Please, need serious help with laptop choice. Leaning towards Toshiba.

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>This is our first laptop purchase and we are having a hard time deciding. I know a lot of people here seem to like Apples, but we really are not interested in going there.</p>

<p>We've had Compaq (now basically HP) and Dell desktops, all with problems not long out of the box.</p>

<p>So we are having a hard time deciding on a laptop. </p>

<p>We are considering buy a laptop from our local warehouse club. They've got some interesting offerings, and we are also concerned about the time that it will take to get a laptop here at this point.</p>

<p>Anyhow, we all really liked the feel of the keyboard coating on this Toshiba A305. But of course, we know that should just be a perk, not the deciding factor.</p>

<p>Specs say:</p>

<p>Toshiba® A305 Notebook Computer
15.4" HD LCD display.
Intel® Centrino® T5750 dual-core processor.
4GB RAM.
250GB hard disk drive.
Harman Kardon® speakers.
S-Video output.
Webcam included.
Windows Vista Premium
64 Bit with SPI</p>

<p>Another option at our local club is the Lenova Thinkpad R61. They gave a lot more info, most of which I really do not understand, other than the fact that it has less memory. The Toshiba may have some of this too. Specs are:</p>

<p>Lenovo 7650DHU 15.4" ThinkPad R61i Laptop PC </p>

<p>Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor T23</p>

<p>15.4" WXGA widescreen Active Matrix TFT color LCD with a 1280 x 800 resolution engages you with its clarity</p>

<p>80GB 5,400rpm hard drive</p>

<p>1GB of memory can be expanded to 4GB</p>

<p>Optical drive featuring a DVD writer</p>

<p>Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG Wi-Fi and 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN</p>

<p>Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3ab</p>

<p>IEEE 1394 and 3 USB 2.0 ports</p>

<p>Intel GMA X3100 display</p>

<p>Built-in mono microphone</p>

<p>Security features, including a secure chip, hard disk drive password, power-on password, security lock slot, supervisor password and embedded security subsystem, keep your PC safe</p>

<p>Includes Windows XP Professional operating system</p>

<p>Included Software: Adobe Reader, Diskeeper Home, Microsoft Windows Live Toolbar and Search, Google Picasa, Lenovo Multimedia Center for Think Offerings, PC-Doctor, Norton Internet Security (with 90 days of virus definitions), ThinkPad Utilities (Power Manager and Presentation Director), ThinkVantage Access Connections, ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software, ThinkVantage Productivity Center with Away Manager, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, ThinkVantage System Update (downloadable), ThinkVantage System Migration Assistant</p>

<p>Inputs: 3 USB, 1 microphone, 1 DC power, 1 RJ-11 modem, 1 RJ-45 network, 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire</p>

<p>Outputs: 1 mini phone stereo audio, 1 mini-DIN S-Video
Expansion Slot: CardBus Type II</p>

<p>6-cell lithium-ion battery provides up to 3.5 hours of power on a full charge
Includes laptop computer, lithium-ion battery and AC adapter</p>

<p>Dimensions: 10"l x 14.1"w x 1.2 – 1.4"h</p>

<p>Weight: 5.4 lb.</p>

<p>Warranty: 1 year limited</p>

<p>Last one we were thinking of was an HP dv9913 with a 17" screen, but she really does not feel such a screen is necessary, and I am afraid of getting Compaq/Comcrap.</p>

<p>We didn't seriously look at the Acers, but I think I saw some.</p>

<p>I haven't entirely closed the door on Dell, since we are familiar with them, but I am wary.</p>

<p>We'd really appreciate any opinions. We have been leaning towards the Toshiba, and their are only a limited number of them.</p>

<p>Daughter is not a gamer and not likely to be interested in programming. Will use mostly for schoolwork, surfing, chat.</p>

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<p>what are the cost of both?</p>

<p>Seeing that your daughter isn't a gamer, then she definitely doesn't need any high-end laptops. Pretty much any laptop these days will handle schoolwork, surfing, and chat. I've heard some good things about thinkpads, but toshiba not too sure. </p>

<p>have you considered a sony?</p>

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<p>The price of these are all under $1000, and in the same range, give or take $200.</p>

<p>I could also consider a Sony Vaio NR430, 2 GB Ram, 160GB Hard drive, Intel Dual Core Processor, 15.4" LCD screen. That's cheaper than all of the others, but I really didn't consider it, because you do tend to get what you pay for....</p>

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<p>Go with the Toshiba.</p>

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<p>i agree, i've used a toshiba for over a year and it never created any problems. its sound system and lcd screen are pretty solid as well.</p>

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<p>Get a Lenovo. One on DISCOUNT is the same price and better quality</p>

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<p>i would get Lenovo just for XP Pro...but since it's got a smaller hard drive, in your place i would choose Toshiba. i don't imagine you wanna go poking around inside your laptop. the Toshiba also has better speakers.</p>

<p>Sony as a laptop manufacturer isn't that good. Compaq i hear is ok for laptops. Acer is mediocre, if you want a high-quality one though you'll be paying closer to $2000 for their higher-end models. the only thing I'd buy from Dell is a Latitude.</p>

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<p>ThinkPads are indestructible, in case you're worried about problems with your laptop. I have two that are around 9-ish years old, and they still work fine, albeit w/o the battery and Vista.
My brother owns Toshiba Satellite. He's had it for over a year, and it has not had any defects at all (besides the time I dropped it on the floor and broke its power cord...oops!). The only problem that I've noticed (but it's not specific to our computer) with the Satellite model is overheating. Not sure if this will be an issue in your Toshiba. Read reviews on cnet or notebookreviews to get ideas about flaws and battery life in each of your laptops. I can't speak for Sony VAIOs, though, since I've never owned one.</p>

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<p>Toxic_Waste, if I were willing to install extra memory and a hard drive, would that make you prefer the Thinkpad?</p>

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<p>How are you planning on cramming an extra hard drive into a laptop, unless it's external?</p>

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<p>You can't upgrade hard drives in a laptop? I've never had a laptop, so I do not know. But, yeah, if I can't, an 80 GB hard drive would not be good over the 4 years.</p>

<p>I am kind of worried about her banging around the laptop. She's broken several pairs of glasses being careless. </p>

<p>That Toshiba is pretty though, and seems to have everything. Except maybe it's not as reliable and might not sustain getting banged around?</p>

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<p>^ As far as I know, you can't upgrade hard drives in laptops without some serious voodoo hacking. </p>

<p>As for durability, the laptop that can withstand the cruellest beatings is the Toughbook. Of course, it also costs at minumum $1,600. ThinkPads are generally more durable than Toshibas, as far as I can tell, but then I'm always pretty careful around my computers; I don't drop them or throw books on top of them so I don't know which one would fare better if abused.</p>

<p>Again, read the reviews on cnet and notebookreviews. They might have some general comments on durability and build quality that could help you.</p>

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<p>"But, yeah, if I can't, an 80 GB hard drive would not be good over the 4 years"</p>

<p>I think that 80 Gb is plenty, unless she plans on keeping a huge music/video collection, installing 4+ new games, along with photoshop, 3D max, painter, and other graphics software, and then never cleaning out her hard drive in 4 years of college.</p>

<p>Really, if she's just going to use it for document processing and browsing the web, she'll be fine even with 40 Gb.</p>

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<p>If you're worried about her banging it about, tell her how much it costs, tell her you'll buy her one, and if she kills it through any fault of her own, oh well. No more laptop. Works with me :D</p>

<p>I have a Sony VAIO CR220E that I got on sale at Best Buy (I think it was $900-$1000). It has Vista Home Premium. I haven't had any problems whatsoever. My first laptop purchase was a Compaq. Now, my dad had a Compaq for...something like eight years, and used it constantly. I eventually died (after he gave it to me, wouldn't you know). I love my Compaq, but it began to overheat because I was careless and left it flat on my bed while I was working and the fan died. My school and work schedule didn't allow for the time it would have taken to get the fan fixed, as I was told it needed to be sent away. Not exactly true, as I found out earlier this year after I'd bought my Sony. But really, they're both great computers with great makes, no essential problems that I found.</p>

<p>As for your computer selection... I have a friend who has a ThinkPad and she bangs that thing around like nobody's business. It's lasted two years so far. It had to be repaired for something (hard drive, maybe?) last summer, and she's had issues with wireless internet and speed. She is perpetually defragging, which takes her forever.</p>

<p>Have you actually tried Windows Vista? If not, I would suggest playing around with it at a computer store and compare your experience there to Windows XP Pro. I've worked with both, and I personally love Vista. I've had no issues, either.</p>

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<p>I've tried out a ThinkPad in HS, my school provided students with them when it first opened. Had to return em though. </p>

<p>Anyway weren't thinkpads made by IBM? What's Lenovo? I haven't bought my laptop either, so I'm contemplating getting one- I've heard very good things, but also that the fan can get pretty loud</p>

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<p>I am so absolutely undecided on what to get her.... I have been looking at computers online all day. </p>

<p>I almost bought the thinkpad, but now I'm worried about complaints about thinkpad screens. And maybe I shouldn't get the R61i on sale, but a T61. </p>

<p>Toshiba A305-S6860 can be had today at my local store, but I am worried about Toshiba overheating and that I am sacrificing quality compared to thinkpad. I'm also thinking that it would cost me less using student advantage. Ditto to that for the Thinkpad.</p>

<p>I haven't even looked at the Dells because every dell desktop we've had crashed horribly soon after getting it. But maybe I am being stupid.</p>

<p>My old compaq desktop was horrendous beyond words. Got me a lot of hands on computer training though. </p>

<p>Apples are really out of our price range, but they also turned me off in my own college experience. I didn't find them to be user friendly at all. That was only 10 years ago, and I had extensive computer experience during my business education.</p>

<p>I really want to just stick my head in the sand, but we are leaving town in a week, and if I don't buy or order something, I am terrified I'll be sending her off to college in late August with nothing. </p>

<p>Aaahhhhh!!!!</p>

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<p>"Anyway weren't thinkpads made by IBM? What's Lenovo?"</p>

<p>Lenovo bought out IBM's laptop line recently. This doesn't mean the quality will drop, though, as Lenovo has been making laptops for IBM for years anyways.</p>

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<p>I guess you don't really like HPs, but still, take a look at this:</p>

<p>Buy</a> an HP Pavilion tx2500z series notebook PC from HP</p>

<p>I just got it and it looks great so far. However, it has a discrete graphics card and a tablet screen, and if your daughter doesn't need those features...you might be paying extra for nothing. Look at my thread on this forum for more info about the laptop.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Toxic_Waste, if I were willing to install extra memory and a hard drive, would that make you prefer the Thinkpad?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>probably. though the R61 is a commercial version of the Thinkpad, so it's not quite as durable as the T61. HOWEVER, go out with your daughter (?) and see and play around with the computers. i actually don't like Thinkpads - i think it feels like crap and i don't like the keyboard. i also don't like Toshiba's keyboard/media button layout compared to some other manufacturers, so i ruled them out when i bought my computer.</p>

<p>you can buy 2.5" internal hard disks...so you should be able to swap out a hd in a laptop, i've just never done it. you'll also need your own copy of Windows, since the restore cd will know it's not original hardware.</p>

<p>as for HP Compaq, i think their desktops suck but their laptops are decent to good.</p>

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<p>I agree about going out to see laptops. What happened though is that we went to our local warehouse club, and they had them attached to these things to prevent movement. And none of them were on. Some couldn't even be reached. We went in to primarily see the Toshiba, and she was able to play type on the Toshiba, and she liked the way it looked. </p>

<p>We probably should go somewhere like Best Buy where we can see a variety, but we both hate the 10 salespeople asking if they can help you, all within 10minutes atmosphere.</p>

<p>I guess the thing is though that she does agree with me that reliability and what's inside does matter more than aesthetics. It would be nice to get something attractive. But on our budget (600-900), even if she really liked the looks and feel of something, she is concerned about a "lemon".</p>