I give up

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I have hated my computer pretty much since I got it, but I refused to get a new one because I was determined to get my money's worth. Well, it's been two and a half years, and I frickin' give up. The battery's just died, so I'd have to replace that anyway, it's unbearably slow, it crashes three times a day, and now IT WON'T STOP BEEPING AT ME.

Oh well. It's only money, right? :\

So, oh wise flist, what computer should I buy, and why?

(And if anyone says Dell, I will personally skewer you with a pencil.)

Comments

[sevvy-o.livejournal.com]

I love my Sony Vaio!! It's pricier than other laptops but it's awesome and the warranty policy is awesome (I can break it on purpose and they'll fix it for me). But I would recommend only getting one if you live near a Sony Style store so that you can take it there if something goes wrong. Haha.

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Someone recommended the Sony Vaio the last time I asked about a new computer (lol, maybe it was you!), but at the time, I thought, "Well, that's no cheaper than the Mac!" and so I ended up going with the Dell. However, I've discovered that you get what you pay for, as my old Mac was far superior to this POS, so maybe I should consider the more expensive ones this time around.

It turns out there is a Sony store right nearby, so that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the advice!

[sevvy-o.livejournal.com]

It might have been! I've had mine since August 2007 and my warranty is about to expire this August so it'll be time for a new computer for me too. Yeah, it's definitely not cheap but I think it runs really well and it's a Sony so the picture quality is really good. And mine is white so everyone thinks it's a Mac anyway... hahaha

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Hey, question for you! I've been reading up on the Sony Vaio, and one thing that was mentioned is battery drainage when the computer is asleep or shut down. Have you had that problem at all?

Also, what model do you have? I'm thinking of the CW.

[sevvy-o.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't really know if it drained when the computer was asleep or shut down, BUT I was told when I bought it that it had sucky battery life (around 2 hours when I first bought it...these days it's around 20 minutes). They must have changed the standards to the longer lasting batteries though since the two that you mentioned in the next post have 4 and 8 hours.

I have the CR series (CR-190): http://www.itechnews.net/tag/sony-vaio-cr/ Even the reviews talk about the battery...the other models didn't have that problem if I remember correctly (the boyfriend had a fancier Vaio and his always lasted over 4 hours).

Probably discontinued by now but it was great at the time! Haha I'm due for a new computer this summer so I'll be looking back on these posts for recs. =)

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I think the CW is just a newer version of the CR. They SAY 4 and 8 hours, but I read reviews of the CW series, and they all said that's only if you have it dimmed way down. At normal brightness, the battery lasts 3 hours at best.

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I can't help, sorry, but I will be reading the comments with interest since I just spent an hour today trying to fix my own PC... and I'm typing this in the laptop instead. I might be in the market for a new one myself soon. :-(

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Well, my advice is don't get a Dell, lol.

[ravenholdt.livejournal.com]

I love my HP DV-series!
It cost me 3000 from newegg.com but it came with ADP and 2yr warranty AND its a media workhorse.
Hopelessly outdated and STILL keeping up with the youngins. lol

But like sevvy_o said, HP too makes you mail in for repairs, though last time (free repair), the turn-around was 3 1/2 days from when I put it in the post office to when it came back by Fedex (with ALL my files still in place).

Still...I dunno. Now Im havign 2nd thoughts. LOL
HP can be a bitch, and if you're not Customer Service savvy, and tend to become frustrated easily, you probably wont want to go with them. I find I get treated a little differently because I refuse to accept their noob translations of whats ACTUALLY wrong - and I call them on it when I smell b/s.

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Haha, well, goldenusagi would seem to disagree with you, lol. I have an HP in work and it's generally fine, but I've learned not to rely on that because I had a Dell in work, and THAT was fine, which is why I got a Dell for my personal computer, and that's been nothing but trouble since I bought it. Apparently, my personal uses are more taxing than work.

(I know, I know, stop downloading so much porn, lol.)

Dell

[ravenholdt.livejournal.com]

lol
That porn sure does run a system hot! ;)

Seriously though - I dont buy Dell because they encorporate rather more planned obsolescence than I like in a computer. Its nice to know my Ho wasnt BUILT to fail directly post-warranty.
Many dell users are really really happy with the product, but when I look at the prices all i can think of is how I could rig together my own stabilized system with half the cost...and better graphics....and better processing...sigh

[deird1]

A Mac! They're wonderful! *hugs my Mac*

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Oh, you don't have to tell me twice, lol. I had a Mac for five years and loved it so hard. But they are pretty expensive compared to just about everything else, so I figured I'd toss the question out there and see if anyone knew of something that was a better value.

[silverusagi]

Well, whatever you do, DO NOT buy an HP laptop. I have one and my dad has one, and they both have the exact same problems.

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Heh, duly noted. Just out of curiosity, what types of problems do you have with it?

[silverusagi]

The DVD drive pops out randomly for no reason, the touchpad mouse flickers on and off, and the biggest--the screen has developed lines that will not go away. Mine also sometimes will not come back on from sleeping when you open it, and it randomly restarts itself. None of that "updates are ready for your computer, please restart" crap, but you'll be doing something, and then suddenly you're staring at a black screen and Windows is rebooting.

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Oh, my computer in work does the randomly restarting thing, too. But usually only if I leave it on overnight, not when I'm actually using it. And my laptop (the one I am replacing) used to not come back from sleeping sometimes, but it seems to have fixed itself since it doesn't do it anymore.

Kinda feeling that, but then again...

[ravenholdt.livejournal.com]

Do you have a dv 700-900 series?
Yeah, unfortunately they were built with a manufacturing error.
(I have one too!)

Fortunately, if you havent owned your comp for longer than a year past original warranty, they will fix the problem for FREE. (Wheee!)
If its a diff series...IDK....HP does seem to have issues with the companies they contract to build for them.
Its a cryign shame, because when an HP works, really truely works, its a demon machine.

LOL but when they dont work....oh they put you through hell and a half.

Im wishy washy on the subject of HP. I hate their ignorant customer service...but I love my machine. :D
(Id never buy a touchsmart though - have you SEEN the specs on that thing? Id kill it in under 3 months!)

Re: Kinda feeling that, but then again...

[ravenholdt.livejournal.com]

sry - that was siupposed to read 7000-9000 series. DV special edition or whatever

Re: Kinda feeling that, but then again...

[silverusagi]

Well, we're definitely past a year on the warranty.

I'm sure lots of HPs are good. But having had two and having had bad experiences with both of them just makes me not want to buy an HP ever again, LOL.

Re: Kinda feeling that, but then again...

[ravenholdt.livejournal.com]

Lol - I don't blame you, with that kind of track record.

Love your SN icon, btw - made me almost snarf my coffee. :D

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

I've had good luck with my Dell laptops but I don't really use mine as a laptop. It rarely gets moved from the desk. It moves twice a year, from NYC to Durango, Colorado and back. I think treated that way it has little opportunity to break down.

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I don't really do much to it, either. I hate traveling with it, because it's ENORMOUS. I'll sometimes take it with me to my parents' house, but it's in the car in a case and not getting bumped around. Most of the time, though, I just use it as a desktop in my apartment.

[mikeda.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, what model of Dell did you have?

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Inspiron 1501.

[caromiofic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, most people I've know that got a Dell laptop had some kind of failure/problem. Asus makes a good product, but they have almost no customer service, so if you need to return it, good luck. HP is a rock when it comes to business computer stuff, like servers and printers, but I'm less versed on the laptops. I only use desktops and they're custom built, so....

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I have heard of Asus, but I don't know much about it, which makes me wary.

I pretty much hate buying computers, because it feels like taking a shot in the dark, and maybe you'll get lucky, but you might just as easily have thrown away a lot of money on a piece of crap.

[caromiofic.livejournal.com]

Like I said, they do make a good product. Computer buying is really about research. Search for reviews and see what the percentage of favor is. It's actually really easy to avoid the crap with a bit of research.

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Haha, I've been doing research all day, and I think I've overwhelmed myself with indecision.

[jnb71976.livejournal.com]

Mac all the way. I will never buy a PC/laptop again. The cost is worth it in myriad ways. I have a 3.5-year-old macbook and a 6-month-old imac. Both are excellent darlings of excellence.

[next_to_normal]

Hee! I did love my Mac, way back when. But that computer was also FREE. I just went to the Apple site, and the cheapest model with my specs was $1200. And then I cried a little bit.

But lemme tell you, one more strike and I will be off PCs forever.

[jnb71976.livejournal.com]

Lemme tell ya, I firmly believe you have to spend money on your couch, your bed, and your computer. Anything else can be scrimped. But when it comes to the comfort of your bum, back and the reliability of your second brain... invest invest invest.

I'm sorry you cried with the moneez - :( The world of Mac is a daunting one. I choose to believe there IS NO other computer but Mac. Therefore, the cost can't be compared to anything else. :) It just is what it is.

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Haha! I think I'm going to try the Sony Vaio, which I've heard good things about - even from Mac people - and it's about $300 cheaper. (Actually, probably more like $450, because I'd have to buy Office again for Mac, but I already have it for PC.) But if it turns out badly, I will gracefully accept the I told you so. :)