Notebook computers - where did you buy yours?

Hi there,

Just a quick question as to where people bought their notebooks. I have about 1,6k EUR to spend and I am wondering what is my best route.

Also if anyone has any leads for current offers please let me know

Requirements
CPU freq. >1.8GHz
DRAM = 1GB (533MHz FSB)
HD>=80GB
Wireless LAN
Windows XP Pro

Also positive or negative experiences are more than welcomed to be shared here...

Got mine from Saturn. I like to speak to a real person when buying electrical stuff rather than saving some money buying online. If there's any problems I can go confront them directly face-to-face which is what I prefer.

Found my fave model and ordered from the place that offered it the cheapest. This was online, as it happened.

I bought a dell online about 2 years ago, am very happy with it. A couple of my friends did the same and they've all had very positive things to say. I bought a PC years ago from Saturn, it was terrible, the after sales service was rubbish.

Dell online. Immer

1) Dell online, about four years ago. Utter, utter crap. I'm glad I shelled out for the 3-year service contract, because I sure needed it. The screen is the only thing on it that hasn't been replaced at least once. It's now my son's computer, and even he complains.

2) Aldi, a year ago June. No problems so far.

Macintosh

Sorted:
nothing like you wanted, but this one will work

Edit...as IPJ stated

I bought my Toshiba M30X via eBay for EUR1000,- (UVP was around EUR1400,-)
It was second hand (two months old) and the seller had a lot of positive feedback points.

I'm really happy with the laptop - centrino (wlan + mobile cpu) battery life up to 3 years, graphic card for games, great 17" widescreen display, harmon-kardon speakers ...

in case people are really interested in getting english keyboards and O.S. ask me how?

Crikey...beats my battery, mine runs out in a few hours

I have had two dells.. one bought about 5 years ago, and the other about 4.. both are still running perfectly.. recently my sister bought a new one and it is really nice and it was pretty cheap too.. I would go with Dell..

I bought my second dell 1.5 yrs ago and am really happy with it. Service and delivery time was excellent as well (although I did have trouble with their billing).

I'd go with dells for laptops and have your own machine built it you want a desktop.

Check out www.eopinions.com otherwise...

Brock
I have been looking at getting a Dell desktop care to elaborate do you think their desktops are no good?
I'm not to techy so I'd be interested. I already have a laptop but its old so I want a desktop again (its cheaper)
and I'll keep my old laptop for travel

Go to Saturn or Media Markt and check out the various models and find the one that fits well with your requirements. Then go to http://www.guenstiger.de and see who offers the best price on that model.

I have cancelled my plan to buy a laptop due to English keyboard and English OS.

As finally I wud be going back to India, so it doesn't make sense having US keyboard in office and German keyboard in home.

Let me know, so that I can start my buying activities again!!!

Regards,
Bhupesh

Ok so there is one taker. Now don't curse me for this.

This would cost you an extra 50 Euros.

Go to Switzerland and buy one.

I'm sure this has been covered in another thread somewhere, but if you're buying brand new from Dell, could you not just specifiy an English layout keyboard over a Germish one?

Same here (but from www.cyberport.de)

Mucho grassias for the advice. DELL then it could be. Did ye lot order online or over the Phone ?

I ordered a Dell online and am happy with it. Definitely look for online coupons as you can save a bundle.

Dell are average price, up-to-date and have excellent afer-sales service. They need it, however because failure, often major, is common. Their LapTops are less reliable and less competive in an agressive market than deskside/tops... Some people buy Dell as they will ship (British-) English spec systems to Germany. Not sure that is an advantage, however, as the OS is easy to change, and it's often an advantage here to have those extra ö's, ä's and ü's, not to mention the ß's. The Y-Z swap can take a short while to get used to, of course, but it's no big deal once you have the hang of it...

You can get some pretty decent complete packages on the German market. Acer has a very good reputation (I've always used Acer, since LapTops were invented) and Aldi, though heavy, has good deals for good value, especially if you like gadgets and gimics (like the DVB-T tuner built in). Most Aldi products are made in the Siemens-Fujitsu factory near Berlin...

Did Darknnight sell all his LapTops? - his price was certainly favourable, despite being Dell-sourced.

YL6

If you are going to get a Dell, definitely order over the internet.. it is cheaper and much easier..

Arent they only available over the internet?

For Average home users yes. But if your a company and want 10 or more, then No.. You are assigned your very own Dell Sales drone who will order thing internally for you.

I recently purchased a Fujitsu notebook, the quality of the machine is amazing, its encased an metal alloy case which protects the notebook screen and contents. The best notebook manufacturers in my experience are IBM, Toshiba, Sony, Apple, and Fujitsu. Dells are okay at best.

My Toshiba sucks - or I just ended up with a lemon. It was in the repair shop 3 times in the first 2 months I owned it.

I did both. Look on their website and decide in advance what you want. It doesn't cost any extra to then call them and go through it with you to make sure you're getting what you want. Obviously they'll probably try and convince you to go for a few extras - just tell them to bog off. Dell was recommended to me by several people at my office and i have to say they were excellent. The only crap thing is having to have it delivered by UPS - they're rubbish and never come when they say there will...

Randy these coupons only work for the US, does anyone know anything about vouchers for Europe, and Germany ?

tanks !

i just bought my dell notebook through their telesales. They have different offers then those online. Bargained for a €30 discount and free delivery. May be a better option than online. Had a very helpfull salesman who also helped me get it quicker.

Asus from Seemüller. Great place that store.

Bought mine in Saturn, but it has turned to be a complete crap. Ok, part of it is my fault for buying a weird brand, but service in Saturn is the worst I've ever seen, even compared to german standards. DON'T BUY ANYTHING IN SATURN!!! IT SCUKS!

I've had my Dell for amost a week and it was ordered online. It took quite a long time to arrive though, longer than they said. The battery charger wasn't working properly, but they sent a new one which arrived the day after calling them. The PC itself seems fine although I haven't had time to play much yet. So far it's a novelty having something that's so much faster than my basic desk top which was bought in '98.

Found it easier to just grab one from back home from PC World, loads of choice, special offers and all the software in english.

If you can afford it, the Alienware makes the best notebooks that I have ever used.

Jesus, that must need a walking frame now. Were computers even invented back then?

@xargon
Alienware are good, but execpt for the two models that use Centrino Tech. they all use DESKTOP based CPU's/Parts.. Which wouldn't class these machines as Notebooks, but as DESKTOP REPLACEMENTS...
If they have a battery, don't execpt more then 1-1.5hr usage on it..

Update: The store Seemüller (Near Hauptbahnhof), mentioned in this thread have switched focus on the hardware they sell. They no longer sell mostly new
computers, but have changed to selling used (Lease Returns) instead. They Do not sell Asus Notebooks, nor have they for many months. If your looking for
a new laptop, goto Litec,Bauers or the Laptop store next to Bauers instead. And stay away from Saturn, Media Markt and Esp. Conrad.. You can go to
look/touch but don't buy...

PS: The Laptop store Next to Bauers, can also order whatever laptop they have with English OS and keyboard at no extra charge.

Thanks for the update and advice!