Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

[PVarck31]

So my current laptop is a little over 2 years old and recently the hinge broke. I was just going to have the hinge repaired/replaced but its looking like it will be around $200. I get my tax refund tomorrow and was thinking about just getting a new laptop instead of putting $200 into an old one.

So I guess what I am asking is what would you do if you were in this situation?

I am looking at a couple computers and I have narrowed it down to these 2 if I do decide to get a new one.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i3+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Biscotti/1917062.p?skuId=1917062&id=1218300809618

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...FTj0Zg&cad=rja

They have very similar specs, but I hear Sony's are top notch.

Thanks in advance guys!

[Brandwin]

31 I got the first one you have listed a few weeks ago. It was $50 more 2 weeks ago.

I got it at Office Depot because it had a mail in rebate.

I love it, but it's my "first" laptop. I've always owned desktops.

Only complaint I have is the mouse. It all runs together with the front of the lap top and not as responsive as I would like.

[PVarck31]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

31 I got the first one you have listed a few weeks ago. It was $50 more 2 weeks ago.

I got it at Office Depot because it had a mail in rebate.

I love it, but it's my "first" laptop. I've always owned desktops.

Only complaint I have is the mouse. It all runs together with the front of the lap top and not as responsive as I would like.

This exactly what all the user reviews say. I messed with it at Best Buy and it just didn't feel comfortable. It was hard to click as well. I also don't care for the general look. But it seems like a great deal considering the specs. Have you gotten used to the touch pad yet?

[Burns11]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

Why not fix it yourself? Or at least try? Chances are the hinge is easy to get to (at most 12 screws and a bit of plastic casing, with no real contact with the important bits) and a new hinge won't cost more than $50 (assuming it's a model with a weak hinge, you might find it under $20). It probably would only take an hour since you aren't used to things and are being careful.

Look up how to replace your LCD, chances are you'll find a picture or video tutorial and that's about twice as much as you'll need to do.

[Brandwin]

I'm used to it now. Was a little weird at first.

[PVarck31]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

Why not fix it yourself? Or at least try? Chances are the hinge is easy to get to (at most 12 screws and a bit of plastic casing, with no real contact with the important bits) and a new hinge won't cost more than $50 (assuming it's a model with a weak hinge, you might find it under $20). It probably would only take an hour since you aren't used to things and are being careful.

Look up how to replace your LCD, chances are you'll find a picture or video tutorial and that's about twice as much as you'll need to do.

Not a bad idea. My hands aren't very steady though. That would be my biggest concern. But I will look into it for sure.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

I have the first one too.

Try office max or office depot. I got mine for like $400, maybe evenness because we got my dad the 17" for $450 at Christmas. Was evencgeaper then on Amazon. I can type faster on this keyboard then any other I ever had.

[mgoblue]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

You can buy portable mice that can store the usb plugin transmitter in the mouse itself (Logitech has them). I'm not a fan of trackpads ever, and I used my laptop at home mostly so just used a regular mouse...

[HealyMonster]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

Hey 31, is there any way I could convince you to check out a macbook? Im a former windows user and I switched to Mac about 3 years ago and never looked back.

[PVarck31]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

Hey 31, is there any way I could convince you to check out a macbook? Im a former windows user and I switched to Mac about 3 years ago and never looked back.

I checked them out, but they are just out of my price range. I gotta keep it less than $600.

I wish they were cheaper.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

I checked them out, but they are just out of my price range. I gotta keep it less than $600.

I wish they were cheaper.

Ah, Understandable. My mother in law was just in the same predicament. It wasn't even that she didn't have the cash, she just isnt willing to spend 1k for a laptop regardless of anything lol.

[Scruffychicken]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

I got a related question, just didn't want to make a new thread; I'm considering getting a new compaq desktop for 309.99, and it says amd athlon II processor. Is that a dual core processor?

[Burns11]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

If it didn't say Athlon II x2, it's likely single core (though it's possible they mislabeled it by leaving the x2 off, need the model number of processor to know for sure).

[PVarck31]

Re: Need advice/opinions on a potential pc purchase.

I ended up going with this beast.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834214202