D800? So, an oldie. Nevertheless a good machine. I've used it for the last three years and had only one failure, a failing AC adaptor, which was replaced by Dell accurately. Actually, I'm still using it, but recently I bought a 'replacement', a Toshiba Tablet (M4 Tecra). That machine is (was?) now available for really low prices. I guess Toshiba is freeing storage room for new models to come.

I chose for a tablet and that inclined that Dell was not in the race, because they (amazingly) have no tablets.

I bought the tablet because it offers something that normal laptops don't have: a touchscreen. I must admit that a touchscreen is a real advantage. Although I do have a bluetooth mouse available, I never use it on the tablet. The 'pen' is my mouse. It is also better for the body (RSI), IMO.

The future tablet will gonna be (okay, it's already here, but at a high price) a tablet with a screen that can be dismounted and used within 10 meters via bluetooth. The Tecra M4 is quite heavy for a tablet (although normal for a laptop). A dismountable screen is the solution for that problem.

All desktop machines will gonna be replaced by (tablet) laptops. I will keep some lcd-screens and keyboards (and mice). They'll be all on the wireless lan and will have access to a simple harddisk with server features. That's my plan for this year.


>Hi Lynda,
>
>I've been a Dell user for quite a while too. At a previous employer it was all Inspiron (yuck! ptoo!) and I had constant failures.
>
>But I'm using a Latitude D800 that I just got 2 weeks ago, and it replaces a previous Latitude that served me well for 4.5 years. Like you, my machines tend to run a good number of hours per day. (More than I care to admit.)
>
>I know that Tamar stands steadfastly behind Toshiba, and my only experiences with them are peripheral. (I have 3 castoff Toshiba notebooks from other people sitting in a closet here.) If I was going to buy a tablet today, though, it would be a Toshiba.
>
>ANY vendor is going to have support ups and downs. That's just life. Both Toshiba and Dell have had theirs, and both routinely rebound when the story gets bad.
>
>I wouldn't have any hesitation about buying a Latitude. Just keep the d@mn Inspirons away from me. ;-)
>
>Dan
>
>
>
>>I'll be replacing my primary development machine in May and would like some input from others as to notebook machines and configurations that have performed well under the rigorous demands of our work. I use mine 12 to 15 hours many days, rebooting perhaps once or twice a week. The machine 'hibernates' when not in use. I currently have a Dell Latitude and, in fact, have owned nothing but Dell machines for about 10 years. I've bought 14 in all--a mix of desktops and notebooks. Lately though, I haven't had the quality of support from them that I've come to expect. Even with a "Next Business Day On-Site" warranty, it took 5 days to get a replacment hard disk last week--no technician, just a box with a part and no instructions! There have been other lapses in service as well. I recently purchased an inexpensive Toshiba for my husband to use but haven't had much experience with their service or support yet. In any case, I'm open to all suggestions at this point--other than getting
>>a desktop!