You didn't mention your budget or other requirements (size/weight, graphics power). $500-1500, Dell is tough to beat with some of their hot deals. Sometimes there are <$500 lappys after rebates at BB, CC, CUSA, OM, OD, Staples, etc, that will work great as portable secondary computers for DVD watching and wireless internet browsing. Over $1500 there are some very nice laptops from IBM, Sony, and many other brands.

I'm happy with the Dell 600m I got 1.5 years ago.

 

The $2000+ price tag? (15.4" 2.0ghz core duo)

 

I frequent another forum for some software. In this forum, when someone mentions lifter/valve noise at cold startup, everyone asks, "Are you using a Fram filter". On that forum, if someone has a problem, the first statement is "It's a Dell, right".

 

Te Toshiba Tecra lineup was the chit back in the day but they have fallen of the perch. The serious business notebook today is the Thinkpad, period. However, since you made absolutely NO mention to key factors in making the right decision (price, wieght, performance, battery life, blah blah blah) then who the hell knows if your looking at the right laptop.

Kobi - with the intel platform and dual boot stuff my next notebook might just be a Mac! I cannot wait to see how the Mac/Powerbook lineup will handle Vista. I'm kinda excited, but I have a couple more good years left in my IBM.

 

ViperGrendal - 2K for the MacBookPro . . . 1,099 for the MacBook (1,499 for the MacBook pictured)



dzervit - You are assuming Vista ever gets released. What with Balmer mentioning two days ago that Vista will be even later (won't make the already three or four times delayed January release). Ironic, isn't it, that if you read the Vista description on Microsoft's web site, it amounts to OSX . . . which is already in it's fourth release.

Think about this . . . what if you could runs Windows programs NATIVELY . . . INSIDE Mac OSX? What do you want to bet the kids in Cupertino haven't already figured out how to do it . . . . . . .

 

IF they know how to do that they need to release that stuff ASAP. I'd go buy a Mac laptop tomorrow if they did.

 

You fail to mention specs on those Macbooks. Anyway, in order to get a 15.4" screen you need to spend 2K or more (according to Apple's website). Now, you're getting a fairly hefty machine for that price which isn't too overpriced (Apple is starting to get a clue), but there's no real "budget" options in their lineup. So, it's still a bit of an "elitist" machine which could probably be found cheaper somewhere else. Similar to Alienware. The only advantage is the ability to run OSX, but how many here need that?

I do agree, we could rattle off brand names all day long, but you need to know what you want, (speed, sprice, size) before diving too far into a purchase like this.

 

As usual I'm the contrarian. I like HP. This one I've had for 8 years and I'm olny replacing it, because I don't want to pack it and move it and it is having problems running some of the newer software. I will prolly buy either a Dell or HP again. Price is the factor.

If mountaineer hates Dell it can't be all bad.

 

Dell techsupport sucks. I got an Inspiron 9300 for christmas and didn't get an OS cd with it. Took me like 3 weeks to find out that they partitioned it on to the harddrive instead of bundling oem cd. That was frustrating. They transfer you from one indian to another. I rather talk to an american on the phone. Other than that the laptop is great. Its pretty light weight. I can't complain. My brother had decent luck with alienware.

 

Most hardware companies are now doing the same thing - not including an OS CD. When I bought my dell you have the option of buying the install CD but it costs a fair amount extra.
I think its funny... people are upset when companies start cutting things back, but yet they continue to buy the cheapest of what is out there hence prooving the point that you get what you pay for. Guess what, even if Dells support wasnt located in India, you probably wouldn't be speaking to someone who spoke fluent english. I remember when I bought my first computer in 1995 (after using my parents computers for years) I had to call for support when the hard drive crashed. the number was in california and their chinese accents were so thick I could barely understand a word they were saying.
Want better support? Buy a more expensive system that comes with support from an American system. otherwise, Dell is saving millions and millions of dollars by having support in India, hence why their laptops are cheaper than many other competitors and hence why more people buy them then their competitors.
You get what you pay for.