Laptops for students IBM, Gateway, or Dell?

**GHSTECH** · March 9th, 2005, 01:19 PM

We are a Gateway shop but are considering a vendor change in conjuction with a student laptop initiative. The vendor will provide leasing, min. 3-year warranty with accidental damage protection, and likly become the vendor for our servers and desktops for the next five years. Has any one else had experience with a high volume laptop roll-out (1200-3000 units)? Pros and cons of IBM and Dell, we know with Gateway...somewhat lackluster support. Any response is appreciated.

**3fingersalute** · March 9th, 2005, 02:17 PM

Personally, I like Toshiba's, but here at work be are locked into purchasing all Dell's, and we've have little to no problems with the Dell laptops.

Contacting support however, has become a real joke when dealing with Dell.

**geoscomp** · March 9th, 2005, 04:21 PM

Nothing as high volume as yours, but we did have a 500 unit IBM and a 300 unit Dell..and both of them have been very very good about repairs and warranty and damage coverage.

**meatwad** · March 9th, 2005, 04:22 PM

Gateway = Lousy laptops with lousy service in my experience.
Dell = Terrific laptops with lousy service in my experience.
IBM = Good laptops with decent service in my experience.

Toshiba = Terrific laptops with good service in my experience (but it wasn't an option.

)

**leezer3** · March 11th, 2005, 04:49 AM

Toshiba?! Please don't talk to me about them

I've got a Tecra S1 here, on it's 3rd motherboard and second modem. First two went with random crashes & BSODs. Possibly the worst laptop I've ever come across, and with an awful keyboard to boot!
My preference would be with IBM.

-Leezer-

***DonJ*** · March 14th, 2005, 11:28 AM

One of the local universities here is requiring their students to go with Macintosh!

How 'bout them Apples?

Personally, I've been using the same Gateway laptop (the company picked it out for me) for 2 1/2 years and it has been rock solid. The battery is now shot but I always use the charger anyway. The LCD display is now getting one vertical line when you position or flex the display just right. But I'm getting up the nerve to tear into it.

**gazzak** · March 14th, 2005, 11:32 AM

Dell, I've had no problems with warranties / support over in the UK.

**TechZ** · March 15th, 2005, 12:29 AM

Sadly we use those horrible Acer ones, theyre budget laptops, but they get the job done. If Toshiba were a choice definately, how about HP/Compaq? THey have a great support site, unlike Dells