Need a New Computer? Let’s Review Some..

August 14, 2009 5:26 pm     Posted in Cool Stuff, Wired  Mandy - Hofstra g+ page

fire computer


By Mandy

Is your computer making that weird noise that sounds like it’s about to blow up mid-Facebook wall post? Does it totally burn your legs when you have it on your lap? Maybe it just totally sucks?

If so, it might be time to start a-lookin’ for another. And with school starting right around the corner, what better time to begin the search?

Here are a few affordable laptops that are out there on the market now and our breakdown of their perks and flaws to help you out in your search:

Sony Vaio

Sony VAIO 16.4″

The Sony VAIO is like a pretty boy with rock-hard abs: it’s nice to look at, but doesn’t bring much to the table. It weighs close to 7 lbs, which is a lot when you’re going from class to Starbucks to library to your bed for late night IMing. It also costs nearly $1,600!

The VAIO does have some cool new features, like a Blu-Ray drive and built in Wi-Fi, but the poor battery life and high price tag (nearly double many other computers on the market) might not make it the best choice.

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Gateway MC7801u

Gateway MC7801u

The Gateway MC is definitely cheaper than the Vaio, only $950, but that might be its greatest feature. It weighs 7.5 pounds, has a slower processor, and a weak graphics card, which makes running multiple programs a bit dicey. It is also missing some of the fun stuff that many other laptops on the market boast:  Blu-Ray drive, Bluetooth capabilities, and light-weight design.

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asus-f50sv-a2 (2)

Asus F50SV-A2

With an Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 and 4 GB of RAM, the F50SV-A2 is on average with laptops on the market. Weighing in at about 7 lbs, the Asus boasts good specs, but has many complaints of compatibility issues. From non-functional keys to preloaded software issues, the many probs with the Asus lead to its downfall.

Along with the many complaints, the Asus has a battery life of marginally over 1 hour, which is pretty craptastic when you need to churn out a paper at the libs and all the plugs are taken.

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toshibaa505Toshiba Satellite A505-S6960

The Toshiba Satellite is priced pretty low, around $700, but the performance is also on the low end. Weighing in at over 7 lbs, The Satellite’s slower processor and weak graphics card makes running some programs slow and annoying. How annoying? How about that constant stuttering when you’re trying to listen to some music on iTunes (and not “Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol…”) while also writing a paper and IMing your friends. Yeah, I know.

The Toshiba also lacks Blu-ray and Bluetooth capabilities that many laptops come standard with. The Toshiba may be a good price, but performance and features are sub par.

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HP Pavilion dv6 Front - Open

HP Pavilion dv6

The dv6 is powered by a 2.0 Ghz Intel Centrino Processor Technology (Intel® Core2 Duo) with 4 GBs of memory. What does all that mumbo jumbo mean? It means that this computer lets you easily run multiple demanding applications or games at the same time. Downside is it is almost as heavy as the others (6lbs).

This puppy also lets you store over 90 hours of HD video on its 500 GB Hard Drive (and you know you’ve got plenty of video-worthy moments), and use the built-in HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone to chat it up with your friends or family across the country (or upstairs…lazy). The webcam has better resolution than the others, and the HD is much bigger than the others. Oh, and there is a Blu-Ray player and DVD/CD burner. The dv6 offers a full keyboard and numeric keypad, and has 6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, which means you can use it at the library for about 2 hours and not worry about finding an outlet. Don’t plan on whipping this out on a plan or anything, because it takes up the whole pull-out table.

This is the best in the lot for the price and value.

21 Comments on "Need a New Computer? Let’s Review Some.."

  1. AshleyLauren says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 200912:46 pm 

    where are the Apple computers? Not everyone wants a PC!

  2. Susanna says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 200912:55 pm 

    Agreed. You skipped the Apple computers.

    But also, this seems like a pretty thinly veiled ad for HP. No Macs, and almost nothing but cons for most of the computers, but then a completely glowing review of the HP! Really?! Don't think we've forgotten about how HP sponsored your party in New York. I love your stuff, and I understand that you need to fund things somehow, but stop trying to disguise it and thinking we don't notice.

  3. Kelly says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20091:36 pm 

    I agree completely with Susanna. There were almost no pros for the first computers, but the last was had a glowing review. You also don't say how much the last computer is, when citing the cost as a con for many of the ones above.

  4. Roberto says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20096:45 pm 

    weight*

  5. Tito says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20097:26 pm 

    I couldnt afford a mac even if i wanted to. At least these are in the range of affordability.

  6. Lisa says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20097:29 pm 

    Um…Brittney…are you referring to the Mac commercials that bash PC's? Cause I have yet to see a "PC" commercial (because there isn't a PC brand first of all..it would be a Dell, HP, or whatever commercial) bash an Apple, but Apple's entire campaign is pointing out PC flaws.

  7. Lynn says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20097:38 pm 

    Tito – Macs are expensive. But she includes computers that are just as expensive here. The Macbook is 1000 dollars, the small Macbook Pro is 1200. The first computer on her list is 1600! And she includes others that are 950, not much less expensive than the Macbook. She can certainly point out the expense as a con for the Mac, but that's no reason to leave it off.

  8. Alisha says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20091:57 am 

    My HP was a nightmare, in the shop for literally months until they finally let me replace it, since my warranty covered a replacement after 3 hardware malfunctions. They let me get a VAIO instead of another HP, with no red tape about the cost difference. Love my VAIO, not a single problem so far….

  9. erin says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20095:36 am 

    I remember my first mac, it lasted 9 years. Just remember that when you pick out computers, is your lap top/computer going to be able stand the test of craftsmanship and good technology or does it buy into what you only want now and how soon are you going to replace it. Yes all computers are "outdated" with in a few years, mac tend to stay compatible with programs and new operating systems and it's ability to read pc stuff is why many people like it more. If you have a PC you can't read Mac stuff. Also if you want both for both reasons partition the Ma harddrive and install the operating system for what ever pc's use. I like having both on my laptop for programing and for games.

  10. A says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20099:40 am 

    Okay yeah, this article is ridiculous. The blurb for the HP laptop is three times bigger than the ones for the others.

  11. Anna says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20099:44 am 

    Lisa– There ARE PC commercials that bash Macs. The whole "You Find IT You Buy It" series starts with the people going to a mac then bashing it, then TAHDAH!, they choose a PC.

  12. Casey says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20099:54 am 

    I have had my hp for 3 years now (it was my first laptop, and I did tons of research on many different laptops before buying it) The biggest complaint I have about it is that the battery literally only lasts for 2 minutes now. (It used to last for 2 hours) but I'm pretty sure that is my fault (my mom has had the same computer for just as long and her battery still lasts 2 hours, she takes care of hers).

    Despite the fact that I have turned my computer off maybe 50 times since I got it in 2006, and I leave it sitting open for days at a time on my bed with no air flow to the bottom of it, it runs almost the same as it did when I got it. (That is pretty amazing!) I've never had to take it to a shop, it does have some viruses on it, but that's to be expected with any PC when you don't take care of it. And they are pretty easy to remove. And mine doesn't have much storage space on it. But that was a feature I opted for because it was cheaper.

    ALSO, my friend and I had our computers, (hers a macbook, mine my hp) on the floor next to the bed one night and she spilled sweet tea all over both of them. Mine was perfectly fine, completely unharmed and hers died instantly. She had to buy a brand new one with her own money.

    Everyone wants a mac, and everyone knows how fantastic they are, but everyone also can't afford one. I opened this article expecting to get crap reviews for all PC's and then raving reviews for the macs, so I was pleasantly surprised that the mac's weren't even included. Seriously, they get enough reviews. And I would never opt for anything but an HP or a Mac.

  13. erin says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 200910:09 am 

    Actually Casey as a mac user I was not impressed, you may not realize but many people hate macs and think they are over priced crap machines for people who want fashionable machines. Your machine might not have died but I'll bet it did damage to it. Saying that your PC is better based on spilling tea on it doesn't work, it's luck of the draw, maybe more got on hers, maybe it went straight into the Hard drive, maybe she had dropped it a few times and tea was just the final straw. It could go either way. I don't want to start a fight but it also seems pc's are for people who don't want to take care of their computer. It seems like people are willing to beat the shit out of it and not care

    either way.

    I hate those pc commericals where people hate on macs, I think their annoying especially the ignorant "film" student who got the pc, what a laugh.

  14. Casey says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 200910:51 am 

    Erin, I wasn't arguing anything. And I didn't say my PC was better, I was just giving an account of a very real situation that happened to my friend and me. She took extremely good care of her computer and the drink spilled equally on both of our computers, and mine has no damage from it. I love macs, I wish I could afford one. I wasn't saying that they aren't great machines, I was just sticking up for the underdog, especially since I have one and I still love it after 3 years. All I hear on this site is how great macs are (and they are!) but there are other worthy computers too. I think how much you pay for a computer determines how much care you will take of it, not whether it's a mac or PC, that's a little ignorant to say. I don't beat the shit out of mine, but I'd take care of a mac the same way I take care of my PC. I'm just too lazy to turn it on and off.

    And I don't watch TV so I've never seen the PC commercials.

  15. Jenny says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 200911:35 am 

    I'll always be loyal to Compaq computers. My old Compaq desktop is 5 years old, and although it's not as fast as it used to be, everything still runs pretty well, and I've had no problems with hardware failure or anything. I also helped my roomie pick her laptop out a few months ago, which is also a Compaq. It has good specs and it wasn't too pricey. I'm planning on surprising the boyfriend with his very own Compaq next month, too.

    Since last year, I've had to use my Macbook Pro for school. I absolutely love it, as it suits my needs perfectly. But sometimes, I still use my Compaq – my first love. <3 Lol.

  16. erin says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 200912:25 pm 

    casey you should see them, some people make good choices but then some are just obviously doing it because they are getting paid to get the PC.

    Compaq was my first computer too! I loved that thing, it lasted 8 years.

  17. Casey says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 200912:30 pm 

    Wait, they are just regular people? not like actual commercials? That advertising concept never works and always just cheapens the product.

  18. Krista says:
    Sun, 16th Aug 20098:53 am 

    Yeah Casey, they are regular people, or maybe actors made to look like regular people. I think you are right, the commercials do seem to cheapen the product. The people start out saying that if they find a computer they like, they can keep it, and the first thing they always do is say they don't like Macs. No other brands are mentioned, just Macs.

    As someone who has used both (I grew up on a Mac that is now 12 years old and still working and also have a Dell that I use mainly for schoolwork and music storing) I prefer the Mac because its more suited to me. PCs are very customizable, and for someone who likes that it can be great, but finding the perfect computer I don't think you should worry about brand, just find the one that is the most intuitive for how you think, and you will end up working well with it.

    I think of buying a computer like buying a car, you use it almost if not every day and store a good portion of your life on it. If that means you have to spend a little more, then do it.

  19. Casey says:
    Sun, 16th Aug 20095:52 pm 

    I grew up on mac's as well, I had my first computer in 1990 when I was 4 and from then on till I was 16 when my parent's decided to switch to PC's. So I am definitely accustomed to both, I prefer a mac, but as a poor college student I just can't afford it no matter how much I prefer it. So I got the next best thing.

  20. Christina says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20097:14 am 

    Well the commercials usually focus on PCs in general, not always HP. Sometimes it's Dell. I will admit it's rarely a smaller computer company like Acer or Compaq.

    However, I think this article was fine. I do wish more computer choices were covered, but given the fact that this is really just a brief overview, so what if the article was biased toward HP? It honestly looks like it is the best choice, and I didn't think the last review was glowing at all. It was just pointing out everything the other computers did not have. Didn't say that the comp was amazing or anything. There are really only a few computers that you should get, and they range pretty much from a new Dell to a new HP to a new MAC to (maybe) a new SONY . Those are your choices really, all others tend to suck.

    Also, that computer, or at least the 14/13ish inch screen of the HP is about 700 bucks. Around the same range as the other computers and significantly better-equipped.

  21. Kat says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20099:38 pm 

    Consistent facts are always nice. If you're going to compare one computer with another, AT LEAST have the specs laid out so we can all COMPARE them. Don't list them off in pseudo Gossip-girl lingo and expect anyone to take you seriously.

    Unix (which Mac OSX is based off of) is a far more stable platform with the fluidity to run multiple programs at once on less RAM than you would need on a PC. I am a Mac person for software purposes only. I ran Linux and wanted to stay with a user-friendly interface (that's NOT a PC). With Intel processors now available on Macs, you can dual boot if you so choose (or use ALL of your memory).

    Also, if you abuse ANY computer, it will crap out on you. The only perk is the aluminum casing for newer Macs (made from one solid piece of aluminum per one computer), which stands up to just about anything. Macs can run very hot though – keep them on a flat surface.

    My experience with any windows machine (Linux or Windows) has been horrible, but my experience with Macs has been wonderful. Take that statement for what its worth.

    I'm not telling you to buy a Mac, but I AM telling you to do some damn research and put together a better article. Use whichever platform suits you best, but examining all the specs of a computer will determine which one is best for you.

    This being said, I'm a big nerd. I've always loved computers and always will, but different devices are different for everyone. If you only want word processing and internet capabilities that will get you through college – stick to something cheaper. If you want a machine that will last you a good number of years with little compatibility issues and flexibility to boot – get a Mac.

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