If you had $800-1000 right now to buy a laptop, what would you buy?

[arrow_runner]

Yeah. Sony does make good computers, but they are such a pain get parts for.

I still have flashbacks to the day when I replaced an oddball 16" lcd in a Sony, and wouldn't you know it the screw holes didn't line up with the hinges? Guess who had to drill new holes in the hinges to get it to line up right....

Honestly, if I wanted to invest more money in a personal laptop, I'd probably put it into my 4 year old HP NC6400. It has a T7600 processor, which is still faster/as fast than some $700 new laptops. I'd probably just get an SSD for it and try to get an internal wireless N card for it and call it a day.

My wife also has an NC6400 and we have 4 docking stations for the laptops;2 at the shop and 2 at the house. It's just such a huge convenience I don't think I could give up.

 

[Cybjun]

Asus K52JC-A1 15.6 inch i5-450M/ 4GB/ 500GB/ DVDRW/ W7HP Notebook Computer cost between $850-1000

2-year warranty, accidental damage coverage 1 first year if registered, perfect pixel warranty on screen for the first 30-days - one bad pixel asus replaces the screen or the computer

Mfr Part Number: K52JC-A1
Processor: Intel Core i5-450M Processor(2.4GHz,3MB Smart Cache)
Chipset: Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 SODIMM memory, Max capacity 8GB
Display: 15.6" HD(1366 x 768) LCD Dispaly, w/ LED backlight
Graphics Module: nVidia GeForce 310M & Intel GMA HD Graphics Controller, w/ 1GB DDR3 video memory
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Optical Storage: Built-in Super-Multi DVD±RW Drive
Audio: Integrated Sound card, w/ SRS premium sound; Built-in Altec Lansing Speakers
Connectivity: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Controller; 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Interface: 3x USB 2.0 Ports; 1x VGA Port; 1x HDMI Port; 1x RJ45 LAN Port; 1x Microphone-in; 1x Headphone-out
Card Reader: 4-in-1 card reader, Supports SD/MMC/MS/MS-Pro
Camera: Built-in 0.3MP Web Camera
Battery Pack: 6-cell 4400mAh 48Whrs Lithium-ion Battery
AC Adapter: Output - 19V DC, 4.74A, 90W; Input - 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz Universal
Dimensions (WxDxH): 38 x 25.5 x 3.45 ~ 3.57 cm
Weight: 2.62 kg (w/ 6 cell battery)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
RoHS Compliant

 

[Vicenarian]

Hey! Thanks for all the tips everyone. Client got a steal of a deal on a Sony VAIO, Core i5, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB HDD, Geforce discrete video card (not sure on model), etc. etc.

Really, really nice machine. Thanks again everyone.

 

[usacvlr]

gateway FX series. p7815u for example

 

[ATTech]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220758
+
Your choice of SSD.

 

[arrow_runner]

gateway FX series. p7815u for example

You would really recommend a Gateway?