Who Makes The Best Laptops?

[davsl]

I am just looking for a low end laptop for really surfing the internet, word processing, and some excel usage. I would really like a 15" screen if possible. Battery usage is not an issue either as I will probably be using it connected to the mains the majority of the time. I already have a decent high end desktop, this is just really a second basic system. I live in the UK where most things are a rip-off (well everything come to think of it). At first I was going to get a bottom of the range Acer Aspire, until I read dubios things about some Acer products. Then I thought I would spend a bit more on Toshiba, until somebody told me that they moved production to China and as a result the laptops are a lot worse. I also heard the same about IBM, as I was thinking of a cheap Thinkpad, but again I was just told that they do not make there own laptops and again they are made in China Somebody else has also told me that Dell's are not brilliant either.

From what I have picked up, it would appear that laptops are on the whole unreliable? If so who is the best of a bad bunch? I do not mind paying a bit more for a better laptop by the way, as I hate computer grief

[glc]

The entry level Thinkpads are very decent machines, we haven't seen any reduction in quality since the Lenovo buyout. Dells are okay too, and the Inspiron 1300 with a 15" starts at 379 quid.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs

Thinkpads are more expensive, the R51e is the entry level.

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/uk/products.n...nkPad+R+Series

[mairving]

Keep in mind that most low-end laptops only come with a 90 day warranty. If the system board or screen goes out after that, you would have to buy a new one since it is cost prohibitive.

[glc]

Dell does offer longer warranties at extra cost, just customize your choice.

[thefultonhow]

Acers are actually decent. I wouldn't say they're quite as good as IBMs, but I think they're on par with Dells. I haven't had any personal experiences with them, but they've been doing quite well in reliability surveys.

Almost all laptops sold today are manufactured in China. Asus is the only manufacturer that makes their own laptops -- the rest are contracted out to ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers).

I would recommend IBM, Dell, Asus, Sager, and Acer, in that order. I wouldn't buy anything else. However, you should have a good experience with any of those manufacturers, and even if your laptops does break they have above-average service and support.

[davsl]

Ok thanks for the advice, I may actually go for the Acer and extend the warranty to 3 years. The extended warranty is good value from Acer, either that or go for a bottom of the range IBM. The cheapest Dell is supposed to not have a brilliant screen (just supposed to be ok, I would go for the version with the 15.4" widescreen screen that is a little bit more expensive) but maybe at this price point you have to expect this. Thanks for the advice though!