Best value laptop for around $1000?

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edwardoz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#62355 4-Jun-2010 15:40

As the title suggests I am looking to purchase a new laptop for around the $1000 mark. I am looking something around these specs...

3-4g ram
2ghz+ processor
Some kind of dedicated graphics, preferably around 512mb-1g but I am not too fussy
320-500g Hard drive

I've done a little looking online and have come up with these possible options...

http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=t510517nz&c=nz&l=en&s=dhs&cs=nzdhs1

http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=s511105nz&c=nz&l=en&s=dhs&cs=nzdhs1

http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=s510521nz1&c=nz&l=en&s=dhs&cs=nzdhs1

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/pc-notebook-computers/hp-dv6-2109-pavilion-dv6-2109ax-notebook/prod101864.html

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/pc-notebook-computers/hp-pavilion-elite-high-performance-edition-hpe-180a-pc-only/prod101865.html

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/pc-notebook-computers/acer-as5732z-444g50mi-aspire-as5732z-444g50mi-notebook/prod102674.html

I am currently leaning towards the Dell Inspiron M501R or the HP Pavilion dv6 - 2109AX. Basically I'm just wondering what the geekzone community thinks is the best bang for my small amount of buck. If you guys have any other laptops you think are a good deal please post or otherwise let me know what you think of the ones I have posted. Also I was wondering whether you think it's worth buying secondhand on trademe? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am looking to be thrifty and I can't stand the buyers remorse of buying something and then seeing it cheaper somewhere else.

JAMMAN2110

871 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#338335 4-Jun-2010 16:06

I've had a great many laptops. I've killed them all too.

I use to get <1000$ ones once a year to keep myself entertained during study (and to study).

I would avoid anything by Acer or Asus.

I currently have an HP DV7 which I spent >1000$ on to get the aluminium body.

I'd highly recommend HPs newer stuff :) Just check all the specs are what you want first!

jonb

1772 posts

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#338340 4-Jun-2010 16:21

I've got a similar spec HP DV6 with the Athlon cpu. Nice laptop - good sound and display and nippy enough but not one if you plan to be away from the power socket for very long. It's a very hungry beast - battery only lasted ~1 hour new (much less after a year)
I'd buy another at that price though, bargain!

CYaBro

4589 posts

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#338345 4-Jun-2010 17:20

I would stay away from the HP/Compaq consumer range of laptops!
See far far to many of them come in to the workshop, with dead mainboards mostly.
Asus or Toshiba would be the ones I would go for.
Asus have a two year warranty as standard while the other brands are 1 year.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

scuwp

3886 posts

Uber Geek

#338375 4-Jun-2010 20:46

Asus or Toshiba would be the ones I would go for.
Asus have a two year warranty as standard while the other brands are 1 year.

+1 for Asus, even had to use their after sales service people (Auckland) for a faulty power supply...awesome service. Would definitely buy Asus again in this price bracket.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

edwardoz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#338510 5-Jun-2010 13:15

Thanks for the replies... There seems to be some difference of opinion over the best brands and I was wondering if some of you could possibly elaorate a bit more on your reasons for buying asus or hp. I had a little look for asus laptops online and it seems you get a whole lot less features on an asus laptop than you do with an Hp at the same price. What am I getting thats better with an asus, better build quality and battery life? I've heard good things about toshiba as well but again you don't get as many features at my price range. Also I am wondering what you guys think of dell? I've heard there pretty reliable.

Nety

2584 posts

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#338625 5-Jun-2010 20:27

Make sure you read reviews on any laptop you are interested in. There are often bad (and good) things that the spec sheets will just not tell you.

I have dealt with IBM and Dell with my work and we brought a Acer 1810TZ ourselfs not long ago.
IBM (at least 2+ years ago) were very reliable and built like brick s*&t houses the trade off was cost.
Dell are very good price and OK build.
The Acer so far has been very good. Not sure if I want to have to deal with the warranty side as I have heard stories of people having problem with them but we have no regrets at all.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64