Buying new computer, suggestions please?

I'm looking to buy a new laptop because the one I have now has died on me. Won't even turn on anymore and it's not worth putting more money into it to get it fixed.

The only feature that's a necessity is a backlit keyboard. I stay up late most of the time doing school work and it's a real pain in the ass to have to lower the screen to be able to see the keys good.

My budget is >$600 (Give or take a bit)

I want a reliable laptop that won't give me problems.

Let me know what you guys recommend or ones I should stay clear of.

I'm looking at all types of computers, so let me know what you have and if you recommend it!

Thanks!

 

we have had excellent reliability with dell laptops...I think they are built much better than the towers

 

I believe i've only had 1 or 2 dells, both of them being desktops.
The laptop I have now is an Asus. I'm just looking for an upgrade. Thanks for your input!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-T...UTF8&qid=1386463721&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+t100

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Encor...qid=1386463739&sr=8-2&keywords=toshiba+encore

 

Honestly it really depends on what you need to do with it? It will be hard to get a Apple for $600 and honestly if you aren't used to them there is no need to learn a new OS unless you just really want too.
I've got a Asus laptop but I spent about $2500 on it because I use it for online gaming and need something portable since I take it to work with me. This is my second Asus computer and so far both of them have been great. I've had 4 HP laptops prior to the Asus computers and never had any issues with them either. The only computers that I've ever had any issues with is a Toshiba laptop and a old Gateway tower. The Toshiba was a POS but I might have just picked up a bad one. I know many people that have them and have had really good luck out of them.

In reality unless you are building a computer as long as you buy one from one of the major companies you should be okay. The most important thing that you can do (if it is a windows computer) is to do a clean install of the OS as soon as you get it. That gets rid of all the "bloatware" that is installed on the computer and allows you to install the latest drivers for the hardware that is in your computer.

Hope this helps some.

 

Thanks for the links. The first one is currently out of stock, but I do like how it can be a laptop and a tablet. But I couldn't do the tablet. Thanks again

 

There are refurbished/used/older models of apples that are in the $600 price range all over ebay/Amazon/best buy. I've used my sister's MacBook Air and my grandmother's desktop MacBook. I like the way they are and the overall look and performance of them. That's why I'm leaning towards an Apple. Thanks for the information!

 

Amazon isn't the only place to buy those. I know bestbuy has the asus in the store and online. Im sure others do too.

 

Yeah, i'm actually changing my mind on the MacBook. So i'm open to all suggestions now.
When on bestbuy.com, it's not actually from bestbuy. It's a seller that lists up there.
I'd have to go in store to get them from here.

 

Apple is ok if you want to be locked into apple. $600 wont touch a new one. Reliable usually means more money though. With computers you get what you pay for.
Watch out for walmart though. They may have something cheaper, but they also tell the manufacturer what to build for them. My brother recently got a Samsung laptop, And he loves it.

 

Again.. What do you plan on doing with it? Just surfing the web or do you need more processing power for graphic intensive programs etc...?

 

The only thing it'll be used for is school work, papers, skype and tacomaworld
I don't play any computer games or anything.

 

Appreciate the input! I actually work for walmart

 

Then pretty much any cheap laptop from one of the major companies should be fine. A clean install will also help once you get it no matter the price.

Like others have said... You won't be able to touch a "new" Apple for that price. But, like Beavis mentioned... like a iPhone.. it just works.

 

I understand, but I think just a basic one will work for what I need without breaking the bank account

 

Yeah I'm going to look for a basic laptop that'll be cheap w/ backlit keyboard.

 

They work until they drop support for them in five years.
Quality? Sure most of them work fine, but when they screw up, they screw up big time.

 

So does anyone have recommendations? Links to laptops they'd recommend. With the backlit keyboard, please.

 

Yeah, yeah.. I live in both worlds. I have two MBP's and a mac pro. but also three pc's in this house. I know the pro's and con's of both.

 

Since you plan on using for school I don't know what you use for word processing and spreadsheets etc... I use Open Office and since it is open source it is free and works just as well as word / excel for the things that I do.