Computer Hardware Forum

I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...

I'll be looking at Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., but I'm
worried that I won't be able to customize it nearly as specifically...

I need at least 1gb Ram, 7200rpm hard drive, USB 2.0 and Firewire, but
it's hard to find all of these in the prefab computers at the major
chains (often there's no mention of the hard drive speed, and all RAM
slots are taken up, requiring me to purchase all new RAM, etc).

Can anyone recommend a place to look for laptops where I can customize
to my liking without breaking the bank?  I would prefer a place where I
can bring it in for warranty/repairs fairly easily.

Incidentally, I live in Maryland, so if there's a small store with a
good reputation in my area, I'd be willing to go with them.

Thanks,
chris.

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"Alabaster" <none@nofreakingemail.net> wrote in message
news:UWdNc.6858$PK5.344@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
> production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
> vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...
>
> I'll be looking at Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., but I'm
> worried that I won't be able to customize it nearly as specifically...
>
> I need at least 1gb Ram, 7200rpm hard drive, USB 2.0 and Firewire, but
> it's hard to find all of these in the prefab computers at the major
> chains (often there's no mention of the hard drive speed, and all RAM
> slots are taken up, requiring me to purchase all new RAM, etc).
>
> Can anyone recommend a place to look for laptops where I can customize
> to my liking without breaking the bank?  I would prefer a place where I
> can bring it in for warranty/repairs fairly easily.
>
> Incidentally, I live in Maryland, so if there's a small store with a
> good reputation in my area, I'd be willing to go with them.
>
> Thanks,
> chris.

I just bought one from a Staples five minutes from my home. It might have
been defective as I could not get the wireless network setup. I brought it
back and the kid seemed to know more than I and exchanged it after trying to
help me configure it at the computer counter. He said it was defective and
this whole process took under an hour the same day I bought it. I can not
say I would have gotten the same response anywhere else I could have
shopped. I have shopped there for years and have exchanged many items for
complete refund with no questions asked including cameras with no restocking
fee. I got taken buy a lying salesperson on a extended warrantee at BestBuy.
They and Circuit City both charge restocking fee for many items. Shop around
for the best price although I believe they are all selling at identical
prices in the local brick and mortar stores. Like TVs now in the respect
that there are so many different models you will never find two the same
with different prices.

Cliff

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Cliff wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>  I just bought one from a Staples five minutes from my home. It might have
> been defective as I could not get the wireless network setup. I brought it
> back and the kid seemed to know more than I and exchanged it after trying 
to
> help me configure it at the computer counter. He said it was defective and
> this whole process took under an hour the same day I bought it. I can not
> say I would have gotten the same response anywhere else I could have
> shopped. I have shopped there for years and have exchanged many items for
> complete refund with no questions asked including cameras with no restocki
ng
> fee. I got taken buy a lying salesperson on a extended warrantee at BestBu
y.
> They and Circuit City both charge restocking fee for many items. Shop arou
nd
> for the best price although I believe they are all selling at identical
> prices in the local brick and mortar stores. Like TVs now in the respect
> that there are so many different models you will never find two the same
> with different prices.

While I'm not sure I'd buy a computer from Staples, their service has
always been exemplary.

Notan

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"Notan" <notan@ddress.com> wrote in message
news:410589B4.A6AE1ED1@ddress.com...
> Cliff wrote: 
have[vbcol=seagreen] 
it[vbcol=seagreen] 
trying to[vbcol=seagreen] 
and[vbcol=seagreen] 
not[vbcol=seagreen] 
for[vbcol=seagreen] 
restocking[vbcol=seagreen] 
BestBuy.[vbcol=seagreen] 
around[vbcol=seagreen] 
>
> While I'm not sure I'd buy a computer from Staples, their service has
> always been exemplary.
>
> Notan

I knew many would agree with you but I feel if you have a good idea what
you want and can find a salesperson at any store that seems to know enough
to correctly answer your questions then I find the return policies and
service to be more then satisfactory. I can not see why a purchase should
not be made at just about any store if the conditions are right. Unless you
know something I am unaware of that is. :)

Cliff

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Rather than deal with Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc.(whose "repair
facilities" are often a joke), why not buy directly from the manufacturer
(such as Dell, Gateway, or HP)? They will sometimes offer free shipping,
many times there will be no sales taxes to pay, you can customize them
online, and they have repair facilities that are at least better than those
retail stores you mentioned. As for the need for repairs on laptops, most of
them are a result of careless handling by the user. You can't just toss them
around like a briefcase. Other than that, laptops are very reliable until
they simply wear out. Software is another story. Those users who do not run
and keep updated an antivirus and antispyware package WILL have problems.

"Alabaster" <none@nofreakingemail.net> wrote in message
news:UWdNc.6858$PK5.344@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
> production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
> vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...
>
> I'll be looking at Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., but I'm
> worried that I won't be able to customize it nearly as specifically...
>
> I need at least 1gb Ram, 7200rpm hard drive, USB 2.0 and Firewire, but
> it's hard to find all of these in the prefab computers at the major
> chains (often there's no mention of the hard drive speed, and all RAM
> slots are taken up, requiring me to purchase all new RAM, etc).
>
> Can anyone recommend a place to look for laptops where I can customize
> to my liking without breaking the bank?  I would prefer a place where I
> can bring it in for warranty/repairs fairly easily.
>
> Incidentally, I live in Maryland, so if there's a small store with a
> good reputation in my area, I'd be willing to go with them.
>
> Thanks,
> chris.

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By Wed, 28 Jul 2004 14:06:04 GMT, "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun>
decided to post
"Re: Best place to buy a laptop?"  to
comp.laptops:

>Rather than deal with Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc.(whose "repair
>facilities" are often a joke), why not buy directly from the manufacturer
>(such as Dell, Gateway, or HP)? They will sometimes offer free shipping,
>many times there will be no sales taxes to pay, you can customize them
>online, and they have repair facilities that are at least better than those
>retail stores you mentioned. As for the need for repairs on laptops, most o
f
>them are a result of careless handling by the user. You can't just toss the
m
>around like a briefcase. Other than that, laptops are very reliable until
>they simply wear out. Software is another story. Those users who do not run
>and keep updated an antivirus and antispyware package WILL have problems.
>
>"Alabaster" <none@nofreakingemail.net> wrote in message
>news:UWdNc.6858$PK5.344@nwrddc02.gnilink.net... 
>

I don't know about shopping direct -- I received a new laptop as a gift
recently.  I went online to HP and configured the exact same package as I
got, as the store had config'd it, EXACTLY.  HP online offered it for:
US$1,716.99  	 where the store sold it for $1495.00.
Here in Georgia, we have a tax-free period once a year for 3-4 days, at the
end of July, good for 'back to school' purchases, with sliding scales for
different types of merchandise -- computer purchases qualify for under
$1500, coincidentally, making this the time to purchase.  And save > $200.
None of the store had a comparable Toshiba, and Dell was a lot more.

Amd 3400+
512MB ram
60Gb hdd
15.4" WVA WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
64MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 4 440 Go +1394
2X DVD+RW/R & CD-RW Combo Drive
(which won't seem to burn DVD's....)
HP xc1000 Notebook All-in-One Media Cable
(hook graphic output up to a tv)

OTOH, as there always is, this particular store orders models made
specifically for it so they can beat you on their price guarantee.  These
models have similar model numbers to those offered elsewhere, but only they
offer them specifically.  Just try to find info or get service or price
shop given that the model exists in their mind (and catalog) only.

Consumers are marks.
"Est ars etiam male dicendi"

/ts

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/.. wrote:
> By Wed, 28 Jul 2004 14:06:04 GMT, "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun>
>  decided to post
> "Re: Best place to buy a laptop?"  to
> comp.laptops:
> 
>
> I don't know about shopping direct -- I received a new laptop as a
> gift recently.  I went online to HP and configured the exact same
> package as I got, as the store had config'd it, EXACTLY.  HP online
> offered it for: US$1,716.99  where the store sold it for $1495.00.
> Here in Georgia, we have a tax-free period once a year for 3-4 days,
> at the end of July, good for 'back to school' purchases, with sliding
> scales for different types of merchandise -- computer purchases
> qualify for under $1500, coincidentally, making this the time to
> purchase.  And save > $200. None of the store had a comparable
> Toshiba, and Dell was a lot more.
>
> Amd 3400+
> 512MB ram
> 60Gb hdd
> 15.4" WVA WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
> 64MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 4 440 Go +1394
> 2X DVD+RW/R & CD-RW Combo Drive
>   (which won't seem to burn DVD's....)
> HP xc1000 Notebook All-in-One Media Cable
>   (hook graphic output up to a tv)
>
> OTOH, as there always is, this particular store orders models made
> specifically for it so they can beat you on their price guarantee.
> These models have similar model numbers to those offered elsewhere,
> but only they offer them specifically.  Just try to find info or get
> service or price shop given that the model exists in their mind (and
> catalog) only.
>
> Consumers are marks.
>   "Est ars etiam male dicendi"
>
> /ts

I just went back to Staples and was handed $100 back as the one I bought
two weeks ago dropped in price. Can this be done with online purchase? I
still say Staples CAN be a good place to shop as long as you basically what
you want and shop around first.

Cliff

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Alabaster <none@nofreakingemail.net> wrote in message news:<UWdNc.6858$PK5.344@nwrddc02.gnil
ink.net>...
> I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
> production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
> vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...
>
> I'll be looking at Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., but I'm
> worried that I won't be able to customize it nearly as specifically...
>
> I need at least 1gb Ram, 7200rpm hard drive, USB 2.0 and Firewire, but
> it's hard to find all of these in the prefab computers at the major
> chains (often there's no mention of the hard drive speed, and all RAM
> slots are taken up, requiring me to purchase all new RAM, etc).
>
> Can anyone recommend a place to look for laptops where I can customize
> to my liking without breaking the bank?  I would prefer a place where I
> can bring it in for warranty/repairs fairly easily.
>
> Incidentally, I live in Maryland, so if there's a small store with a
> good reputation in my area, I'd be willing to go with them.
>
> Thanks,
> chris.

Hi Chris,
We can build a laptop to your specs, won't charge you tax if
shipped to Maryland, and offer free ground shipping on all orders over
$1000 (see site for details). We also offer a full range of notebooks
from top manufacturers. We have a decent return policy, a 30 day money
back guarantee, and full manufacturer warranties on all of our
laptops. We can add a warranty for laptops that we build. Don't forget
that some manufacturers offer "On-Site" service warranties and that
would eliminate the need for you to ship or carry your laptop to the
store. Be sure to check our products' tech specs for info on warranty
coverage, etc.

Silicon Alley Computers
www.siliconalleycomputers.com

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Alabaster <none@nofreakingemail.net> wrote in message news:<UWdNc.6858$PK5.344@nwrddc02.gnil
ink.net>...
> I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
> production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
> vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...


For media, go with a Powerbook G4 if you can afford it.  Its a
workhorse and I know it will run pro tools well with 1GB of RAM.
Also, its video card has a dual display driver so you can run two
monitors at the same time.  If you can dish out the cash, its worth
it.

Cheers--
Chris R.

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quote:
Originally posted by Alabaster 
I'm in the market to get a fairly high performance laptop for audio
production purposes.  Normally I buy my desktop systems from online
vendors, but I feel like I shouldn't buy a laptop sight-unseen...

I'll be looking at Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., but I'm
worried that I won't be able to customize it nearly as specifically...

I need at least 1gb Ram, 7200rpm hard drive, USB 2.0 and Firewire, but
it's hard to find all of these in the prefab computers at the major
chains (often there's no mention of the hard drive speed, and all RAM
slots are taken up, requiring me to purchase all new RAM, etc).

Can anyone recommend a place to look for laptops where I can customize
to my liking without breaking the bank?  I would prefer a place where I
can bring it in for warranty/repairs fairly easily.

Incidentally, I live in Maryland, so if there's a small store with a
good reputation in my area, I'd be willing to go with them.

Thanks,
chris. 
 Large Centery Red

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