Looking for Laptop help

[Giant Flying Head]

My mother is looking to buy a laptop for traveling purposes. Since I'm really terrible with laptops I no idea where to send her looking for a well priced one. So if any of you guys have any suggestions, please post. Thanks.

[Video_Master]

just get a Dell.

[hakksaww]

word. I would caution against a UMPC (those little sexy slim ones that all the noobs flock to). they are a pain in the ass for moms and such (all accessories are dongles, 900 bits and pieces, etc.).

[crazydog]

Those little PCs are stupid. They cost a few $100, and are just terrible computers.

15" isn't too big to carry around, and I agree, go buy a Dell. That's what I did.

If you can find a good refurbished one, go for it. That's what I did.

[TE | Hypo]

15 inchers are great for travelling and usually have enough USB slots for at least a mouse and a drive if she needs to do pictures/transfers etc. 

DELL makes the LATITUDE which is a business class machine at 15"  which is what I make all my engineers use.

[crazydog]

Just don't buy a 17". Those things are beasts. Imagine carrying around a abnormally thick 17" LCD monitor.

[hakksaww]

the vostro's are the dell consumer line - 8lbs or so - about 12lbs for her to lug around total with a laptop bag. Not horrible, but she might like the slightly lighter corporate deals (lattitudes).

whatver she gets, the most important question to ask her is : What do you want to be able to do with this thing? - then get one that does that. if she burns cd's, umpc's are out, as a "for example".

I have set up friends with Vostro's and without exception they are all happy with the price/ROI.

[Luggage]

I am a big fan of IBM ThinkPad / Lenovo.  Have been using the X60 for a while and it is awesome performance wise, battery (extended I think) lasts 4 hrs plus and it's super-light.  I think they have a newer version out now.

completely agree with hakksaww's point on getting exactly what you need because has a big impact on price/performance and weight with laptops.

[Giant Flying Head]

SHe just want's it for getting on the internet when she's on trips. She does a lot of traveling every summer on her Harley and she just wants an easier way to check e-mail and post vids to you tube. She already has a home computer. Though I think if she get s good lappy she'll just use it at home instead of the PC. She's made it clear hse doesn't have a problem spending the money on a new laptop, she just wants to make sure it's not gonna fall apart on her. Seeing as she'll be packing it the saddle bag of Harely and travling some 10-20,000 km a season.

[Video_Master]

Definately the business class from Dell then.  The Latitude line takes a beating and keeps on ticking.  Also have her get the extended warranty on it so if something does happen Dell will repair it for her.

[TE | Hypo]

and ask her if she prefers nipples or pads.


you dirty boys!  some laptops don't COME with the nipples.  I like nipples.
    

[Giant Flying Head]

Thanks for all the seggestions everyone.

[TX_Bandit]

My advise would be to get a Dell normally BUT, since she is leterally taking it "On the Road" in a Saddle bag on a Harley.

GET A PANASONIC TOUGH BOOK.

We use them at work for all the trucks and they leterally take a beating and keep going. Bouncing around all the time getting stuff spilled on them etc.

If you haul a laptop around on a bike all the time it will need to be tougher than if you are carrying a standard one around in a laptop bag to you car taking a nice short gentle ride to work or whatever and walking to and from the car etc.

It may be more expensive but will pay for itself in reliability and durability.

[TE | Hypo]

I'm with bandit on that...  especially if we're talking cross country adventure trips where you don't ride the smooth highways the whole time...

[Hitman Smurf]

I think you have to take into consideration the large amount of vibration the laptop will be subjected to in the saddlebag of a Harley.

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