I win! I win!

[ellenmillion]

Okay, laptop is back in service, impulse buy of pretty, pretty 22" widescreen LCD is worth every penny, and the Internet is fixed, following a complete router reboot and configuration. My graphics card was not the problem with my laptop, after all - it was either the LCD or the backlight, and either way, I'm able to bypass it by rebooting it with monitor attached (I didn't realize you had to restart it with monitor attached, and there's also a fin-F5 technique to add to my box of computer tricks...) The graphics card IS way underpowered (being 6 years old) and an upgrade will indeed be in the near future, but for now, I'm back in business and very relieved to be able to post things again. It was very surreal and disconnected to be able to view, read, delete, but not post to email, forums or forms. LJ still worked, sporadically, but not reliably. I can shop for a new machine at my leisure, not a mad panicked 'I gotta get orders out NOW' rush, at least. I looked at Dell's XP options (not hot), and have poked around a couple of other places, and I'm not sure yet what direction I'll end up going. (And yes, these were totally unrelated problems, Internet and laptop, they just happened to occur on the same day, thank you, oh god of technology and your twisted sense of humor...)

A Mac is not out of the question, but still somewhat unlikely. I'll be doing some more reading and research. My XP has been ridiculously stable - I never have to reboot, I've had like one virus scare on this machine (no IE for me, and no Outlook), and it turned out to be nothing, and that seems to be the most usual argument for a Mac. Even my Service pack 2 problems turned out to be a bad RAM problem. Jury's still out!

Many thanks for everyone who had helpful thoughts to share on my new computer advice request!

Now, I've got a stack of orders to label and more to make!

Comments

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

Forgot to mention - I always buy refurb. You get more machine for your money and you get the same 1 year warranty usually (check vendor/manufacturer info to make sure). For non-macs, surf refurbdepot.com or tigerdirect.com. For Macs, search the Apple store for "refurbished."

The downside is that you don't get to build your own machine, but the cost savings more than makes up for it.

Cheap Computer Stuff Link

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.pricewatch.com/

[thaldir.livejournal.com]

Hooray for the good news! :-)))

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[valdary.livejournal.com]

It might not suit the software you are used to but Dell do Ubuntu computers now, you might find it a considerable saving not having to pay Windows tax though I'm sure they charge for the install. (though do double check that a Linux version of the firmware for your scanner is available)

When I can afford a fancy machine with the bells and whistles I will likely have it shipped without the OS and do the install myself.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Mom has a Toshiba widescreen with numeric keypad in keyboard. Bought from Staples for under $1000 I think (barely). Very happy with it. This was at beginning of last year, so is running XP. Not sure what you can find now. (She also has her "travelling laptop" but she's like that: a tiny lightweight Dell. Needed only laptops because of office room/desk room limitations.)

Try eBay? Computer shops (local?) that see refurb machines? Staples, Office Max?

I've had a Mac PowerBook (really old OS ... 9?), Dell Inspiron 1100 (since Jan 2004) Dell Desktop something refurb since spring 2003(?). Inspiron 1100's a bit heavy, and I think it's got maybe another year before something fails (if I'm lucky, all hail backups). Maybe there's a used machine out there you can wipe, and then ghost your current laptop onto? There's Norton Ghost and Hiram(?) ghost also (not a the friendliest interface, that one).

Anyway, I've no complaints about Toshiba (and I really like the wide screen); I might avoid HP laptops by rumor only (though I appreciate mightily their reliable longlasting printers). Dell is mostly great with the occasional snafu (you'll know soon enough and sometimes they're great about dealing with that -- my Dad had to replace a machine for business and had a snafuDell once out of something like 5 Dell machines over the last decade+ -- it worked out, though shipping was a pain). No personal/anecdotal data about Gateways, etc.

Sorry this is a written a little haphazardly... still trying to get toddler dressed...

Good luck!!