Techie Question

[Xylochick216]

I'd be very wary of an HP. I used to praise them up and down, but they've gotten terrible (and mass produced) the last few years. I had one that died just over a year after I bought it due to an overheating problem that fried the motherboard. HP is still claiming no fault. My husband's laptop was a few months older than mine and died a few weeks ago with the same issue. Even though they have many complaints about these models, HP refuses to do anything about it, so we have two very expensive paperweights.

As for a printer, I second DaemonSeid. Get one that you can print from wirelessly (Brother has several good network printers). So much nicer than trying to get wires hooked up!

[honeychile]

I'm loving y'all! Keep it coming!

[aephi alum]

I totally forgot about wireless printers. <puts on dunce cap> It's been years since I bought a printer - I still have the old HP LaserJet 4p that I bought back in 1994 when I was in college (don't laugh, it's a solid machine that has served me faithfully for over 17 years) and I have an all-in-one Canon color inkjet that I bought a couple of years ago.

The administrative staff at my synagogue have a wireless printer, which I set up for them a few months ago. It is a PITA to set it up and get it to associate with your SSID (and you will of course need a wireless router), but you only have to do that once. Call tech support and get them to walk you through it, or get a nerd friend to do the setup (heck, I'd do it if I were nearby).

[Kappamd]

Originally Posted by Xylochick216

I'd be very wary of an HP. I used to praise them up and down, but they've gotten terrible (and mass produced) the last few years. I had one that died just over a year after I bought it due to an overheating problem that fried the motherboard. HP is still claiming no fault. My husband's laptop was a few months older than mine and died a few weeks ago with the same issue. Even though they have many complaints about these models, HP refuses to do anything about it, so we have two very expensive paperweights.

As for a printer, I second DaemonSeid. Get one that you can print from wirelessly (Brother has several good network printers). So much nicer than trying to get wires hooked up!

I respectfully disagree. My brother and I both have HP laptops and neither of us have had any issues whatsoever. Mine is going on 3 years and still operates flawlessly. I honestly wouldn't think of buying anything OTHER than an HP (maybe a Toshiba, as fiance loves his).

Ditto what everybody else said about batteries, power cords, etc.

[honeychile]

FYI, my last laptop was a Toshiba, bought in 2000 (gasp!). I loved the darn thing, it was a workhorse like you wouldn't believe. Unfortunately, I travel with it, and a father was teaching his son to open doors for ladies (gosh, I hope he didn't say "little old ladies"!), and said son dropped the laptop, cracking the top wide open. I can hardly complain, as I got 10 years out of it, but I get a little testy that I can only use the computer in one room now...

Anybody have any recommendations about Toshibas?

[Xylochick216]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

I respectfully disagree. My brother and I both have HP laptops and neither of us have had any issues whatsoever. Mine is going on 3 years and still operates flawlessly. I honestly wouldn't think of buying anything OTHER than an HP (maybe a Toshiba, as fiance loves his).

Ditto what everybody else said about batteries, power cords, etc.

I would have agreed with you years ago. My first laptop (2001) was an HP and it traveled the world with me. I used it until I bought another HP in 2005 (just wanted an upgrade). Used that until I decided to splurge on a slimmer, faster model in 2008, and that's the one that died with just over a year's use. My first two HPs were dream machines. My third (and my husband's first HP) were terrors, and customer service was terrible. Like I said, they've been producing them too quickly for the past 2 years or so and the tech boards are littered with people complaining of motherboard issues that HP refuses to fix. If you want to pay $400 when the computer overheats and the motherboard fries, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd completely avoid an HP. Personally I went for a Macbook Pro, but that sounds like it's probably more than you want to spend (and probably more powerful than you're looking at).

I'm not an expert on Toshibas or Dells, but I'm sure someone here has info for you. Good luck

[GMUBunny]

Originally Posted by Xylochick216

I would have agreed with you years ago. My first laptop (2001) was an HP and it traveled the world with me. I used it until I bought another HP in 2005 (just wanted an upgrade). Used that until I decided to splurge on a slimmer, faster model in 2008, and that's the one that died with just over a year's use. My first two HPs were dream machines. My third (and my husband's first HP) were terrors, and customer service was terrible. Like I said, they've been producing them too quickly for the past 2 years or so and the tech boards are littered with people complaining of motherboard issues that HP refuses to fix. If you want to pay $400 when the computer overheats and the motherboard fries, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd completely avoid an HP. Personally I went for a Macbook Pro, but that sounds like it's probably more than you want to spend (and probably more powerful than you're looking at).

I'm not an expert on Toshibas or Dells, but I'm sure someone here has info for you. Good luck

My former SIL has one of those HP laptops that overheats. HP says it's normal. Your laptop actually BURNING your skin and kitchen table, and frying your motherboard is NOT normal. I'd stay away from HP at this point, too. I like Toshibas just fine. Never had an issue with one. Don't know much about Dell, except our desktops are work are pieces of ish. I'd love to have a Macbook, but I'd have to win the lottery first. *sigh*