So the wife wants a new laptop.....

**lxskllr** · 22-09-11, 03:36 AM

Looks like a good machine. If you want to get it now, you could get a gooseneck LED light to shine on the keyboard when needed. It would plug into a USB port.

**Ainkor** · 22-09-11, 03:42 AM

There just aren't that many laptops for under $1,000 that have a lighted keyboard.

You could always go for a MacBook Pro (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC...co=MTgwOTc3Mjg )

Of course, with tax and everything it will be over $1,000.

I'd go for a laptop under $600 and a gooseneck lamp if I didn't need that much horsepower for gaming or video editing stuffs.

Check out any of the online shops and just know your price and features you are looking for.

That's a fine laptop but even the low end news will give you plenty of mileage.

**Premium Parrots** · 22-09-11, 03:49 AM

Originally posted by lxskllr

Looks like a good machine. If you want to get it now, you could get a gooseneck LED light to shine on the keyboard when needed. It would plug into a USB port.

yea I thought of that but thats a hassel. I'm not in that big of a hurry now that I know they will be adding that feature before too long. They will have other sales and in 2 months there will be plenty of refurbished units to choose from. So that will keep the price down. I'll just have to keep checking for lighted keyboards.

LX....With your computer knowedge I figured you probably wouldn't like dell at all. I, in fact, hate dell. But sometimes they offer a hell of a deal. I had so much trouble with the inspiron I bought 4 years ago I finally got them to replace it for me, even up. They sent me this Studio XPS 1340, loaded. That helped to calm me down. Its a great machine. I bought the extended warrantee right away.....sure glad I did. I made them eat that older inspiron.

. And now I have a friend that works both the home and business products at dell and he fishes for the best deals. so I'm told.....

**internope** · 22-09-11, 03:53 AM

Just to get the computer wars started here, I am going to suggest Apple. It really is worth the extra couple hundred bucks. The MacBook Pro is an Icetool and the consumer grade Windows laptops are semi-disposable plastic Prismasters.

If you want to go with Dell check out the Latitude line. It's their business class laptop series and will have better build quality and little or no up-sell crapware installed. Other good choices for a better quality Windows laptop are Lenovo ThinkPad T-series and the HP EliteBooks.

**lxskllr** · 22-09-11, 04:00 AM

I'm actually a pretty big fan of Dell. They're usually the first place I look for a prebuilt computer. Their quality is as good as any, which is to say sometimes the robots churn out a dud :^D You get that with any brand though. I've had good luck with the Dell machines I've had.

What I'm not a fan of is expensive laptops. I prefer a great desktop system, and a bottom end cheap laptop/netbook to supplement the desktop. For desktops, I always build my own. That doesn't really give you the price break it once did, but I like being able to customize the hardware.

**snusjus** · 22-09-11, 04:26 AM

You can get a bare-bones MacBook Air for $999. It won't get viruses and will last longer than a Dell. I'm sure lxskllr will appreciate this comment.

**shikitohno** · 22-09-11, 04:49 AM

Originally posted by internope

Just to get the computer wars started here, I am going to suggest Apple. It really is worth the extra couple hundred bucks. The MacBook Pro is an Icetool and the consumer grade Windows laptops are semi-disposable plastic Prismasters.

If you want to go with Dell check out the Latitude line. It's their business class laptop series and will have better build quality and little or no up-sell crapware installed. Other good choices for a better quality Windows laptop are Lenovo ThinkPad T-series and the HP EliteBooks.

Most of the arguments made in favour of Macs really just make it sound like Mac users are capable of little more than drooling and pounding the keyboard. I'm still trying to figure out why they make themselves look so bad. "Oh, well it's just too hard for me to install an anti-virus programme and click the updates every so often. I know I could just set it to update itself automatically, but honestly, who has the five minutes it takes to google for instructions to find out how to do it, and then follow them?" Then again, I like being able to tinker with things, and find the whole Mac GUI to be clunky and tiresome to use. To each his own, I guess.

On topic, PP, try checking this out: a better laptop

It's just a hair under the i5-2410M per core in terms of power, but as a quad-core, it should offer more power overall. With the 3-year warranty at the bottom, and shipping factored in, it comes to about $600. Depending on what your wife is doing with the computer, she may not really need 6GB of RAM. If she's just browsing the internet, and listening to music, 4GB will likely prove adequate. Out of luck on the lighted keyboard for that one, but that's what a quick search turns up. Still, I think $300 less for a system that should be just as good, if not better, is a fairly good deal. Also, the Office package is kind of a waste. Just install OpenOffice or LibreOffice if you need that functionality, and save yourself the money.

**Reynard** · 22-09-11, 05:03 AM

You can't go wrong with an apple, get a MBP!

**Thraxy** · 22-09-11, 05:14 AM

Well, if you absolutely want a Dell...

Here's basically the same machine:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834200286

$679.99 and free shipping.

**Snusdog** · 22-09-11, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by Premium Parrots

My biggest request in a computer is a lighted keyboard.

I have no interest in entering into the incessant and ever reoccurring Mac-Windows debate

However..............I might be able to help in another area germane to this conversation

Instead of spending 100s more for a lighted Key board.................why not……… just turn the damn lights on in the house when the sun goes down

No lie…….my parents were about to get rid of an antique end table in their den…...….because they kept running into it at night……………

TURN THE DAMN LIGHTS ON

**Premium Parrots** · 22-09-11, 05:59 AM

I have the lights on but nobodys home.

the 14R is the older model and is only like $50 cheaper than a 14Z with the same specs on sale. The z is smaller, newer, a lil faster and such.

**lxskllr** · 22-09-11, 06:02 AM

I don't know how you feel about modding a new computer, but you can drill small holes in the face of the screen bezel, and epoxy clear(or translucent colored) dots in the holes. That'll let the backlight shine through, and light up the keyboard.

**Premium Parrots** · 22-09-11, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by lxskllr

I don't know how you feel about modding a new computer, but you can drill small holes in the face of the screen bezel, and epoxy clear(or translucent colored) dots in the holes. That'll let the backlight shine through, and light up the keyboard.

Yea I thought of that but I don't want to void the warranty.

**Snusdog** · 22-09-11, 06:07 AM

Originally posted by lxskllr

I don't know how you feel about modding a new computer, but you can drill small holes in the face of the screen bezel, and epoxy clear(or translucent colored) dots in the holes. That'll let the backlight shine through, and light up the keyboard.

Or............you could just lean the screen over the key pad a bit when you type so you can see the keys......

but if ya'll want to go all Dr. Frankenstein on your stuff...........go ahead

So the wife wants a new laptop.....

So the wife wants a new laptop.....

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