Hi Susy:

See, I helped you and I didn't even know I was helping you. lol lol

I just read the post above yours and the person said she LOVED her Apple Laptop. I'll look into that also.

I'm not ready to buy ANY laptop at the moment. I was gathering information. I have to sell on ebay, make some money, then go to the store (might do the apple thing).

So good luck on your quest to find your laptop.

Yeppers! Helped me out and I'm sure others as well!

I'm ready to buy, but my bank account says differently! LOL

What i like to do is go into the big stores that have them set up on display and try them out see if the keys feel comfortable and the screen is easy on your eyes...

take a note pad and write down the model # & price at that store of any that you like - then go home and check prices online - some times the store will match the online price for a sale if you print it out and take it in as proof.

You can also look up reviews on the model/brand to check for known issues.

I think all laptops now can do anything a desktop can - unless you have some specific need or older software that you use.

stick with the main brand names and you should be fine.
here's one site with reviews-
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/computers/laptops/

Jo:

You will not believe what happened today. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCES.

Alan and I walked around the corner to go to a garage sale. The guy had EVERYTHING.

I look down and what do I see?? A Linksys Router, brand new in the box. I remembered that someone on this thread had a Linskys Router. I ask the guy, why are you selling this. He said "oh I have a few, it's brand new, it's $15.00" So I'm thinking, well, if I buy it now, I'll always have a router. The guy goes, (he really thought I didn't know anything, you have to hear this story).

He goes: 'if you have a computer, you need a router". I said "no you don't". He says "yes you do". I said 'really?? please enlighten me". He goes. "you can't use the computer without a router". I said 'I have a HP Media Center with Verizon DSL, and I don't need any router". His eyes got big as saucers. He says 'Oh you have DSL". Then we are about to leave and I was telling Alan I was thinking of SOMEDAY buying a laptop. The guy goes "I have a laptop for sale". My ears pricked up and I said 'where? and he goes "in the house".

He goes and comes out with this OLD Compaq. I said "why are you selling this? And he goes "Oh, I just bought a Dell, this screen is too big for me, it's 17 inches and I got a 14 inch Dell." I said plug it in. I ask him "how old is this laptop?" and he scratches his chin and goes: 'Oh, it's 3 years old". I then ask him the kicker. "What's the operating system". He answers me "Oh, I have no idea, I only used it in my car, and only to work on".

I looked at Alan. The guy tries to turn it on. it doesn't turn on. I check the back and it had parallel ports and serial ports. NO USB PORTS. So this thing was OLD, right??

I then remark that it only has parallel ports and serial ports and no USB ports, and the guy looks at me like I have 3 heads and says "what's a USB port, THEN HE SAYS:

"I really don't know that much about computers'.

I'm supposed to believe this man has 2 laptops, but he doesn't know the operating system of this one, and he doesn't know USB ports but he used the laptop in his car all the time. Good grief.

We thanked him and walked away. Alan said "what was wrong with that laptop??" I said: 'it's old, and we want a new one with the latest operating system".

Alan looked at me and said: 'you really know stuff don't you". I then remarked:

"No, I learn from Jo and the others on the computer boards"

lol lol lol

I nearly bought a lap top yesterday!

I would so dearly love one, and we're expecting an $1800 rebate from our Private Health Fund. The fund I'm in are giving a % of their profits from last year to all their members, and that $1800 will be our share. DH wanted to get me one on credit, and pay if out as soon as our refund arrived.

There are sales on everywhere at the moment here as it's the end of our financial year (June 30) so there are real specials to be got.

The store I looked in had 2MB laptops for 1/3 the normal price, and I was ever so tempted......BUT......we need a new bed. The washing machine is making the most un-natural noises, the car needs a major service, and I would dearly love a few days away to see my long time girlfriends I've not seen in 5 years and more. These 4 ladies and I have been friends for periods ranging from 25-43 years, and they're very special to me; more special than any laptop computer.

DH had me almost out the door to go buy one when sensibility finally struck home! As much as I'd love one, especially with this PC dying a slow but painful death, I know that other things must come first.

Koala:

Are you sure it's a 2MB and not a 2 Gig laptop.

25 years ago, I bought one of the first desktops from IBM and the hard drive was 20 megabytes.

So when I saw that you wrote 2 MB, does that stand for Megabyte, or did you mean 2 Gigs??

I want to get my Megs and my Gigs straight!!!! lol

Oh dear Mel! I'm a real dill!

Of course I meant Gigs, I'm always getting the words muddled up!

I have to ask a question about the routers.

Last night we were all outside in front of my house. My former neighbor came over (he owns a computer company. He had his IPHONE (which impressed the heck out of me). I mean, you should see the video quality, and you can zoom in and everything. We watched you youtube videos on his IPOD. Alan was very impressed.

Then I told him what I learned about laptops (from these forums). He said "melody, why don't you get an air port"? After realizing that he was not telling me to by an actual air port, and I didn't want to seem clueless, I finally ascertained that his is a USB connection type of thing that you plug into a USB port on my tower, and it becomes a wireless router. He said 'it costs $79.00". I said 'now why would I buy something for $79.00 when I can buy a wireless router for $30??"

He said 'well, wireless routers can slow up your bandwith and internet speed" I said "really? will this affect the desktop, the laptop, or both".

And he said 'well, you never know, it CAN happen". "That's why I have an Air Port".

Then he whipped out his Apple notebood, that he paid $1900 for but re-sells them for $2400 and I said 'why is this thing worth $2400 and he said 'it's an Apple, and you get what you pay for".

Then he turned it on and it blew all of us away. Then he asked me (we were sitting on my front porch). He asked me "Melody, do you have Wi-Fi in your house?"

Now I took that to mean, "do I have a wireless router connected to my computer". and I said "no, I don't" and he said "then I can't access the internet from your porch, I would have to go into Dunkin or a place with Wi Fi.

I do KNOW WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT. I asked him "oh, you don't have a portable modem plugged into this laptop, and he said: "No, I don't need one, because everyplace I go to has Wi-Fi".


So, was I correct that I don't have Wi-Fi in my home??

And is he correct in his statement that a wireless router that would be connected to my tower, well, it might slow down my internet speed??


thanks to anyone who can answer.

Melody

i don't think he is correct at all.

mine is so much faster now.

and no..not everywhere has free wifi.

This is a very helpful thread!

I have been "shopping" for a computer for the past 3-4 weeks and also trying to keep all of the "techno" terms straight in my mind!

Good stuff! Thanks so much for sharing!