Need some help in deciding between three laptops at Costco

[alia176]

Mother wants a 15" screen laptop so she went to Costco and picked out three candidates. I don't know computers from a hole in the ground so I'm a bit clueless here. Scouring the 'net for these laptops haven't revealed anything fruitful, other than giving me a head ache. So, if you have any knowledge please share it.

This laptop will be used by a Luddite so speed and performance isn't critical. Long term durability is the most important as the laptop will be moving to overseas. She is grudgingly moving from Windows '98 and screaming and clawing all the way

The other day I asked her to look in the back of her computer to see if she has Ethernet port. She tells me on the phone that she doesn't see anything, in fact, she sees hardly any wires at all. After few minutes, I realized that she is looking in the back of her CRT monitor.

Toshiba A665-S6080 COSTCO ITEM # 542162
HP DVR3243CL COSTCO # 554756
ASUS K52F EGRS COSTCO # 535411

Thanks very much.

 

[stocksail]

HP.

Not to say the others are bad choices, and everyone has their favorites, but I have had many HP products including several laptops over the last 5 years and have nothing but good things to say. When I did have an issue with a third party internal wireless card, HP stepped up, overnighted me return materials, and had it back to me fixed in one week.

 

[george_tlc]

I've used Dell laptops for at least 6 - 7 years now and Sony before that. I've hauled all of them on multiple trips to oz and across the US. In oz they've been in the nice oz red dust (in my 4wd) and all have performed flawlessly.

So, I'd suggest that most name brand machines are going to be reliable long term. The hard drive these days are well shock mounted and internally protected.

I wouldn't worry too much about reliability unless you just have bad luck and get a lemon (always possible with any brand).

Even the cheap dell vostro series (which I have one of right now as I type this) have an internal metal chassis where all the important stuff is bolted on to with a LOT of fasteners (all with blue loctite). I'm very impressed with Dell (as an engineer) and really appreciate that they have complete manuals on how to disassemble their machines available online - great when you want to open one up to fit some option that requires more major access than the panels on the bottom.

cheers,
george.

 

[spressomon]

Mac

 

[Daisy 53]

Mac

X2...

 

[alia176]

Hmm, hadn't considered that....

 

[tgreening]

Hmm, hadn't considered that....

Except you'll spend double for a mac, easy. You're paying for the name and a bit of "sexy". If your mom is looking to do email and net surfing and the like you'll be spending way more on a mac than you need to spend.

Truth be told you probably wouldn't go wrong with any of your choices. Asus is not something I've ever used before but they have a decent rep and I wouldn't be afraid to own one.

 

[spressomon]

Except you'll spend double for a mac, easy. You're paying for the name and a bit of "sexy". If your mom is looking to do email and net surfing and the like you'll be spending way more on a mac than you need to spend.

Truth be told you probably wouldn't go wrong with any of your choices. Asus is not something I've ever used before but they have a decent rep and I wouldn't be afraid to own one.

Never owned one...right?

 

[tgreening]

Never owned one...right?

Never owned what, an Asus? Nope, never have. I'm only going by the rep I've read about. A Mac? You bet. I have a Mac, an Ipad, and 2 Dells. I've owned Toshiba and HP in the past, along with Sony, Fujitsu, and probably some others I've long since forgotten, beginning with a Tandy I choose not to remember. All laptops, with some desktop versions tossed in for good measure.

Ok?