Dell or HP?

[Allie_Kat]

I'm in a quandry about what sort of laptop to get next. I've burnt out 2 Dells in 3 years. I'm starting to think I have some sort of magnet in my head that messes up electronic devices.

[BiggestBest]

I like Dell because I can configure it online with the options I want.

Laptops usually go fast because (a) they get used in bed and the vents get blocked by the comforter and they overheat. Or (b) the battery dies because it is constantly charged and never let run completely out of juice so it develops a battery "memory" that is less than full capacity. Then it slowly dies out over a few months. Or (c) the screen cracks.

The brand doesn't matter for any of those reasons. What problem are you experiencing exactly when you say "burnt out"?

[dirty dog]

Between the HP and the dell your better off with the HP in my humble opinion. Although I would suggest you check out the Toshiba's, I have 3 with one being over 4 years old and have never had a days trouble with them and they are priced in the same ball park. I have never like Dell and have had to fix more than a few (sorry BB). I have owned a HP and a couple of my friends own them and they seem to work wonderfully. Just my humble oppinion.

[Guest030911]

HP blows...

[kcbigpapa]

I have had great luck with my Sony VAIO laptops that I have owned.

[texasjohn1965]

I have had the same HP laptop for 4 years. Runs like a champ to this day.

[MsElena]

I'm a toshiba gal. I've own 3 over the last 8 years, I swear by them and I put my laptops through hell. Between home, school and traveling, they get a work out. I always get the warranty too.

[Sensei]

+1 one for Dell if it's only between them and HP. HP should stick to printers, I fix more Dells than HPs, but that is only because there are more of them out there. But HPs have always been a pain to fix for some reason or another. Now if you include other brands, I would go with the Toshiba's or Sony Vaoi's, they are a bit more expensive but worth in IMHO.

[old-tyme-racer]

Toshiba is a very good machine, there are 3 of them here, just watch the overheating of them with your bedding, they don't like food or drink.

[kcpumper]

I'm with kcbigpapa. I've had a Sony Vaio for 7 years. I put in a new hard drive only because the original was 10 gb-which was huge when I got it (but all the guys say it was huge back in the day!). If I was buying a new one though, I'd get a mac.

[kccountryboy]

I am sure that macgeek will chime in here, but I would recommend a mac laptop. while they are more expensive, you don't have to buy antivirus each year for one thing.

[Allie_Kat]

Motherboards, fans stop working, overheating...etc. All conducive to frying my hard drive and making my laptop crap out. LOL. Bad luck I guess.

[Sensei]

Originally Posted by Allie_Kat

Motherboards, fans stop working, overheating...etc. All conducive to frying my hard drive and making my laptop crap out. LOL. Bad luck I guess.

Hmmm, it sure sounds like heat issues. Try using a cooling pad such as this one:

[Guest052813-01]

While brands of PCs/Laptops may have different features or manufacturing techniques, more than likely, the one thing you should be looking at is the processor in the machine. Intel has three different processor types - the Pentium and Celeron/Core2 for most laptops and desktops, and the Atom, which is used for the Netbook. AMD is the other manufacturer and, IMHO, produces a processor that is a piece of crap. I would recommend staying away from an AMD machine regardless of manufacturer.

As has been stated above, heat is the main enemy of all computers. Make sure that there is enough ventilation regardless of the PC type. A cooling pad (in Sensei's post) is a good heat dissapator and is probably the best alternative to keep air flowing, but, at the very least, make sure the bottom of a laptop is not sitting on a soft or contoured surface, like a bed, chair or sofa; if possible, keep the laptop elevated.

[dirty dog]

Originally Posted by cpi3000

HP blows...

Wow what a well thought out and insightful response, thanks.