Laptop Died... Fix? or Replace?

[IslandTractor]

Concerning the iPad; no "flash" is a dealer breaker at any price, along with no usb/firewire or dvd .
There are a growing number of companies now producing "pads" for a 1/4 of the price. Vizio is getting into the market as well with a pad and a smart-phone.

I agree on the no flash/usb point. I suspect the competition will force Apple to add those to the next iteration due in June.

DVD player I have no use for in a mobile device though. Who wants to haul those things around when you can download a movie to flash at home or via internet on the fly.

 

[inveresk]

I agree on the no flash/usb point. I suspect the competition will force Apple to add those to the next iteration due in June.

Rumour has it that the ipad 2 will have 2 cameras, a gyroscope, a USB port and an SD card slot but Flash doesn't look to be on the cards. April is rumoured to be the launch.

iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know | News | TechRadar UK

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Rumour has it that the ipad 2 will have 2 cameras, a gyroscope, a USB port and an SD card slot but Flash doesn't look to be on the cards. April is rumoured to be the launch.

iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know | News | TechRadar UK

Goodness!! If apple adds a few more options to the iPad 2 this thread is going to overlap with the Pictures of Your Snow Weapons thread.

If there's some iPad ap comparable to Sketchup, I'd probably be sold.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I was considering an Ipad myself, but I have over 120GB of pictures and video on my Asus laptop (great machine), so Ipad just doesn't cut it. Plus my HD video software runs on windows.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I was visiting inlaws for the weekend. In avoidance of a hen party, my BIL and I stopped in at Best Buy to look at an iPad. I was shocked that it wouldn't do Youtube out of the box. It has something to do with the fact that it's not flash compatible. There's some add on ap that you have to get. I was surprised, though, that I picked up typing on the screen fairly quickly.

I came to the conclusion that I want an iPad, but I want one IN ADDITION to a laptop not INSTEAD of a laptop. Maybe someday.

For now our household is having a hard time with electronics. My laptop, my daughter's Zune, and my wife's 10 day old Kindle have all died within a few weeks. I'm wondering what will happen next.

 

[cdaigle430]

The IPAD can do youtube right out of the box, Youtube has not all movies have been converted yet but 90% have.

I love my IPAD, will never buy a laptop again, funny thing is I am, a certified Microsoft technician. Also, I use my IPAD every single day-in the bathroom, in front of my TV in bed, at work, in the garage, Tim Hortons, Starbucks I have 12 high def movies, 2,600 hundred songs. 1200 pictures, 2 shows, 82 apps and 40 games and I still have 14GB free. You can buy the airplay for printing or Apple TV for streeming netflix to your TV, printing, picture viewing etc....

10 hour battery is awesome and it easy to use-no frigging around to get an app or game running.

It's so easy, my 65 year old computer illiterate father can operate it with ease, he now wants one

There is even a TractorByNet app for IPAD Those who mock the IPAD clearly do not own one. You can buy external keyboards, speakers, stands, cases, camera connectors, TV connectors and the list just keeps growing and growing every day.

The touch screen is so fluid like-its a dream to operate.

 

[cdaigle430]

I was considering an Ipad myself, but I have over 120GB of pictures and video on my Asus laptop (great machine), so Ipad just doesn't cut it. Plus my HD video software runs on windows.

You don't have to have everything put on the IPAD at once. It's so easy to sync what you want on and what you don't want on it from your computer. and it also converts easily. If you don't want to convert there are 3rd party apps that you can install on the IPAD and play them in the format there in.

 

[cdaigle430]

Goodness!! If apple adds a few more options to the iPad 2 this thread is going to overlap with the Pictures of Your Snow Weapons thread.

If there's some iPad ap comparable to Sketchup, I'd probably be sold.

They are working on the app for that now as I type. There are some viewers currently out there now.

 

[cdaigle430]

Concerning the iPad; no "flash" is a deal breaker at any price, along with no usb/firewire or dvd .
There are a growing number of companies now producing "pads" for a 1/4 of the price. Vizio is getting into the market as well with a pad and a smart-phone.

Yeah but the linux and Microsoft version of the touch screen sucks compared to the ios version. Apple 2 will have USB, HDMI and two camera's-one for phase recognition. I think this will have infinite possibilities and I know it will be even better than the xbox kinect. I will be selling my 64gb IPAD and getting the IPAD 2.

 

[sodamo]

After talking with our son yesterday and him assuring us we'll get some pics of the house they moved into last April as soon as his wife can get a CD at Walmart....
Wife and I are seriously thinking of getting our granddaughter an ipad2 for her 5th birthday. I'm sure she'll learn to call us on Facetime.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Originally Posted by Iplayfarmer ..."If there's some iPad ap comparable to Sketchup, I'd probably be sold."

They are working on the app for that now as I type. There are some viewers currently out there now.

Dangit, cdaigle!! I just about had my mind made up until you chimed in with all the virtues of the iPad.

 

[cjstiltz]

A computer is just a tool. Would you skip functionality for price. Screwdrivers made of steel or junk. Technology progresses so fast and you can not buy ahead. Don't repair, and a $91 cheap fix won't last, you're chasing good money after bad.

I have been in technology for 45 years, and have advanced education. I have never seen repair of old technology be of value.

Get you a new system that fits your needs. Don't go cheap, go functional:thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

A computer is just a tool. Would you skip functionality for price. Screwdrivers made of steel or junk. Technology progresses so fast and you can not buy ahead. Don't repair, and a $91 cheap fix won't last, you're chasing good money after bad.

I have been in technology for 45 years, and have advanced education. I have never seen repair of old technology be of value.

Get you a new system that fits your needs. Don't go cheap, go functional:thumbsup:

Good perspective. Thanks for the opinion. Of course the flip side is that the longer I can wait to get a new laptop, the newer the technology will be when I can get it.

 

[Alan L.]

Can the laptop fit in your pocket? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

We finally got smart phones last August. Not an iPhone. Apple products are over priced and I am not paying a premium for a logo. Though the iPhone has a huge amount of after market gadgets that makes things interesting. Our smart phones were on Amazon and seems like one other retailer for $150-200. Found it on NewEgg for $50.

Having a PC in your pocket is very nice. It even as a TBN app. :thumbsup: Very nice to have one integrated device that reads email, browses the Internet, is a book reader, plays music, runs a variety of apps, is a GPS, oh yeah, its a phone too. :thumbsup::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

And it fits in a pocket. :thumbsup:

Later,
dan

My wife and I have iphones, I was referring to the ipad which I don't think will fit in your pocket. The iphone is cute, but doesn't come close to the functionality of a laptop, is not really a very good cell phone, and is way too expensive. The 3G internet speed (when its even available) is not very fast either. Having said all of that it does work as a cell phone and you can do email and very crude internet browsing and that makes it worth it, barely. But to pay upwards of $600+ for a bigger one (ipad) that is about as easy to carry around as a laptop with not even close to the usefulness, I'll pass. Just my opinion, heck until a couple of years ago I would not have considered a smart phone at all or one with even a camera in it.

 

[aczlan]

My wife and I have iphones, I was referring to the ipad which I don't think will fit in your pocket. The iphone is cute, but doesn't come close to the functionality of a laptop, is not really a very good cell phone, and is way too expensive. The 3G internet speed (when its even available) is not very fast either. Having said all of that it does work as a cell phone and you can do email and very crude internet browsing and that makes it worth it, barely.

Are you sure that you arent talking about my Palm Treo 755p?
The palm part is ok, but the phone is VERY poorly integrated into the Palm part.
Why do I have it? It was free (from someone who got a droid), it gets decent battery life and I find the palm part useful for many things (scriptures, OBDII reader, universal IR remote, Word and Excel editor, etc)

One of these days I will get a Windows Mobile 6 phone (like perhaps a XV6800) and (if it is like my XV6700 was) it will be nice for everything but battery life.

Aaron Z

 

[unbidden]

The rule of thumb on electronics is 40%. If you can fix it for under 40% you should fix it; over 40 you buy new. With a computer there is an X-factor of the newer technology, however, it's not what the computer can do as much at it is what 'you' will do with the added features and capabilities. If you're just web-surfing, emailing and doing a basic data-base or spread sheet... fix it.

 

[JDgreen227]

The rule of thumb on electronics is 40%. If you can fix it for under 40% you should fix it; over 40 you buy new. With a computer there is an X-factor of the newer technology, however, it's not what the computer can do as much at it is what 'you' will do with the added features and capabilities. If you're just web-surfing, emailing and doing a basic data-base or spread sheet... fix it.

Would you please clarify the 40% rule you mention...do you mean 40% of the cost to replace an item with something new, or 40% of the cost of the non-working item as IT was new?

I have a 6 year old Toshiba M35X that still works fine, it has never given me any problem at all but I suspect the OEM battery will need replacing soon. It cost me $1300 new, I can buy a comparable and more modern model (faster processor, more memory, slightly bigger screen, with the newest OS) for less than $500. Is it a mistake to spend $40 for the battery? The computer does everything I want it to, it's basically our travel pc so we don't have to worry about the newer laptop being stolen or damaged. It does everything we want it to, just basic web surfing and email and the wireless performance is excellent.

 

[IslandTractor]

Would you please clarify the 40% rule you mention...do you mean 40% of the cost to replace an item with something new, or 40% of the cost of the non-working item as IT was new?

I have a 6 year old Toshiba M35X that still works fine, it has never given me any problem at all but I suspect the OEM battery will need replacing soon. It cost me $1300 new, I can buy a comparable and more modern model (faster processor, more memory, slightly bigger screen, with the newest OS) for less than $500. Is it a mistake to spend $40 for the battery? The computer does everything I want it to, it's basically our travel pc so we don't have to worry about the newer laptop being stolen or damaged. It does everything we want it to, just basic web surfing and email and the wireless performance is excellent.

IMO it is worth keeping older laptops as spare or convenience internet access devices. I wouldn't invest much more than the cost of a cheap new battery but even without that you can plug it in. We keep an old one in the kitchen and another

 

[unbidden]

Would you please clarify the 40% rule you mention.

The 40% rule means that if you can fix it for less than 40% of the cost of a new replacement, then fix it. IOW's $500 for new or less the $200 to fix, you fix it. For me, I'd opt for the new at $500, at $150 I'd probably fix it if the 'puter still met my needs. Ultimately it's your decision.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

After intense consideration of all input and my own wants, needs, and preferences, I took the plunge today and shipped my laptop off to PC Mania to give them a shot at fixing it. Buy the time I paid one way shipping, insurance, and the flat rate repair fee, the total is about $110.