Laptop on Last Legs
My Inspiron 4100 was three years old at the end of last month. Two days later it broke. As you can see, one of the hinges as snapped. It's that crappy die-cast metal that ain't built for longevity. A design fault maybe, but three years is a decent innings.
The battery went more than a year ago. There was a phase where it had enough life in it to let you move from one room to another with it unplugged. Then it died and I ended up removing it altogether. Then we had to have it plugged in all the time and risk having the dog walk past and pull the lead out, losing all your work.
The snapped hinge has settled it - it looks like I need a new one. It's doesn't look very professional turning up on site having to find a power point and then gingerly opening the screen hoping it doesn't fall off completely, which is only a matter of time.
So, which one? I've liked the Dell but don't think I'd get another. They look a bit too clunky. At the moment I am looking at the IBM ThinkPads. Probably the R Series. It doesn't have to be super light or amazingly powerful. It's major role will probably be to surf the Web and for Karen's school-work.
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I have a ThinkPad R50p and it's fantastic. Relatively heavy but good and sturdy. My Inspiron 8200 has been going for about 3 years as well and it's far more delicate. Hasn't broken down at all though. Having said that my girlfriend dropped it yesterday and although she reckons it's OK I'm too scared to try it for myself....
Get a ThinkPad.
Cheers, Chris.
I had an Inspiron a few years back and we had to return it after 18 months to get the screen replaced (it had started to come away at the bottom, near the hinges).
It's a shame 'cos I like Dell machines generally, but I'd say your instinct is spot on.
Get a ThinkPad.
I've got an IBM T41; it's not a bad machine, and it's very light and seems pretty well made. The only downside is this - despite a decent 1.6Ghz Pentium IV with half a gig of ram, the machine is let down by a dodgy and slow hard drive. A lot of machines in our company have had hard drive failures with thinkpad models.
Thanks guys. This is the kind of thing I want to hear. Not that the hard drives fail though. Should I be put off by this? Do all models suffer Giles?
for none critial PC stuff I find that euroPC.co.uk are dead cheap and good value (and free next day delivery)
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I've had my Dell Latitude C840 for 2+ 1/2 years now and it's still going strong. I'm after a new one, not because it's broken or not fast enough, just that when I take it to see clients etc I kinda feel like my shoulder will give way as it weighs a tonne. Colleagues have Dell Latitude D400's and D600's and the seem sturdy and I've not heard any complaints...
Go for the ThinkPad. I "inherited" an R30 (p3 1Ghz) about half a year ago, it must be at least 2 years old now. I'm having no problems with it at all - except of course that I would prefer to have a P4 :-)
apologies for crap spelling!
I bought myself a T41p about 6 months ago that I was going to use when mobile. The machine is so good that I have been using it as my main machine for abount 5 months of that time, and now it is my sole machine - it is even good enough for games - love it ;o)
We have been using Siemens laptops at work and they aren't nearly as good as far as workmanship, materials and design go.
Jake,
I've had IBM, Compaq, Toshiba, Fujitsu and for the last two years Dell. I've had my Dell Latitude D600 for a year now and it is the best ever.
I think Dell is giving the best value for your money.
I've got me a Dell Latitude D600 also. It's light, small, built-in wireless, and I've had no problems with it. It's actually my permanent machine, I'm on it right now. :-)
Having tried both a Dell Inspiron and a Thinkpad R32 over the last two years, I'll have to recommend going with the Thinkpad. Much sturdier and much more reliable.
I have had a Dell Latitude C640 for over two years and could be happier with it although the battery is down to 15 mins now but seeing I will get through at least on battery cycle a day I don't think that is bad
Had the hinges go on my Higrade last year after 4 years around the world. Still use it in the office though, with a CRT hooked up. Bought another Higrade widescreen - love it but now open and close the lid from the centre front and very carefully. I don't carry it round by the lid either any more!
Why not treat yourself to a tablet PC?
ThinkPads are great. I have a T41p (just like ursus above) and agree it's a fantastic machine. But it isn't cheap.
T series ThinkPads are made better (better casing and such) and have a better warranty.
R series ThinkPads are excellent machines, but not as sturdy as the T. I imagine an R series is your best bet for bang-for-the-buck in the ThinkPad line. I'm not saying they are flimsy, just that they are not as sturdy as the T.
The T41p is the shizzle though...
Now look what you've done Carl! You've got me wanting a T series ;-)
I don't know enough about tablets Paul. I know they are hard to find though. Gimmicky? Not sure they're for me...
I've had several Toshibas and they've been great. When I bought my last one they were the only that had a resonably priced warranty that would cover accidental damage (drop).
Get a Thinkpad, and get it from the States if you can. It works out a hell of a lot cheaper.
We get so ripped off in UK....
They're not that hard to find:
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Gimmicky? Maybe, depends on how you use your current machine, and if you'd benefit from the ability to work and walk, so to speak.
Basically the only real difference between laptop and tablet is the ability to turn the screen over onto the keyboard and handwrite onto the screen - and it's actually scary good.
That then requires XP Tablet Edition - which is almost identical under the hood to regular XP Pro, just additions for the handwriting.
Also, you'll find that they are often better specified than laptops so there are fewer models - the one in that link has Lan, 54Mps Wlan, IR, Bluetooth, and DVD+/-RW. The batteries are often hot swapable and even last up to 7 hours!
I guess that sounds like a bit of a sales pitch, but I've been convinced, and we're buying 8+ at work instead of laptops...
IMHO, I'd say check them out :)
This link also explains the advantages in more detail:
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Jake,
I've had my T41p for over 12 months now and it is the dog's.
I use it for playing DirectX 9.0c games (Doom, Rome and -- on Tuesday -- Half-Life 2); oh, and for business! and as my main desktop pc (buy a port replicator and extra power cord so you don't have to keep unplugging the A/C and winding the cable up to transport it with you, etc).
I bought it because when you turn up at a client site, all that money IBM has put into Brand Management is a handy tie-breaker to have on your side (if you're bidding for a contract); it is tough; it's light; and it has the best battery you can buy (charge time, MTBF, battery length of 6 hrs, power management, even a BIOS deep discharge).
I also have a Dell Inspiron 8000 and my battery went over a year ago, too (apparently a v. common problem) which was one of the main reasons I plumped for the Thinkpad (because they ain't cheap).
If you can stretch for a Thinkpad, do it. (It has a hard-drive airbag!) If you are worried about cost, you can get company leases for IT hardware and depreciate it; e.g. £3k over 3 years is c. £150/m, with the option to amortise (renew the lease) half-way and get hardware of similar value.
Cheers
My wife got a Dell m series last year for Christmas. I helped her select the options and it came in at about 1500 US dollars. It has a very fast startup. I can power it on and get to the desktop in about 10-15 seconds! It's also very portable weighing in under 4 pounds.
Considering that one of your users will be Karen, it might not hurt to add that my wife has classified the laptop as "cute." One of the more important features ;o)
Jake, you and I must share the same timeslot or something - my Dell Inspiron 8000 just broke its hinge at exactly the same time in exactly the same place!
So, having had the machine for 3 years (with similar battery-life problems etc.), I've ordered an Inspiron 9100 which should do me for the next 3 years.
However, as the rest of the current laptop is still in good nick, and fairly quick even now, I phoned a company called 'Service Source (www.servicesource.co.uk)' who can apparantly source me a new laptop lid, complete with die-cast hinges for around £30 + VAT + P&P! All I have to do is get out my screwdriver and swap the LCD over. Worth a thought I guess...
I have had a Dell Inspiron, Dell Dimension, IBM ThinkPad, G4 Powerbook, Toshiba Satellite all running at the same time in my house. All have been in my possession for 2 years except the Toshiba. I only that this one for a short time.
Personally, I have only found the ThinkPad (T30) to be the most reliable machine when I have them all connected. The 2 Dell's have had to have their LCD's replaced. The Toshiba needed a new hard drive. The ThinkPad has not given me one problem in the 2 years I have had it. At this point, I use it as a primary machine at home and as a primary travel machine. I would recommend the IBM T series like some others above.
Looks like I've almost made my mind up. Definitely a ThinkPad and probably a T series. I've been on the phone to IBM who are going to have a local business rep call on Monday to discuss leasing etc.
Thanks for that link Tyron. Saves a call to Dell. Obviously (?) I wasn't just going to throw away the Inspiron. I'll try and fix it and either ebay it or give it to my dad so he can make some space and get rid of his out-dated desktop.
I suffered almost the same than you, I had a beautiful Inspiron (although someone in the US called it Frankiestein because of the size) but the hinges were broken, one by one ... btw, I ordered the parts from Dell, they were $7 USD, but I'm in Mexico so the shipping & handling was more expensive than the parts.
This year I'm having Thinkpad T41 ... I thought that I would never leave Dell, but I'm between 2 brand news Dell Latitud 600 and I feel like the only Pro in here with my Thinkpad ;)
I personally like the Thinkpads (typing this up on a T41). My only concern with the R series is typically they don't have a good out of the box warranty - 1 year is not enough.
The T series are compact, reasonably well priced and featured - but more importantly, have a 3 year warranty.
I love my T41!
You can extend your Thinkpad warranty to 5 years for nothing(? I think, or very little) -- register on the website.
The new model is T42 now, I think. (It's a bit early for the T43 -- they are regular as clockwork with their production cycles, every 6 months they update all the Thinkpad models ... T41 came out for R50, as T40 was simultaneous with R40. No I have no idea why they suddenly changed the naming convention, but I am not surprised.)
S'funny (not) how everyone with a Dell has a battery that lasts about 20 months and then dies -- that agrees with my anecdotal research, too. And I was RELIGIOUS about battery hygiene, running the battery down completely every week and not constantly connected to the AC.
I think I see your cunning plan, Jake: more cunning than Mr Fox who has just received his degree in Cunning! You are going to use the new TP for work and give Karen one of your existing pcs... Doesn't she prefer Macs?
;o)
Same laptop. Inspiron 4100. Same hinge, about 2 months ago. Multiple cracks in the case, and the CD-ROM drive was unseating itself frequently because the lock mechanism was misaligned -- probably due to warping in the frame. Sent it back to Dell, and it came back quickly -- all fixed. New case, old electronics. Less than a week later, the hard drive died. I still have six weeks left on the warranty. I'll send it back one more time, but will also probably move on to another laptop. The problem with thinkpads is that I haven't found one that is upgradable to 2 GB RAM. If I'm expecting to do any serious work with IBM Workplace products in the next four years, I think my next laptop should be upgradaable to at least 2 GB. Unless someone proves me wrong on this, I'll probably not be getting a Thinkpad.
-rich
Richard. All the T Series models I've been looking at can have 2GB of RAM.
It'd be a Thinkpad for me every time. I have a 600E I've had for around 5 years. The battery's long gone but the rest of it feels as solid as if it were new.
The keyboards are great, the trackpoint mouse is brill and they're fantastically well built.
Jake,
I forgot mentioning that my T41p has the "extended battery" that allows the machine to run for about 8 hours on one charge (my battery allways lasts the whole day at clients). You can also replace the DVD/CD for another battery giving you even longer battery life.
I also have a PowerBook 15" at home. Although it's a really good laptop - the battery is already down at about 1 1/2 hours - and that after only 3/4 year.
Richard: I added 512 MB to my T41p. I wanted to add 1 GB but it was prohibitivly expensive - so you can definatly have 1 1/2 GB ;o)
Jake: get yourself a docking station - great to connect all your stuff to but still allow you to take the machine with you at a moments notice ;o)
Have fun choosing your model ;O)
Ursus
Jake
It may not be much of a recommendation but an earlier version of the T41 has been on the Alist in Pcpro as best business notebook, for a while now.
I have found that when supporting laptops IBM's seen to have been more reliable than Toshiba's.
Though I have to admit I personally covet a Sony B1XP, form over function really.
Though look at purchasing whatever with at least 512mb of memory or better still 1GB it can be cheaper bought with the machine , as to up grade most laptops you need to throw out the old memory and add new. 512 is usually 2 X 256 and to get a gig you either throw out both sticks and replace with two 512mbs or you could be realy silly and throw one out and buy a 1gb stick therefore getting a 1.25cg machine, though it may break the bank, and some machines only allow matched pairs.
I guess I jinxed myself, but the day after I proclaimed my T41p as "the shizzle", my video card shizzled the bed!
The good news is that it came with a 3 year warranty. I was on hold with tech support for 2 minutes before they got my details and are sending a case to ship the unit back for repairs.
They say 3 to 5 days turnaround for service, but I've dealt with ThinkPad service before and expect it'll be quicker than that.
Now I realize how great a laptop it really is as I am forced to work on an older T series. I miss my system...
Thanks, Jake. The IBM web site's configurator only provided the option to upgrade to 1.5 GB, so I assumed that the standard 512 MB was soldered in, and that there was only one expansion slot. Nice to know that's not true.
Another question though, is will they actually sell it to you with 2 GB, or at least sell it to you in a configuration such that upgrading to 2 GB won't leave you stuck with having a spare 512 MB module left over?
-rich
I Googled ThinkPad t43 and found a Chinese website that talks about it. Wish I could read Chinese.
i am a graduation senior going to U of A (roll tide) and i am trying to figure out the best laptop..my options are inspiron 8600 or an 12" Apple PowerBook i am leaning twords the apple but just based on looks..any info will help
MINES WORSE..
MINES HANGIN ON BY ONE WIRE..
IT WONT EVEN STAND UP STRAIGHT,
IT JUST FALLS BACK
MINES A NEW 2007 COMPAQ