New laptop computer help needed

[YSOSLO]

Hey guys, since so many of you are a LOT better versed in computers of all kinds, I was hoping for some advice on a new laptop for Jess and me to have for home use. We're looking for a 17" screen with a 10-key to the right of the standard keyboard. Our current laptop is totally hosed due to the Facebook virus that I can't irradicate, and CC and BB both want around $200 to remove the virus which seems crazy expensive with a 5yr old computer. We'd like to keep the cost of a new one under a grand for sure...preferably around the $700-800 range if possible. Jess gets a discount on BB business stuff, and I found 2 linked to below that are the same price, but I can't tell which is better and no discounts have been nailed down yet. Please let me know which of these 2 you think is better and why, and feel free to recommend anything else out there that might be similar or better. The only caveat is that we want to be able to buy an extended warranty for whatever computer we get, since it paid off bigtime with our current HP, so no "great deals" from sites we've never heard of before unless you've dealt with them firsthand and can vouche for them and the item meets the guidelines above. Thanks in advance for your help.

http://www.bestbuybusiness.com/bbfb/en/US/adirect/bestbuy?cmd=catProductDetail&productID=BB10926655

http://www.bestbuybusiness.com/bbfb/en/US/adirect/bestbuy?cmd=catProductDetail&productID=BB10912686

Is ASUS brand good or not-so-much?

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Is an add-on 10-key, such as USB acceptable?

 

[Picklz]

I do not know much about Asus laptop's, their Motherboard's are top notch though. I've personally had good luck with IBM and Toshiba laptops, and Dell can be a decent alternative as well.

I'll try and take a closer look at those two when I get home from work.

 

[YSOSLO]

We'd prefer the 10-key to be on the computer itself, but if a laptop with a 17" screen was the best option, yet it didn't have the 10-key, we would certainly still consider it I'm sure.

 

[JustROLLIN]

I know HP makes some laptops with 10-key attached.

Pete, did you try just formatting the entire hard-drive and reloading windows on your currrent laptop? That should fix just about anything, just make sure you save any files you want for later.

 

[YSOSLO]

I know HP makes some laptops with 10-key attached.

Pete, did you try just formatting the entire hard-drive and reloading windows on your currrent laptop? That should fix just about anything, just make sure you save any files you want for later.

The computer we have now is an HP, and it's been okay. It's broken down quite a few times over the years though, so the extended warranty is a must for us. I haven't tried to re-format the HD because I don't have all of the disks I'd need to set everything back up. I suspect that that's probably what BB or CC would do if I brought it in, because I wasn't even able to initiate an anti-virus program I had downloaded onto a flash drive on another computer, so it's really toast. If someone on here would be willing to re-format it for me, I'd pay $50 in a heartbeat, but I really don't want to drop a large sum of money at an old PC.

 

[black_7]

U can reformat, or try some free antivirus software. I use adaware, spybot search and destroy, and superantispyware free edition. They have owned viruses that mcaffe and norton couldn't delete.

If its XP boot into safe mode by pressing f8, then scan using those programs. Safe mode doesnt let much run, and you can delete viruses that way easily.

 

[YSOSLO]

Cool, I'll try that safe mode thing Black7. Any other recommendations on a computer if that doesn't work?

 

[Slim]

Pete, if you want to drop it off at my apartment sometime with the disks you have I'll see what I can do. Just save anything you want off of it onto a flash drive or something.

And I'll do it for free.

Let me know.

 

[black_7]

My wife just bought a toshiba laptop in Iraq for like 700 bux and its pretty good, but really loud sometimes. I've had problems with ASUS motherboards in my desktops before. Actually bought 2 and had to send them both back. Not saying ASUS is bad, just had problems before. Asus is known for making high quality stuff.

Dell on the other hand, pisses me off. They like to use cheap parts. My wife recently bought an XPS M1330 laptop and it randomly doesn't turn on and has a f'd up screen..reformatted and even stayed on the phone forever with tech..FINALLY they are sending a tech to my place to replace the lcd and motherboard. Their tech support sux ass.

You can look @ laptopmag.com and cnet.com for reviews on laptops. Look around before you buy as you can save some money.

 

[YSOSLO]

Pete, if you want to drop it off at my apartment sometime with the disks you have I'll see what I can do. Just save anything you want off of it onto a flash drive or something.

And I'll do it for free.

Let me know.

Thank you so much for the offer Tim. I'll have to see if I can track down the disks, because I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple, but I'll have to see what I have for you to work with. The OS is the biggie, and the rest can all be tracked down online as I need it, can't it?

 

[mndsm]

I bought a nice Toshiba laptop recently, and the thing is awesome, except for the time it started on fire. But that was a build issue, not a component issue. Other than that, the Toshibas have been bulletproof. I find HP laptops to be overpriced, and for anyone who knows who Joe the Peacock is, they know why I'll never buy a Dell. Other than that....

 

[black_7]

I bought a nice Toshiba laptop recently, and the thing is awesome, except for the time it started on fire. But that was a build issue, not a component issue. Other than that, the Toshibas have been bulletproof. I find HP laptops to be overpriced, and for anyone who knows who Joe the Peacock is, they know why I'll never buy a Dell. Other than that....

Joe peacock should talk to a manager right away instead of going thru BS. When it involves money you call your bank and talk to higher up people.

 

[JustROLLIN]

Pete, I would also be willing to help you fix it at no charge. I have a legit copy of windows XP we could prolly load onto it. If you wanted to bring it over we could load and it and download any drivers you would need.

 

[DrWebster]

Asus laptops are crap. We OEM them at work, and I hate how they're built.

Brands I've had good luck with are Dell and Lenovo. I know Dell sells a 17" screen model with the 10-key.

 

[AJ]

I've had my Dell Inspiron E1505 for a few years now and love it. Have you looked on new egg.com or mwave.com

 

[Slim]

Thank you so much for the offer Tim. I'll have to see if I can track down the disks, because I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple, but I'll have to see what I have for you to work with. The OS is the biggie, and the rest can all be tracked down online as I need it, can't it?

NP. Yep, you can track down a lot online. If it's XP you can use any XP disk to reload windows on it. (which I do have an XP disk).

Pete, I would also be willing to help you fix it at no charge. I have a legit copy of windows XP we could prolly load onto it. If you wanted to bring it over we could load and it and download any drivers you would need.

Whatever works for you Pete. You can drop it off or go see Joe.


I also am a fan of Dell. Have a desktop and laptop at home with no issues in 3-4 years for both. I also buy nothing but Dells for work, probably 45 PCs now, and have only had very minor issues (i.e. replacing power supplies which is pretty common and easy fix). I also just bought a 17inch Dell notebook with a 10 key pad for the COO for about $700.

 

[JustROLLIN]

I have a Dell desktop and HP laptop. I have had zero issues with either one...

 

[YSOSLO]

Tim and Joe, thank you both so much for your offers. I'll definitely keep in touch via PM and we'll figure something out. If for some reason Jess still wants to go ahead with a new machine even if we're able to get this old one rolling again, does this one on sale at BB seem like a good option? I'm so used to hearing you get what you pay for that I'm a little leary of the price, but Jess' brother and sister-in-law have a Dell that they've been really happy with, so I'd love to go that way if this looks like a good option. I haven't found any Toshibas in our price range, and the HPs I've found seem like they're in line with this Dell, so Dell would win that contest for me...again if it's a decent computer. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Best Buy special

 

[AJ]

Don't know if this will help at all but if you do go with a Dell and are looking to just pay cash for it let me know and I could probably just buy it for you through work. Others might have a similar deal with whoever they work for, but I get discounts off Dell products through our work. The funny thing is, like the laptop posted above in your link, it's sometime cheaper to get the Dell through BB and now Wal-Mart, than it is to go through Dell.

I think the one you linked looks solid and would last a long time for daily use. To be honest though, the very first thing I would do is wipe is 100% clean of the preloaded shit and install something other than Vista. XP, ME, fuck, 98 if you wanted to. lol Ditch Vista, it will run so much smoother with some other OS.