My Dell E1705 has needed replacing for a while. Now a key just popped off and I can't get it to stay in place - it's like it's screaming at me, replace me already!

I looked at the recommendations in this thread, but the OP's needs were different than mine.

I'm not looking for something small and lightweight - I travel with a netbook. I need something that will serve the same purpose as a desktop machine - weight and battery life are not an issue and I prefer a 17" screen. Definitely need a PC, not a Mac.

I'm considering this, which looks like it would serve my needs but would love to get some feedback: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...000000&eCat=BC

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

The Dell you link off of Costco.com looks like a great machine and a good price. I'd go for it if you like Dell and want another one.

Personally, I prefer ThinkPads (formerly IBM, now Lenovo). I've had a few in the last decade and they have all been rock solid performers that survive falling off tables easily. Also, I like the pencil eraser mouse thingy between the G and H keys, which only ThinkPads seem to have.

As you said, needs differ by person, it is hard to offer specific advice without knowing your uses for it. With that in mind, one could make some points:

1) Overall, that Dell is a pretty good value at $799.99. Be aware of some limitations and judge for yourself if they are relevant to you:
1.1) HD is 5400rpm, not 7200rpm
1.2) 6Gb RAM is 4+2Gb, using both memory slots; if you ever need to go to more memory, even 8Gb, you will need to discard one of them (2Gb)
1.3) All USBs are 2.0, none is 3.0

2) On the positive side, you will have a powerfull CPU, a good dedicated GPU for a notebook, and the price is very good.

3) You also must know that this price is very good mostly because there is a new generation of notebooks being introduced now (and in the next months), based on a new Intel chipset and new processors (nicknamed Sandy Bridge). These Sandy Bridge-based notebooks have some advances, the most important ones being much better energy consumption (therefore batteries much more lasting) and more powerfull embedded GPUs. If, as it appears, these are of no importance to you, it is an opportunity to buy a good computer, based on last year chipset, for a very good value.

- - -

By the way, I'm writing this on a five year old notebook, that is almost screaming "Replace me!", but I'm still replying "Shut up!".

They say the best Windows PC is an Apple running Windows. In the end you get what you pay for.

Of course the best specs is the best laptop but if you are asking for brand names then I go with Asus, Acer then MSI in that order. If every specs is similar and the price is also the same then I will pick Asus over Acer then Acer over MSI but I'm not going to consider other than those 3. That's just me though.

But why those? Do you just like Taiwanese electronics?

^^^ on Thinkpads.

It's best to stick to the professional models (eg T###, X###, W###, possibly others) - some of the cheaper models I've sen (like an R-series one my brother got) were pretty poor quality. Also my experience with the cheaper non-Thinkpad Lenovo models is that they're about as cheaply built as everybody else's consumer-line machines these days.

Of course, the only 17" Thinkpad I can see on their site is the extremely pricy W701...

Dell still has them on their higher-end business models (eg Latitude E6510 and E6410.)

Where have you seen reviews indicating "much" better energy consumption on Sandy Bridge? From most of what I can see, they're not that much better than the Core 2s were, and mostly just gaining ground back that was lost by the Arrandales (eg mobile Nehalem, the current shipping generation of mobile i5/i7).

The biggest must-have selling point for Sandy Bridge is at the high-end, they are the first really useful mobile quad cores.

At the lower end, they're a good bit faster than the current Core i3/5/7 but not a huge generational jump in speed the way the i3/5/7 were over the Core 2 or the Core 2 was over the older chips (Pentium M and Pentium 4-M.)

The faster integrated GPU is nice, and I'm sure it will sway a few more people off discreet graphics, but in general the current i3/5/7 integrated GPU is fast enough for general use... and the new ones will still not be powerful enough for gamers (and people who need 3D for professional apps)

Yup, thinkpads is not bad choice. How do u like Lenovo? Say this IdeaPad Intel Core i7-740QM 15.6" Laptop? Great price, nice specs. It might worth u a peek. Hope u find the best bet. Good luck.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback and recommendations - greatly appreciated! I'm using a Dell now but my previous laptop was a ThinkPad, so I've narrowed it down to one of those.

If you go ThinkPad, the best discounts are almost always via the Shareholder program. You don't need to be a shareholder to sign up.

Normally, I'd recommend steering clear of the i7-quad mobile chips, but at that price for those specs, it's definitely worth a look.

Here's my thread started on 2/24 re: same Dell. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ll-costco.html

I'm now thinking of buying the refurbished HP from Costco here- dv7-4083cl only $599 with a 1 year warranty. Great review on PCMag.

"They" = rabid Apple fanboys.

I didn't know this. Is this US only?

Unless you need the absolutely most up-to-date laptop, I'd check around places like dealnews.com.