Worth it?

[CHIPMAN]

Basically my school has finally started a laptop program, wherein you rent a laptop from them for 1 year (brand new) and then have the option of buying it out after the year ends.

I don't know much about computers though, so I figured I'd just link it to all of you.

Before anyone asks, YES I do actually want/need a laptop, so I'll likely be spending the money eventually, I just don't want something cheap (I want it to last at LEAST a few years heh).

FYI all prices are Canadian $

http://techu.pcpc.dal.ca/

It gives the specs, costs, etc. Please read it all and give your opinion.

And in case you miss it in there (only mentions it once) its the Toshiba A100

Thanks in advance.

[MERKiN-fS-]

bah do i rly have to post again.

Toshibas are nice PC's but they dont last as long as say, IBM Thinkpads. And if u ever need to get that fujcker fixed somewhere u gotta send it out to Toshiba. ANd those guys out there are retarded. They cant fix shit for the life of them. They will take like 20 Business days, then tell you they lost ur lappy. But all in all that PC has nice specs. The 100GB SATA drive is sexy on a lappy, 1GB DDR2 and the Core Duo is sexy. Id wipe the pc out with WinXP OEM PRO (yes i know it came with it) but to delete all the garbage Toshiba puts on pcs.... ANd... thats it

-MERKi[N]

[thrash_head]

Looks like a nice laptop. I would price out Dell laptops compared to the one you have. Dell has some awesome deals like $250 off instantly. Just a thought though..

[CHIPMAN]

Well I have a Dell desktop (that I'm using right now). My biggest complaint is that the parts are subpar

[thrash_head]

Can I ask you a question? Do you know for a fact, that you WILL need this laptop for more then just Internet browsing? Do you mind using a desktop? Do you think you could live with out a laptop? The reason I'm asking is because i spent 1k on a XPS Laptop that i thought i would use "all the time" and i really don't. Now, I love it and it is pretty useful at work, but before i was working i never used it. I never took it to class, and nor did i ever use it for papers (i used my desktop). If you need the laptop for work or you know you would use it for school, then get a laptop. But if you like using desktops and would rather spend 1.5k on some pretty bad ass parts for a good gaming computer, do that. Its really all up to you. Just think of what you would use it for...

[Sutterkane]

dell desktops and dell laptops are 2 different ballparks. hell, they're not even in the same state. they make decent laptops.

[CHIPMAN]

Can I ask you a question? Do you know for a fact, that you WILL need this laptop for more then just Internet browsing? Do you mind using a desktop? Do you think you could live with out a laptop? The reason I'm asking is because i spent 1k on a XPS Laptop that i thought i would use "all the time" and i really don't. Now, I love it and it is pretty useful at work, but before i was working i never used it. I never took it to class, and nor did i ever use it for papers (i used my desktop). If you need the laptop for work or you know you would use it for school, then get a laptop. But if you like using desktops and would rather spend 1.5k on some pretty bad ass parts for a good gaming computer, do that. Its really all up to you. Just think of what you would use it for...


Fair question (good points).
The laptop will be mostly for school work. The biggest problem I had last year (my first year of university) was when I was on campus (I live at home ~20 minutes from campus) and trying to do a report/paper (which requires a computer) or study/do some research (which requires the internet), I had to use the campus computers. They're good computers, without a doubt...but a big issue is that there aren't very many of them (a big complaint that my school has said they can't address atm). I also would be able to type my notes in class, and I'm a very slow, messy writer...but a fairly fast typer when I try. This would save me from having to type my notes up when I get home as well. It will also allow me to go somewhere quiet when I have to and get work done (the computer lab is a noise-congested area), and actually get it done.

So I guess, all in all, yes, I fell I would get quite a bit of use out of it.

I priced this laptop at my work (Futureshop) and with the 3 year warranty I'd end up paying about 1400$ with my staff discount anyway, and thats without software/whatever accessories I got with it. I'm not surprised that my work would cost more, though, since there's not really much markup on notebooks.

Having said that, thrash, in your opinion, is this worth it?

And sutter, my cousin has a laptop from Dell and he pretty much hates it, and the other thing is financing, I just turned 19 and still don't have a credit card and likely wont for another little while, so I'm not so sure if that'd even work out for me. But if you can find something that you think would be a better bang/buck...I'm open to it.

[thrash_head]

For what you will use it for, Go for it! I thought i would use it for notes and such, but in fact i never did. If you know for a fact that you will use it and get your moneys worth, then go for it man. It looks like a good enough deal. by the way, Dell takes paypal, checks, money-order, etc.. I used paypal to send 1k for my laptop.

[Karnage]

dell desktops and dell laptops are 2 different ballparks. hell, they're not even in the same state. they make decent laptops.
I disagree. We use all Dell at work and I've seen several of their new laptops fail, especially their hard drives.

[kix[TCK]]

I got a 17" Dell Inspirion 9300, 1024 mb RAM, 60 GB HD, Geforce 6800 Go, for something like $1200 about 6 months ago, and it rocks my socks off. Now they are even cheaper, dunno what your budget is but if you get a laptop, dell ftw.

[thrash_head]

Dell is great for laptops and "mass ordering" computers. I recently acquired a job as a network technician at a high school, and dell makes my life a lot easier. HP, Compaq, systemax, all are a POS and are hard to work with. Now, if your a "home user" and you buy a dell.. That's a different story. Overall Dell is good for laptops and business computers. XPS series has wonderful support so far.

[beano]

have you considered a mac? im getting the macbookpro, but im in advertising and graphic design.. school recommends it. also, my sis has a dell laptop, shes a junior in college, thing is a pos.. dell sucks imo.. she rents a mac now and says it's 100x better

[thrash_head]

Mac = incompatible with the world. I've used them, have them, and hate them.

[CHIPMAN]

Mac = incompatible with the world. I've used them, have them, and hate them.

Yup.
I've used Mac's many times before, and I've never enjoyed it

[beano]

well mac is coming out with both xp and tiger compatible.. sorry guys :/

[Janus]

macbookpros are awesome I have dealt with some at work and they are fast, and you can also use bootcamp to dualboot xp and osx with it.

[Karnage]

well mac is coming out with both xp and tiger compatible.. sorry guys :/well, other than the better build quality, what would be the point of buying a mac to run xp?

[CHIPMAN]

A little too pricey, from what I've seen.

[thrash_head]

Even if they can run XP, they are still shit. Plus, Karnage and Chip have a good point too. Anyways, fuck Macintosh, they suck and will always be 5% of the computer world.

[Janus]

well, other than the better build quality, what would be the point of buying a mac to run xp?
not really one, but it makes it so it can cross over easily. you can do your video/graphic/web development on the mac and your games on the windows xp install. sounds pretty good to me if you use those types of applications.

[beano]

thank you janus, for being the only other person open to something different then windows... mac's also have 48 known viruses, which makes it almost impossible for you to get one. Windows has billions.. also, all mac's have dual core processors now. and is it weird that all professionals use macs, i mean, they are "pieces of shit" all in all

[Karnage]

I can be called a pro I guess, I've worked on both. Macs have the same problems as PCs. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong with them, you have to buy some overpriced software that you could normally download for free for a PC. I don't see the value in them. Anything you can do on a Mac, you can do on a PC and you can do more on a PC for less money.

[Janus]

I can be called a pro I guess, I've worked on both. Macs have the same problems as PCs. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong with them, you have to buy some overpriced software that you could normally download for free for a PC. I don't see the value in them. Anything you can do on a Mac, you can do on a PC and you can do more on a PC for less money.
just that some things are done more efficiently/better on a mac.

I will be the first to admit that they are overpriced, but not without the merit that they are fairly easy to use and are good at what they are designed for.

[thrash_head]

If Macintosh was as big as windows, they would have billions of viruses too. Its simple, some people love them, some people hate them. I grew up with the POS's and now i can't stand to look at them. They have flaws, just like windows.. But I, think windows/Linux is way more compatible with everything and cheaper as well.

[Nine]

thank you janus, for being the only other person open to something different then windows... mac's also have 48 known viruses, which makes it almost impossible for you to get one. Windows has billions.. also, all mac's have dual core processors now. and is it weird that all professionals use macs, i mean, they are "pieces of shit" all in allThis is crazy. First, the number of viruses on windows compared to mac os is a silly statistic to use. Do you have any idea how many of those billions do absolutely nothing since security patches etc, or are just variants of other viruses with tiny changes and a slightly different name? Either way that's a lousy argument.

Macs have dual core processors? Amazing. PCs have whatever processor you want because you don't have to pay twice as much for something assembled in a factory. PCs have had dual core processors for a long time and they have another amazing feature Apple has yet to take advantage of: dual button mouses.

This comment about "professionals"... Now, I know you can't honestly think that every professional that uses a computer uses a Mac. So I'll assume you mean every professional that uses a computer for an application that Macs are supposedly good at. So what if some do? The only reason you have this idea is because Apple has force fed it and many other crazy ideas to you and millions of others who foolishly buy Apple products along with bragging rights and an elitist attitude. It's been said in this thread that anything a Mac can do a PC can do - which is true. It's also true that many of the AMAZING software suites that Apple users are so eager to say can not be found on PC can, in fact, not be found on a PC. However, many other applications/suites that have the same function can, and often for lower prices due to not being targetted at gullible mac users.

Mac computers aren't the entire problem, though. Apple as a company, in my opinion, is one of the most dishonest and deceptive with their marketing and customer service. (Referring partly to the iPod battery epidemic.)

I'm sure by now everyone has seen these hip commercials where the young guy (played by that faggot from dodgeball) and the nerdy looking accountant are discussing the differences between PC and Mac. (Mainly talking about how great a Mac is and how boring a PC is.) I'm honestly not really sure where Apple gets off saying that Macs are somehow more thrilling or entertaining than PCs. Wow, macs have.... ... we'll say "artsy" cases.. with handles. Big deal. You can't add any 5.25" drives, and in the case of the G5, they weigh just short of a million lbs. Aside from the case, I can't really see any visual or entertaining differences in the Mac's favour. Also, relatively speaking, Macs basically have no games.

This sort of marketing sickens me. They aren't selling their products, they're selling their attitude. "Oh, wow, you have an iPod/Powerbook/iMac/etc, you must be so cool." "Yeah, only boring losers and accountants use good, reliable MP3 players/reasonably priced laptops/useful computers/etc".

The only real reason I can see for anyone to buy any of Apple's overpriced and often inferior products is that they somehow managed to get a discount to the point where it's actually cheaper to get one. A lot cheaper.

[CHIPMAN]

Well put, Nine.

iPods aren't worth the money when you can get (arguably) better products from more reliable companies for a lower price.

[Sutterkane]

The big reason why there are more viruses for windows/pc and fewer for linux/mac/other name brands:

Nobody uses the other name brands.

Think about it. You're writing a virus/trojan/malware that you want to get on as many systems as possible.

You can write one for windows/pc that will get to 95% of computer users.

Or one for mac or linux that will get to the rest.

It's the exact same thing with Firefox/IE.

[Janus]

The big reason why there are more viruses for windows/pc and fewer for linux/mac/other name brands:

Nobody uses the other name brands.

Think about it. You're writing a virus/trojan/malware that you want to get on as many systems as possible.

You can write one for windows/pc that will get to 95% of computer users.

Or one for mac or linux that will get to the rest.

It's the exact same thing with Firefox/IE.
agreed.

it has nothing to do with the security holes whatever (which I do not know how many Macs have, but I am sure there is a fair amount - the only reason we don't hear about them is because nobody targets the lesser ones as you said.

I am not a Mac-head, nor do I directly support them (minus my free ipod that I got from the infamous site...) but I will admit, after talking to the people that I work with (some of which know a ton about all of the major operating systems (linux/unix, osx, windows) and have educated me a bit on the differences and benefits to each of them.

I just have to admit that each OS is better for different applications. I know that just about any app that is on a Mac can be done on a PC, but some programs on each are just better at what they do, specifically with a Mac and the design software suites. The Mac is made to do it, where a PC will run the programs and do them well, but the Mac will generally do it faster, and that is the price premium that you pay for (that and the stupid artsy-look of them that I cannot stand -- althoug the new black macbook pros look sweet).

[beano]

i just ordered my macbookpro so i will tell you how it is in 5 days when it comes in.. with my free ipod and printer :xx

[hawk]

A lot of hate being thrown towards Macs here. I've had a iBook for about a year and a half now and I still love it. It seems like there's a ton of great programs for Mac that just don't exist on PC. Quicksilver is probably the greatest free application every. There's pros and cons to Macs, which is why I own both. I want to punch people in the face who claim that either side is superior to the other.