Who makes the most reliable laptops?

[S2M]

The best laptops you say?





That blonde's body if off the hook, yo!
Me Likey!

[cheekymonkey]

Of all the brands mentioned, Gateway is the only manufacturer that I've consistently been disappointed in. For some reason, Gateway desktops and laptops I've encountered always seem to underperform and be more prone to hardware failure.

Of the other brands, I have seem some really crappy models but I've had excellent luck with higher-end products from Dell and HP. Asus used to be more of a 2nd-tier brand, but their quality seems to have improved. Main factor to remember is, no matter what the brand, you get what you pay for. HP and Dell have higher-end products that are built with better quality parts, and if you opt for the $399 special you aren't getting anywhere close to them. Also, most of the PCs you find in the big box retail stores are built with visual appeal rather than quality in mind for home users, and are more "gadgety". I walked thru one particular Best Buy earlier this year and couldn't find a single laptop I'd purchase other than a MacBook. All the Windows-based laptops looked "tricked out", and had tacky imprinted designs, or crap like burnt-orange colored chrome-looking trim. Of course, models will vary by store.

Here's the dirty little secret about laptops, though -- most laptops are produced in a small set of factories that manufacture them for several brands. Here is a quote from one of the senior buyers at Wal-Mart addressing this:

http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2009 ... 98-laptop/

"I have visited the factories where computers are made. There are only a handful of factories manufacturing laptops and desktops. Many make the same product for all retailers and websites. It is pretty difficult to skimp on quality of product when the same factory is making HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, etc. products for Walmart, Best Buy, Tiger Direct, Amazon, etc."

Best thing to remember when buying is to look for quality components, and a GREAT warranty. The service reputation of each company is also a major factor. HP's business-class laptops for example have 3-year warranties, and you also can get accidental damage protection coverage. Their EliteBook models are creme of the crop. Toshiba has also manufactured an excellent laptop, as has Lenovo since taking over IBM's line (though I don't care for them aesthetically). Of course, each brand also puts out some rock-bottom priced cheapies.

I think you can get a decent and reliable from most vendors if you do enough research beforehand.

IBM Thinkpads aren't beautiful, definitely. But, for me, for my job I need to own a business class lightweight notebook, and the graphite exterior takes more abuse, as I carry it around job to job. Plus, I loved their keypad, which they were known for, but had no idea they went cheaper and changed it slightly with Lenova until after I bought the newer one this year. And on some of their personal laptops, now under Lenova the keypad is really bad. And business line Toshibas and IBMs are the most recommended in my profession for reliability.

I love my IBM Thinkpad. My Mom has an Acer and it has been shit pretty well since she's owned it.

[rockinfayrose]

I don't know what the best brand for a computer is, but the worst has got to be Compaq...I'm on my third Compaq laptop in 10 years (because I apparently never learned from the first 2 that were crappy ) - it turns itself on and off when I'm in the middle of important taks like it's possessed or something, needs a fan underneath or it overheats, is slow - just horrible. BTW, does anyone know what makes the mouse skip around to different sections when trying to type a Word document and how to stop it?? PLEASE HELP! This is driving me nuts too

[Triple S]

Never owned anything but a Toshiba - I'm on my 4th (only because of upgrading, not because there was anything wrong with them).