The Desert Colossus

Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pale Dim on May 13, 2011, 08:06:05 PM

Title: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Pale Dim on May 13, 2011, 08:06:05 PM
Okay, this is getting out of control.

1. I got a USED Dell Inspiron 5150 when I get back from the Bike Tour. Me love me Dad long time. This thing is fast, but as soon as I got it running,  I notice that there is trouble because the internet connection is not strong enough. I dunno. 12.0 mbps just seems too weak to me.

2. Later that month, I get the horrendous blue error screen. Okay, it doesn't happen again for quite some time. I get it looked at by a computer repair store, they completely wipe it from viruses. $60.00

3. A week or two later, crashes come back. It turns out that it's a hardware problem. *insert rageface here* The motherboard was being crushed by a design flaw. We take it back to the repair store, it works perfectly for them. $60.00 for another virus clean. I get it back, and it will not even let me get past the start up screen upon boot up. *insert rageface again* I think I got scammed by the computer repair guys. -_-

4. $90.00+ dollars later, a new motherboard arrives, the design flaw is taken care of, and the whole problem is fixed. YAY! Nothing happens for a little while.

5. Some months ago, the Soundcard is no longer being read. I can't even FIND one of those online, and a fix isn't even available!

6. Overheating is taking effect as of earlier this week. Even though I have one of those fans that Laptops sit on to keep them cool.

7. Something or someone set my icons on my desktop to not show. Which is weird, because my laptop was on when it happened, which means that it just happened. It's NOT supposed to do that on it's own.

I HATE THIS LAPTOP!

I tell my Dad about this. He has come to the conclusion that just getting everything that is currently wrong fixed would cost more than a new laptop. And even if we do fix it, the problems would still keep popping up. It is a 5150, after all. He has accepted the fact that it was his fault that this has all happened, since he bought it in the first place. So, he is taking responsibility to buy a NEW laptop, as long as it isn't too pricey, while taking into account the factors I'm looking for.

My main factor used to be:
1. It had to have 3.00 GHz.

Now, it is:
1. Memory capacity larger than 1.00 GB.
2. At least 2.8 GHz
3. The model needs to have a reliable background history, and looking back at the 5150, I read that the model was infamous for hardware malfunctions. Just my luck. So, the background history needs to be acceptable.

Anybody know a model like this? Because we could use a little help.

EDIT: NOW it has to be under $200. What is he thinking? Thats probably how he got this stupid thing!
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Deku on May 13, 2011, 08:21:15 PM
Man, that sucks. I don't know anything about laptops, but I plan to get one somewhere in the distant future (after 3DS, Skyrim, phone, Wii, and Skyward Sword). :P

Lot on my plate. Good luck with all of that. At least your dad is being cool about it, mine wouldn't have been.
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Pale Dim on May 13, 2011, 09:11:19 PM
Okay, so what about a IBM Thinkpad G40. Anything anybody here has heard about that model?
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: MagmarFire on May 14, 2011, 11:37:51 AM
If you want my advice, I recommend one that doesn't have its SD card slot on the same side as its CD drive slot. Apparently, I'm not the only foolish fool to have made such a foolishly foolish mistake... -_-
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Deku on May 14, 2011, 10:03:34 PM
Quote from: MagmarFire on May 14, 2011, 11:37:51 AM
If you want my advice, I recommend one that doesn't have its SD card slot on the same side as its CD drive slot. Apparently, I'm not the only foolish fool to have made such a foolishly foolish mistake... -_-
Why, what's the problem with that? Please esplane, I wanna learn. ???
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Twilight Wolf on May 14, 2011, 10:09:04 PM
I assume he stuck the SD card in the CD slot. XD
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Pale Dim on May 16, 2011, 10:43:44 AM
Yeah, that would seem about right...
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: MagmarFire on May 16, 2011, 02:29:10 PM
Quote from: Edward Elric on May 14, 2011, 10:09:04 PM
I assume he stuck the SD card in the CD slot. XD

Bingo. Now I need to have someone look at my CD drive in when I'm not too lazy and get it out of there. T_T
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: Pale Dim on May 16, 2011, 03:08:13 PM
I shake my head at you, Mags. I shake my head. Okay, but seriously, anyone know of a Laptop model I could use?
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on May 16, 2011, 04:49:50 PM
My Dell inspiron 1525 has lasted me 3 years...

Sure, it's nearing the end of it's life, overheating, battery not holding a charge, but it's a sturdy little computer...

Not sure if that helps...

It's an older model, so it should be cheap... Finding one this old... Well, good luck.
Title: Re: New Laptop on the horizon?
Post by: MagmarFire on May 17, 2011, 03:26:30 PM
Quote from: Fluttershy on May 16, 2011, 03:08:13 PM
I shake my head at you, Mags. I shake my head. Okay, but seriously, anyone know of a Laptop model I could use?

In my defense, I wasn't the only one to do that. There are more accounts of that happening than you may know.