need help picking a laptop

Actually, that sounds like your Hard Drive is about to crap the bed. You can order a replacement from TigerDirect or NewEgg for a decent price. Go ahead and order some new ram as well.
Get yourself a USB HardDrive, such as a SimpleTech. You can MANUALLY back-up ALL of your documents and settings before you re-install the OS. I use THREE USB drives; a 750G drive for all of my files, especially the videos; a 250G drive as a redundant, and a 80G for documents and pictures.

I got the 750G drive at Sams Club for about $80.

 

I finally picked up my road laptop today, actually it's the first laptop I've ever bought and hopefully I won't need another one for YEARS. I got an ACER Aspire which is a lower priced brand of laptop, but I did get their Cadillac so hopefully it's not a junker. This one has a nice big 18.4" display for watching movies and getting online which is what I'll probably use it for most with the occasional game thrown in.

 

I have a Sony Vaio, I'm on my second Sony, for what I've pair for two Sonys I could have bought a Panasonic Tough Book. Knowing what I know now, Panasonic Tough Book is the only way to go for a rough service computer. I saw a Panasonic rep throw his Tough Book agross the hangar and it never stopped working.

 

now if only I weren't a computer idiot

 

sorry, didnt read whole thread....gotta hurry.
-i'd keep an eye on dell site (hard to do without a laptop, i know),
-every now and then they have a great deal on laptops- you'll know- they'll make a big deal out of it and put some daily time limit on it.

-buy one with;
the screen resolution u want
the video card for it u want
and the processor u want

these are all hard to change later in a laptop
-get the minamal cost of the rest of the stuff....no extras

when your ready you can look around and get all the other stuff upgraded easily.... and cheaper- such as;
more ram
bigger faster harddrive
connection cards
ect.

 

I hate "Toshittas"!! I have one, my DIL bought one right after me and then my daughter bought one. EACH had the same problem! You click on the email to X it out and the whole AOL screen would drop to the bottom. Bring it back up, X the email and whole screen would go back down.

Click on one thing and the cursor would fly across the screen and click something else.......I'll NEVER buy another Toshitta laptop AGAIN.

I like HP desktops but the harddrives last just past 1 year warrenty. Have had 3 of them and each has had the same problem.

For years I've read about the Dell service horror stories, people having problems, calling in while comp was still under warrenty and nothing being done about the comp being fixed. Then the service center would finally get around to calling you back only to say it would be $$$$$$ to fix your comp since it's out of warrenty. Hope they are different now.

As for upgrading a computer that is 2 or more years old, I wouldn't try. I'm average on being able to upgrade and fix my computer along with enough sense to call for tech help. But a computer gets so old and you have a harder time getting parts for it, motherboard not able to handle more ram or bigger harddrive, etc.

I'm starting a new job from home and will need to get a good, fast desktop as soon as I get a couple of paychecks under my belt. Not sure which I'll go with. My tech friend builds computers and he can let me know what kind to get.

 

It is actually easier than you would think. You might be able to D/L the "Service" Manual of your laptop from the manufactures website. Why don't you PM me with information about your laptop (Make, Model number, Processor, etc), and I will look around and get the information for you.
This will give you the location of the HD and RAM. The HD and RAM modules will include instruction how to do it.

 

That sounds MORE like a problem with AOL and NOT the laptop. AOL is the most prevalent PC virus there is.

I have never had any problem with DELL customer service.

 

have 2 dell xps laptops. I've had one battery and one charge shoot craps inside year warrenty....both replaced free.
I've had other problems and they try to use their 'take over my computer remotely thing' to no avail. 1 was a downed microphone....their final conlusion was that i needed to go buy a external mic. and make sure it was a hardware issue (doesn't matter hard/software was under warrenty)....
Recently had a problem with vista....they tried to help- knew they were wrong- fixed it myself. Guy would call back every hour to check on their tests, 3rd? time he called told him i stopped tests and fixed myself.

-basically its my experience that with an xps they will help you all you want (while under warrenty) via remotely or the phone....but to get someone to come out (which is part of the warrenty service) is proably gonna be a pain.
-If you have a hardware problem you can easily take part off- you'll proably get a new one.

as far as the xps, it went with me on the road for a year- worked great (other then prementioned stuff).

oh yeah, and when i call in for help= they always try to sell me some other warrenty....i just tell them i already have a warrenty and iam calling in to get something fixed they already sold me, not buy something else....then they kick you over to someone to 'help'