I am actually very close to buying a new laptop as well. There is a bit of a difference in our circumstances though. I require a Mac for my job and my desktop computers are both Windows PC's. So at the moment I am looking at a MacBook Pro as well.

Now... here is the question, "If the money buying the laptop was mine and not work's, would I still buy a MacBook Pro?"

No.

I would not buy any Apple computer if it were my own personal money being spent.

What would I buy?

I would be looking at a Dell, Samsung, Lenovo or Asus. Most likely Dell. I have a relationship with the company through work that makes servicing easier. If I didn't have that relationship then Samsung, Lenovo or Asus would be equally good choices. I would avoid HP, Toshiba, and Gateway. Don't get me wrong, they are ok computers, I just don't especially care for their style or support methods. Oh and HP sucks.

One other reason I like Dell is because I always want a warranty on a mobile computer. I drop them and break them. Accidental care is a requirement for me.

If you are interested I'll pull specs if you provide a general budget and describe what you want to use the computer for (specifics).

I would like to take a moment to explain some things that have happened in Dell's history and why I am willing to do business with them even if they charge a few extra bucks.

Back in 2003-2005 dell got into a lot of trouble. There was a large shipment of bad capacitors that hit just about every major computer vendor. Instead of owning up to it immediately, Dell tried to sweep it under the rug. Well, they got caught. They were reamed out by the industry and received a bad name for a long time. Large fuckups like that and having poor marketing problems such as Ben Curtis tarnished the name of the company. Dell never did any damage control and ultimately pretended like it never happened.

Now they actually have decent products, but they no longer offer the lowest prices. Their consumer business does well, but no where near as well as it would if they managed their PR nightmares.

I work with the company regularly on the Business side of things and in turn I also work with their Home division. They have a system that you need to understand or you will pay a premium, however if you can figure out how shopping at BestBuy works, you can understand Dell. Get coupons, wait for deals, and don't buy in a pinch. They have the easiest warranty to work with out of any company and if you are like me and break your shit often, then that matters.

Syd Lexia wrote:

You know, it makes me furious to know that you, an expert in tech, would recommend a Dell. My sister came very close to buying a Dell, and getting a free XBox 360 with it, but my mother did "research", which probably involved little more than asking the dried up old hags and various milquetoast twenty-somethings she works what kind of computers they liked, and "learned" that Dells are "bad". My brother, his girlfriend, and I all said Apples suck, but no! Mom's bullshit "research" trumped all that because my sister is a naive kid who is easily manipulated by female authority figures. So my sister ended up paying $300 for a lame computer that didn't come with a free bonus XBox 360. Fucking A. Also, what do you know about the Windows Phone 7? I need to get a new phone sooner or later (probably sooner) and I'm down on Apple these days.

I had to reread that first paragraph because you had me going at first.

As for a phone, I bought a smart phone this past spring. I got an Android and I absolutely love it. I have friends and family that have iPhones, and honestly, while some Apps are more polished than Android ones, the phones are no longer technology leaders in their field. Apple is stagnating their phones just like they do with their computers. It is brilliant marketing if you want to make a lot of money, however it isn't the smartest investment for a consumer. In any case, I can tell you that Android is fantastic.

Microsoft missed the boat with Windows Phone 7... but that wasn't the point of Windows Phone 7. Let me clear this up. Microsoft is planning to make their OS more like a phone. Windows Phone 7 is their first step. Windows 8 is going to look more like Windows Phone 7 than Windows 7.

There are pros and cons to this move, we can start a topic about it when the beta is released and it is no longer speculation.

Hacker wrote:

GPFontaine wrote: Oh and HP sucks. I could be saying this because my uncle does some software and hardware engineering for HP but, I like HP's. Once you get all the crap they load onto it before they ship them off they are decent computers. But on the other hand Dell does have a great online support system and finding drivers from the Dell website is the easiest out of all the major computer manufacturers. HP's a bit more of a pain in the ass. When it comes down to HP and Dell either way you need to be able to spend a decent chunk before you get to a good laptop.

Read the business section of a news paper or just search online.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/29/us-hp-pc-idUSTRE77S6FR20110829

Can we now agree that HP is just not a good idea? I mean, if they can't figure out what they are doing with their computers, why would you invest in them?

Schnitzel,

Knyte's two choices are very good options.

Asus is famous for being a motherboard manufacturer. In recent history they have established a good laptop business that is well priced, innovative and powerful.

Newegg is an excellent distributor and has great customer service. You should look into an accidental coverage warranty if you feel like you might ever be clumsy.