Any recommendations on a laptop?

[Karen]

Laptops are a really personal thing, in terms of whether you are comfortable with the size and the key action most of all. I would definitely look at the Macs - as you are in education, you can ask if there's any discount through your school, but before you buy anything, try it out at a store first, okay?

[Misty_Pearl]

I had a dell laptop a while ago and it was OK. Now I think I would get an HP or a Mac. Of course I don't know how difficult it is for compatibility with the more common computer world.

[blue]

Ive had good luck with Acer's, plus we havent seen many in the shop for repairs. Asus would be my next choice for a laptop. We see more HP and Dell laptops in the shop for hardware issues, their consumer grade stuff is just cheap. Dell and HP have good commercial grade stuff.

I run Ubuntu on all my gear and dual boot Ubuntu and Widows 7 on my netbook. Most MS Office programs can run on Ubuntu with PlayOnLinux, although Access and Outlook will not.

[Sonia59]

I have very bad luck with laptops, so I don't know what to think about them anymore! Many problems with a HP, problems with a Samsung (this was a notebook, so different category though), and now I have problems with a new Toshiba. And I am very careful with any kind of material, so I don't think it's me, really. A lot of money goes in buying new but not functional stuff

Perhaps the solution would be to go for professional models rather than a specific brand. Pro series do not seem to have such short time life...I would say Dell, Acer, HP.

[Scooter's Mom]

I have a Dell that I "custom built" from their website and have loved it. I bought it when I went back to school a few years ago.

My husband claimed it once I quit school and now he mainly uses it for games and HULU. lol - but it's been a really good machine.

[Randi]

I say, get a Mac! Even a second-hand one will probably be better and last longer than any PC. Have a look here: http://www.apple.com/mac/