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General discussion

What is the best brand to buy for a new laptop?

Dec 10, 2009 6:55AM PST

I need a new laptop for my last year of college, my acer finally pooped out. My husband is willing to buy whichever one I want as long as Bestbuy carries it, so we can get the protection plans they offer. We can't afford a Mac, but we don't want to buy another cheap POS this acer has been... though it did survive quite some time.

I just want to know what the best (quality/reliability/durability) commercial brands of laptops there are. I need this to take whatever I throw at it (not literally) and not break/fail easily.

Discussion is locked

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There is no such thing.
Dec 10, 2009 9:12AM PST
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If the deciding factor for a laptop was the protection plan
Dec 11, 2009 11:00AM PST

I would never choose a 3rd party retail warranty over a manufacturers warranty. if you get the Best Buy protection plan you have to use the geek squad. If you get the manufacturer's warrant you can use an authorized service center for that brand. I bought an Acer at Comp USA and the salesman tried to sell me the Comp Usa warranty and thank god is didn't listen to him as Comp USA closed. Yes Tiger Direct bought them but not the warranty part of the business. They bought thename and trademark just like they did with Circuit City. How many people thought CC would ever go bankrupt. Best Buy is doing well now but CC was doing well for awhile also.

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I forgot to mention the December issue
Dec 11, 2009 11:03AM PST

of Consumer reports ranks all the categories of laptops and other electronics.

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best laptop to buy
Dec 18, 2009 1:24PM PST

I think it is all a matter of 'luck' with buying the best laptop - I have tried many brands which do not have good back - up services if something goes wrong, or they charge you to fix their erors and maintain it is user error when it is not. The most reliable that I have found are the ones produced by Toshiba. My last two have been the Satellite series and I have had no trouble with either - just needed more memory and so decided to upgrade rather than buy more memory.