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General discussion

Where to buy laptop quickly?

by k8samms Jun 24, 2007 5:53AM PDT

My computer is almost dead and I need to get a lot of work done by next Friday.

1) Where is a good place to buy a laptop where I can take it home right away? I've done a search here and I keep reading about custom shops. How do I find a good one (if that's the best place to go)?

2) I could use a friend's PC if it really is worth waiting and ordering one so please let me know if that is what you'd recommend.

3) Also, is it worth the discount (and lower capacity) to get one with Windows XP instead of Vista? (I haven't used video or photos much on my current computer but would like to at some time in the future. I don't have a need for gaming at all.) A little while back I bought XP to put on my current PC so that's about $100 I'd lose by not using it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
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What country?
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 24, 2007 6:09AM PDT

It can have an effect on your choices.

Here my neighbors will just look at what's at best buy, office max, staples and let me give it a quick review and then they run out and get it.

The rough part is to get the sellers to stifle it over offers of warranties and such. I always extend the warranty with the maker, not the stores.

Bob

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Ooops. About XP>
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 24, 2007 6:10AM PDT

Please read in our Vista and XP forums about installing XP on today's laptops. Sony for instance does not offer drivers for XP so you would be hard pressed to install XP on most of theirs.

Bob

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Oops. About XP
by k8samms Jun 24, 2007 5:46PM PDT

I was thinking that they'd already come with XP installed. The latest ones have Vista installed so why wouldn't some of the older ones have XP installed on them?

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At a retailer, it'll be hard to find a WinXP machine,...
by Paul C Jun 24, 2007 7:09PM PDT

...since they routinely send back their old machines when they receive new ones. Therefore, you'll be relegated to learning Vista if you need the new machine right now, as I doubt that a custom builder could meet your time requirement.

Of course, you now have scared me as to what will happen when and if I decide to install that latest version of Spy Sweeper that's sitting on my Desktop....

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Linux in some PCs preinstalled
by Dragon Jun 27, 2007 9:34AM PDT
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Hard to find WinXP on new computer
by k8samms Jun 28, 2007 4:28PM PDT

Definitely. I'm going with Vista. I'll just have to get more capacity then I had originally planned.

Good luck loading Spy Sweeper. Sorry to stressed you out about it.

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what country?
by k8samms Jun 24, 2007 5:43PM PDT

I live in the U.S. I would probably look in the stores you mentioned as well as Circuit City, Costco and Office Depot if I were to go to a store to buy it now. Does it make sense to go those stores or are there custom stores that would be better? Of course I'd do some research ahead of time to determine which ones I want and with which capabilities.

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Few custom shops will be able
by lacsr Jun 24, 2007 9:04PM PDT

Most custom shops will do a desktop PC but few will do a laptop at the prices you will find at the above mentioned stores. If you are in a hurry, those brick and mortar stores will do a fine job at filling the bill.

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custom shops
by k8samms Jun 25, 2007 4:26PM PDT

"Brick and mortar" stores it is then. Thanks.

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