[BC] Notebook Suggestions

[Bernie Courtney]

On 3/13/07, Barry Mishkind <barry at oldradio.com> wrote:

>          My main complaints with the Thinkpad are
>          1. relatively weak sound

What model do you have, on the T30 series, and the T40/1 series I was
actually pretty impressed with the sound.  Their X series units that
are made to be super compact have crappy mono sound though built in,
but those aren't made with that in mind, they are made to be as small
as possible.

>          2. The IBM wifi software fights with the XP software,
>                  often causing problems.

Easy solution, don't use it.   That's what I do- Windows XP does a
great job of managing the wireless functionality on its own.  I do
agree with you though that it can make the wireless difficult, but I
never use any factory installed OS, i always wipe ANY machine (except
my mac) clean and do my own OS install the way I want it when I get a
new machine.

>          3. support is for one year from manufacture. In past,
>                  IBM has often been more concerned with verifying
>                  the date of manufacture than solving problems.

Only if you buy one of their crappy models.  Many of the models in the
T, X, and R series all have a 3 year warranty.  I must had about 20
dealing with IBM support and really cant complain about them- you call
and give them the model and serial #, if its under warranty they send
you an empty box to send it back to the repair center in, and then 2
days later they send it back.

>          4. Battery life is decent (depending upon disk access), but
>                  could be better.

Same case could be made for any laptop. I get about 2hrs off my IBM
and I'm happy with that, its actually better then the units I had
prior, and about on par with my MacBook as well.


>          Probably the key issue for me is the hassle I go through
>          a different hotels when the wifi software fight each other.

again, see above, that can be easily remedied.


>
>          I cannot argue with most of this, although I have yet
>          to have a virus running on my machines. (I just do
>          not click on files I do not know and expect)  There is
>          no question that Windows has been a prime target
>          of the hacker community. But ... we have to realize
>          that the same ubiquity also makes software easier
>          to get in most cases. (Yes, linux is an alternative,
>          but not for everyone)

I must agree, I do the same (careful with attachments, run McAfee and
Windows Defender) and while I've had McAfee warn me a few times when I
was about to open something that it blocked I've never had a machine
of my own become infected.  There is a certain amount of due diligence
that plays a big part in keeping your own PC virus free.