Quote (general_patton @ Wed, Aug 12 2009, 06:20pm)
Dell is notorious for using outdated and integrated hardware so you can't really upgrade and you have to buy another Dell within two years, just to keep afloat.
They might have cleaned up their laptops since I last bought one (2004), but I doubt it.
Whitebox laptops are the best deal for the price, though. You get exactly the components you want and at a minimal assembly charge.
Install linux and gg.
Although I don't agree with the linux thing....I do agree with what he says about Dell laptops. My father owns an Inspiron (2006 I believe) and it's horribly slow. He has some computer knowledge and knows how to keep his disk space clean of bugs and adware/malware but it's being persistent and getting bogged down (Only half of his 300gb hard drive is actually being used).
I would recommend HP (Friend owns one of those touch screen versions he got amazingly cheap when Circuit City was going out of business), Toshiba (I always catch my friend playing games during lecture hour and he tells me he loves it), or Asus (I don't know anyone who has one but I've heard a good reputation with them).