Laptop source
 

There is a great source on the internet for laptops, etc. They supposedly have very low prices and sometimes rebates on top of that. I know a little about computers but not enough to pick one out.

Try www.tigerdirect.com and see what they have available. There is an Acer Aspire for $499 and a Compaq for $449 but like I said, I have no background so I don't know good from just ok. I do know we bought my parents a TV from tigerdirect last year and they have had no problems with it. Our PC and my laptop were also purchased through them - no problems.

Just another suggestion - only trying to help.

Nancy

Thanks LizaJane for letting us know. I didn't know either that she was in hospital. Count me in on that piece of laptop.

Billye, you just don't let those hospital lackeys mess with you. Your pain control is of utmost, and I'm sorry you got transferred to a floor where they have minimum pain control issues. I've gone thru this with my son for the past 7 mos, and every time theres a room change or a floor change or ...whatever... it was he who had issues and problems.
Wrong type bed, wrong meds, wrong this, wrong that, etc. and they say that there is where you're supposed to get better. HAH!
Get well enough to go home, so's you can get better.
Ya gotta speak up and don't let them railroad you, ya hear ??!! :)
Get well, Billye.
We're all rootin' fer ya.

I know Silverlady always spoke very highly of her husband to me her in emails. Perhaps he is intimidated about buying a laptop...maybe she has a grown child, or he has some one who would go with him to purchase a laptop...nothing is worse than talking to some techno-geek (said affectionately) who unintentionally makes you feel really dumb, and you just say, 'uhum' to everything they say. I think waiting to get one delivered may take too long for her to use it in the hospital....that said, I wish I had a laptop at home, but then again, I still need to haul around the DSL modem....which means disconnecting my desktop. I did that when my daughter brought hers home for me to use, but it is a pain. She may need another modem at home, unless they have wireless??

I know my husband would not know how to print out stuff off of this computer here at home...he does for his one at work, but when it comes to this one, he always has to ask me for help. Then again, maybe he does that to make me feel important.;)

I think the hospital or her family is the fastest connection.

a Puter
 

If we want to get XP - we're going to have to have one built unless its used (again, as mentioned) - not a good idea with a laptop as they are single units and more fragile so a good warranty is a must..... also, all systems across the board are going to cost about the same for what you are getting - we definately want wireless, I would say a gig of ram, cd/dvd burning... (the cheaper machines have less RAM, often no burning capability).... and the fastest processer we can get in thte range (these can vary in the same price range)

Dell will build one with XP and cost about the same as any store comparable machine - but will be a wait for building and shipment.... HP is also trying to get into the market with XP - but havent found a store willing to order one to be built with it.....

Tiger Direct is a reputable site as far as I know - several friends buy from it... I guess we need to answer the poll - and hear from Billye if this is a go for sure?

:confused:

well...
 

I think Billye should have input...major.

Also our Dells came faster than the given estimates.

We have used TigerDirect, but not for computers. I have bought supplies there..memory cards etc.

Places like TigerDirect have left overs...things that have not sold..etc. May be some warranty issues.

The Vista vs XP thing is important. The user (Billye) should have some say in this matter, IMO.

Also we need to know how long she will be in the hospital...an estimate.
She may be coming home sooner than we all think.:o

input
 

I heard from Billye's husband today. He followed instructions passed along from kmeb to activate their home account for dial-up and brought one of his laptops to the hospital to set up. He hasn't yet figured out how to make it dial through the 9 that you have to use for an outside line, but the IT people are going to work with him tomorrow!

Yaaaaay!

I am glad that Billye has a notebook to use while in the hospital . . . and especially glad that if we get her a new one, we don't have to rush out and get it right away.

I would concur with Mrs.D that the issue of Vista vs. XP is important -- except that I am STRONGLY in favor of Vista. Of course, before getting it, we should check to see what peripherals she has now that she might use with a new notebook. My guess is none that would cause a problem, but if there are, then that could make a big difference.

But if not, this is a no-brainer. For anyone using XP right now, do you wish you had 2000? You almost never hear talk of it, except in a slightly derogatory way. Don't get me wrong . . . there is absolutely nothing wrong with 2000, in fact, I think it was one of the best OS's Microsoft ever did. But the truth is that it is now out of date and not an OS anyone would truly want to install if they could choose XP.

Vista has some specific things that are very nice with notebooks, such as a lot more ways to configure important options such as a mouse cursor. While something that sounds trivial -- and is on a desktop -- can make the difference between true usability and constant squinting and other discomfort. You can also add something called flash RAM to Vista . . . it is now very cheap and very nice. In many cases, you can actually lower the memory you need to buy, and just stick in the flash RAM.

Also, Vista is just a lot better with security. Now again -- don't get me wrong, this is Microsoft we are talking about -- so you know there will be security glitches. But especially for those who are not technically minded, like Billye, Vista will be a huge improvement. And as time goes on, it will only become more so. Developers will begin to design their wares with Vista in mind. And just as there lots of things that you can't run on 2000 right now, down the road, and not too far, there will be things that only run on Vista.

It just doesn't make sense to get a new notebook -- and I forgot to mention that all new notebooks are now designed to run optimized on Vista -- with an OS that will not be kept up over the years.

I agree with Mrs.D that Billye should have input - in fact, I would hope she will have the final say about this. Just as long as she has read everything here and anywhere else she wants to, she will be in a good position to decide what OS to get.

If anyone here knows what other hardware she has, it would be nice to know and we can start seeing if there are any potential compatibility problems.

rafi

Billye
 

I hope you got hooked up and are reading this! We miss you - as you can see!!!!!!!!!! Sending lots of very good thoughts:grouphug:

Soo, where do I send a
 

contribution? Tell me, Tammy, tell me true? - j

Who is the laptop expert amongst you guys in the US ? the last thing we would want to do is get her a lemon.