Posted on 04/19/2008 11:26:22 AM PDT by Loud Mime
The screen on my laptop has died again; 3 times in two years. I need a portable computer but do not need the instant convenience of a laptop.
Do these smaller computers (cubes) provide an alternative, especially if I'm willing to take a keyboard and screen into the various hotel rooms?
I'm not a gamer. I have word publishing and some photo shop applications. 60 Gig of HD and 1Mg or Ram minimums to accomodate MS Office 2007 and Adobe PS.
Any suggestions from the freeper community?
That seems quite excessive...to what do you attribute this attrition rate? Shock during transit? Unknown?
But there's a lot of small form desktop boxes these days, for example there's this Acer that's a little rocket and built for connections.
What kind of laptop do you get? If you are hard on them, a manufacturer’s warranty (emphasis on MANUFACTURER’s, not store brand) comes in handy. A Panasonic Toughbook could take any kind of abuse you heap on it. Typically, I have found that the screen is NOT the problem in laptops, but problems releated to heat buildup in the case (hard drive failure, bad memory,etc.), although inverter boards (which help make the screen work) are sometimes a problem.
A Mac mini would be a good choice if it rtuns your software (and you don’t get a laptop). I have not tried Acer’s Windows version.
Yes, it’s excessive. When I was in line I chatted with another Fujitsu owner who had the same problem and the same number of times.
I hooked it up to another monitor....that works well. It’s the screen; minimum replacement cost is $300 without the labor.
I can travel heavier than a laptop. I just don’t want to be lugging a full case around. Thanks for the information on the Acer; I’ll look at that now.
If you’re willing to carry an external screen with you, why not just do so with the laptop, once the onboard screen fails? Also, why do you think the screens are failing? I’ve always bought IBM laptops (including used and refurbished ones) and have NEVER had a screen failure in probably 20-25 laptop-years.
You can get a used IBM Thinkpad, with a good battery for $50 on ebay. They are disposible.
I got a Fujitsu. I’ve had it for 2 years and 19 days.
Three Months of that were in the shop.
For the present I’m going to plug a screen to the laptop for this business trip. I want to take a hacksaw to the attached screen.
IBM? I’ll check that out too.
The drawback to your plan is you’ll be carrying a lot of stuff around. Not just in weight, but in dealing with cables. Laptops are one of those thing where you can live without them as long as you don’t have them. But once you have them, you can’t live without them.
Something tells me there is another problem than the LCD Screen, I’ve worked with those laptops before and they seemed quite sturdy for the size. Check out “The consumerist” website, they may have a better number for you to call and get help. Demand they replace your computer.
Dang! I’ve not had any experiences with the Fujitsu, but their “Lifebook” series is well-regarded.
I lean towards Toshiba (corporate type models), and away from HP/Compaq (flimsy innards). Dell’s Latitudes are mostly OK, though not the Inspirons. I don’t do Lenovo or Sony for personal reasons.
My point is that you've a box computer already - your laptop with the nonfunctional screen - while picking up more hardware is always nifty, you've got it already. Use a broken screen laptop to power my home entertainment center myself.
Guess I should bother to read the replies before saying something - you’re already doing what I’m suggesting. :)
With a cube you need an external mouse, keyboard and screen. Not very portable. Laptops very nice. Everthing you need built in. If Vista is loaded on it (which it probably will be) settle for nothing less than 2 gigs of memory and a 256kb video card for a nice descent running system
I already use an external mouse because of my photo editing (I photograph for Basketball). I’m not moving much on a hour to hour basis; I go to a city and put the computer in a hotel room and that’s that.
After reading all this good advice, it seems that the convenience favors the all-in-one laptop. I need the reliability and quick fix processes for when I’m on the road. I was hoping somebody owned a micro puter...
BTW, I recently downgraded a system to XP Pro from Vista and love the speed. I own three copies from older ‘puters.
I advise getting the laptop. You won’t be sorry.
Best notebook computer ever made.
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