I might be getting a new laptop. In fact, I have been consumed the past few days with researching just such a purchase. And by consumed, I mean CONSUMED. As in hours spent on-line doing new laptop research. Laptops invading my dreams. Speaking to everyone I know who has ever used a laptop for their likes, dislikes, wish lists and must haves.
Because this is what The Only Girl does when she considers buy something new of significant value and importance. I’m like a research machine. Because I don’t think you can make a good buying decision unless you are completely educated about the item in question (need I remind you that this theory of mine also applies to ordering food at a restaurant). Crazy? Perhaps. But I just can’t help myself. It’s a sickness.
In the past 3 days of laptop research, I have spent countless hours;
- producing a list comparing all the models I’m interested in and their various features
- surfing The Net for laptop reviews
- combing the on-line stores for the best deals
- attempting to make sense of all the computer lingo these places use
- determine the difference between wireless cards, processors and operating systems
I have also sent my BFF Elle numerous emails inquiring about the new laptop she recently purchased. I’m pretty sure she’s starting to get annoyed.
I have discussed with Willie the pros and cons of such a purchase. A discussion he had zero interest in because he’s a “just go buy it” kind of guy and I was clearly annoying him with my in-depth analysis and psychological approach to the purchase.
I have attempted to rationalize the money that will be spent on said purchase, even though I actually do have the money. Well, most of it.
Anyobsessive . . . still no decision.
What am I waiting for you ask?!
I have no idea. I may have to conduct a little research into that as well. See you in a few days.
Got any laptop likes, dislikes, wish lists or must have items for me? Clearly the research is on-going.
13 Responses to “If You Need To Buy Something Expensive, Don’t Ask Me For Help”
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April 15th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I’ve been happy with my Dell – so far. But you know that their customer service sucks monkey balls. If I ever win the lottery, I’m get a Mac Book. (among many other things)
April 15th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Macbook. I swear by all things Mac anyway, but my brother has one for school and he loves the heck out of it.
April 15th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Neither the Black Knight nor I are annoyed at at all your questions
When you get yours, does this mean we can have ‘play-dates’?!
April 15th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Buy a macbook. You will not regret it. They may seem more expensive up front, but I can guarantee you they are a much more solid machine and will last way longer than anything else.
April 15th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I’m a desktop kind of person because my chief complaint is I can’t see the screen on most laptops. Then my sister got one with a huge 20″ screen. It’s amazing. So that’s what I’d go with. Of course you have to carry around that heavy thing around but you can’t have everything can you?
April 15th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I don’t have a laptop, so I’m no help in that area… but I can tell you that I am the EXACT SAME WAY AS YOU. Can you imagine the amount of research I did before buying my car at the end of last year?? It was insane. And it made me insane while I was in the middle of it. But afterward, I was so glad that I’d made a really informed decision. You have to when you’re spending a bunch of money, right?? Research away, friend!!
April 15th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I have both. But the laptop is MINE. The other one is one we share. I have a toshiba cuz it’s what I could afford.
April 15th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I don’t own a laptop so I can’t help.
I start out doing a lot of research, but in the end I get frustrated with it all and decide everything’s pretty similar anyway and just go for the next one I see.
At least I tell myself they’re all pretty similar.
April 16th, 2010 at 5:47 am
I’ve heard good things about Dell from a few different people. I have an HP and it’s had a lot of problems. My husband’s Toshiba also has had issues from early on.
Also – I tagged you from the latest post on my blog if you want to participate
April 16th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Well, the only way we are able to settle on major decisions is by looking it up on Consumer Reports. We read what they have to say about the matter and then price check them on Amazon. My only requirement for my new laptop was that I needed at least 3 USB ports and I needed more than 320 MB of memory. And I got both of those. Good luck with this, though. If I didn’t put so much faith in what the fine folks of Consumer Reports said, I would be a hopeless mess, surrounded by scraps of paper with specs scribbled on them.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
The thing is unless you’re running games, working with professional graphics, creating music, etc etc alot of the computer lingo mumbo jumbo doesn’t really matter.
I would suggest one with a larger monitor. I have a 17″ monitor and absolutely LOVE it.
If you have the $$$ and can deal with the OS on a Mac go with a macbook. They are without a doubt the best machine you can buy. I’ve owned an Imac for 4 years – it has never not worked, froze up or had a virus….never.
April 20th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Visiting from SITS and happened on this post
I agree with ScoMan–they are all pretty similar IMHO, but I recommend buying about double the amount of RAM you think you’ll need. You can make a machine last much longer with more RAM than pretty much anything else (4+ GB is probably good for most standard purposes). And for those suggesting a Mac–good advice if you are partial to the Apple products, but if you are used to a PC you might get frustrated. No haters, please, I’ve used both, but some folks have trouble adapting to one or the other after getting used to one platform. Goes both ways 
Good luck shopping!
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Check out the litl webbook at litl.com. Just saw one at a conference and it looked really cool. I want one, so if you get one I may have to come over and play.