What is the best kind of laptop to get?

Question

I'm in Canada again for work and I want to buy a laptop while I'm here. I want to travel with it (all the hotel rooms I stay in have internet access).

I notice yahoo says this question was asked a few months ago but the person asking never said what they wanted it for. So......
I want to do yahoo e-mail, word perfect, download and crop photos from my 2 year old Kodak digital camera, burn photos onto a cd-r and maybe play a music cd with it.
I already have a separate portable dvd player so that's not an issue.

I'd prefer it costs less than $1,000 Canadian because I travel a lot and if it gets broken I don't want to be really bummed out.

I tried a Dell regular computer 2 years ago and had nothing but problems with it.... everything from keyboard supports breaking over and over to hard drive and program problems, monitor problems, a distaster. I won't ever get a Dell again.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The good thing is that you could use any notebook for what you need. You don't need an Apple. They are overpriced (although, I am typing on one right now), and would be more than you need. Anything in the entry-level to mid-grade would work for you. Almost all new notebooks have CD and DVD burners on them, and wireless built in. If you are going to travel a lot, you probably want a small notebook, so it is a bit lighter, although notebooks with a 15.4" screen would only weigh about 6 pounds. Toshiba, HP, and Compaq seem like they would fit the bill. Sony's have some really nice notebooks (and some really light ones), but they tend to be on the expensive side.

Hard drive and RAM really shouldn't be an issue. Since you will be downloading images and music, you might want it on the big side, so you don't have to worry about running out. Most come with about a 60 or 80 GB hard drive, which should be plenty. 512MB of RAM is the most common, but I would recommend upgrading to 1GB if you can. It will make watching DVDs a lot better and smoother.

There is also a new processor out (the Core 2 Duo) that is making computers even faster. The good thing about this is that it will make the notebooks with the Core Duo even cheaper.

If you are going to buy it from a retail store, see if they offer acccidental protection on the notebook in case you drop it or spill something on it. It is extra money, but it does offer piece of mind.

Answer 2

I have owned a few laptop computers, IBM, Dell, and Toshiba laptops. Out of all three of these I have preferred the Toshiba. These are some very rugged little laptops that are very inexpensive to repair. And Toshiba's customer support is very, very knowledgeable! May I suggest if you're looking into getting a new laptop, make sure it's a Windows vista compatible, and comes with a guaranteed upgrade form Windows XP Pro to Windows vista, when this operating system is available.

Answer 3

The Apple Macbook Pro is a nice laptop.

Answer 4

I dont know much about laptops but I use an acer travel mate..Its cheap too..ta

Answer 5

here u r...2.0 ghz cpu is ample for ur basic word processing and photo editing... 1 gb ram ensures that u can run vista...and its HP, which means A+ service and support....

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10080449&catid=20354&PCName=laptop%5F800%5F999&logon=&langid=EN

:)

Answer 6

Have you ever thought of getting a second hand one if it breaks
then there is really little loss as opposed to buying new.......

http://www.123compute.ca/laptops.php3

Answer 7

Toshiba all the way

Answer 8

try getting a Panasonic or sanyo or apple, they are good computers

Answer 9

Sony VAIO.

Answer 10

fujitsu only