Posted by littlenic on Tue 10 May 11, 8:50 PM to littlenic's blog.
I am frequently paralysed by too much choice. I am the woman driving aimlessly round the deserted car park, eventually skewing the vehicle across two empty spaces half a mile from the store front.
And never is this worse than when it's time to buy a laptop time. The last one I bought was three years ago, and I made the all-important decision based on colour (it's a bit like that with cars, too) - I was setting up my own business, that was all branded green, and hence I got a Dell because they did green laptops.
It died on Sunday. I've never had a computer die before - I've always replaced them before that point. Fortunately, I'm not bereft - but I'd rather not use my work one more than necessary (and the screen's too small to watch telly on from my bed), and my travel one is a) tiny and b) shit for anything much, but v light for travelling. I type this on what was, once upon a time, "my laptop", but when the business died that one took over and this one went into a cupboard.
It's got no battery life - literally. Has to be plugged in. The keyboard is sticky and cronky and seems to have a terrible habit of spontaneously wiping out everything I've just written. It gasps and groans and is already overheating - and it seems to be so underpowered (it is old, bless it) that it can't cope with iplayer.
That alone, frankly, means it's time for a new one.
Paralysed by choice? And how. I know the size of screen I want, it doesn't need to be light because it won't be moving from my desk, I don't play games (ha!) so it doesn't need to be the whizziest thing on chips. Hard drive size doesn't bother me (got a 1TB hard drive for that), though the more USB ports the merrier.
I've just tried looking online, and my head exploded. So I reckon it's off to PC World at the weekend, and just pick up the first one (within budget, where budget is the operative word) I like the look of.
Else I could still be there in three weeks' time...
Edited Tue 10 May 11, 8:51 PM by littlenic
| 10 May 11, 9:21 PM Hiswhore 2 yrs |
Simplify, simplify...
Apple MacBook Pro, pick your screen size (13, 15, or 17) and take the standard configuration it comes with... Hiswhore. | |||
| 10 May 11, 9:38 PM littlenic 5 yrs |
Holy shit. Why would you pay that much for a PC? All I do is surf and watch porn. For that much money I'd be wanting Bill Gates to read the internet out to me and James Deen to be performing with me. | |||
| 10 May 11, 9:54 PM Hiswhore 2 yrs |
Fair enough -- our usage is different. But my switch to Mac was, in part, driven by a succession of dead Dells. And my Mac just keeps going and going. i figure i've made my money back that way. Hiswhore
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| 10 May 11, 10:11 PM Mr_Brightside UK(NN), 4 yrs   |
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-... I noticed this one the other day, looks pretty smart and for the price offers some ok performance. I'm from a little place called Great Britain but I dunno if I love or hate Britain - dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip | |||
| 11 May 11, 6:55 AM littlenic 5 yrs |
Sorry if I sounded harsh - I just re-read my post and it didn't sound quite as silly as it was meant to. Yeah, this was a Dell that died, but my mini one for travel is a Dell too and that must be *counts on fingers* 5 years old now. The one that died was 3 - don't know if that's good or bad, really.
But yeah, I hear all good things about Apple. I've never touched one yet, despite being a lover of my ipod and iphone. Perhaps not this time (got a v expensive holiday coming up), but maybe next time I'll make the great leap! | |||
| 11 May 11, 8:04 AM wonderer UK, 5 yrs |
I'm no expert, but I think weight and battery life are often under-rated as criteria, and performance is over-rated (e.g. in magazine reviews). I think the PC and laptop market is massively immature and none of the products are really up to scratch for use by the general public. (E.g. Why do we still have viruses? Why don't they last a bit longer? Why do they always have to do online updates? Why are they so complex and error-prone to use? Why do they take so long to get started?) "Wisdom begins in wonder” (Socrates) | |||
| 11 May 11, 8:05 AM Hiswhore 2 yrs |
Oh don't worry, i took no offence! And you are right -- they are a shocking price. i bought mine when i came into some unexpected money, and now dread the day i have to replace it. Without going all Apple MacBook ProBore on you -- a well-developed tendency among Apple users, i know -- i would find it difficult to go back. Hiswhore. | |||
| 11 May 11, 9:46 AM Rigour UK, 21 mths |
3 years for a laptop is O.K. I've found this place to be consistently good on price, sorry doesn't help with choosing though. http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ More hedonism NOW |
