EricG1793
04-28-2010, 03:28 PM
Hello,
My HP Pavilion DV2000Z that I got Jan. 2007 has a failed motherboard for the second time. At least, I'm 99% sure it's the motherboard. Symptoms are: No display, no processing light, turns self on when power cord is first plugged in, battery inserted or not. Last time this happened, it was under warranty and HP replaced the motherboard.
Now, the warranty's up, and I'm facing $210 from HP for a new one, or around $125 on eBay. I haven't looked elsewhere.
My uncle, who's an IT professional, and the tech coordinator at my school both agree that it's most likely the motherboard and that it's better to just get a whole new, up-to-date system, anyway. I had been thinking about upgrading the RAM and getting Windows 7 for months.
My uncle, after finding out that his vendor for open-box business computers has high prices at the moment, said I'd be better off getting something from BestBuy -- and to get business class, avoiding a consumer PC like the plague because of quality and lifespan. He also said that HP, Lenovo, and Dell in that order make the best business laptops.
The only business laptop of those brands BestBuy has is the ThinkPad Edge. I also found a Lenovo IdeaPad U450p for $30 less. I think that the IdeaPad is far superior in terms of appearing to be solidly-built, sleek, good-looking, and overall designed better. But, the Edge is a ThinkPad and I can expect quality from a ThinkPad. Also, the Edge has the Core i3 processor, which appears to blow the U450p's Core 2 Duo away in terms of specs. It also has an island-type keyboard like a MacBook as well a multi-touch pad, plus the usual TrackPoint. However, I've read on reviews that the Edge's build quality is below any other ThinkPad and doesn't even use the alloy roll cage. It also looks extremely bland (and not that solid) and only has a power on/standby indicator light; no wireless status or processing lights.
If you go to BestBuy, select laptops, and click Lenovo, there are only 3 Lenovos there at the moment. Eliminate the one with the Pentium processor, and you have my choices.
As far as what I'd be using it for... mostly Word, having multiple Firefox tabs open, and maybe a couple of Windows Explorer windows open as well. Each computer has 4GB of RAM which should be able to handle this without a problem, but I also like to watch YouTube movies in HD (which I couldn't do with my DV2000Z and its 1.8GHz Sempron processor). Does the i3 processor make it worth getting the Edge?
Again, I'm also concerned about the quality of the internal components (not just their performance). Are IdeaPads better than, say, a Pavilion or Inspiron in terms of lifespan and reliability? I like to think that they are since they're made by the same people who make ThinkPads. Or, are they just a typical, made to fall apart device?
Which computer do you recommend -- the ThinkPad Edge or IdeaPad U450p?
My HP Pavilion DV2000Z that I got Jan. 2007 has a failed motherboard for the second time. At least, I'm 99% sure it's the motherboard. Symptoms are: No display, no processing light, turns self on when power cord is first plugged in, battery inserted or not. Last time this happened, it was under warranty and HP replaced the motherboard.
Now, the warranty's up, and I'm facing $210 from HP for a new one, or around $125 on eBay. I haven't looked elsewhere.
My uncle, who's an IT professional, and the tech coordinator at my school both agree that it's most likely the motherboard and that it's better to just get a whole new, up-to-date system, anyway. I had been thinking about upgrading the RAM and getting Windows 7 for months.
My uncle, after finding out that his vendor for open-box business computers has high prices at the moment, said I'd be better off getting something from BestBuy -- and to get business class, avoiding a consumer PC like the plague because of quality and lifespan. He also said that HP, Lenovo, and Dell in that order make the best business laptops.
The only business laptop of those brands BestBuy has is the ThinkPad Edge. I also found a Lenovo IdeaPad U450p for $30 less. I think that the IdeaPad is far superior in terms of appearing to be solidly-built, sleek, good-looking, and overall designed better. But, the Edge is a ThinkPad and I can expect quality from a ThinkPad. Also, the Edge has the Core i3 processor, which appears to blow the U450p's Core 2 Duo away in terms of specs. It also has an island-type keyboard like a MacBook as well a multi-touch pad, plus the usual TrackPoint. However, I've read on reviews that the Edge's build quality is below any other ThinkPad and doesn't even use the alloy roll cage. It also looks extremely bland (and not that solid) and only has a power on/standby indicator light; no wireless status or processing lights.
If you go to BestBuy, select laptops, and click Lenovo, there are only 3 Lenovos there at the moment. Eliminate the one with the Pentium processor, and you have my choices.
As far as what I'd be using it for... mostly Word, having multiple Firefox tabs open, and maybe a couple of Windows Explorer windows open as well. Each computer has 4GB of RAM which should be able to handle this without a problem, but I also like to watch YouTube movies in HD (which I couldn't do with my DV2000Z and its 1.8GHz Sempron processor). Does the i3 processor make it worth getting the Edge?
Again, I'm also concerned about the quality of the internal components (not just their performance). Are IdeaPads better than, say, a Pavilion or Inspiron in terms of lifespan and reliability? I like to think that they are since they're made by the same people who make ThinkPads. Or, are they just a typical, made to fall apart device?
Which computer do you recommend -- the ThinkPad Edge or IdeaPad U450p?