Laptop Died... Fix? or Replace?

[Iplayfarmer]

My laptop died. I have a few options to get me back to self sufficient for browsing TBN. As always, I'm interested in input from TBN Members.

A little info... I used my laptop primarily for internet: TBN, Craigs List, and Netflix. I will occasionally use it for work. This involves e-mail, spreadsheets, word documents, and some Power Point presentations.

My first option is to repair it. I've exhausted all options from Dell, but this guy says he can fix it for $91.99. Money back guarantee.

My second option is to replace it with another laptop. This was a cheap laptop, and I'll probably replace it with another cheap laptop. The only computing advantage to me would be that a new laptop would come with Windows 7. The cost here will be about $500.

MyThird option is to get an iPad. I've never been fond of Mac, but I havent' used any kind of Mac for years. The cost here would be about $500.

There are likely other options too that I haven't considered. Any input is welcome.

 

[MikeInEburg]

If it does everything you need, spend $92 and not $500. There's no learning curve.

 

[/pine]

...My laptop died....

what part of it stopped working?

 

[aczlan]

what part of it stopped working?

From the ebay ad, I would guess that it is an overheating issue caused by not enough pressure holding the heatsink to the CPU and cheap thermal paste..

Aaron Z

 

[thatguy]

i would rethink the iPad option.. From what I understand - it does not have any external outputs (usb etc).. so the only way to install stuff is to download it.. and the printer would need to be wireless (blue tooth??).

also the software is phone not computer software - so it may not have all the functions .

I may be wrong - but this is what I understood when i read up on it.. My wife wanted one.. (we are a mac family)

for <$100 i would fix it unless you really want a new one

brian

 

[bonefish101]

If you can give a little more info on your issues we may be able to talk you through a resolution. If you are looking for cheap new then check out circuitcity.com
I know, everyone thinks they are out of business, just check the website, they have killer prices and some amazing sales pretty regularly.

 

[robs660]

iPad is great for surfing web. Tbn. Netflix and things like that. It will not replace a computer and you can print from it as long as your printer supports mobile devices vi am on mine now. Love it MOST of the time. If you have another home computer that you can do the ms office stuff on then go with the iPad or wait till april when the new one comes out
I am an all mac household and love the iPad more then I thought I would. My 19 month old daughter knows how to use it and get to her apps without help so the learning curve is pretty short

 

[jeffinsgf]

I've been a Mac guy since 1985, yet I would not choose an iPad as my only computer under any circumstances. If you're a touch typist, I would most certainly give that touchpad keyboard a THOROUGH trial before handing over the plastic. Yes, you can get an external keyboard, but now you're deeper $$ into the thing, and you have a kluge. If you're a "hunt-n-peck" typist it may not be as big a deal, but I'd still want to give it a good run-through.

It's cute, but it's not a computer.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks for the input so far. Some good things to think about.

The laptop won't even boot. I get a blank screen and the blinking LED's tell me it's either a motherboard or a processor (scroll lock and caps lock solid, num lock blinking continuously). I've re-seated the ram, switched the two sticks of ram, reseated the processor, run a scan disk on the hard drive, and checked if an external display will show anything. I believe that I have some kind of bad hardware other than the ram, and anything else will cost more than the $92 repairman.

I have a desktop (which I'm using right now), and my wife has a laptop. Her laptop will likely become her business computer if I can ever finish building her a salon. The smart voice on my shoulder tells me to send the broken laptop in for a repair. The impulsive voice on the other side wants a new toy. As I think more about it, I don't see much of an advantage to buying a new laptop over repairing this one. I think the decision has come down to the repair or the iPad.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

you won't be doing the spreadsheets, wordprocessing and power point on an Ipad.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

you won't be doing the spreadsheets, wordprocessing and power point on an Ipad.

What about e-mail? I am definately a type by feel guy. Anyone have experience typing on an iPad? How much are the keyboards?

 

[bonefish101]

Sounds cheaper to replace than repair. I wouldnt go ipad unless strictly for web/email/media

 

[bonefish101]

BTW, you should be able to salvage the drive and all your data pretty easily, sounds like hardware failure, your tech may possibly be able to diagnose for the set fee but I doubt it includes any replacement parts.

 

[BobRip]

If you look at your life time cost of owning a computer it is pretty staggering. I started pretty early on and am over 50K. I try to go as many years as possible on a given computer. If I can average 5 years instead of 3 if can make a big difference. Besides the neat computer you really want will be out in two years. Spend the $99 and hold out till the new computer is ready.

 

[bonefish101]

Wow Bob, maybe you should buy cheaper equipment, pm me if you need some guidance

 

[Mudfarmer]

Check out Tiger Direct (tigerdirect.com). You can get by for less than $500 for a low end laptop. Never buy a "good" one - it'll be low end in a year and usually will cost 3 times as much as low end upfront. I have had great luck with cheap Acers. If you don't need a CD/DVD get a netbook for less than 300.
Mf

 

[Sulla]

I have always been a PC guy. I am in the investment business so for years I wouldn't consider anything Mac. The iPad has been a game changer. I use it for 90%of everything I do. I'm typing on it now. I still have the PC for trading and hard core analysis work, though I bet I could dock this and it would be just fine, though storage would be an issue.

If you have the money get the iPad you will find uses for it that you hadn't even consider. I download a repair manual for the motorcycle I am working on and I have the iPad standing up on the bench so I can thumb through it. When aging eyes can see a part clearly I simply expand the view. If I still have a question I post to a forum while I'm working and usually get an answer before I'm back from the bathroom, that's if I haven't taken it in as my reading material. Any question can be Googled at anytime, I have wifi and 3G

Last night I downloaded topographical maps for some land we just bought. I'll be walking the land with the tracks on and marking where I'll be building certain buildings. I can then plan out all of the site work and use the GPS to make sure I'm on the right spot.

Sorry to sound like an ad, but this thing is a game changer. If you travel at all for business you have all the business intelligence you could ever want right at your finger tips.

The iPad might be the best $900 (all the bells and whistles) I've ever spent.

Ask me what I really think...

 

[Andy in Gap]

I was in your situation not too long ago, ended up buying an Acer netbook and have been very, very happy with it. It's the best machine I've ever used for surfing the web. Good battery life, full keyboard, capable of running Office docs and other programs. Takes a little getting used to the small size, but the convenience of having it near me at all times for web surfing is great. The wife and I each have one now and we love them dearly.

 

[BobRip]

Wow Bob, maybe you should buy cheaper equipment, pm me if you need some guidance

My first computer was an IMSAI 8080. I had $8000 in it by the time I got rid of it. I soldered over 2000 soldering joints on that thing. Most of the boards (there were at least 15) were hand soldered by me. Computers have gotten cheaper since then. I did drive very old cars for most of my life to pay for this stuff.

 

[inveresk]

The iPad can be used for spreadsheets, presentations and word processing. It has a suite of applications called iWork that do all those things pretty well. The weakest of the suite is the spreadsheet where the biggest problem is an inability to split the screen. In all other respects it works very well.

Huge advantage of iPad over laptop is it's instantly on. No waiting for booting up or closing down, switch on and it's instantly fully up and running. There's a huge amount of free software to download and very long time between charges.

I don't have an iPad - may do when the new one's out - but I use it's baby brother, an iPod, a lot when I'm not at my desk.

Wait a short while and iPad version 2 will be out. It might include a port for a memory stick and it will definitely include a camera, possibly 2. Rumored to be only weeks from issue.

Edit - should have added iPad isn't flash compatible so you won't be able to view flash sites. Not a deal breaker for some but I happen to like flash and built my own web site using it.