How to find the right notebook, at the right price.
Last week, I offered notebook buying advice on whether you should take advantage of year-end discounts now--or wait until next year for notebooks with Windows Vista preinstalled.
This week, I've got tips on finding the right notebook, at the right price.
Finding the Best Notebook
How do you make the most informed buying decision? Here are some strategies that I use.
Go online. Not to toot our horn, but I always start the buying process with a visit to PC World's Laptops Info Center, where I review our top notebook charts. I print out a copy of each chart (all-purpose, power, and ultraportable) and then read reviews of the models that interest me most.
I also consult PC World's most recent reliability and service survey. The report includes an easy-to-use chart that shows how each computer company rates in a variety of reliability and service areas.
Next, I go to the Consumer Reports site (which requires a $20 annual subscription for full access) and print out its most recent laptop chart, which rates notebooks on ergonomics, display, speed, and other areas. I also check its "Brand repair history" charts, which show you which computer makers have the most or fewest laptop repairs, according to CR readers. And I cross-reference CR's top laptop picks to see which, if any, also appear on PC World's charts.
Talk to friends and colleagues. I talk to people whose opinions I respect, and ask them for recommendations. I also ask where they bought their notebook, and if they've had any problems with it.
Visit a computer store. I visit a Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, or other computer retailer before I make a purchase. My goal is to see which models catch my eye and to get a feel for the current crop of notebooks. On models I'm interested in, I'll type a few sentences on the keyboard, checking to see if it feels roomy or cramped. I look closely at the notebook screen. Is there too much of a reflection? Is the screen crisp and bright? Then--and this is only sometimes possible--I pick up the laptop to gauge if how heavy or lightweight it feels. Finally, I write down the names, model numbers, basic specs and prices of any models I like. Then I go back online to do any further research before I make my purchase.
Getting the Best Price
Here are some tips and tricks for getting a good deal on a new notebook.
Check out wholesale retailers. Though the selection is fairly slim, you can save some money buying your next notebook from Costco or Costco.com, Sam's Club and Samsclub.com, and other big-box wholesalers. You can even configure your notebook using Costco's Web site. For instance, an HP Pavilion notebook I configured on Costco.com cost $69 less than the exact notebook configured on HP.com. Plus, Costco has one of the most liberal return policies I've seen: six months on computers.
Go to PCWorld.com. You can browse the lowest priced notebooks using PC World's Shopping site.
Try Amazon.com. See what's offered on Amazon.com. In a recent Consumer Reports survey of computer stores, Amazon.com received the top rating for price. Those with above-average ratings included PCConnection.com, Costco.com, TigerDirect.com, and PCMall.com.
Search for rebates and discounts. Performing a search on Google or other search engine can help you find deals. For example: If you're looking for a deal on a Sony Vaio notebook, type the words "Sony Vaio laptop" and "deal," "rebate," "coupon," "promotion," or "discount" and see what happens.
Use points. If you're an American Express card holder earning membership reward points, you may be able to use points to get your new notebook. For example, a new Apple MacBook portable in black was recently available for 299,800 points.
Other credit cards that offer points may also let you trade them in for notebooks, so check with your credit card company.
Get points. American Express also offers an online Membership Rewards mall. You can earn double points by buying your new computer from a participating retailer such as Apple, Best Buy, CompUSA, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, and Toshiba.
Special Edition: Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips
This week, I'll recap some of the more interesting products I reviewed during 2006.
Iomega's ScreenPlay (about $200 online) is a portable hard drive with a split personality. You can connect it to your notebook for backup, or hook it up to an audio system to play music or to a TV to play video and display photos. The 60GB drive has RCA and S-Video-out jacks; it comes with a remote control and connection cables.
One of the slickest portable GPS devices to appear in 2006 was Garmin's Nuvi 350. In one gadget the size of a standard PDA, you get an above-average Global Positioning System receiver plus a music player, currency and measurement converters, a calculator, a photo viewer, and a world clock.
My biggest gripe about this system was its cost: the list price at the time of my review was $857, and some online retailers offered it for $675 online. But in a recent check, I found the Nuvi 350 for as little as $445 online. At that price, it's worth the money.
Earlier this year I reviewed the MicroTrack 24/96, a portable digital audio recorder. Because the device doesn't have a removable battery pack--important to people who make long recordings in the field--and a few smaller problems I encountered, I couldn't wholeheartedly recommend it. Nonetheless, I was impressed with the device's rich sound and easy-to-use controls.
I took a chance and bought one, and I haven't regretted it for a moment. The clarity of sound it captures has noticeably improved my ability to get more accurate notes when transcribing recordings of interviews. For instance, I took along the MicroTrack and a microcassette recorder to record an interview I had with a soft-spoken but heavily accented Italian business executive. The hiss of the microcassette made it difficult to understand what the exec had said at times. But I was able to get every word when I listened to the MicroTrack recording.
The MicroTrack's list price is $500, but as of this writing Amazon.com has it for $312.
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.
James A. Martin
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