LaptopAdvisor

Asus Laptops - Asus Eee PCs

mbrady — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:25:50 +0000

Asus Mobile Laptops

Sleek, small, portable, and potent, in the U series, Asus manages to fit all of the elements of top-notch laptops into a tiny frame. Whether portability or performance is your biggest concern, there is a U-series match for you.

For business travelers and professionals, U series notebooks are a stylish, user-friendly option. Looking at the U series models, you get the impression that no space is wasted. Indeed, Asus designed the U series to perform essential business functions. So, don’t expect the most technologically advanced notebook. Asus provides consumers with a notebook that is small, stylish, and competent. Equipped with Intel Core Duo processors and Wi-Fi enabled, they’ll help you do your job faster.
And forget the in-flight movie; U series notebooks have gorgeous LCD screens with LED backlights for an optimal DVD viewing experience. Keep track of the battery, though, the six-cell lithium-ion units drain quickly during DVD playback.

In business, appearances count, and Asus designed the U series to make a good first impression. From the smooth, sharp exterior to the intuitive inner layout, U series models are chic and comfortable. Don’t worry about durability; the U series notebooks are small, but they’re tough.

Asus Mainstream Laptops

Asus’ F3 series has all the right moves for business travelers who want a little more oomph to their system. F3 notebooks come in a variety of models—each with its own set of special features. As Asus middle-of-the-road models, F3 notebooks have a wide range of capabilities to attract the largest number of consumers—without compromising quality.

Focusing on communication, Asus provides users with a variety of ways to stay connected while on the go or off-site. F3 models have built-in, high quality webcams and microphones so you’ll never be left out of the loop. The internal Wi-Fi adapter allows you to find wireless signals and maintain internet access. Wireless doesn’t just apply to the internet; the F3 series has an integrated Bluetooth device that allows you to connect a variety of accessories without tangling yourself up in pesky wires.

In terms of hardware, the F3 series comes with everything a general consumer needs: Intel Core Duo processor, 120GB hard-drive with 5400RPM, and a radiant LCD display. Designed for home use and travelers, F3 models are both elegant and sturdy.

Competitively priced and dynamically equipped, the F3 notebooks are a smart bet. And with Asus, you have numerous models from which to choose. So, if you want a sensible laptop without any frivolous and superfluous extra features, put the Asus F3 series near the top of your list.

Asus Media Laptops

The M70 series from Asus is chock full of multimedia features that will leave users wondering what more they can get from a notebook. Asus designed the M70 series to be a surrogate for your home theater—no small task for a notebook. High-tech toys that won’t put you into debt, M70 models are technically impressive and visually dynamic.

Picture the ideal home theater: HD television, Blu-Ray player, surround sound, etc. Asus tries to mimic this environment with the M70 series. Shrinking a home theater into a 6.6 lb. notebook, Asus puts the multimedia reigns in your hands. And there’s a lot you can do with them.

In addition to a whopping 1 Terabyte hard-drive and an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (2.0+ GHz), M70 models include a TV tuner, Blu-Ray player, and a Dolby sound system that imitates surround sound. Asus covers all the multimedia bases with the M70 series, and in hopes of attracting more than the ardent multimedia enthusiasts, they keep the price competitive with mainstream notebooks.

Even though the speedy processor and the powerful batteries have no problem handling all that technology, the hardware weighs down the computers. Most likely, you won’t want to lug the M70 notebooks around with you, but they are great candidates for desktop replacement.

Asus M70 models are made for consumers looking for an all-in-one entertainment and media system. Exceptionally capable and very stylish, M70 notebooks have everything you need to sit back and enjoy the show.

mbrady — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:36:01 +0000

LaptopAdvisor: How to Buy Laptops

At LaptopAdvisor, we want to provide you with the best information so you can make an informed, educated decision about what kind of laptop or notebook computer you want to buy. Whether you’re someone who’s comfortable with computers and wants a top-of-the-line laptop or a relative novice looking for something easy to learn on, LaptopAdvisor can help you find the perfect computing companion. Take a look around our site.

Featured Laptop: The Apple MacBook Pro

The Apple MacBook Pro is one perhaps the most stylish notebook currently on the market. Apple has a knack for excellent design, and the MacBook Pro is a gorgeous example of that dedication to aesthetics. But this laptop is more than just a pretty face. Available in 15-inch and 17-inch display models, the MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for just about everybody. Students will enjoy the media-centric operating system that will work seamlessly with their iPod and iTunes libraries, power users will be satisfied with the strong processor and support for creative applications like Adobe Photoshop or Final Cut Pro, and even casual computer users can dive right in an learn on this intuitive, easy-to-understand system.

Featured Laptop Line: The Dell XPS

The Dell XPS line of notebooks are the hot rods of PC laptops. They’re amped up, ready to take on the biggest, most intensive computing tasks you can throw at them, specifically high-end gaming or media tasks. These laptops have big, widescreen LCDs for viewing high-definition content, built-in webcams, powerful graphics cards, and much much more. If you’re looking for a notebook that can be the focal point of your modern multimedia lifestyle, the XPS line should be able to handle it.

Shopping For Durable Laptop Cases? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:27:01 +0000

Shopping For Durable Laptop Cases?

If you�re shopping for durable laptop cases, here�s how I would go about it.

Before I go on, you�ll notice in your shopping process that each laptop bag, case, sleeve or any carrying devise manufacturer will claim that its product is very durable. Now, I don�t know who these business people think that we (consumers) are.

The Most Important Question You Must Ask Before Buying A Laptop!

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:59 +0000

The Most Important Question You Must Ask Before Buying A Laptop!

Part 1 of The Laptop Buyer’s Guide.

If you’re a complete beginner to buying a laptop computer, this is without a doubt the simplest, yet most important piece of advice that you’ll ever read. I know that this is a very powerful claim but failing to heed this tip can cause you unnecessary frustration and a serious waste of your time and money.
With that said, the first and most important step you must take before you even start any sort of shopping around, price comparing or product review reading is (drums please!)…

“Why?”

Yup! Ask yourself “why”. That is more than enough. Asking yourself why you want to buy a notebook will determine wether you get the best possible machine for the best possible price or if you’ll just make a decision that will cost you in weeks and months to come.
Let me explain… for some reasons still unknown to me, when people decide to buy a thing, they usually turn to individuals whose advice is actually better to avoid. By the way: Just for your information “laptop” and “notebook” are the two common words used to describe these type of portable computers. Quite frankly, I have no idea which of the two terms is the proper one but I know that technology savvy people and manufacturers tend to use the latter and consumers settle for the former.

If you venture into the laptop department at your local computer store and ask one of those friendly salespeople, pardon me, ‘customer assistants’ for advice you will invariably be asked one question: “How much money do you have to spend?”. This, my friend, is your cue to secure your wallet and run.
The salesperson wants to determine your budget and then ‘advise’ you on how to spend every penny of it, thereby maximizing his or her commission or meeting a quota. A few months down the line you may realize that you don’t even use many of the bells and whistles for which you paid dearly.

On the other hand, if you ever ask a technophile — someone who’s in love with technology and who lives for the latest, fastest or most powerful gismos — for some laptop buying help, he’ll recommend to you the latest, fastest and most powerful notebook computer.

This causes a problem for two main reasons: 1) any thing that is “latest” is most of the times also “more expensive” besides being unnecessary. 2) you can never win at the “latest craze” game as faster and more powerful portable computers enter the market on a weekly basis. You will never have the most powerful laptop on the block, period.

There’s also a third group of people who will try to give you advice regarding a notebook purchase: Those whose money is at stake…. Some of such people are called bosses, financial managers, parents :), husbands or wives, banks, basically anyone whose money you might use to finance your laptop computer (except for loan sharks of course…).

I know of an accounting firm that provides its auditors with laptops to use on the move. I kid you not, these notebooks spend more than two thirds of their life cycle being serviced because they are such cheap and useless piece of… garbage — I almost swore! :)

And there are more people who will try to give you advice. They do it because they want to help out or show off but ultimately, only YOU know what is the best laptop computer for you. There isn’t any shortage of advice in this world but most of the times, it will throw you off track by confusing you.

Again, ask yourself:

Why do I really need a laptop?

Then write down your *exact* motives.

Enough preaching, here’s a quick practical example before I finish off…

Suppose that you’re a working mother with two wonderful children with so many different hobbies and after school activities that you spend half your days driving them back and forth. You feel that you need to purchase a laptop because you could be writing more of your book that’s in the pipeline but also polish all the columns you write as a freelance writer for extreme combats related publications, while you sit and wait for your daughter to finish her kick boxing classes and your son to finish the wrestling practice (pretty rough family, you mob are :)

That is a pretty good reason why and a smart one if you may allow me to give you a compliment. With that in mind, when you decide to buy the notebook, you’ll know that the latest Pentium IV 2.8 GHz with 40 Gb is a very nice laptop but not for you thanks…

Ask yourself “Exactly why do I need a laptop computer?” and your answer will be your ultimate guide in your shopping journey.

Now that you know exactly why you want that laptop, let’s get to tracking down the one with your name on it.

Next: Let’s Determine What Laptop Is Best For You

How To Determine What Laptop Is Best For You

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:59 +0000

What Laptop Is Best For You?

How is a laptop different from a desktop?

Part 2 of The Laptop Buyer’s Guide.

Possibly, the greatest mistake that unhappy notebook owners made was to buy their mobile computer without determining its use. In other words, they knew that they wanted a laptop but never got around to asking themselves what they wanted their portable computer to do. I certainly hope that this article will help you avoid unnecessary frustrations

This time, ask yourself…

What will I be using notebook computer for?

(Btw: you’ll notice that I emphasize on asking yourself questions. I have found that being curious before I spend my precious money usually saves me from making decisions that might be fatal to my bank account. Besides when someone asks himself or herself “why?”, it forces them to come up with logical reasoning instead of acting on emotional impulses)

Why do I say “for the next three years?”

Because this is the usual maximum lengthy of a laptop warranty. Believe me, owning a computer that is not covered by some sort of warranty is almost the same as living without medical aid. You simply have to be extra careful or lucky and able to afford to have your laptop repaired when something goes nasty. For instance, did you know that the cost to buy a new laptop screen is so high that it’s much better to consider purchasing a new unit?

Where were we?

Ah yes, “What will I be using notebook computer for?”

Nowadays, it is hard to determine where life will take you in three years time (for me at least) so jotting down the exact purpose of your laptop can be quite a task. This is why I suggest determining your overall notebook use.

Now, things are going to get a little bit technical but please fear not, it’s not that hard.

When I was new to the world of notebooks or laptops, everyone I approached for advice (mistake number one: asking too many people for advice which is usually a mere opinion) usually asked me: “What are the specs you need?”. On my silence, they usually proceeded in bombarding me with terms such as processor, resolution, speed, swappable drive that almost made me believe that I was a freaking idiot!

It wasn’t until a colleague in the IT department at the company I work for asked me what exactly I wanted to do with a laptop. As I spoke, he wrote down all my answers and at the end of the conversation, he told me that a Pentium III with at least a 1GHz processor, 256 Kb of RAM, 30 Gb of hard drive space and with a CD writer would be the best choice for me.

To help you come up with the purpose of your laptop computer, I have put together a hotlist of features that are found on notebooks. All the features will be listed with their meaning and it’s up to you to determine if you need them.

So, get a piece of paper and a pen and do this easy exercise. Write down what you plan to use your notebook computer for. Don’t be shy, jot down as much detail as you can, yes even the most mundane tasks like receiving email. Spend a full day at it if you must.

What are we going to do with the end results?

Good question. We’ll use them to track down the best machine for you… How? Click below to find out!

Next: Tips On Choosing The Right Laptop Specifications

How To Select The Right Laptop Specifications (Features)

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:49 +0000

Tips on choosing the right laptop specifications

The Laptop Buyer’s Guide.

Now that you know why exactly you need a laptop and have determined what you are going to use it for, now is the time to identify the features that your notebook computer must have.

I am not a computer hardware guru and even though I know what the essential components of a laptop are I can’t really explain them. I guess it’s one of those things… (”Hey! I don’t know everything you know” :).

But fear not, I have identified three articles to learn all about notebook specs. (These links will open new browser windows. Read all the articles and then come back here…)

By the time, you finish reading the above articles, you’ll be equipped with the right information to make the best purchase but not before we tackle this one question.

What is the best notebook computer brand?

This is one of those questions that will never have a right or wrong answer. Let me explain… Everyone will answer this question based on his/ her experience or those to the people this person knows.

When I asked an IT manager, he said “HP” (Hewlett-Packard). “Why?”, said I. “I have bought five for the company and they have never let us down. On the other hand, a friend of mine got a Dell the other day and two weeks later the darn thing overheated and ceased to function!”, he replied.

When asked the same question, one of my friends who owns a multimedia design business assured me that Dell was the best bet because, their post-purchase service is excellent and Dell computers are good and reasonably priced.

From the above anecdotes, you’ll notice that each of the respondents base their answers from what they have experienced or heard.

What notebook brand should you purchase?

My answer is deceptively simple. Go for the well known global brands whose other products you already own. Let’s say that you already own a Sony digital camera and a Sony MP3 player. One of your family members also happens to own a Vaio (Sony’s notebooks).

What’s your obvious choice? Sony of course :)

An obvious tip: if you’re a Mac user, you’re obviously going to go for a Mac laptop right? Right of course! It’s in your best interests!

Another example. Let’s say that you travel a lot.

It would be in your best interests to opt for a brand that is present in all the countries that you plan to visit. Why? Because, you want that peace of mind when you know that should something go wrong with your laptop PC, you can get local help instead of nightmare international calls.

Another reason why you should go for well known brands…

The laptop industry is *very* competitive. What would happen if you ever bought a machine from a little company that later goes bankrupt because of the tough competition? Stick with the biggies and stay on the safe side.

Here’s an interesting point. I have never come across any claim that stated that a certain laptop brand was far better than an other (among the “big guys”). What I know is that certain manufactures might make a good component but another one would fail to be top-notch.

Don’t be fooled by pricing either. It costs more or less the same amount of resources to manufacture a laptop wether your are company A or B. The end price is a marketing tool that is used to either attract those who are budget conscious or those who believe that high pricing equals to better quality.

This is where I am going to leave you on your own and let you choose your specific notebook brand. If I gave you my advice, it would be based on my own experiences and would be completely subjective.

As you finish reading this article, you now know the exact features that your ideal laptop should have and you also settled on a specific brand.

What you need to do now is determine where to buy your notebook at the best possible price without shooting yourself in the foot either, buying from a merchant with poor support for example.

We’re going to find out where to buy your laptop computer.

See also:

How to track down a good cheap used laptop for sale

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:36 +0000

How to track down a good cheap used laptop for sale

If you’re hunting down a good cheap used laptop for sale because your budget is tight or simply do not want to spend a great deal on a notebook then I have great news for you and your bank account. Before I go on though, I need to tell you that there are so many ways (online and offline) to find a used laptop for sale. Because, this is the Internet, I have purposefully chosen to focus on different methods to acquire notebooks online. Most are described on this site and I spend a great deal of my time searching for various other ways. Let’s say that I want to know it all and share all of it :)

What I will do now is list all the articles that I have written in which I give out all the tips, techniques and secrets that will hopefully allow you to locate a dream good used laptop like many of my other website visitors have. What you will come across, will show you how smart shoppers are saving themselves a considerable amount of time, energy and money locating a used laptop for sale that meets their mobile computing needs.

Without further ado, let’s get to it:

A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Cheap Laptops: In this mini-report, find out five effective ways to get a very, very good laptop computer without blowing a hole in your bank account.
All About Refurbished Laptops shopping: Here, I explain what refurbished laptop computers are, why it’s one smartest way to locate a cheap used laptop for sale and where to track them down
Why You Should And Where To Shop For Used Laptops: The article’s title is self-explanatory. I have gotten some great feedback about it from various readers…
A Laptop Computer Buyer’s Guide: If you are completely brand new to laptop computers, you might want to get up to speed by reading this quick but comprehensive report especially if you’re scouting for a cheap used laptop for sale.
Ask The Laptop Advisor (column): Answers to the various questions that my clients, friends and visitors ask. I recommend reading some of the answers as I am sure that they’ll benefit you too.

All the above articles were written with the smart shopper in mind who realizes that the latest most powerful and most expensive notebook computer is not necessarily the best. Great care has been taken that a value-conscious price shopper is able to track down a cheap used laptop for sale that will match his or her needs.

All the information on this site is gathered from the research that I conducted online from November 2001 until today when I personally started hunting down a cheap used laptop for sale when I was a student at the time whose cash flow was limited. Believe me when I say that I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly as far as online laptop computer shopping is concerned. I sure do hope that you find my advice valuable and please feel free to drop me a line at mail @ laptopadvisor.com to share your experiences (good or bad) or ask any questions that you may have. Good luck!

:: See Also:

Cheap laptop computer buying guide

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:34 +0000

Cheap laptop computer buying guide

One killer case scenario!

I know that most of shoppers are after a good cheap laptop computer deal. The cheaper, the better, as matter of fact. After all, isn’t it a smart idea to try our best to purchase a quality product and pay a minimum amount?

In their quest of perfect cheap laptop computer deals, many buyers opt for little known notebook brands made local manufacturers or marketed by a popular retailer with little experiencea and dedication to the computer hardware market. How do you recognize them? Such seemingly cheap laptops have low prices and usually have rather cheesy names. I will not dare mention some because I don’t want any trouble with their legal team nor do I want to hurt the feelings of those who own such laptops.

Here’s why I never recommend anyone to purchase non major brand cheap laptop computers.

1) There’s usually little information about them

Every now and then, I will receive an email featuring a cheap laptop computer related email from a website visitor asking about a given little-known notebook brand.

Believe it or not but I do not know all manufacturers of laptops in the world. So I usually try to get information about such brands at Google and get little information that never really help me in formulating a rich answers.

Why bother with a company and product nobody seems to know anything about? I don’t know about you but I am not willing to take such a risk even if the cheap laptop computer deals offered are out of this world.

2) What happens when you travel?

These cheap laptop computers are usually marketed by a retailer that does business in one country. Part of the reason you want to purchase a laptop is to be able to take wherever you go, right? So here you go travelling overseas with your new cheap laptop computer. At your hotel, somebody bumpsa your notebook bag and later on when you try to switch on your computer, you find that there’s a problem.

If you had a “major brand” laptop, you could just use the yellow pages to find a local authorized shop that would service the computer for you. You do understand that you would be in a situation if the only place your cheap laptop computer could be fixed was back home?

3) Compatibility

Software and accessories manufacturers tend to make their products compatible with major computer brands first, if not exclusively. So, here you are trying to get a certain hardware to connect with your cheap laptop computer and because it contains a different combination of gizmos, you will have a hard time making them work together if you ever manage.

This has happened to many friends of mine who wanted to purchase a music software and their cheap laptop computers were not able to handle it. They learned their lesson, forked out the money and went “mainstream”.

Those 3 rants about cheap laptop computer deals is not meant to discourage you from buying a little known notebook brands but merely to let you know what to expect.

Ultimately the choice is yours but personally, I would stick with the Apple iBook and PowerBook G4, Compaq Presario, HP Pavilion, Dell Inspiron, Toshiba, Gateway, Fujitsu, Sony Vaio and whatever major manufacturer is out there.

Here’s how
to shop for and buy cheap laptops made by global companies.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Update: If you really insist on cheap laptop computer deals….

Why not get a “major brand” cheap laptop computer from reputable online retailers’ outlets that feature used, refurbished or even heavily discounted laptops? This is actually the method I recommend to my visitors and friends.

Excellent Cheap Laptop Computer Deals

Cheap laptop computer related articles

The case against buying cheap laptops
How to track down a good cheap used laptop for sale
More Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets:
To hammer in my point, I will (once again) reveal everything I know about snapping the best laptop deals on the Internet
A mobile and ultra portable laptop buying guide :
This is a small report that I have put together for Nathan who is looking at purchasing a laptop computer.

Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:33 +0000

Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets

I was always under the impression that laptop deals spotting was one aspect I had dealt with in depth. But from the feedback I am getting, it seems that either I am not making myself understood or people are simply not reading the content found here and just want me to point them to the right direction.

To hammer in a point, I will (once again) reveal everything I know about snapping the best laptop deals on the Internet.

Look for the Outlet and Refurbished Sections

1) Probably the easiest way to get the best laptop deals is to head over to the various Outlet sections of reputable dealers of laptops. You will usually find the links towards the deals section hidden somewhere because they would rather you purchase the most expensive computers.

To get started, check out my personal sources of kick-butt laptop deals and when you see a notebook that meets your needs get it right away because I can guarantee you that such offers don’t last long because they get snatched quickly!

Snap Up Models That are Being Replaced

2) If you follow technology news, you can predict when computer prices are going to drop or increase. Since you are after laptop deals, you will have to pay attention when a new model or laptop technology change is introduced on the market. You can be sure that within days, current inventory will have to be sold to make room for better laptops. And this is when resellers usually drop their prices to encourage customers to buy them and this is your cue to get in on the action.

Use Shopping Comparison Sites

3) One sure way to spot all the laptop deals is to browse from online store to online store. If you are patient, this will work wonders for you. If you are like me and do not have the time for that exercise, you can simply use those shopping sites that allow you to compare prices of different dealers from one central place thus saving you energy. The only problem about finding a deal on laptops on a shopping site is that a) profiled merchants are paying for inclusion b) these merchants adjust their prices accordingly, so the price differences are usually minimal.

I don’t want to turn this into an essay and beside, I have to go meet some friends who do not tolerate people who are late. With the above three techniques you should be fine.

If you need in depth guides on how to spot the best laptop deals, select any below (update coming shortly)… Happy shopping and good luck :o)

See also:

The case against buying cheap laptops:
Before you shop for cheap laptops there a few factors that you need to keep in mind.
A mobile and ultra portable laptop buying guide :
This is a small report that I have put together for Nathan who is looking at purchasing a laptop computer.
Cheap laptop computer buying guide: one killer case scenario!:
Why I never recommend anyone to buy non major brand cheap laptop computers.

Are refurbished laptops still the best shopping bargain?

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:31 +0000

Are refurbished laptops still the best shopping bargain?

When I first wrote the first article on refurbished laptops, I was basically admonishing smart shoppers to consider them as the ultimate way to purchase an excellent notebook at a very decent price. Three or four years later, I still have not changed my opinion.

I won’t go into the details of buying refurbished laptops as I have written about it in many articles. What I will go into is why I still believe that it’s still the smartest choice for experienced or new shoppers of notebook computers.

Computer retailers don’t like to waste money. They also hate it when a buyer returns a laptop for various reasons such as buyer’s remorse or simply because it’s not what they wanted/needed. These retailers obviously invite their customers to return the products that they purchased from them if they are not satisfied because it’s a good business move.

On the inside, retailers cringe when items such as notebooks are returned and customers want their money back. It does not matter if the computer was not even switched on but once the box is opened, that computer has lost a substantial share of its value. Yes, just like in the car industry.

Of course, non-scrupulous retailers could just close the box and put it on the shelf again but heaven forbid should they be busted which is likely to happen due to the simple fact that it only takes an unhappy employee to blow the whistle for hell to break lose.

I don’t know if it’s the law but computers that have been returned by consumers have to be inspected first, then repackaged and sold as refurbished laptops with a guarantee that they will work and at lower price than an “never before opened” similar item.

Refurbished laptops are a smart shopper’s blessing:

1) They come with rigorous inspection as opposed to other laptops. Indeed due to cost reasons, each manufactured laptop cannot be inspected so they choose a random unit from a sample. I won’t get into details as it involves statistics and mathematics, two subjects that owned me in my school and university years.

2) They are sold for far less. And I have noticed in some computer shops that if you pay cash, they’ll even omit the tax! Now, it’s up to you and your moral values to act accordingly but the discount can be quite huge.

One activity I like to do to kill time is to browse Apple computer’s online store list of specials especially when it includes refurbished laptops. Within hours, that page is usually taken down due to the fact that they sell out so fast.

If I had the time, I would hunt down refurbished laptop computers from all over the net and resell them for eBay as I know that I would be getting more money than someone selling a used laptop.

So, yes, after three years, I am still endorsing considering refurbished laptops as the first destination for notebook shopping.

To legally protect myself though, I will add that you do so at your own risk and that I am not liable for whatever wrong might happen. In today’s world, you just have to be extra careful…

The case against buying cheap laptops

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:29 +0000

The case against buying cheap laptops

I am sure that by now you know that I am an advocate of cheap laptops shopping. But, everyday I get emails asking me about a given cheap notebook and they want to know if they should go ahead and purchase it. Most times, the answer is a resounding “No!” for a few reasons that I will address below.

Before you shop for cheap laptops there a few factors that you need to keep in mind. These will save you money and doctor bills you will get through the ulcers your prospective cheap laptop computer might cause you :o)

In my the article entitled “A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Good Cheap Laptops”, I stress that you should get a good quality laptop computer for a relatively price and *not* a cheap machine. By this, I mean such an inferior quality product that the only activities it will perform are break into pieces more times than you will ever wish for and make your mobile computing lifestyle a complete nightmare.

Please, be careful when considering any of the many cheap laptops on the market:

If the brand looks obscure, move on
If the warranty looks suspicious, move on
If the offer looks too good to be true, move on
If the e-commerce site seems too desperate to get rid of them, move on
If basically you smelly something fishy, move on.

Many people are getting ripped off trying to get cheap laptops. And the ironic thing is that it’s actually not the merchant’s fault but theirs because they overlook quality in favor of price. Don’t be part of that naive group.

One last thing, use my source of cheap laptop computers. These are online stores that I trust that will sell you good notebooks without compromising quality hence their reputation. Also, do go back and read the cheap laptops guide, you will pick up a few things you might have overlook upon your first overview. Once your set, go forth and get your dream laptop for an enviable low price! Happy shopping :o)

Cheap laptops highly recommended online stores:

- Overstock - “Save Up to 80% every day”: their business model is simple. They buy excess inventory from manufacturers and wholesalers at ridiculously low prices and these savings are passed onto customers. They do not compromise on quality however. When you see cheap laptops deals that seem unreal, it’s not a trick, jump on them right away! And do not blink either because they fly fast!

- TigerDirect.com - Clearance Centre: how did this amazing e-commerce site become one of the most talked about online computer store by US, Canada and UK customers? Because they provide excellent products at fair prices. Do dig deep at the site that might seem overwhelming first and in no time, you should come across a great selection of cheap laptop computers for you to chose from.

- Amazon.com - Outlet, Used & Refurbished: I use to underestimate them but they really do have some amazing deals on mobile computers I sometimes wonder how they make money on that! But that’s not my problem :o) Their loss is my gain and they are big anyway so they can afford to. Now wonder, this is the Internet’s most popular e-commerce destination.

- Dell - Outlet: this is a secret. Don’t divulge it. Dell has an outlet section where you can get excellent computers at very cheap prices. They are what we call refurbished notebooks but if you understand the benefits of reconditoned products, you will appreciate the Dell Outlet.

- Apple - Special Deals: if you are a Mac user and feel that they are just too expensive, you too can benefit from their Outlet store. But I need to warn you, their cheap iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptops fly out as soon as they are posted so you better train your fingers to click fast if you want to be the one to take home these amazing beauties no one will ever believe you.

Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets:
To hammer in my point, I will (once again) reveal everything I know about snapping the best laptop deals on the Internet

A mobile and ultra portable laptop buying guide :
This is a small report that I have put together for Nathan who is looking at purchasing a laptop computer.

Cheap laptop computer buying guide: one killer case scenario!:
Why I never recommend anyone to buy non major brand cheap laptop computers.

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:28 +0000

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

I write this after reading an article that should make anyone shopping for a gaming laptop computer pretty happy.

Michael Dell, founder of the world�s largest computer company who sees a lot of potential in computer gaming said that he�d spent a week-end asking game architects and designers what they want to see in gaming laptop computer systems and other types of PCs.

What does this mean for the gaming laptop computer shopper in the next few years? Better machines, better prices and especially a better gaming experience thanks to notebooks that are manufactured primarily for that purpose.

Even today, most gaming notebooks are actually multimedia computers that tend to have specs that can make a game run smoothly. But what if future gaming laptop computer systems were specifically designed to enrich the experience?

Will the gaming laptop computer of the future have a different keyboard layout? Will it have better sound? Amidst all features, will it allow the gamer to be ultra mobile meaning that the life of the battery has to be long? Will the gaming notebook of the future allow the user to pimp it according to his or her preferences?

For instance, if a given user wants a different keyboard to accommodate his preferences, will the gaming laptop computer be designed to let the owner exchange one keyboard over another in a matter of seconds?

All these are questions whose answers will come to light in a few years. What we know today is that the computer industry is paying close attention to the gaming segment and that they are providing it with the right tools to enjoy the experience instead of the gamer being limited.

I�ll keep my eyes on Alienware, Voodoo PC and Dell as they seem to be the principal manufacturers racing to develop better gaming laptop computer systems and who are ahead of the competition.

As they unleash interesting models, I will keep you informed. Keep coming back to see if there are any developments!

Related:

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:27 +0000

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

The one good thing with following the computer industry is noticing trends developing in front of your very eyes. The gaming laptop boom is such a case that I can clearly give as an example.

A few years ago, a reader asked me to help find the best gaming laptop on the market. I did not know much about gaming notebooks so I conducted some research and wrote a list of the best gaming laptops and a laptop buying guide for gamers.

The one thing that I observed was that they were no real computers made for gamers except for Alienware and Voodoo, two brands that are doing very well today. Most of the gaming laptop computers that I compiled were notebooks that were fast and powerful and with a good multimedia card. In other words, notebook computers that were for multimedia users that would also work for computer gaming enthusiasts.

Today, each major manufacturer has a gaming laptop line to meet the needs of millions who just want a fantastic experience when playing their favorite games. This explosion of choice has made things better for the gamer:

1) gaming laptop prices have dropped as the years go by due to increased competition

2) the quality, speed and power of laptops made for gamers have improved due to the fact that each manufacturer wants to be a step ahead and distinguish its brand and attract die hard gamers to its line.

If you’re into computer gaming, consider yourself lucky to be living in today’s time as the forces are in your favor. Now all the major web and print publications feature extensive coverage on gaming laptop computers and there are even specific sites dedicated to this small but fast growing market.

I will not go into the details of listing some of the best gaming laptop computers on the market today (as I did a few years ago) because by the time I will be done, there will be new models that will make the ones that I will have listed look like toys.

One of these days though, I will list a mini directory of gaming laptop manufacturers, review and comparisons sites and retailers who will give the best value for your hard earned money.

See also:

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:26 +0000

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

If you’re just looking for the best online stores to shop for cheap laptop computers and don’t read about any buying guides, reviews or other content, below you’ll find a few destinations that will take you to the best deals in “town”.

Amazon.com

The world’s biggest online retail store sells quite a huge array of cheap laptop computers. What most shoppers don’t know is that it also allows other merchant to use its platform to sell their wares meaning that ultimately, the consumer has more choice.

Amazon.com has proved itself to be a reliable retailer and although the selection can be overwhelming at times, the friendly search and shopping tools make the whole experience smooth and fast.

eBay.com

A few years ago, I would have given a thousand reasons to avoid eBay.com as a shopping source for cheap laptop computers. Online auction was still a novel process and like many people, I guess, I was a little bit skeptical to shopping for new, used or refurbished laptops from total strangers and small unheard of businesses.

Now, I think that I am a big advocate of eBay.com. While I still think that you should still exercise some caution while bidding or shopping for cheap laptops, the money saved will be worthwhile.

Dell.com

Brand new cheap laptop computers from the world’s leading computer maker. Why are Dell laptops cheaper than the rest of the industry’s? Because, they sell direct to the customer and since they have such a large market share, their production costs decrease and I guess that they pass on the saving onto the consumer.

The only problem is that the popularity of Dell cheap laptop computers is getting the best of them and they seem to be unable to handle the customer support efficiently because they’re simply overwhelmed.

This has nothing to do with the quality of their products but in order to keep costs down, they don’t increase the support manpower and eventually numbers end up against them.

Overstock.com

“We help you shop smarter by offering top-quality brand-name merchandise at 40-80% off, every day of the week.” Smart business concept if you ask me.

From what I hear their cheap laptop computers are a result of overproduced, returned or overstocked products that they buy at low prices that are passed onto the customer. In all disclosure, I have never personally bought anything from them but a lot of visitors of this website have and I have not received any complaint so far.

I could list more sources of cheap laptop computers but this should be more than enough to get you a fine notebook that does not empty your bank account. Please do share your shopping experiences with me so that we can all benefit from them.

See also:

Where to Find Excellent Laptop Review Sites

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:15 +0000

Where to Find Excellent Laptop Review Sites

As you�ve probably noticed, if you�re not a new visitor to this website, the laptop review sections on this site are not as updated as before. That�s because unfortunately, I don�t have the time to go through the overwhelming list of new laptops that come out each week and give them a proper review for you.

There are a few sites that specialize in laptop reviews and I have listed them for your convenience. They do the job better than I could wish to anyway as they sometimes have physical access to the notebook in question and therefore their review of a laptop is more technical than theoretical.

Engadget

The most popular consumer technology blog has a dedicated laptop review and news category that is updated as soon as they get the latest scoop on a given notebook. They get submissions from readers, meaning that nothing goes past them.

PC World

Most of us know PC World as a magazine but they were quick to jump on the Internet as a mean to deliver news and laptop review related material. Smart move as in this fast paced world, a print magazine does not deliver news fast enough.

C|Net

Probably one of the first web mags. This has been my source of laptop review content that helped me write this site especially when making mention of laptops that I have never seen or used to have hands-on experience with them. They also have some nice shopping guides but which are a little bit technical.

PC Mag

Same scenario as PC World. It�s a magazine with a strong web presence. They have a very good laptop finder and review section and I like the clean design, which is a rarity on tech related websites. I would also recommend their Expert Help section which features people who know laptops and other gizmos far better than I could dream to.

Amazon.com

Isn�t Amazon.com a shopping site? Yes, it is. But in my opinion the laptop review content there carries more weight as it comes straight from notebooks� owners who share their daily experiences which is far better information than the one coming from someone who�s used it for an hour.

Gizmodo

The second most popular consumer technology weblog. Like Engadget, it has the latest news and reviews on laptops and it�s a good source to bookmark or subscribe to via RSS. I like their tagline: �So much in love with shiny new toys, it’s unnatural�.

So there you have it, with the above sources, you will be more than informed about laptops and you can find any laptop review. I will constantly monitor the list and update it if I come across worthy links. But for now, you�re in good hands.

Other topics, questions and opinions:

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:10 +0000

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

I write this after reading an article that should make anyone shopping for a gaming laptop computer pretty happy.

I�ll keep my eyes on Alienware, Voodoo PC and Dell as they seem to be the principal manufacturers racing to develop better gaming laptop computer systems and who are ahead of the competition.

As they unleash interesting models, I will keep you informed. Keep coming back to see if there are any developments!

Related:

The One Thing To Look For In Portable Laptop Speakers

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:06 +0000

The One Thing To Look For In Portable Laptop Speakers

Let me get this off my chest� ALL laptop speakers suck. ALL of them! It does not matter what manufacturer, what model, how powerful or beautiful it is, all laptops have speakers that stink. Those of us, who appreciate good sound, have to rely on our own initiatives.

I have no idea why laptop speakers have such poor quality sound. You�d think that these manufacturers who spend a lot money on research would quickly gather that almost every single computer user listens to music or watches video on his notebook.

It�s ridiculous� they fight to have the fastest machines which are supposed to play video better and yet they sort of ignore the fact that no matter how amazing the video card is, the whole experience will be messed up if the user can�t even appreciate the sound.

Most of us usually revert to an external sound output such as an external sound system but we can�t always lug around our sound when we need to take the computer on a trip or even to another room, can we?

Fortunately, some observing businesses did something about it by now offering laptop speakers. These specific speakers are meant to be portable and deliver superior sound that will allow the computer user to richly hear every single piece of audio.

A quick Amazon.com search reveals a plethora of laptop speakers from various brands. They all have features that make them unique in their own right but also different to accommodate needs of different computer users.

For instance, some are made more for video conferencing than movie watching and vice versa. Some are made to cute while some are ugly because it�s simply impossible to deliver superior sound while delivering nice aesthetics at the very same time. I guess that it�s like the beautiful person phenomenon. It�s kind of rare to see very attractive people that are very intelligent.

You�d imagine that laptop speakers would be rather expensive computer accessories. The prices seem fair starting from thirty American dollars upwards.

As a musician, the best laptop speaker shopping advice I can give you is that if they�re kind of heavy, they will do the job right. I won�t get into the complexities of speakers now but usually, the heavier they are, the better their quality. But of course, expect to pay extra for the privilege.

Since laptop speakers are meant to be portable, they will need a power source. Using normal power source (electricity) would be kind of defeating the whole exercise because they would require the user to be chained to a place with a plug.

Most laptop computer portable speakers are USB powered which means that you might also want to invest in a USB multi plug if you find that all your plugs are assigned already.

I would avoid those laptop speakers that have to be plugged into the main power because they would impractical. If you don�t move your notebook a lot and want sound, just invest into a proper system for your laptop as it will be cheaper and provider better sound that portable speakers.

Related:

Why (Not) Buy Alienware laptop computers

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:06 +0000

Why (Not) Buy Alienware laptop computers

Upon acquisition from Dell, Alienware laptop computers faced an interesting fate from the get-go.

Some Alienware laptops’ fans were outraged stating that the brand was going to be mass manufactured thus rendering their quality low. Others argued that the fact that they had a big and powerful owner, they would have all the resources to create more innovative computers.

The potential problem of the acquisition is that Dell has a nasty reputation of making cheap computers. Cheap as in low quality and cheap as in low prices. Everything that a typical Alienware laptop is not known for!

Dell is a company focused on profits. Which business isn’t? Well there are two ways to generate massive revenues and Dell and Alienware use one and the other respectively, which makes this acquisition interesting.

Dell’s way is to mass produce thus reducing the costs and being able to sell low priced computers to a wide audience.

Alienware’s way is to produced a small amount of quality of computers that justify the high prices.

So it’s easy to understand that this deal is like a Wal-Mart type of person getting married to a Neiman Marcus type of person.

To be fair though Alienware laptop computers can become cheaper if Dell decides to leverage its large distribution network. By producing and marketing more quality Alienware laptops, they can reduce the manufacturing costs and therefore drop the selling prices of Alienware laptop systems.

After all, it has worked with the iPod. Since its inception, the iPod has become cheaper in price. Granted, they’ve removed certain accessories such as extra cables and the dock but the prices dropped mainly due to the fact that the more portable digital players were made and sold, the cheaper the customer paid ultimately.

I hope that two things happen with this acquisition:

1) More Alienware laptop computers availability to people from all over the world. They’re amazing notebooks and the gamer’s dream. At the rate computer gaming is growing, the Dell deal makes sense.

2) That the prices drop. Alienware laptop computers are pretty expensive. It does not matter how good they are but paying a lot of money for a piece of technology that will be obsolete in less than five years is kind of senseless.

I just fear that Dell being the corporate giant that it is, will end up cheapening the brand by cutting corners on specs and features and by moving Alienware laptop computers from the concept that made them loved by their happy owners worldwide in the first place.

See also:

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:04 +0000

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

The one good thing with following the computer industry is noticing trends developing in front of your very eyes. The gaming laptop boom is such a case that I can clearly give as an example.

1) gaming laptop prices have dropped as the years go by due to increased competition

One of these days though, I will list a mini directory of gaming laptop manufacturers, review and comparisons sites and retailers who will give the best value for your hard earned money.

See also:

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:03 +0000

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

Amazon.com

Amazon.com has proved itself to be a reliable retailer and although the selection can be overwhelming at times, the friendly search and shopping tools make the whole experience smooth and fast.

eBay.com

Now, I think that I am a big advocate of eBay.com. While I still think that you should still exercise some caution while bidding or shopping for cheap laptops, the money saved will be worthwhile.

Dell.com

This has nothing to do with the quality of their products but in order to keep costs down, they don’t increase the support manpower and eventually numbers end up against them.

Overstock.com

“We help you shop smarter by offering top-quality brand-name merchandise at 40-80% off, every day of the week.” Smart business concept if you ask me.

See also:

Sager Laptops Reviews - Where to buy Sager laptop computers

prielly — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:26:02 +0000

Sager Laptops

I have read and heard about Sager laptops ever since I started writing content for this website a few years ago. Back then, I was getting few Sager notebook shopping related questions but now the enquiries have increased which meant that it was time to dig deep and see what gives.

What do we know about Sager laptops in a nutshell?

The company has been around since 1985 and specializes in portable computers only. Although it may appear that the notebooks are only sold at Sager’s website, a quick search engine search reveals that there are quite a few Sager laptops merchants and parts sellers.

Sager laptops are backed with some rather strong claims and promises:

“When you buy a Sager PC, you buy confidence. Every component of a Sager PC is checked, then rechecked, in a state-of-the-art testing facility to ensure that your portable PC will perform to the highest quality standards. Sager offers the industry’s strongest warranties and guarantees, including a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, lifetime technical support, and a 72-hour repair-turnaround guarantee.”

That sounds very nice but does not have much credibility in my books. The best way to figure out if they’re for real with those claims would be to ask their current customers, the owners of Sager laptops.

I searched around and did not find many reviews. Is it because customers are so happy that they have nothing to beef about or is it because the clientele is so small that no one writes any reviews as a consequence?

I looked at the prices of Sager laptops and was puzzled. On the company’s website, they seem to be pretty similar to the industry’s norm yet the company boasts about its low prices. On the other hand, a few merchants that were selling some Sager laptops seemed to be advertising them for so cheap! That is so strange and when I figure out what’s going on, I will keep everyone posted!

Another thing that puzzle me about Sager laptops is their invisibility. A few techies and friends that I speak to regularly on computer related issues have never heard of Sager notebooks! Is it because it’s not a global brand like the Toshiba, Apple, Dell and so on? Is there anything that I should know about that I have completely missed?

All these answered questions about Sager laptops only lead to one conclusion: something is definitely sketchy with the information that is found about Sager and for that mere reason, I would think twice about buying any of their products.

If you are Sager laptop computer owner and have some experience with the brand, its product line and its customer support, please, please, please, drop me a line and let me know what you think of them.

I return, I will share all the feedback with everyone and update this article accordingly. You can reach me at mail##@##laptopadvisor.com (remove the #s). Thanks!

See also:

How long will my laptop computer last? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

prielly — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:35:20 +0000

How long will my laptop computer last?

Don’t Be Clumsy

What I can tell you that if you’re clumsy, it will be a miracle if your laptop computer can make it for six months without something breaking.

A personal friend, who shall remain nameless, got a shining new computer but she does not really care much about computers and she really treated it like a piece of dirty laundry. Within a few weeks, the computer overheated because it had accumulated dust though the CD/DVD tray that she had not closed.

On the other hand, I just purchased an 8-year-old computer that is in mint condition because its previous owner simply gave it so much tender loving care.

People say that different laptop computer brands have different life expectancies. I am not too sold on that argument. I have not seen a well-researched study that dug into this so, I will not comment on this issue.

All I can say is that knowing that the same companies make most components in every laptop computer, I don’t see why they’d give quality preference to one brand over another.

Want to increase your notebook computer’s life expectancy?

Treat it right.

Notebooks are delicate and expensive pieces of technology. If you put your laptop computer to sleep when you’re not using it. If you keep it in an area free of dust and other things that can leave a mess on your computer such as liquids and if you regularly clean it using the suggested cleaning tools, I don’t see why your computer could not last more than five years.

Expect To Need More in A Few Years

The only caveat though is that as computers get faster and more performing, software developers usually create applications that might not work on your slower machine. It does not matter how fast and powerful your laptop computer is today, in five years it will be a tortoise that will have a hard keeping up with the then specifications requirements.

You could of course make minor to major upgrades to your laptop computer to keep it on the edge but it’s a losing proposition, as eventually the costs will mount so fast that it will be in your best interests to simply purchase a new one.

What Apple Laptop To Shop For? - Ask The Laptop

prielly — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:35:07 +0000

What Apple Laptop To Shop For?

Portable, powerful, durable

A DJ friend of mine interested in Apple laptop computers called me this morning asking for what MacBook to get as he’s switching.

As a DJ and a music producer you definitely need an Apple laptop from the professional line. The reason is that your software requires a lot of processing power, a huge amount of RAM and since you’re dealing with Wav files (audio file format) which are very heavy thus demanding a lot of storage space that is only found on the professional line of Apple MacBook laptop computers.

Since you’re also highly mobile (my DJ friend uses his laptop in his gigs), you will need something highly portable and small to fit in the small DJ booths out there. Trust me, you don’t want to be lugging around a heavy machine as it’s prone to be damaged easier and it will break your back or shoulders!

As of this time (September 2006), you are facing a few Apple laptop options but here are my recommendations:

1) 13-inch Black MacBook 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo

Main specifications:

13-inch Screen
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2×256
80GB Serial ATA drive
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
MacOS X 10.4

2) Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch

Main specificiations:

G4 1.5 GHz
RAM : 512 MB
HD : 60 GB
CD-RW / DVD
802.11b/g, Bluetooth
MacOS X 10.4

Note: these Apple laptop computers are very hard to find as they’re part of the previous Mac notebook line that’s no longer in production. This means that you won’t find anywhere easily but I see that Amazon still has quite a few in stock.

Personally, I was so disappointed that the PowerBook G4 got killed. It was my future purchase and now I will have to settle for the MacBook Black which apparently is its replacement.

3) MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo

Main specifications:

2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB/1GB 667 DDR2 - 1 SO-DIMM
80/100 GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
MacBook Pro 15-inch Widescreen Display
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card, Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
15.4-inch TFT Display

This would be my most recommended choice and the one that I will be getting to replace my current Apple laptop computer. This is a professional computer at it’s best but don’t pass out when you see the price which might be a little bit higher than your average computer!

Getting your Apple laptop computer will not be enough though… you might also want to consider investing in a decent laptop bag or sleeve, external hard drive to store your large Wav audio files and to back-up your computer’s other data as you never know what might happen on the road with your current Mac, a mouse and other audio software and hardware.

Going Mac with your music set-up will make life easier as most DJs and producers are based on this platform and you will find that the community is very helpful and you will never find yourself alone or confused. Good luck!

Current MacBook Offers

Apple MacBook Pro Laptops from Amazon.com

See also:

Free Laptop Computers: Myth or Little Known Gold Mine? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

prielly — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:35:05 +0000

Free Laptop Computers

Myth or Little Known Gold Mine?

Alright… once for all, I am going to address the “free laptop phenomenon”. I have been getting countless of emails from people asking me how to find free laptops and where. Here are a few thoughts (disclaimer: these are personal so take this into consideration whilst reading the rest of the below article).

First of all, you and I have learned from a tender age than nothing is really free in this life. Everything has a price whether visible or hidden, whether direct or indirect, whether cheap or high and so on.

That leads us to the second point: with the many free laptop offers out there, there must be a catch or some conditions to put it mildly. After all, someone pays for these free laptops before they are “given” away and we all know that no one in his right mind just donates free stuff just for the sake of being nice.

What’s the best and most direct way to find out what the catch is with these free laptop computers offer?

Easy: check out the terms and conditions of the site where the free laptops are being promoted.

Of course, my hunch was right… even though you might eventually end up getting a notebook delivered to you at no charge whatsoever, you still have to do you part. Your part being (and I quote):

III. ELIGIBILITY FOR RECEIVING A FREE ITEM FOR laptops.freepay.com WEBSITES

(a) For this particular website, laptops.freepay.com, users must do the following to be eligible to get approval to receive their free product:

i. Complete at least one offer within 90 days of a new account signup and receive credit for the offer within that timeframe. A 30-day grace period may be extended for certain offers that require a longer duration to issue credit.

ii. Refer at least 20 unique people who signup for new accounts, each must complete at least one offer within 90 days of referrer’s new account signup date and receive credit for it within that same timeframe. A 30-day grace period may be extended for certain offers that require a longer duration to issue a credit.

iii. A user who signs up with our website must successfully complete the requirements to obtain a free item within 90 days, starting from the day the user signed up. These requirements are: 1) Complete one advertising offer and 2) have 20 unique people sign up as referrals via the user’s unique referral URL and complete an advertising offer. In order to connect these referrals to the user, we issue the user a unique referral link to our site. Users of this web site may distribute their unique referral URL in

anyway they may choose, including using our form located on our “Refer Friends” page of our web site.

I will stop here but you see the point…

You have to complete one advertising offer meaning that you might have to purchase something, click on something or give out your personal mailing details for them to send you more offers.

This actually would not constitute junk mail or SPAM as by participating in this, you would have agreed to the terms and conditions which mean that all subsequent offers are solicited and therefore are not SPAM or junk.

If you give out your postal address, your phone number and your email address, you know that you will be on mailing lists that you will have a hard time getting off from!

Secondly, you have to get twenty people to sign-up. You might think that it’s easy as you can just get a few of your friends, siblings and so on but 1) not as many will be as enthusiastic to join as you 2) they also have to be active participants in the offers which less than 3% will do.

By now, you should have seen how free these free laptop computer offers really are. If you’re willing to meet the requirements to justify the opportunity of accessing the pool of free laptops then by all means, get started and get busy because it takes a while to get all offers completed, to sign-up 20 people and to get all of them to respond to offers.

Good luck!

See also:

Exactly How To Compare Laptops! - Ask The Laptop Advisor

prielly — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:35:04 +0000

Exactly How to Compare Laptops

Sorry, this is a work in progress…

LaptopAdvisor

Asus Laptops - Asus Eee PCs

Asus Mobile Laptops

Asus Mainstream Laptops

Asus Media Laptops

LaptopAdvisor: How to Buy Laptops

Featured Laptop: The Apple MacBook Pro

Featured Laptop Line: The Dell XPS

Shopping For Durable Laptop Cases? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

Shopping For Durable Laptop Cases?

The Most Important Question You Must Ask Before Buying A Laptop!

The Most Important Question You Must Ask Before Buying A Laptop!

“Why?”

Why do I *really* need a laptop?

How To Determine What Laptop Is Best For You

What Laptop Is Best For You?

How is a laptop different from a desktop?

What will I be using notebook computer for?

How To Select The Right Laptop Specifications (Features)

Tips on choosing the right laptop specifications

How to track down a good cheap used laptop for sale

How to track down a good cheap used laptop for sale

Cheap laptop computer buying guide

Cheap laptop computer buying guide

One killer case scenario!

1) There’s usually little information about them

2) What happens when you travel?

3) Compatibility

Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets

Laptop deals: 3 must-know secrets

Look for the Outlet and Refurbished Sections

Snap Up Models That are Being Replaced

Use Shopping Comparison Sites

Are refurbished laptops still the best shopping bargain?

Are refurbished laptops still the best shopping bargain?

The case against buying cheap laptops

The case against buying cheap laptops

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

Where to Find Excellent Laptop Review Sites

Where to Find Excellent Laptop Review Sites

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

What Gaming Laptop Computer Maker To Seriously Pay Attention To

The One Thing To Look For In Portable Laptop Speakers

The One Thing To Look For In Portable Laptop Speakers

Why (Not) Buy Alienware laptop computers

Why (Not) Buy Alienware laptop computers

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

Laptop Gaming Trends Exposed

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

Best Online Sources of Cheap Laptop Computers

Sager Laptops Reviews - Where to buy Sager laptop computers

Sager Laptops

What do we know about Sager laptops in a nutshell?

Sager laptops are backed with some rather strong claims and promises:

How long will my laptop computer last? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

How long will my laptop computer last?

Don’t Be Clumsy

Want to increase your notebook computer’s life expectancy?

Expect To Need More in A Few Years

What Apple Laptop To Shop For? - Ask The Laptop

What Apple Laptop To Shop For?

Portable, powerful, durable

1) 13-inch Black MacBook 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo

2) Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch

3) MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo

Free Laptop Computers: Myth or Little Known Gold Mine? - Ask The Laptop Advisor

Free Laptop Computers

Myth or Little Known Gold Mine?

Exactly How To Compare Laptops! - Ask The Laptop Advisor

Exactly How to Compare Laptops

Why do I really need a laptop?