Good laptop for around $600?

Know that a lot of software is not handled well with Windows 7 so if you have older software that you want to use there are two things to consider, maybe more.

1. Microsoft has a program that will check what you have on your computer and tell you if there will be problems. It picked out two of mine that would not run and they were right.

2. If you find you have problem programs you should look for windows 7 professional or higher which has an xp mode. You download a couple of files from MS, install them and you can run xp in a window while running your old programs.

Having said that, there are a lot of 64 bit machines out there and my two old programs wouldn't run on a 64 even in the xp mode so you might have to upgrade some programs if you have problems.

Dell/Toshiba both have been good in the past - I've had my Toshiba several years and no problems. Either of them could put out a clunker just before you buy so don't know that there is much difference.

Decide what you want and go for it. I've seen some pretty good rigs for 400 of late so keep your eyes open.

 

Personally I've only owned Dells, bought my first laptop in 2005 and used it daily at work until this past summer. I honestly don't understand all of the technical specs, but this one is similar to what I bought about six months ago. Looks like it meets your requirements and is priced at $650.

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-1...-mod&layoutvariation=MasterPageFileVariation2

 

Our tech guy at church says HP and Acer are good. We have a Toshiba and I would not recommend it.

 

It's a good thing because they start at $999.

I do want a Mac, but I can't justify the expense.

 

Acer? I have never heard anything good about Acer products. To a person, everyone I know who has bought one has regretted it.

HP is good.

 

I got an acer for my wife and she has been very pleased after the first three months of headaches with tech support or LACK there of. She had a lot of trouble getting service pack 2 to install and they knew nothing and Microsoft wasn't too much better as usual.

After she got it running it hasn't given any problems since.

Having said that, I haven't heard too much good about them though they were sold shortly after that I think.