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What're your guys opinions on Dell laptops? I need a laptop for school, and I need one that will last for quite a while.

Not as good as Toshiba or IBM.

They use rather flimsy plastic cases that flex a lot. Their keyboards are also rather weak.

If you want a Dell, go with their Latitude line rather than their Inspiron line. The Latitudes are built somewhat more sturdily, but they're still not as tough as a Toshiba or IBM.

Don't buy dell. there's several other higher quality laptops you can get for around the same price range, including IBM, and Averetec. Their construction is typically flimsy, and the benchmarks scored fairly poorly when i last checked.

I've had my dell inspiron for almost a year and I have no complaints about it, course I don't abuse my electronics like alot of people on this forum.

Laird wrote:I've had my dell inspiron for almost a year and I have no complaints about it, course I don't abuse my electronics like alot of people on this forum.

hey now, it's not abuse. it's tough love.

Darth_Zod wrote:

Laird wrote:I've had my dell inspiron for almost a year and I have no complaints about it, course I don't abuse my electronics like alot of people on this forum.

hey now, it's not abuse. it's tough love.

Well I actually spilt some coke on the keyboard and dropped it once...and it still is functioning.*Checks his post* yep still works.

Inspiron has a poor reputation but the Latitude line is build better. HP/Compaq has some good ones (the nc/nx series) and some bad ones (Presario); IBM's are generally considered excellent but you pay a price premium for it.

The Sony Toughbooks will stop a bullet.

Uraniun235 wrote:The Sony Toughbooks will stop a bullet.

That's Panasonic Toughbooks.

The Sonys couldn't stop a thrown rock.

If you don't want windows macintosh makes some execellent laptops.

If money were no option, I'd propably say IBM, but since it's likely going to be I'd go with an HP, or maybe Toshiba assuming there's affordable ones (it's been a while since I looked).
Dell I advise against because I've got a LOT of bad experience with them, though I admit the Lattitudes are almost adequate (as opposed to the Inspirons ), and I hate Compaq just on general principles...

I have a Compaq. Fucking thing is built like tank. I've dropped it, torn it apart, accidentally lit it ablaze. Shit still works fine. You know a computer is good when it still works after having black silicon smoke pour from the side of it.

kojikun wrote:I have a Compaq. Fucking thing is built like tank. I've dropped it, torn it apart, accidentally lit it ablaze. Shit still works fine. You know a computer is good when it still works after having black silicon smoke pour from the side of it.

Depends on which line you have. I have an Armada which has seen some years of hard service and is only now starting to die; OTOH, my mother's Presario is pretty poorly built.

Mine is a Presario 1200T

darthdavid wrote:If you don't want windows macintosh makes some execellent laptops.

<Strokes Powerbook lovingly...>

Glocksman wrote:

Uraniun235 wrote:The Sony Toughbooks will stop a bullet.

That's Panasonic Toughbooks.

The Sonys couldn't stop a thrown rock.

Ah, damn. I was close, I got three letters right!

As I understand Dell has:
1) Good laptops- they can play games fairly well.
2) Cheap desktops, with no graphics cards, that cost as much as desktops that HAVE them.
3) Horrible tech support.

Take the laptop if you can survive the tech support, but DON'T get a desktop. Go to iBuyPower for a desktop if you want one.

If you don't have to have a Windows laptop, get an iBook G4. Big graphics card for the price, nice sized hard drive, good proccessor, excellent battery life, great wireless reception, and the OS is both easier to use and stabler than Winblows X(tremely)P(athetic). $999 with edu discount, $1099 without.

If you have to have Windows, though...Either get the Dell, or find someone with better tech support.

Praxis, you will cease the inane Microsoft bashing. If you have a point, make it, but don't just say "X(tremely)P(athetic)" without justification.

Dell's laptops are not that good (the Latitude line and the Inspiron 600M being exceptions). Also, they have pretty good tech support, IIRC, so I wouldn't hesistate to reccommend them for a desktop PC.

phongn wrote:Also, they have pretty good tech support, IIRC, so I wouldn't hesistate to reccommend them for a desktop PC.

Once you get past the Indian guy who has such a thick accent that you can't understand half of what he says to an American tech, they do.

The Indian tech walked me through a bunch of tests I'd already done.

Once I was passed higher up the ladder to a tech on this side of the ocean, he agreed with me that the LCD needed replacing and arranged for a shipping container to be sent out. Once they understand you need a repair, their service is first rate in my experience.

phongn wrote:Praxis, you will cease the inane Microsoft bashing. If you have a point, make it, but don't just say "X(tremely)P(athetic)" without justification.

Dell's laptops are not that good (the Latitude line and the Inspiron 600M being exceptions). Also, they have pretty good tech support, IIRC, so I wouldn't hesistate to reccommend them for a desktop PC.

Bah, X(tremely)P(athetic) is my motto, I hate Windows, lol . I use it, but hate it You're a tad bit too touchy.
My point was, Dell makes good laptops, bad desktops, and has bad tech support. If you don't mind the tech support, the laptops aren't bad.

I read reviews in Mobile Computing the other day. They called up tech support anonymously and Dell got a bad score. Twice their answer was "Format your hard drive" for relatively simple problems like a network card disabled or IE security settings too high.

I have no complaints about my Inspiration 8500 except battery life

But considering in a year now I've only managed to run it dry once(Its more of a Desktop replacement than a prota-notebook