Toshiba vs HP

[mojitomiss_cuba]

Okay laptop experts, looking for opinions
Getting BIT a laptop for christmas but will not break the bank to do so

Saw these 2 at Future Shop, both are 699.99
Toshiba 15.4" Satellite Intel Dual-Core T3200 (L300-04N)
HP Intel Core Duo ProcessorT5800 (G50-116CA)
Both are 250 gb Hard Drive
The Toshiba has a 4GB RAM and the HP has a 3GB
Optical Drive on the Toshiba is an 8x Dual Layer DVD +/-RW and the HP has an 8X DVD+/-R/RW Light Scribe Super Multi w/DL
Toshiba has an expandable video memory, HP doesn't
Computing Features
Processor Cache: Toshiba L2 1MB
                         HP L2 2MB
System BUS: Toshiba 667 MHz
                   HP 800 MHz FSB

pretty much all other features close and/or similar

This is kind of the max price I wanted to spend. Would really like to hear opinions on above 2 or any other brands/makes, other places to buy etc

Thanks!

[SharonAnn]

I'm not a very big fan of Future Shop electronics and would likely never buy a computer there myself.  Other people may have different experiences with them.

I quickly took a look at the Dell.ca website.  The two systems you listed here come in cheaper when you put it together at Dell (you can even choose your colour, very important to my daughter!)  Their current sales end December 12.  They are also offering free shipping.  I bought a very inexpensive computer here for my husband last Christmas and had it delivered in about a week.  He uses it every day and has had not problems.

[mojitomiss_cuba]

Hi Sharon, believe me I am not set in stone on buying from Future Shop. I've just been kind of online window shopping and checking various sites and various laptop models
I'm kind of using these 2 as a price/brand base

I have checked out the Dell sites, but I'm not really a big fan of Dell and would probably not buy one

[Bigjohn]

I went to my local computer shop and the geek set me up with a laptop loaded with everything I needed and showed me how to use some of the tricks included. At the big box store they sell you a box and charge more to set-up and load. My total price was about $30 more by buying local, and service & support is in town, not India.

[JohnnyCastaway]

Mo_Miss,
check out http://www.lenovo.com 

IBM notebooks were made by Lenovo, a couple of years back IBM wanted out of the PC's and Notebook market so they sold the rights to the the original manufacturer for them, Lenovo.  It's what I've used personally over the past number of years, and what we recommend to all our clients.

Dell are ok, but I'm not a big fan, except if you want us to service them, then we make good money.   

HP and Toshiba, I'd probably take the HP over the Toshiba, but the Toshiba's have more bang for the buck, but HP's have better reliability.  It's a double edged sword that way.

[Gambitt]

I agree with JC 100%.

I've had the misfortune to try and repair a few Dell's, and the first and best step is always the same... FORMAT the hard drive!   

My current laptop is an HP, and it's been good for me.

[mojitomiss_cuba]

JC, I've looked at the Lenova too. A guy at work has one (well had one, it got stolen from the car in Chicago!) and really liked it
Believe me, if a Lenovo comes into this place, it will be MINE and equipped with fingerprint-chip technology

[PastorAsh]

I bought an HP from Best Buy about 8 months ago. Other than Vista which I have grown to hate the laptop is fine, the other little annoyances I have are the shift keys being small which leads me to hit the left arrow key a lot. I also don't like the pwoer button, a bit small. These are small things...

The HP certainly had nice stying compared to my previous Dell pruchases but honestly these things wear off very quickly, no point wasting money on them.

Good luck with your purchase, don't think you'd go wrong either way.

[Bulldog]

So Wendy what did you end up getting 

[mojitomiss_cuba]

BD, I was leaning towards the HP, but Kristen liked the Toshiba so that's what she got

What did you end up buying?

[Bulldog]

I ended up with the Toshiba as well, it's a little more bang for your buck like JC said..

Need to ge a mouse for it, as this is a little hard to get use too