It wasn't until just over 2 years ago that I started buying Dell. My sister used to work for Digital and all of their parts that failed quality control were sold to Dell up until then so I stayed away from then. However, we purchased a LOT of Dells the last year that I worked for the government due to government contracts and they were constantly being turned over for replacement 'factory refurbished' parts over the course of the first year due to hardware failures of numerous kinds. We purchased over 350 of them and at least 10% had video, harddrive, or motherboard failures within the first 6 months. The last year however, the models out seem to be much more reliable. Their customer service was considered excellent by many (if you consider immediate replacement of your system with a factory refurbished one on just a phone call great) but I still can't get over the number of times the systems had to be replaced to begin with. Not only that, but the transfering of the data and reconfiguration of the replacement has to be taken into account. The Compaq systems were MUCH more reliable.



>Hi Ali,
>
>I've used (and currently use) a *LOT* of notebooks/laptops over the years, both name-brand and no name. Following are my --personal opinions-- (your mileage may vary) regarding the current crop of available hardware.
>
>Most of the choice depends on the type of work for which you need the notebook. If most of your work is developing in VFP/.NET/SQL, and you only travel occasionally, you might consider what's known as a "desktop replacement". These are kick-tail machines with all the functionality of a big desktop in a portable package, with the downside being that they're a little heavier to carry around (between 7 and 10 pounds). Best in this area are the Sony VAIO PCG-GRT170 (about USD$2100) or the Toshiba Satellite 1955-S805 (about USD$2250). I currently use the year-old Toshiba 1955-S801 (with the built-in detachable Wi-Fi keyboard) and love EVERYTHING about it except the touch pad driver (the 805 has the Alps TouchPoint, which is much better). I just looked at the Sony earlier today, and it's an EXCELLENT machine for the price, has a larger drive (60GB) and contains both USB 2.0 ports and a built-in DVD writer/CD writer (a nice touch). I also like the Dell Inspiron 8500 *a lot*, but it
>seems to be a bit overpriced for what you get -- and Dell notebooks have a nasty habit of their batteries getting VERY HOT (some have even caught on fire in the past, although I believe they've corrected that problem).
>
>If you don't need that much power, or if you travel more often and don't want to carry that much weight everywhere you go, look at the smaller Toshiba models, the mid-range Sony, any Dell mid-range model, or the Gateway Solo (I put them at the bottom not because of the machine, but due to the company's financial troubles -- I'm not sure they'll be in business in three to four years, the normal lifetime of a top-drawer laptop). These still have plenty of kick (my wife and her sister each have a little Toshiba Satellite 1135-S155 that cost less than USD$900 each, only weigh about six pounds, and still have lots of nice features and more than enough capability for a developer).
>
>If you want to be on the "bleeding edge" or need Wi-Fi capability ALL THE TIME, look at the new Tablet PC's. These are VERY COOL machines mostly using Intel's new Centrino chip that incorporates wireless features into the main system architecture, and run a special version of WinXP for Tablet PC's. These also have handwriting recognition and touch-screen capability (think of how an 8-1/2 by 11 version of a PocketPC PDA might look and you'll be reasonably close). Be prepared to spend the same amount as a desktop replacement for less powerful hardware (you're buying a lot of whistles and bells with these units, IMHO).
>
>I tend to shy away from HP / Compaq models because of their proprietary nature (getting parts and repairs is more difficult, and they have hooks in their OS versions that make replacing hard drives a ROYAL PAIN). I also hesitate buying from the no-names (WinBook, MidwestMicro, and the like) for one reason: reliability. Their manufacturing processes and quality control aren't nearly as solid, IMHO, as the big guys -- and their technical support often leaves much to be desired (that being said, the tech support of the big players ain't always that swift, either -g-). I have found it easier to get a name brand fixed (and to get peripherals that work with it) than a no name. Also, if I need to take that notebook into a client and, say, plug into their network, I'm more likely to get usable help from THEIR technical folks if I have a machine they recognize rather than an off-brand.
>
>Good luck in your search!
>
>
>>Hi Everybody,
>>
>>I want to buy a notebook, but I have no experience in notebooks. Good brands like Compaq, DELL, and Toshiba are expensive. On the other hand, no name notebooks have higher configurations (I can even choose whatever I want on them as well), and they are really cheap. What is your idea about brand?
>>
>>Since this is my first time, I really appreciate any thoughts and recommendations that you might have.
>>
>>Thank you,
>>Ali