Need Laptop Purchasing Advice

[Rubia Warren]

A family member of mine is wanting to buy a laptop, and he knows nothing about computers except for how to send an email. He will be using it for basic things and the internet but he is not--- well I just don't see him getting bigtime with it anytime in the future.

He also plans to have a website started up (by paying someone else to do it, obviously) so that he can offer his services to people all over the world (those services aren't computer-related), and perhaps sell restored vintage merchandise occasionally on it. So anything work-related he'd do on his computer would be basically corresponding with customers, taking orders, receiving payment for services, and posting what is for sale. No big deal, really.

Someone has him convinved that he needs some sort of a Mac laptop, because they told him that Macs are better for people who are not computer-savvy and they are not virus prone.

Is this true? I know nothing about anything Mac-related, except I tried to use one when the computer lab at school was full and I was completely lost as to how to use it. :blush:

What kind of a computer do you recommend for a person like this? What should he look for when he shops for a laptop? Are there any stores which frequently have good deals that you know of? Or a certain brand he should try to get? Thanks in advance

[ih8censorship]

i wont get into the whole mac vs pc thing, but a laptop with a wireless card is something id deffinatly look for, that way you can get online in more places easier :smile:

[furay]

Yes, he should get a Macbook. It will do everything he wants and more. And yes OSX (Mac's operating system) doesn't have virii or any other nasty stuff. I have a 2 ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook and could not be more pleased with it.

http://www.apple.com/macbook/

[Pitchforkpat]

I have recently looked into buying a laptop (settled for a cheap refurburbished desktop that is brilliant and only $250 Canadian)

I'd agree that Macbook would be better (no viruses and more user friendly) but you'll pay a hefty price for it. Because core 2 duo (newest fastest processors) are out now, you can get some amazing deals on good PC laptops that don't have core 2 duo (they'll probably have "core duo" which is fast but not as fast as core 2 duo). If he's really only doing Internet stuff he doesn't need a really fast laptop so a laptop using a Semprion or Turion would be fine. However, because theyr'e soooo cheap right now, I'd make sure he gets one with a pentium chip, preferably core duo.

Also, I'd make sure it has 1 Gig of ram (dont' go for 512 megs) and make sure the hard drive is 5400 and not 4200. And I'd get it from a store that has a good extended warrantee program so that you have to worry about break downs which I hear can be a big problem with laptops (much more expensive to fix too).

[Hail Mary]

I've never owned a Mac before, but if I had to buy a laptop, a Mac would be a good choice. It has just about everything I would need, internet browser, itunes, DVD viewer, word processing, etc... Are you a Mac type of person Furay?

The only reason I buy non-Macs is for software. There's more software of Windoze variants, such as Battlefield 2.

[$cirisme]

If you're going to get a Mac, you can't really go wrong with a Macbook.

If you're going to get a PC, then you can't really go wrong with a Lenovo Thinkpad.

Just do me a favor and avoid all the Dell laptops. Please!

[Rubia Warren]

Are Macs really more user-friendly?
In what way?

[Summoned n00b]

I recommened not getting an IBM I have heard they run slowly and dont multitask well.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I am very happy with my HP laptop.

And I don't get any computer with less than 2gigs of RAM personally. I want it to last and be zippy for years.

[furay]

Are you a Mac type of person Furay?
I always used PCs, but a few years ago I saw how sweet OSX was and from that moment on lusted after all things Mac. However, I am way too cheap to buy a new computer if I have one that still works. My ole'PC finally kicked the bucket and I picked up a new Macbook a couple days after they were released in November. Could not be happier with my purchase. Bring on Leopard!

[Hail Mary]

Hey PFP (maybe this is another thread) - Just read your signature about Dick Cheney's comment which could be lost if you change it. So here it is:


Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.
Dick Cheney April 2002

Guess who said the following:

In the four years since the inspections, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.
...
It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.

[Hail Mary]

I always used PCs, but a few years ago I saw how sweet OSX was and from that moment on lusted after all things Mac. However, I am way too cheap to buy a new computer if I have one that still works. My ole'PC finally kicked the bucket and I picked up a new Macbook a couple days after they were released in November. Could not be happier with my purchase. Bring on Leopard!

Glad you like OSX, what do you like about it? Or, what is it about OSX that makes you lust after all things Mac? :smile: I use Linux for a lot of stuff because I like Linux and KDE and all the free stuff available. Linux is also the best platform for software development (IMHO), but otherwise I use PCs.

[furay]

Glad you like OSX, what do you like about it? Or, what is it about OSX that makes you lust after all things Mac? :smile: I use Linux for a lot of stuff because I like Linux and KDE and all the free stuff available. Linux is also the best platform for software development (IMHO), but otherwise I use PCs.
I love the Spotlight... something so simple, yet so powerful and useful. Expose is useful for a quick clearing of the desktop or to give me a general overview of what windows I have open. I like how how the apps speak to each other. Marked a date in iCal for a Doctor's appointment and need to be reminded a month from now? Mail will automatically send you a message. Got a new buddy in iChat? Your address book is updated. Etc. Safari as a whole is the best web browser I've ever used in terms of its swiftness in loading pages. Most of all I like that it just works. No fussing necessary.