Question:
Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
I need some help finding a laptop for my parents. I am experienced with desktops, but have never owned a laptop. My parents have owned several, but are hesitant to buy another because all of them died by the power connector breaking, and the repair proposed was replacing the main board which, of course, was not practical. There are no techs that actually fix stuff anymore and they can't fix it themselves. Have any laptop manufacturers made a power connector that fixes this problem? Or do they gleefully continue to make them the same way to force people to buy new ones? This was his main concern to me. I will paste and edit the questions from the sticky so you guys can help me better.
1) What size notebook would you prefer?
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
2) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
email, web, ms office, quickbooks pro.
3) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
home and office back and forth semi-daily
4) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
not all all.
5) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
no preference, but believe Sony is overpriced.
6) How many hours of battery life do you need?
average acceptable (I really don't know much about this)
7) What is your budget?
($750-$1400) how much do I need to spend?
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
no
9) What country are you buying this in?
USA
Screen Specifics
10) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
XGA is fine
11) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
does not matter
Build Quality and Design
12) Are the notebook’s looks and stylishness important to you?
no
13) How long do you want this laptop to last?
4 years or more
Notebook Components
14) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
80-100gig
15) Do you need a DVD, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-R drive?
some kind of burner needed for backup, archive, DVD would be nice.
Also, he wants half a gig for several programs to run smoothly at the same time.
Thanks all for the help. He has asked me for help with this and I'm afraid I just don't know enough to help. I build my own computers except for the last time, when it was cheaper to buy one.
Answer:
Re: Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
The Compaq V4000 or the HP dv4000 would both make nice fits. The Compaq will be cheaper than its HP counterpart.
Answer:
Re: Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
It looks like a ThinkPad R50E would be a nice choice. Great quality, and the best keyboards around. ThinkPad's are really reliable.
You can get one for under $1,000 easily. Upgrading the RAM aftermarket will save you money. ;)
Answer:
Re: Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
I know this exceeds your spending limit, but given that your parents have broken the power connector on three notebooks, I thought I would recommend the Apple MacBooks, which come with:MagSafe Connector
Mobile users will love the new power adapter featuring the MagSafe Connector — a magnetic DC plug that both ensures a tight connection and enables a clean break from the power port when there is undue tension. It prevents the MacBook Pro from being pulled off of a desk when the cord is accidentally tripped over, and it protects the power cord from wear and tear.
See: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...clm=MacBookPro
Of course, maybe it makes more sense to wait until another notebook maker incorporates this feature. Since Asus makes Apple notebooks, I would keep an eye out for them to include it also.
Answer:
Re: Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Please keep em coming, I will look into all these today or tomorrow with more questions if I have any.
So it seems apple is the only one that has solved this problem? No one has answered the question if any other manufacturer has made a more durable power port other than general reliability. It figures apple solved it. They are the only computer company that cares about customer loyalty. I guess this is one way they earn it. I like apple products, but after using PC's for years, there is no way we can turn our computing worlds upside down and convert to apple. You'd never get an apple user to go PC, would you?
Answer:
Re: Help me find a laptop for my folks (power connector killed last three!!)
Well, with the new Intel-based Apples now out, I think you'll find Apples that can also boot into WinXP in the near future. But I digress.