My 4-year-old laptop crashed and appears unrevivable. I would like to buy a netbook to use until I'm ready to invest in nicer laptop 6 to 8 months from now. I know very little about computers, and would like some advice on what models would be best for me.
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posted by wansac
on Nov 5, 2010 -
12 answers
Netbook/Windows Starter 7 question: What is the filename (and path) for the default, non-changeable background (wallpaper) image? Can I just save what I want as that file and have it use that instead?
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posted by fiercecupcake
on Oct 20, 2010 -
6 answers
I'm thinking about replacing my 2 year-old 15" Macbook Pro but I can't find a non-Apple laptop that feels like it doesn't have cheap hardware. Am I missing something?
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posted by decrescendo
on Jun 13, 2010 -
33 answers
Looking for the perfect laptop for traveling. Priorities are durability, lightness, and battery life, in that order. Performance is not too important, but it must run Windows 7 like a champ. Willing to consider netbooks.
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posted by Afroblanco
on Oct 29, 2009 -
19 answers
Seeking recommendations for durable and attractive laptop jackets (the kind that you leave on when the laptop is in use).
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posted by ishotjr
on Aug 23, 2009 -
3 answers
I find myself unexpectedly in the market for a new laptop, and I'm considering switching to a Mac. I know the new MacBooks can finally do a proper right-click, but can they also do a middle-click without some awkward key combo? On my current laptop I just tap in one corner of the trackpad to middle click, and I can't imagine browsing the web without middle clicking.
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posted by stopgap
on Nov 11, 2008 -
13 answers
Laptop Battel! Help me decide which manufacturer deserves my hard-earned money. I've narrowed it down to Dell vs. Toshiba vs. Lenovo. Also, RAM: 2gb or 3?
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posted by gnutron
on Oct 22, 2008 -
26 answers
Which brands/models of used laptops should I be looking at if I want (A) something that won't easily break, and (B) to avoid proprietary parts and chipsets?
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posted by mr. creosote
on May 27, 2008 -
21 answers
My Macbook Pro was stolen. Just about the only non-shitty thing about it is that I keep my huge iTunes library on an external drive. All the music files are on the drive, but the data files (library.xml) were on the stolen Mac. I have another Macbook. What's the simplest way I can rebuild my library on it?
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posted by grumblebee
on May 8, 2008 -
13 answers
I'm looking for an inexpensive, used notebook computer for a 10 year old. It needs to be able to run >= Windows XP, but it will be used mostly for word processing and wireless internet access. No games (at least not as a hardware requirement spec).
Ideally something around $100-150
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posted by GernBlandston
on Apr 10, 2008 -
17 answers
I am looking to buy my first ever laptop. What I would like to know are the following oddities that I haven't gotten much info on yet:
1) Is there typically a time of year when companies all roll out there new systems? And I might be able to take advantage of sales on new systems, or on year old systems?
2) It doesn't seem like Bluetooth is available on very many midrange systems based on my initial scans, do I really need Bluetooth or just want it (for cell phone interaction now, other components in the future perhaps).
3) Are Intel processors really that much better than AMD, or is the extra money to spend on them not the best value?
4) If all I am concerned about is speed, does Vista really slow a new system down a whole lot to be concerned?
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posted by franklen
on Feb 24, 2008 -
23 answers
My (secondhand) Sony Vaio PCG-V505DC2 laptop's PC Card slot isn't recognizing any cards put in it (I've tried three, all of which I know work). I know it's not a driver problem because all of the cards worked until recently, when they started working only intermittently before stopping working at all. Can this be fixed in any kind of cost-effective way, preferably by myself?
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posted by likedoomsday
on Nov 25, 2007 -
7 answers
It's almost 60 degrees outside, so why is my computer frozen? ( know any free online IT help forums?)
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posted by Smarson
on May 1, 2007 -
13 answers
My wife wants a pink laptop. Not just a pink laptop, but a really lightweight pink laptop (preferably 3-4 lbs or less). I've gone crazy googling for it and there doesn't seem to be such a beast. I seem to remember seeing pink Sony Vaios at the local Sony store (I could've sworn it was the TX series) but the only color for TX's on the Sony site is Sienna. Close but not quite. The Sony C series has a pink model, but it's on the heavier side.
It doesn't have to be super-fast or anything, just fast enough for Outlook, web browsing, etc. Does such a computer exist currently?
posted by edjusted
on Apr 30, 2007 -
27 answers
The battery in my IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad Z60t went out of warranty 4/29/07. When I woke up today, the machine says "Irreparable damage to the battery has been detected. Replace the battery with a new one." Is it really damaged? Could it be a broken sensor? Some kind of software glitch? Is this typical? Is there a better alternative to the
$159 replacement?
posted by fourstar
on Apr 1, 2007 -
15 answers
Can this laptop be saved? eMachines M2105 bought refurbished from Tiger Direct outlet near Toronto two years ago (90 day warranty). Recently the power cord developed the "jiggle it to make it work" disease. Only it turns out that it wasn't the cord but the jack inside the computer that had the problem. Now the jack is completely loose from whatever it had been attached to and so the computer doesn't go. While online third-party parts dealers seem to have jacks for just about any other eMachines laptop, no-one seems to have this one. And the official eMachines parts supplier says I need to replace the mainboard (which costs about two-thirds of what I paid for the laptop for the part alone).
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posted by winston
on Jan 5, 2007 -
15 answers
Please help recommend a solid, mid-range laptop for a friend with excellent tech support options and good longevity.
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posted by hamster
on Aug 15, 2006 -
26 answers
I'm looking to buy a new MacBook this summer and am hoping to sell my current 15", 1.3 GHz Powerbook (1.5GB RAM) to help cover some of the cost. How do I go about determining a reasonable price to ask for for my Powerbook? Are there any recommended routes by which I can sell my Powerbook whilst minimizing the risk of being ripped off?
posted by BioCSnerd
on Jun 3, 2006 -
9 answers
One of the rubber "feet" on the bottom of my notebook computer came off and I can't seem to find it. Where can I purchase a replacement? I called technical support (Gateway), and they said they do not ship them nor can they repair it in their warehouse.
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posted by beammeup4
on May 9, 2006 -
6 answers
How can I shut off the auto-click feature of the touchpad on my Sony Vaio (model PCG-GRT170, if that helps)?
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posted by DyRE
on Mar 26, 2006 -
5 answers
Alienware vs. Dell: I humbly request personal experiences to aid in the resolution of my notebook-buying dilemma.
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posted by gramschmidt
on Aug 11, 2005 -
30 answers
I'm going to be travelling/out in public with my notebook computer a lot in the next month. Any tips? [more inside]
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posted by wackybrit
on Sep 27, 2004 -
12 answers
I've got US $1200 to spend on a new notebook. I'm not a gamer; just a college student who surfs the web, watches movies, listens to music, and does some programming. Care to point me in the right direction?
posted by Scottk
on Aug 10, 2004 -
7 answers
Can you help me spend an absolute max. of £1500 (UKP) on a laptop PC? Using some quite hefty/nasty engineering apps so it needs some grunt to it; wirless technology would be nice, but is not essential; and something that looks the part would be ace too!
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posted by nthdegx
on Apr 15, 2004 -
9 answers
I would like a simply way to access my desktop's hard drives from my notebook. I don't have much networking experience. Both systems run WinXP. The desktop is hooked up to an 802.11b Lynksys Wireless-B router. The notebook, which has WiFi, gets its internet connection from this router. I realize that, with this system, there's no way that the desktop can access the notebook's harddrives, but what about vice versa?
posted by grumblebee
on Jan 1, 2004 -
8 answers
