Computer Recommendations

[PitbullMidwest]

Hi All,

My Pastor is looking to buy a new computer and I thought I'd solicit some input from the brain trust.

He wants a notebook with these "must" have features:
a. the ability to display to a second monitor
-and-
b. the ability to output to a video projector to display powerpoint and video.

Price range under $1500, what are your recommended brands, etc.

Thanks for the help.

 

[jwstewar]

I'm assuming you are talking Windows based. I would start with Dell, Toshiba, & IBM in no particular order. All make pretty decent machines with decent warranty & decent tech support. From my experiences I would stay away from H-P/Compaq and also probably Sony, but that is just my opinion. I've also known quite a few folks (companies) with Winbooks that had pretty decent results, though I'm not sure if they are up on the technology that they once were.

BTW, most all laptops can display to a "second" monitor - I'm assuming this is just in addition to the normal LCD screen. Projectors can also use the normal external VGA port. Some have S-Video output or RCA out, but personally I've seen the best results just using the normal 15-pin VGA output.

 

[KubotaSteve]

I'm pretty partial to Dell myself as I have had good luck with them. If he has time, my suggestion is to keep an eye on the Dell website. I saved almost $1,000 on my setup for my laptop but I kept a close eye on the Dell website for almost a year. They offer different specials and they finally offered the special that had everything I wanted plus a few upgrades I added.

 

[Mark4510]

I would go with the Dell. At work we run Dell, IBM and HP. Day in and day out the Dells last longer.

Right now I have an IBM machine and its a fight every single day.

I agree with Steve....keep an eye on the dell site or sign up for thier promo emails.

 

[dmp437]

Let's see..... Dell, Dell, and Dell. Those would be my top three choices. That's all we buy at work anymore because nothing else holds up. IBM is selling (or trying to) their computer operations to the Chinese. HP is also in termoil at the present time. Dell has the best business model and pretty much the best customer service if something goes wrong.

 

[thcri]

I use to get HP's. But not no more. Now everything is Dell. Very few problems and when so the service is pretty good.

We have about 15 desk tops and 2 laptops.

murph

 

[gws]

Does display to a second monitor mean simply support an external montitor or does he want a second frame buffer to have to the internal display and exteranl display showing differant data? (true dual monitor).

Most of what your asking for can be found is most every laptop.

HP/compaq, dell will meet your price range on the high end.
Heck, Wallmart has a sub $600 laptop online with decent specs.
If your pastor is like ours, this is a MAJOR investment so go with the name brand and buy the extended support.

 

[Wingnut]

hmmm ... don't know what the heck happened to my response from this afternoon .... but, anyway ...
the standard configuration these days for PC's (not Apple powerbooks, obviously) is to have WinXP installed and the standard XP setting is ready for multiple monitors. I use this on my IBM laptop daily. As well, almost every laptop you'll find will have a video port to allow you to use that external monitor or a projector.
If I recall, IBM sold their PC line to the Chinese ... excepting the laptops. We have about 40,000 of them in service and they seem to be working just fine. However ... you'll very likely get a MUCH better deal on a Dell and the quality is there.
Tip: to watch for a deal from Dell (or anywhere else) ... better than signing up at Dell ... check daily at techbargains.com ... they list all the deals as well as special coupon values and little know discount codes.

pete

 

[JASTN70D]

It is important for people to understand that Dell, IBM, HP, whoever.... Do not make computers or computer component's they only assemble them. It takes about 10 minutes to assemble a computer a note book maybe even slightly faster.

One reason that Dell has a good reputation is that they were in the right place at the right time. In other words as they began to heavily market there brand of computers component technology and operating systems (None made by Dell) became much more reliable and cheaper. So there is a perceived notion that Dell is better when in fact the difference in reality from one computer to the next is only the color of the case and of course the logo on the outside.

Now service is a different issue after all they are computers and 7 of 10 will need service of some type. Quite a high number for consumer electronics but it is the case. So as in tractors look for the best Dealer and the best deal. If you shop by service... well Good luck with that. I can tell you the odds are 99% you will be talking with some one from another land with likely very little experience and command of the English language.

Oh and by the way Laptops need repair much more often than desktops if they are used in the way they are designed (moved allot). And they are inherently less stable because the component's inside are not as mature due to the room allotted in the case. They change the parts allot to make them smaller. On the desktop size is not an issue so the focus is on making the parts well... hopefully better.

Good luck with your search

 

[PitbullMidwest]

Thanks for the responses. When buying computers I've always spent as much as I could afford and bought more than I thought I would need. Since I've never owned a laptop it was a little more diffficult to make the recommendation but after your responses I recommended the Dell Inspiron 9200 with an upgrade from DVD rom to a CD-RW or DVD-RW

The overall project will include dual projectors for powerpoint slides and worship choruses for Sunday services and will be used by the Pastor on a daily basis.

Now all he needs to do is convince those on the board that think computers are a passing fad. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Thanks agin.

 

[willywildes]

Dell cut there prices to business last month. I get the home catalog, and the business catalog. The latter gives you way more bang for your buck.
Good luck.

WW

 

[Av8r3400]

Gateway has never served me wrong. They have much better support than the Dell, from my experience.

 

[rrsquid]

I will also recommend Dell brand laptops. Not so much that the computer is better, but in my experience (I do tech support for work) they have better support.

If possible get CompleteCare which will warranty the computer if there is user-caused damage.

If you want to connect to external monitors/projectors stay away from the new wide aspect display notebooks.

--
mark

 

[gsxr1100]

So far my Dell laptop has been great; however, dell support or lack there of is worse then my ISP…I personlly think dell support sucks. I had 2 issues and was on hold for over 2.5 hours....Give me a break.

My laptop, or wife’s laptop, works great on my Epson projector!

 

[PineRidge]

In the past years we have always upgraded each of our computers every 3 years. Each time that was necessary it involved a trip to the local Gateway store to order our specific need. They have since closed all walk-in Gateway's. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Now I have no brand loyalty since Gateway made that move.

Did I say that I recently became aware our neighbor JASTN70D builds computers? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Mike, when I bought my Dell, I let them finance it for a few months, Thank Goodness!! Because when I called for support, several times, talking to a different person each time, when they sent the XP upgrade that didn't work, they finally decided there was nothing they could do. So when the guy said there was just nothing more they could do, and my computer still didn't work, I told him to go ask his supervisor where they wanted it shipped to, since I wasn't going to be paying for it. Hmmm, he promptly found someone who knew how to get it to work (except for changing my primary hard drive from C: to E: /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif).

And for the other Mike, before I bought this Dell, I called Gateway to ask about their computers and the lady said she'd send me a catalog. A month later I called back and got a man that time, told him I hadn't received the catalog I was promised, and he assured me he would get one in the mail promptly. And a couple of years later, it still hasn't arrived. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[OKnewguy]

Hey this is my area!!! I do not have occasion to give input to often (still learning this tractor thing). But as the media director of a 3200 seat church, I can give my 2 cents on this topic. Make sure and get your laptop with a seperate video card. This way you can have a preview screen and the projector will be your program.. Not just the vga out that is with most laptops. This is extremely important for presentation software. Also there are a multitude of programs that make this very easy, they will even link up with the ccli organization. In doing this, you will be completely legal to show song lyrics and such. You might also want to check out churchmedia.net. They have a great forum and you can get an idea of what might be the best presentation software for your specific need. You also should consider a rf wireless mouse. This way the pastor is not tethered to the laptop. Don't go with a infrared unit.
Hope this helps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif