# What laptop should I buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407 "2009-03-14T07:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/1 "2009-03-14T07:20:26Z")
I just had a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop stolen which I need to replace and I probably want to buy a second identical unit for my friend so I am looking around for probably two identical laptops. I believe that in general used computers are overpriced for their value and given the low prices of new ones I would normally buy a couple of new ones except that I do not want Vista, not at all, no way, no how, no buts, no ifs. This is the configuration I had which worked quite well for my needs. > [@](#): > > Dell Inspiron 2200 > Intel Pentium M 735 (1.7GHz) Processor > 512MB PC2700 333MHz DDR Memory > 40GB 4200rpm Hard Drive > 24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive > 14.1" XGA LCD and Intel GMA 900 Integrated Graphics with 128MB Shared Memory > AC’97 Audio > v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11g Wireless > Three USB 2.0 and One Type II PC Card Slot > 13" x 10.6" x 1.5" , 6.0 lbs. > Windows XP Home I think I would want something only slightly better. I do not think I need much more for my traveling needs and I like to have the least value which will cover my needs. That way if it is lost or stolen or dies I lose the minimum. Having two alike simplifies configuration and maintenance. If I can find brand new laptops with XP I think that would be the best solution and the best value for money but I believe this is no longer possible. So I am inclined to buy a couple of used laptops on ebay if I can find them at a really good price. I believe a configuration something like this might work for my needs: - Processor: P4- 1800 or equivalent or a bit better - RAM: 1 GB DDR - HDD: 40 GB bare min, 80 GB better, 160 GB best (I am seriously considering having the data on an external USB drive which I can carry with me at all times) - Optical drive: CD burner min, DVD burner best, - Display: 1024 x 768, 14" min, 15" better - Video card: Advice? I do not game but an old one does not work with Google Earth - I love Google Earth. - Modem 56K - Integrated wireless & ethernet - 2~3 USB 2.0 ports - Integrated webcam - Serial port for my legacy gadgets - OS: XP Home min, XP Pro better, No way Vista. I think this should pretty much cover basic internet surfing, word processing, Google Earth, and the little more I do on the laptop. All advice and opinions welcome. What can I buy and what should it cost me? I am traveling in Asia and my Internet access is ocassional so don’t be surprised if It takes me a while to return to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/2 "2009-03-14T08:00:50Z")
You should get a designed for Vista machine and then slap Win7 on it ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/3 "2009-03-14T15:05:22Z")
Well, the reason I want to stick with XP is that I do not feel like learning new stuff. And Vista and Win7 will run slower on the same machine. So, I really want to stick with XP if at all possible. I am in Guangdong and laptops here are not noticeably cheaper that in Europe and America, and they come with pirated copies of XP which I would like to avoid unless I _really_ have no other choice. I think I would rather buy in America as first choice and Europe as second choice. BTW, for anyone visiting Guangzhou, there is a huge computer market at Tianhe, 23.13565, 113.32970, and a smaller one at 23.13785, 113.32327. There is also a big one in Shenzhen at 22.54388, 114.08189. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/4 "2009-03-14T16:54:07Z")
Dell small business sells laptops with “Vista downgrade to XP” Which sounds like it is just what you want. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/5 "2009-03-14T17:09:28Z")
You really are sacrificing some serious bang for the buck horsepower with your ‘XP only’ insistence. I’ve looked around and [this is one](http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_HP-Pavilion-dv4-1222nr-Entertainment-Notebook-PC_261903_Business_Supplies_1_10051_SC3:CG71:DP4118:CL161747) of the best deals on a a 14" notebook. Expires today. On the personal side I’ve gotten [three of these beauties](http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:expandcategory?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087¤t-category-id=02695ADDF94544E5A11D24AEBC064493&tab=3#tab-container-4) lately and on my personal unit upgraded the drive to 500 gigs ( 110 - newegg ) and upped the RAM to 2 gigs ( 20 -newegg). They come with XP Home and run Office 2007 & multimedia apps just fine. They run about $ 350 (shipped in US) at various discounters for the1 gig RAM 160 HD version . [Review here](http://blog.laptopmag.com/up-close-with-lenovos-ideapad-s10-one-sweet-10-incher) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/6 "2009-03-15T04:28:56Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Dell small business sells laptops with “Vista downgrade to XP” Which sounds like it is just what you want. I did look in their web site but could not find anything downgradeable. I know they used to but I heard they stopped offering the downgrade option and it was rather expensive anyway. > [@astro](#): > > You really are sacrificing some serious bang for the buck horsepower with your ‘XP only’ insistence. I know but I get irritated whenever I have to work with Vista because they have changed things around for no good reason and it takes me three times the time to do anything. And I think that if I am going to learn a new OS I’d rather learn Linux which I have been putting off for some time. > [@astro](#): > > I’ve looked around and [this is one](http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_HP-Pavilion-dv4-1222nr-Entertainment-Notebook-PC_261903_Business_Supplies_1_10051_SC3:CG71:DP4118:CL161747) of the best deals on a a 14" notebook. Expires today. Yup. If it came with XP I would buy it. > [@astro](#): > > On the personal side I’ve gotten [three of these beauties](http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:expandcategory?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087¤t-category-id=02695ADDF94544E5A11D24AEBC064493&tab=3#tab-container-4) lately and on my personal unit upgraded the drive to 500 gigs ( 110 - newegg ) and upped the RAM to 2 gigs ( 20 -newegg). They come with XP Home and run Office 2007 & multimedia apps just fine. They run about $ 350 (shipped in US) at various discounters for the1 gig RAM 160 HD version. > > [Review here](http://blog.laptopmag.com/up-close-with-lenovos-ideapad-s10-one-sweet-10-incher) That’s not quite what I’m looking for. I might still go with a couple of used or refurbished laptops, 2~3 years old, with XP, if I can find a good deal (under $300?). But I think they are overpriced in general. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/7 "2009-03-15T14:46:19Z")
Is there anything you like on [http://www.dfsdirectsales.com](http://www.dfsdirectsales.com)? It’s the Dell off-lease site (slightly different than their refurbished site) and none of those machines come with Vista. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/8 "2009-03-15T14:56:34Z")
If it was a choice between avoiding Vista and avoiding Word 2007, I’d avoid the Word “upgrade” at all costs. A total pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/9 "2009-03-15T16:01:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is there anything you like on [http://www.dfsdirectsales.com](http://www.dfsdirectsales.com)? It’s the Dell off-lease site (slightly different than their refurbished site) and none of those machines come with Vista. thanks, that might be exactly what I need. I’ll have a look. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laptop-should-i-buy/489407/10 "2009-03-15T16:28:12Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is there anything you like on [http://www.dfsdirectsales.com](http://www.dfsdirectsales.com)? It’s the Dell off-lease site (slightly different than their refurbished site) and none of those machines come with Vista. As examples I found these configurations > [@](#): > > LATITUDE D600 > INTEL PENTIUM M 1.6 GHz > RAM: 1024 MB > HDD: 60 GB > WIFI > CDRW/DVD > 14.1" screen > WINDOWS XP PRO+ > $395 > PRECISIONLAPTOP M70 > INTEL PENTIUM M 1.9 GHz > RAM: 1024 MB > HDD: 60 GB > WIFI > DVDRW > 15.4" screen > WINDOWS XP PRO > $439 They are more or less what I could use but I was hoping to find for about $300. For a little more than those prices I can get a brand new one with much better hardware.