• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

laptop, what's the diff. in the companies: dell, hp, compaq, toshiba, etc?

E

Ender510

Golden Member
I plan on using this computer mostly for business applications - oracle database, erp software, sql server, etc. It would be nice to be able to play a few games here and there as well..

But what's the main differences in all the name brands?? Is it the trackball vs the nub? I am leaning towards toshiba.. but how are the dells? The sonys, etc? Besides just the cosmetic differences, how bout the actual quality of the parts? Are they all pretty much the same?

I remember a LONG time ago.. only NECs and Toshibas were the ones to get.. any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks..

 
Don't forget IBM.

They all have their bad models...and their good ones. I'd say that whichever brand you decide on, get the business version of it. The retail versions are, sometimes, not quite as durable. The business versions also have better support if there is a problem.
 
Dell has some great laptops right now. Toshibas are nice too but less configurable and a little pricey compared to Dell. I've used my aunt's IBM laptop and it's nice and solid. I really liked the feel of it, but I think IBMs are the most expensive.
 
For what you are going to do with a Laptop I would recomend an IBM Thinkpad. As one user said, very solid machines. They are very well built with great performance, nice displays. I would not trade my IBM Thinkpad for any other brand and I have used them all. Dell is very good for the price, gateway not bad, Toshiba nice for the price, Sony Vaio's are ok but a lot of my friends with them have had problems, HP and Compaq stay away from! Now that HP owns Compaq I would never touch a Compaq. Compaqs were not that bad at one time but now they are just HP's. The Macs Ibooks are nice if your software will run on Mac OS.

If you don't mind a slightly higher price the IBM to me is the laptop to get along with the Mac if it will run your programs. Dell and Toshiba for a bit lower cost. If IBM did not exist I probably would get a Dell.


My $.02 anyway.
 
thanks for all the feedback guys.. i'm leaning towards toshiba.. just thinking most of my stuff will be using relational database, peoplesoft development, and some minor gaming.. but it would be nice to have all teh bells and whistles - wireless, dvd, etc.

hmm
 
Stay away from HP/Compaq -- two duds in a row, here... never again. My next one will be Dell or Toshiba.
 
We've used a bunch of Toshibas at my last 2 jobs and have been pleased with them. One minor annoyance: we just bought an A15 with 512 MB and it came with both slots filled (2x256) instead of 1x512, so the 512 MB crucial stick we added only raised it to 768 instead of the 1 GB we wanted.

I also have an older IBM Thinkpad 240 at home, and the build quality is excellent. Given a choice between IBM and something else with the same features, I'd pay a little extra to get the IBM.
 

I have a Toshiba, and it's fine, just fine.

My gf has the brand new IBM Thinkpad, and it's amazing.

The difference in price is quite amazing too, so just do some soul searching. If you want an awesome laptop that won't break ever down and is built incredibly well with high quality parts, go with IBM. Especially if your company is paying for it...

Otherwise Toshiba is, you know, just fine.

A.
 
Originally posted by: Pyromania42
I have a Toshiba, and it's fine, just fine.

My gf has the brand new IBM Thinkpad, and it's amazing.

The difference in price is quite amazing too, so just do some soul searching. If you want an awesome laptop that won't break ever down and is built incredibly well with high quality parts, go with IBM. Especially if your company is paying for it...

Otherwise Toshiba is, you know, just fine.
Click to expand...

I'd say the same thing just I have the thinkpad, and my sister has a dell.
 
IBM does have great build quality (the R series isn't as good as the T and X series). Toshiba's models are great too. Just make sure you get a Toshiba that runs on 15V, they don't make the 19V ones. I think the same thing kind of holds true for IBM, real IBM models should run on 16V.
 
what do u mean by voltage? is this the power pack?

what if you had all these laptop companies with the same exact specs (hd, memory, screen size, etc.) which would you choose? I am leaning towards toshiba just because I heard they are work horses and don't break or over heat very easily.. I will be using this more for work purposes.. running sql server, oracle, and some other erp/crm applications.. maybe some gaming when I have the chance..

thanks everyone!
 
Should go for IBM if you can afford it, my imediate family now has a T20,T21,T23,T30. The T20 is mine and I just got my new X31 😀
 
Given everything being equal (specs and price), I would go with IBM or Apple. If all the specs were the same, but prices were standard (ie Dell being the cheapest of the name brand, IBM being the most expensive of the PCs and Apple being the most expensive of all) I would still go with IBM, based on my experience with them.
 
... any votes for toshiba or sony? what would be next aftert IBM? Also, where's a good place to buy laptops? any online vendor in particular? Thanks..
 
Originally posted by: Ionizer86
HP Compaq's 2100 series with Radeon IGP chipsets and Barton XP2400+ or above chips are quite nice (and cheap).
Click to expand...

i have the 2175 model, specs:

2400xp mobile
512md ddr pc2100
40gb hd
radeon igp (7000)
cdrw 24x/8x dvd
15" xga

blah blah, got it for 1000$ about 4 months ago 🙂

not a single problem, but there sure is alot of compaq haters out there.
rolleye.gif
 
Does Toshiba make that 17" model? I'm assuming not, given it's different look. If it had a real GPU (and was made by Toshiba), I might get it.

Still waiting for Apple to hurry up and upgrade the PowerBooks 🙁
 
I have a Dell Inspiron 2500 that is about 3 years old. While it has done the job admirably, I would am not planning on purchasing from them again.

I am currently researching the IBM T40 and Toshiba Tecra S1 to replace the Dell 2500.

The Tecra S1 seems to have the upper hand on the T40 - larger screen size, better sounding speakers, and a bit cheaper.

Go to PC World's website you will get some decent information to assist in your decision. I also found the comparison feature between the two to be helpful.

I hope that some of the above is useful to you in your search.

Good luck!

Jim
 
IBM is great for a general purpose notebook. They've got a couple of failings, imho:

1. They're always significantly behind in the gpu wars. If you're not gonna try to run the latest game, or care if it only runs at 15fps, don't worry about it.

2. Few companies will charge you as much for the same features. Sometimes their build quality and support is worth it, imho, and some times it clearly is not (got too many stinkpad stories floating around in memory).

I have a tosh 5205-S705, which is a really neat notebook, but it is also a TANK, lol, this baby is just barely portable. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad If I didn't carry this one AND an old compaq evo n180 at the same time. Switch shoulders each trip to keep from developing a list. Toshiba just orphaned that line, at least in the US, and appear to be replacing it with some models in the P25 line, which doesn't exactly impress me.

Sony notebooks are often 'neat', but hardly ever durable, or solid, imho.

Dell usually has great stuff on the inside, surrounded by a shell of mediocrity.

Would rate hp/compaq as avoid, just because I don't think they've got a clue where they're going as a company, much less with their notebook offerings.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top