Quality Laptop needed, under 500$

[csc]

Need a good long lasting lappy.15", Using for normal things no gaming. Has to be 500 or less after tax. Need to pay with cash so b&m only. Thanks for the help.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Go to B&M and look at what they have at that particular store.
We can't really tell you what to get since most B&M stores carry slightly different models. But for your price range, I would go with a Toshiba. I've had 3 in the last 5 years and all have treated me well.

 

[max347]

I would say pick up a used IBM on CL. Also, if you only have cash available you might be able to go to walmart and get one of those visa gift cards to buy something online...no credit needed to my knowledge

 

[techs]

As owner/technician at my own computer repair shop, I recommend Dells.

You can pick one up at Staples.

Stay away from HP/Compaq and especially Acer laptops.

This is based on my personal experiences repairing laptops for 12 years.

Note that there have been some terrible models from all companies, but in generaly Dells are slightly better. They also have the advantage of being sold in a limited number of models that change less often then other brands. The advantage is if something does go wrong, you can far more easily and cheaply pick up parts for your Dell than any other model.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

As owner/technician at my own computer repair shop, I recommend Dells.

You can pick one up at Staples.

Stay away from HP/Compaq and especially Acer laptops.

This is based on my personal experiences repairing laptops for 12 years.

Note that there have been some terrible models from all companies, but in generaly Dells are slightly better. They also have the advantage of being sold in a limited number of models that change less often then other brands. The advantage is if something does go wrong, you can far more easily and cheaply pick up parts for your Dell than any other model.

At my last job, Dell laptops were the standard. This job Lenovos are standard. I see way less issues with the Lenovos than I do Dell.

In my experience, all brands have a similar failure rate. Some brands will have a few models with exceptional failure rates, but honestly, working on the side that fixes things you get a skewed perspective of what is good and what is bad because all you see is bad.
Are Panasonic Toughbooks better because you may see one a year compared to a hundred Acers? Or is is because for every Panasonic Toughbook sold Acer sells 200-300 units?

It's a crap shoot. Most of the components in a laptop are made by a limted number of companies. FoxConn being the major circuit board and PSU manufacturer. Hard Drives and RAM are the only other really different parts in the machine and those are all fairly common.
LCD screen are all made by only handful of companies so no worry there.

 

[fire400]

what i use:

nc6400

-intel core2duo, 500gb, 4gb
-business line quality and takes windows xp

can't ask for more than this