Need opinions

[flyboy747]

Ok. My sister is about to graduate from high school and my parents are looking at getting her a laptop (I only got a cd burner when I graduated ), the only thing is, we can't really spend a fortune on this. We're looking at the low $1000 range as about the max.

We've somewhat got it narrowed down to 2 that we're looking at (both refurbished). One is a Sony VAIO FX300 and the other is a Gateway Solo 5300. I haven't really had any experience with either Sony or Gateway laptops, so if anyone has any comments, suggestions, warnings or whatever about these two machines, please let me know. Here are the basic specs for them:

Sony VAIO FX300:
<a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/computing/prd.jsp?model=PCG-FX300/14B" target="_blank">http://www.sonystyle.com/computing/prd.jsp?model=PCG-FX300/14B</a>

Pentium III 1 GHz
8x DVD-ROM drive
14.1" XGA (1024 x 768) TFT screen
128 MB RAM (expandable to 512 MB)
15 GB hard drive
10Base-T/100Base-TX NIC
AGP-enabled Intel 815EM graphics chip with up to 11 MB video SDRAM (shared)
Integrated V.90 modem
Win XP Home Edition

$1049.99

Gateway Solo 5300:
<a href="http://www.gateway.com/reman/hm_notebook_1006192_3003064_5300.asp?seg=hm" target="_blank">http://www.gateway.com/reman/hm_notebook_1006192_3003064_5300.asp?seg=hm</a>

900MHz Pentium III
14.1" TFT Active Matrix
128 MB RAM
Integrated Speakers and Integrated Sound
30GB Hard Drive
8X DVD-ROM
56K Integrated Modem
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

$879

If you would recommend something else, please let me know (we're kinda running out of time to get something), but I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[cc_penguin]

We see some Sony's come through the shop (cant work on them though, only Sony can, well under warranty) They are pretty nice laptops. A guy at work got one for his daughter for college and she loves it. Hasnt had any problems at all with it. So if I had to choose between the options that you have given, Id say Sony....

[Damned Angel]

Just looking at the system specs, I would go with the sony.

Make sure that if there is anyway to purchase extra warranty for whatever notebook you decide on you take it.

Seen way too many $1000 repair jobs with notebooks what would have been warranty repairs had the customer spend an extra $200-300 when they bought the unit.

[silencio]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Damned Angel:
<strong>Just looking at the system specs, I would go with the sony.

Make sure that if there is anyway to purchase extra warranty for whatever notebook you decide on you take it.

Seen way too many $1000 repair jobs with notebooks what would have been warranty repairs had the customer spend an extra $200-300 when they bought the unit.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ditto. Problem is that so many laptops integrate everything. One thing dies and you throw it away.

[Ryuutsume]

All I have to say is AVOID GATEWAY! If you have a brain in your head, avoid Gateway like the PLAGUE! lol, I am sure you don't want a nice paper weight for $1000. HP's laptops, although a little expencive, seem to be the most reliable in my opinion. Gateway, and Dell are nightmeres in terms of reliability though, so keep your eyes open. I don't know a lot about Sony laptops, but I do know 90% of their OTHER products are pretty flakey and unreliable. You may want to avoid them too, but I honestly know nothing about their laptops inparticular. As much as people don't want to hear it, depending on the use this laptop will be getting the C3-Ezra (Gigapro) laptops by ECS/PC Chips. ECS has gotten their act together lately, and their C3-Ezra laptop seems mighty fast for a 733Mhz processor. That A900 ECS Desknote laptop is very very cost effective as long as the uses you have are appropriate for it. It's not a hardcore gaming machine, and isnt intended to be used "portably"... its a "mobile" PC, not a "portable" PC... its a tricky lil product lol.

[Darkstar]

Personally, I've had bad experiences with the couple of Sony laptops I've worked on. Their driver support is horrible. I think Sony just makes too much damn stuff to put as much effort as needed into their computers.

But, they aren't so popular without reason and I have heard of people loving them.

Alas, given only these two options (boy I NEVER thought I would say this) I would go with the Gateway.

[flyboy747]

I think we've basically decided on the Sony. But thanks for everyone's comments. And yes, we're definately going to get an extended warranty.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Ryuutsume:
<strong>Gateway, and Dell are nightmeres in terms of reliability though, so keep your eyes open</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yea, I've been kinda leary of Gateway since the beginning, but it was a semi-good deal. I would have to disagree with you on the Dell part. We have quite a few Dell desktops and laptops on our campus where I work and for the most part, we haven't had any major trouble with them at all. Of course every once in a while, you get one that needs a mobo replaced or something, but one out of all the machines we have, I don't think we've had too bad of luck with them.