my laptop has self destructed (with my help) and is in need of replacement. Any advice on types ,specs,brands,etc appreciated. I only want to spend about 1000-1200 bucks.

I believe you can't go wrong with a Hewlett Packard.
I've had mine for years and it's never missed a beat.

spend the extra and get a mac you wont regret it, i have xp intsalled on it aswell and i can run the two at the same time but barely touch windows now

I'm told i need at least 2G of ram if its running vista. approx 160 G hd, and core 2 duo . so far 2 favourites at harvey norman, hp pavillion DV 6000, compaq presario cq40-118ax both approx 1200 smackers.

Take a look at Dell.com.au (as suggested above). Their computers are really good value, well built and I have had no problems at all over about 4 computers (laptops & desktops) purchased from them in the last few years. They are also becoming more used by business, due to their reliability and cost. If you are going to run Vista, try and get 3Mb of RAM. Dell have a huge range of price/performance options (laptops from $699 etc) so you are sure to find the ideal machine. Oh, and use dell.com - don't buy via Officeworks (they now sell them) as they are much cheaper direct from Dell over the internet - and they have specials (free upgrades) towards the end of each month. My latest machines have Vista, including the 2007 MS Office - takes a little getting used to - especially the latest MS Office, so consider what you need. But do check out the RAM requirements with Vista - especially if you are going to run a few programs on top of Vista.

the one at spearmint rhino.

I've got an Asus, really good laptop, but don't go with Vista!!! I've had so many hassles with Vista & compatibility issues with software that it makes Windows ME look good!

The Asus itself is great, although I'm now using a 3D rendering software, and it just don't cut it anymore! Need a gutsy laptop with a 21" monitor.......don't think there's too many of those about!

Go the mac bro. You will love. Dont even bother with putting windows on it at all. You can get office for mac. I use it for work, (the rest use pc) and it is no problem.

Macs are very very clever, would never go back to microsoft. You can kiss virus, bugs and all that goodbye if you go mac.

I don't get the whole PC's are full of virii thing. I work in I.T., I have used a PC every day for the last 15 years, including swapping discs at uni and all, and I have never had a virus. I am not even moderately careful, although I have backups.

Oh, hang on. I did get that Vista thing earlier this year. Had to reinstall XP.

I've got a macbook. Simple, easy and durable. I'm basically terrible at computers and a mac helps this.
Ive never tried running windows on it. Because i really dislike it. Whenever i borrow a mates computer, i just think "wow, why would it do that, thats dumb". They seem to try and help too much, and it becomes a pain then.

I've had quite a few laptops over the years and I have learnt one major lesson from them. Buy a machine that sells in large numbers, or after a year or two you will find it hard to fix when it goes wrong, particularly when it fails in a foreign country.

My business partner bought an NEC laptop and the battery died after 18 months. When he tried to get a replacement he was told that there were none available and he had to scrap the machine.

My main laptop up until about 1 year ago was a Dell Latitude D600, which they made in huge numbers and was very popular with corporations as a standard business laptop. I bought it in 2002 and it ran really well for the first year or two, then it had quite a few bits fixed under Dell's extended warranty. Since then it has had various parts break and wear out, to the point where the only part that hasn't been replaced is the LCD screen. Every other component has been replaced or upgraded at least once, and several (CD drive, motherboard, hinges) have been replaced more than once.

Importantly, this has all been done very cheaply through parts purchased on ebay (together with some home handyman skills) due to the huge number of this model sold. The result is that after more than 6 years the machine is in excellent working order.

When I decided to buy a new faster computer I chose to stick with models that came from major manufacturers and where the individual model was sold in very large numbers worldwide. Unfortunately both Dell and HP seem to be coming out with a product line with a large number of different models that change regularly.

The machine I ended up with is a Macbook Pro 15", running windows XP and Office 2007. The design is exceptional, although it can run hot and the aluminium trackpad surface is bloody freezing on a cold morning. I agree that Windows sucks, but it is a necessary evil for most work related computing these days. I really like the smaller Macbooks, the only reason I didn't get one is that they can't drive a very large external monitor.

Dawn Patrol said...

Can the MS Office files run directly on the Mac version - so making reading between Mac's and PC's easy or do you have to convert them somehow. I suppose the other problem will be in networking a Mac into work systems??

It can read the files with there version of of MS office. Its called something like iWorks (only 99bucks). The only problem is that i cant work out how to attach the files to emails. It just doesn't seem to work which really sucks.
Connecting it to the network is a piece of piss. I've never had a trouble , just need the password, and it litterally is only a 2click job.

I run Microsoft Office 2008 on my macbook all the computers at school are windows I have no problem with moving from one system to another.
Also at school we have school wide wireless that the students can log in to I haven't sent up my computer to do that can't be stuffed. All the other Macs around the school run on the network fine

mate, everyone's hiding the truth from you. it doesnt matter what brand you get but make sure it is running MICROSOFT DOS. The best system ther've developed.

Smooth graphics, slick menus, fast as, doesnt run the internet though.

So take my advise, DOS...

ASUS for the win!

If you get a dell you should be hit with it. Then you might be grateful for all the pieces it breaks up into.

just dont get a dell

Hi guys,

After having three laptops All high end Sony Vaio's. My best Vaio cost me $4000 a few years back , I'll never buy another one. They are unreliable, fall apart, have crap battery life, and the repair centre in Perth is the worst ever, they did almost as much damage as the repairs they did.

I now have an ASUS after I was recommended one years ago by a guy in computers and from my old Computer store. I have an F3S Series and it runs just a little slow (Vista) but not enough to p1ss me off and remove Vista.

It has performed flawlessly, their back up is excellent and they have a repair centre here in Balcatta close to me, it comes with a top 24 month global warranty, came with ALL the fruit including Digital TV + FM tuner and cables , infra red remote, mouse, a carry case all cables and loaded with decent software and cost around $1400

I'm stoked with it, best laptop I've owned to date.

Good winds,