Well, what I've come to understand is that
users are extremely idiosyncratic when it comes to portable computers. They tend to select a specific brand for some esoteric reason and then the following things happen:
a. When they upgrade to a newer portable, they are
far more inclined to buy from the same brand.
b. They will
always justify whatever negative experience they're getting from their portable.
c. They will
always scorn other brands for the things they detest on them.
The above don't happen only if a user becomes subjest to a disastrous experience during the very first stage of his virgin purchase. In this case, he/she blames everything on that laptop's brand, and starts looking for a different one. However, if this initial stage concludes smoothly, then he/she becomes hooked
for ever. The user can
only lay his/her hands on this specific keyboard, operate
only this specific trackpad, plug usb devices
only when the ports are on the "right" place, and so on. (Do all these sound to you like a cult? Yes, they do...)
We could discuss many laptop-selection-related issues here, yet we'd be still be missing the main point:
People buy things motivated by their feelings, not their logic. Give someone the most logical arguments - they won't agree. Tell them "but ya don't wanna be called stupid, do ya?", thus triggering their emotions rather their logic, and presto - they're on your side! I repeat what marketeers learn in their very first lesson: People buy only for sentimental reasons - period! So, let us
present ideas here, but not become tempted in
exchanging them; we can't force-feed anyone... Just try to remember why you bought your cell phone or why you like the food you like... you may be able to cite some reasonably-sounding (at least to you!) arguments, yet the underlying truth is that this is what you simply
like!...
WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR
1. Alienware are best to be avoided.
2. Sony are overpriced and too proprietary.
3. Acer support site is
totally unacceptable.
4. Hp/Compaq support site is pathetic.
5. Dell support site is acceptable.
BEST PRACTICES I RECOMMEND
1. Choose a built-to-order, easily
expandable laptop.
2. Buy a
full Windows installation disc (oem).
3. Check out their support site
before buying.
WHAT I PERSONALLY LIKE (in case anyone cares)
Fujitsu-Siemens Celsius H series
Specs:
1. Windows®
Vista, XP Professional and Linux (certified for RedHat and Novell Linux)
2. Intel® 945PM Express motherboard, Intel® Core™ Duo Processors T2300, T2400, T2500, T2600, 667 MHz System Bus, 2MB Second-level cache, Memory max. 4 GByte, dual-channel DDR2-667 SDRAM.
3. Floppy disk drive (USB) is optional.
4. Optical drives DVD-ROM, CD RW/DVD combo, DVD+-R / +-RW DL.
5. Hard disks you can have totally two SATA up to 100GB @ 7200 rpm or 120GB @ 5400 rpm.
6. Slots: 1 x PC-Card type II, 1 x Express Card, 1 x SmartCard, 1 x SD/MMC.
7. Interface: 1 x IrDa V1.1, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394, 1 x microphone in, 1 x combined headphone / S/PDIF out, 1 x modem, 1 x LAN, 1 x TV-out, 1 x docking connector for PortReplicator, 1 x VGA.
8. Display / Resolution 15.4 inch TFT WUXGA, 1920 x 1200
9. Graphic: ATI Mobility FireGL V5200, PCI-Express
10. Video RAM: 256MB, GDDR3
11. Audio: ALC262, HDA
12. Modem: Built-in V.90 international modem
13. LAN: Broadcom BCM 5751M, Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbit/s Ethernet (WLAN optional)
14. Weight: approx. 3.2 kg
15. Battery: 1st Li-Ion, 8 cells, 14.4V, 5200mAh - 2nd Li-Ion, 6 cells, 10.8V, 3800mAh
16. Options: 2nd HDD, optical drives, 2nd battery, BlueTooth, WLAN.
Careful, though! If you look it up in Fujitsu-Siemens' e-shop, you WON'T find it under laptops; it's listed under Workstations (for obvious reasons
). Actually, F-S calls this beauty a Desktop (!!!) Corporate PC. A very-decent-spec one is at £ 1,255.89 ex VAT (£ 1,475.67 inc VAT) and this price includes WinXP Pro. See it
here.
WHY? (RATIONALIZATION FOLLOWS)
It's an exceptionally superb computer that moreover happens to be a not-so-heavy laptop! It is truly a series of business-spec models and NOT consumer-type ones. Thus the level of built-quality, dependability, stability, overall system integration and customer service for a Celcius is in another galaxy, compared to a typical Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo or whatever other laptop, targeted to the consumer market. Plus I never play Games so I never bother to have the "games playability" in my priority list - when dependability is numero uno! I can have 3-D apps running when making a presentation to a customer. Plus, it simply seriously kicks you know what...