what brand is a dependable laptop with excellent service record. ( minimal breakdown record)?
101809
Over the ten years that we have purchased 20,000+ used laptops our techs have found IBM and Toshiba to be the most reliable and the easiest to work on.  I personally have been buying Toshiba laptop for fifteen years and have good luck with them.
732703
My choice would definitely HP Pavillion (the dv1000 and dv 2000 series).\n\nI have had Toshiba (cpu heats up in 8 months)\nI have had Sony (too expensive for brand sake)\nI have had Gateway (little cheapo on keyboard.. keys fall out in 5 months)\nI had DELL (stay away !!! beware )\n\nThis is the 7th laptop I am using in last 3 years (my company provides me with all these gadgets) of which I had 2 HP pavillions. I have had no problems with them. light weight, looks slick-n-sexy, remote control,.. best ever ! )\n\nHope that helps.\nhappy surfing :)
690673
Dell or HP. You have to put an eye on the support given by the manufacturer. Dell service is better and faster than HP, in case of a hardware failure, but HP hardware is better, so you decide between having a very good support and good hardware (this is DELL), or having a very good Hardware with regular support (this is HP). In my particular case, I prefer Dell, because of the support.\n\nHope this helps. Regards
475910
choose any modern laptop with a good amount of RAM, I suggest no less than 1GB.
34263
Every answer above is what 90% of the population believes. Dell, HP...etc. I have done a lot of research into this subject. You need to know about OEM and ODM companies. A great place to get information on this and all notebook questions is at notebookforums.com\n\nPeople who are "in the know" buy notebooks from companies such as Sager, Prostar, Hypersonic, Alienware and my favorites are Falcon-NW (luxury) & ASUS. ASUS makes some of the best built most stylish laptops available. Do a Google search to find online resellers. Most of the ones I listed above are not to be found in a store but rather online.  If you must have follow the pack and get an average laptop from a local electronic store then I would suggest HP. Stay away from Emachines at all costs! As well as anything from Fry's...not good to deal with them. Good luck!
946944
Get the Compaq Presario V3000Z series. It's very cheap (I bought mine for $479.99) , and performs well. You can find it here:\nhttp://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Usage&v1=Everyday+computing&series_name=V3000Z_series
640865
Dell... It's the best quality
388015
Consumer Reports has the following laptops listed as best for for overall quality:\n\n"WINDOWS BUDGET Relatively low-cost systems for most general uses, including photo editing":\n\nDell Inspiron 6000 1.5 GHz Celeron M 370 ($850)\nSony Vaio VGN-FS690 1.4 GHz Celeron M 360J ($1,000)\n\n"WORKHORSE Have additional memory and storage for more intensive uses, such as 3D games and video editing\n\nHP Pavilion zv6000 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 ($1250)\nCompaq Presario V4000T 1.73 GHz Pentium M 740 ($1395)\n\nSLIM AND LIGHT Lightweight systems for travelers and students.\n\nToshiba Portege S100-S213TD 2 GHz Pentium M 760 ($1900)\nSharp Widenote PCM4000 1.73 GHz Pentium M 740 ($1800)\n\nMULTIMEDIA Have enhanced sound and video components for home entertainment\n\nToshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 1.8 GHz Pentium M 745 ($2300)\nHP Pavilion zd8000 3 GHz Pentium 4 630 ($1725)\n\nMACINTOSH Best reliability and less vulnerability to computer viruses and spyware\n\nApple iBook 14" Combo 1.4 GHz PowerPC G4 ($1300)\n\nNOTE: Gateway is not necessarily a bad computer just because a person has a bad experience with theirs. Mine is a Gateway laptop and it runs beautifully, 24 hours a day (extra cooling added).
321745
Try Total Recorder by http://www.highcriteria.com.  The product works pretty good.   \n\n\nEnjoy\n-KOZ-\nhttp://www.phoenix-computer-repair.com
1064390
The four major manufacturer's of laptops are Toshiba, IBM, Dell and HP/Compaq. They have all been manufacturing laptops for many years. All four make quality products. Toshiba and IBM (now Lenovo) tend to make the most reliable products. Both focus on the corporate marketplace, as do HP and Dell.  Any of these manufacturers would make a good choice. \n\nYou might also consider an older laptop.  Many older laptops that you find from the companies that sell refurbished laptops come from leasing companies and corporations.  Decent units can be purchased for $300 to $500.\n\nFigure out what features you want and then look at the above manufacturer's websites to see what deals they are offering.  If you don't care about battery life and your laptop will see limited use then you might even consider refurbished.  Many of these units were formerly used by corporations and are great values.\n\nYou can type "used laptops" for refurbished and "discount laptop" into google and check out the companies that appear.
1143061
dells desdktops are sh*t. interestingly their laptops are good. i beleive its the otherway around with compaq.\n\ndell is definitely the way to go.
51672
I would suggest that you either go for a Dell, HP, or a Toshiba.  Sony Vaio are pretty expensive and the most over-rated laptops.  IBM Thinkpads and Apple iBooks are good on performance, but far too expensive.\n\nI have a Toshiba and I have worked for HP, so I would definitely recommend these.  Toshiba laptops are pretty rugged, quiet, have beautiful screens (among the very best), have terrific multimedia qualities like good speakers, multimedia buttons for playing DVDs without booting the computer, a host of media ports like SD, XD, MMC, Compact Flash (for transferring photos from your digital camera), etc., decent sized keyboards, 100 GB hard drives for storing your data, wireless network adapters, etc.  I haven't had issues with them and the customer support is fantastic!\n\nI would recommedn the Toshiba Satellite series and the HP DV series.\n\nDell lately has been having a lot of problems with their batteries and have been recalling many defective laptops.  My roomies have had problems with brand new Dells too.\n\nFor better reviews and customer ratings visit this website.  It will be a good guide.
557054
HP/Compaq\n\nBecause if it's true there are many performing PC (whose power you'll probably never use in your life, like alienware), many cute and nice PCs (Like MACs, so nice and reliable, yet so uncompatible with the Windows world..for the time being), or renowned for the reliability (like IBM....very reliable but all of them with very low performances in terms of multimedia stuff)....HP/COMPAQ offers high performing PCs and never leaves you alone AFTER you buy it. They have a very efficient service. \nI'd suggest HP/COMPAQ for it's the best compromise between PERFORMANCES-PRICE-QUALITY OF SERVICE\nGood Luck
295565
Here, this is probably what you are looking for. Try the B120 or B130, they are your best bet, very basic laptops.
330827
x60 from lenovo(formerly IBM) or Toshiba Protege m-400. And nothing can beat the reliability of toshiba.
629264
Normal run of the mill Dell laptop. Wouldn't say its up there with the latest specs, but they are usually proficient in what they are required to do.
992334
Toshiba satellites have always been reliable for me.  At work and at home.  Have seen many models. They rock!