Toshiba or HP?

fitzcarraldo

Hi folks

I have my search for a laptop down between two models

Toshiba Satellite A200-1Ai (€1399 - The Laptop Shop)
http://ie.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/jsp/productPage.do?service=IE&PRODUCT_ID=128108&toshibaShop=false

HP Pavilion dv6299ea (€1399 - Komplett.ie)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=336006

Both models have the same price and the same spec. Only major difference is HP comes with Nvida GeForce Go 7400 while the Tosh has 7300. Also the Tosh ram can be expanded to 4gb while the HP is maxed at 2gb

I like the look of the HP more but I was looking for peoples opinion on which is the better brand or what they would chose

I'm looking to get it soon so all advice is welcome!

Frankiestylee

Toshiba all the way imho.

what_car

Frankiestylee wrote:

Toshiba all the way imho.

go with the toshiba.. best built laptops imo... i have one and it has taken lots of abuse, has fallen off desks, and its still working perfectly...

they are a great laptop...and last ...


i have had other laptops and the toshiba is by far the best!

AlmightyCushion

One of my friends had a HP. Didn't work properly from the moment he got it. So it brought it back and got another brand (can't remember which). Another one of my friends still has a HP and has had so many problems with it. So I'd have to go with Toshiba.

Tom Dunne

Yeah, I'm still a bitter, angry little man about my HP that I bought three years ago and gave me nothing but hassle.

If I had to choose between the two, I would certainly chose the Toshiba.

majiktripp

I agree with Tom as stated above, working in repair I see nothing but problems with HP's and have had many's an arguement with people who take the opposite stance...Go with Toshiba, still not my favourite brand ( as I look at the Tecra S1 behind me needing a new motherboard....)
If you want unbridled reliability, dude get an IBM (sorry Lenovo )

gandalf

Have had 2 Toshiba's that have served me well and will be looking to get another towards the end of the year.

I would also recommend a Lenovo, had one in my previous job and it was built like a tank.

Tom Dunne

gandalf wrote:

I would also recommend a Lenovo, had one in my previous job and it was built like a tank.

I'm on my 4th or 5th IBM laptop - the place I used to work in used them all the time and now I have my own, even if it is Leveno. Couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Black Swan

Toshiba's tend to be pricey, but if you shop around, you can get a bargain. I bought a Toshiba (with all the latest goodies) at $300 USD off Toshiba's online retail price last February at a large retailer during a 3 day window.

Regarding HPs, I have a techie friend that does maintanence at a Best Buy electronics department store. He says that he rarely sees a Toshiba in for hardware maintenance, but often repairs HPs.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

i have a HP Pavilion myself. got it last september, at the moment the speakers dont work and the battery is fcuked. if you are going to do a bit of gaming, the graphics card is crap on the Toshiba

gandalf

Well it depends which Tosh you go for, some have integrated graphics some have dedicated graphics. My 2 year old one has a ATI Radeon 9600 with 128MB's of Graphics Memory which handles most games out there (well it runs DoD Source which does me).

Frankiestylee

I always find Toshibas are a bit too fancy and ahead of the time... the one I'm using now is maybe 3 years old and it's easily comparable to most laptops that are out now from other companies.

fitzcarraldo

Thanks Guys

Went for the Tosh in the end and I am delighted with it

The A200 series has a realy nice design and speakers and screen are fab

Off topic put does anyone know where to to get a cheap wireless router?

Its one thing having a wireless laptop, its another to only be able to use it to play solitaire!