, probably could have someone fix the problems with it, but haven't. (easier to cuss the darkness than light a match???)



I don't access email while on the road, I could but don't. But I have a map and a routing program I use a lot, plus I play games when I'm laid over, to make the time go by.



This one is 3 years old now, and when it dies, I will not buy another compaq.



My $. 02,

Scott