Best value for laptop?

[Scanner]

I need a new laptop after 7 years.

I bought a Dell Inspiron and like clockwork, I did have to replace the harddrive about 3.2 years after I bought it (everyone says a Dell lasts about 3 years). Other than that one repair, it's been pretty good.

My needs are very simple:

1. Need wireless
2. Need XP or Windows
3. Microsoft Word, and occasionally I use Powerpoint. (like 1x-2x/year)

I was thinking of buying another basic Dell (Vostro) and then I found amazon has Microsoft Office Student that has Word and Powerpoint for about $128.00 rather than getting the Productivity bundles thru them.

But. . .I am trying to balance frugality with value. For about $50.00 more, I can get a Compaq.

Is it worth it?

Where do you balance quality and price?

[sweeps]

I used to religiously buy Dell's but can no longer recommend them due to various problems. I watch slickdeals for the best deals. I'll still buy a Dell when they're listed for super cheap, but you'll also find good deals on HP's and Sony's.

I won't buy a Compaq on pure principle.

[PrincessPerky]

ditto the anti Compaq..many complaints from family and friends.

as to other choices....we tend to build, so no real help from me, sorry.

[simple987]

I am on my second Toshiba laptop in 8 years, and I give them a very high recommendation. Very sturdy and reliable. You can score some great deals on the entry-level laptops at Circuit city.com

[richie_rich]

great!

[Broken Arrow]

Hmm. Compaq was bought out by HP many years back.... I think the original corporate strategy was to make their HP the premium line while the Compaq was their budget line, but I could be wrong.

I have a friend who had a top-of-the-line HP laptop, but had problems with it, had to send it back for repairs (still under warranty), it got lost in their warehouse or delivery or something, then it was still broken, so he had to send it back again. It's anecdotal, but it's worth considering.... I wonder how he's doing with that laptop now?

Me, I personally love Thinkpads. They certainly cost more, but like Toyota and Honda, their business is built on rock solid reliability. The fact that that it's been sold to Lenovo does not seem to have affected its build quality. Thank goodness. They're worth the money, IMO.

Thinkpads can also be had in used or refurbished form, which I personally don't have a problem with, but feel free to disagree. Two places that are worth checking out is overstock.com and tigerdirect.com.

[poundwise]

TigerDirect

NewEgg

onSale

[mike42]

I'm not sure about what brand of laptop to buy, but I haven't bought MS Office for a home computer for a few years now.

Instead I use OpenOffice, which is extremely similar to Office (you can even open all Office files and save them in Office formats -- for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc). Best of all it's free!

[DebbieL]

I bought a refurbished Gateway laptop from Tigerdirect in October. I’ve been very pleased so far, and it was CHEAP! It came with Windows Vista as the operating system.

[WantRice]

I am on my second Toshiba laptop in 8 years, and I give them a very high recommendation. Very sturdy and reliable. You can score some great deals on the entry-level laptops at Circuit city.com

Another vote for Toshiba. My 9 year old Toshiba still works. It's only got a 2GB hard drive so of course I don't use it anymore but it still works! I'm on my second Toshiba now and feel very confident in its quality.

[LuckyRobin]

I'd go for a Toshiba, too. They are workhorses and very sturdy. I've dropped mine twice and it just keeps on going. I bought my most recent one for $600, got back $150 rebate, then used the rebate to buy Office. I've been very happy with it.

[beebop25blue25]

I agree that TOSHIBA is the best!! We've had two of them and I never had any problems, my kids have dropped them, pulled the keys off them, spilled stuff and they are both still fine. Then one Christmas I caved and bought a Dell that was onsale. It's been nothing but trouble and costly repairs. I told my husband soon after I bought the Dell that I would never buy anything but a Toshiba from now on!

[veronak]

I am an HP fan never had ant problems and I find them to be much less than Dell, my laptop was $500. It came with a DVD burner, MS Money, Quicken and a few other things except MS office which I think you have to pay for anyway
good luck

[poundwise]

Laptop Buyers Guide

[project15]

Instead I use OpenOffice, which is extremely similar to Office (you can even open all Office files and save them in Office formats -- for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc). Best of all it's free!

I also would recommend them to a frugal shopper who only uses them occasionally. All the apps included with it can save in Microsoft formats as well. OpenOffice.org: Home