Which laptop?

[dirt lover]

Currently, I post process on a desktop I built with a 21" Trinitron monitor. I need a laptop to edit and upload to my site/send off photos when I'm traveling.

A refurbished or just older one would be ideal since I want XP with at least 1gb of ram as well as a decent video card and core2duo. I don't need a big hdd because I will just be keeping photos on it until I to my desktop when I get home. I want one with 14.1" non-glossy screen. Which ones have better screens? I'll be calibrating it with a display 2. Decent speakers would be good but I'd much rather have a better screen. The Thinkpads look good, but I don't like the keyboard layout and touchpad (though, maybe I could get used to them if it's worth it). Eventually I might get a seperate LCD monitor to travel with.


What are some that would meet my needs and work well?

[PhotosGuy]

I bought a $500 Dell with XP for that & it works fairly well, except for calibrated editing. But it has an output for a CRT monitor which I use if I have to edit on it.
I wouldn't get an older one, but a refurbished one would be a good idea if you can find one.

[dirt lover]

I'll look at the latitudes. I had an Inspiron 1150 and so many problems with it.

[Cindi]

If you go to Dells business section you can still order a laptop with XP. I just bought the Dell Vostro 1000 with XP installed. HTH.

[tuan209]

Have you looked a building your own? I got an Asus barebone laptop and bought all the necessary parts (cpu, hard drive, and ram) to put it together. I hate buying laptops from companies like Dell because they come pre-installed with a lot of bloat ware.

[dirt lover]

I haven't looked into building a laptop. I'll check that out. Then I could spec it how I want.

[neil_g]

I hate buying laptops from companies like Dell because they come pre-installed with a lot of bloat ware.

last dell i ordered that had a preinstalled OS only had things like cyberDVD and CD writing installed.

Dell Latitude D8xx range gets my vote.

[dirt lover]

Does anyone know which laptop screens are better?

[dirt lover]

The Thinkpad T61 looks really good (build and performance). But I've heard sony screens are much better. I'm looking at the Vaio Cr series (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665293700) The Vaio seems to only be available with a glossy screen.

[bcdoug]

lenovos are decent systems. i would prefer those over dell. lenovo has a standard to maintain because of ibm, and i think they are doing just that.

i've never had any luck with dell at all, desktops or laptops. 5 lcd screens in my laptop, motherboards in a few others, bad keyboards, fried memory or hard drives.. 50% of the desktops i used to support had severe enough issues to need replacing. we are talking 6 dell laptops and at least 20 desktops.

of all the ibm laptops i've used, only one had an issue.

dell and hp are junk. there is a reason why we paid the extra money for ibm servers in our data centers. the stuff worked. the thinkpad laptops were just as well built.

having said that, i am looking at a gateway core 2 duo widescreen tablet. i doubt i am going to punish it nearly as much as i did the dells when i was in tech, and i like the idea of tablet for the boat.

[dirt lover]

My dell had so may issues. I had the motherboard replaced...probably 2 or 3 times, wireless card replaced, keys were falling out, the plastic hinge on the case got a bad crack...etc.

The Vaio has a bunch of stuff I don't need: the external dvd buttons, web cam and is more $$$. Maybe I should just get the thinkpad... It's well built, light, and performs exceptionally well. Do you know much about the screens on those? I've heard when you tilt them even slightly, they look way different.

[bcdoug]

vaios were never heavy duty as far as i am concerned. when i first started in tech we checked them out and they were just too flimsy. ended up getting a lifebook. forget the maker.

dunno what you mean with the screens. i assume they are the same as tv lcds.. made by one or two manufacturers. maybe lenovo is putting an anti glare or anti scratch on them?

check out www.vancouverlaptops.com

they sell factory refurb, new, and used laptops. will probably ship to california.

[dirt lover]

Thanks for the link! I mean quality of the monitor. It won't be as good as my triniton crt, but the closer the better.

[Cindi]

Computers are pretty much like automobiles...you can get a lemon with just about anything. :roll: