To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Original post by marymoon

Aug 03, 2005 05:28 PM

So I've never owned a laptop before, but I think it would be great to have one for going back to school, that way I can get work done at school in between classes, here at home and at FH's house which is a perfect halfway point between here and school.
My desktop is about 5 years old. Thanks to an XP upgrade, Office XP and a RAM upgrade it still serves my purposes very well. When I bought it I spent a fortune and it's realy becoming worthwhile because it still runs any game that comes out on the market, etc. I just feel that a laptop would make my life so much easier for school. Of course I guess my working at several locatons could be accomplished with a flash drive and a lot of patience, but even at home with the laptop I can work outside, in the itchen, etc. In my room, my desk is in this little tiny part of the room and it's stifling, so more and more I just want to get out of here. I was thinking it might be ok to buy a laptop since I've had this desktop for 5 years, and an accepable time has passed. But I also feel guilty because it is a huge expense and this computer still does work very very well. Another question is do I get some kind of Windows based laptop like a Dell or Gateway (I have a PC now), or do I get the Mac laptop I've been wanting and was always planning to buy after this computer went kerplunk? The pros to the mac are that that's what I've been wanting and planned to buy and I won't look to repalce it until i have to, the cons are that I'd have to learn a new operating system and I wouldn't be able to use my existing software on the laptop. The pros to the PC laptop are that I'd be able to use my current copies of Office Professional, etc and I wouldn't have to worry about file compatibility. The cons are that it puts off me buying the Mac that I realy want or I'll end up buying the mac laptop before it's really necessary to replace the old one.

Any thoughts? Also any laptop suggestions? If I get the Windows one I only need it for school, so I'd like to be able to run Office Professional, and maybe a game or two. if I get the Mac, then I'm looking for something powerful enough to replace my desktop.

ElegantBride Posted: Aug 04, 2005 12:08 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Once you go laptop, you never go back

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 12:38 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Posted by Danielle&Scott

Much better than getting a Dell laptop
Scott

Is that really better? Why?

m&m Posted: Aug 04, 2005 12:41 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

I love my laptop - and now that most colleges are getting wireless, its even better and more productive in between classes (as long as you are doing homework, and not on IM or LIW... ) I've found though that they don't have the lifespan of a regular desktop.

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 12:52 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

I'm trying to figure out fi hofstra has gone wireless yet, but it doens;t look like it. but that'll just be less distraction for me. Which is a huge reason for the laptop. No distraction!

june262004 Posted: Aug 04, 2005 01:53 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Power surplies are 69.99. I might have to buy one for my piece of garbage laptop that I bought 2 years ago. I already put a new hard drive in (300.00) and replaced the power surply once.

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 01:54 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Oh that's not bad!

I hope he'll actually give it to me. He's been promising for weeks!

ETA: I just looked it up. Like aan AC adapter is $60, but I think what's broken is the internal power supply. I know when Fh fixed it on his desktop, it was $200. I hope he meant power cord and not power supply!

june262004 Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:01 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

HMMM Maybe. I can tell you this. I spent 1200.00 on my Laptop 2 years ago and im mad I did. It s*cks. We like it when we go away we can take it with us (BUT its a annoying to cary all over) But The Laptop wasnt even a year old and I needed a new internal supply. About 3 months I had to buy a new Hard Drive And now the power supply is going again. I didn't get the extended warranty (which I am so mad about) So all this out of my pocket.

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:03 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

That ***** so much! I'm so sorry. My desktop was like that for the first 3 years. I kept blowing hard drives, but luckily I had a warranty.

june262004 Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:05 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Mike is like why don't you just buy a cheap one for like 600.00 BUT A) We don't have the money and B) I spent 1200 on a really GOOD Laptop I don't want to down grade LOL

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:12 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

Is it working now though?

I was looking at how expensive service contracts and accidental damage protection is. It's like half the price of the machine. I hope it turns out my brother's is something I can use b/c if I drop it or something (as I've been known to do) no one cares. That's the thing I don't really WANT to spend $$ on this. I just think it would help SOO much. My brother's is 5 years old though

june262004 Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:15 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

No its not working. I am using Mikes PC

marymoon Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:18 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

You spent all that $$ and it doens't work? omg that's awful! That sounds like Fh's old car. We just didn't want to give up on it

june262004 Posted: Aug 04, 2005 02:20 PM

Re: To laptop or not to laptop. That is the question

I actually am talking to Compaq support online LOL I got so mad talking about it. I could call them but they are in India and I would have no idea what they are saying.