Poll: Best Computer Brand?

[Vek]

I've tried Acer, Asus, HP, Dell, Gateway, and Sony. The only comps that haven't given me any problems are the Asus (but it's a Linux EeePC, so it doesn't count) and the Sony.

I said, fuck the computer manufacturers, and just started building everything myself.

 

[C95J]

had to vote for Acer... because I have one... that's a good enough reason right?

 

[CaptainKoala]

I work at my local computer repair shop so here's my opinion:
Dells and HP's are the computers that people bring in the most with the most serious problems. So I wouldn't buy one. Lenovo is a sub company of IBM, who makes great computers. Acer sucks... Until a few years ago when they bought Gateway. Now Acer's stuff is fantastic. And Toshiba is a good all purpose computer. Like the Ford Taraus of computers.

 

[obliviondoll]

I vote....

ANYTHING but Acer.

And new Gateways, because they're now made by Acer.


More seriously though, build your own. For high-end gaming, usually works out cheaper and runs better than pre-made ones. And you're not forced to have half your disk space eaten by "backup drives" which can't be reassigned. Admittedly, this is usually less of a problem when not dealing with an Acer.

Laptops, I'd go with Asus or Dell.

Also worth mentioning, Dell are usually pretty open to custom-building a computer for you, but it's expensive. If money's less of an object than effort, worth considering.

As for Macs, I disagree with saying "don't buy one" unless you add "unless you want the best photo editing utilities at the expense of everything else."

 

[theriddlen]

I vote other - the brand that made my last pc's is myself. And im totally satisfied by this great brand, that allowed me to buy cheaper PC than other brands, and yet more powerful.

Second place goes to Apple.

 

[oplinger]

I am -outraged- that there is no emachines choice.

...Actually in retrospect..maybe that makes sense.

But I go custom with my computers, :\ I have actually not bought a branded pre-made. we have a 10 year old gateway that still works though.

 

[bam13302]

MSI, only brand iv never had any issues with that were not my own mistake, asus also isnt bad, ii have heard many good things and might try them if MSI pisses me off, but until then, MSI all the way.
If you like custom built desktops, then im gona say MSI mobo and video card (like the gtx460), AMD proc (its a little hotter then intel and uses a bit more voltage, but ill take the $300-$800 i saved from the AMD proc and mobo and put it towards a $100 cooler, $50 better PSU, and $10 high grade thermal paste, all of which will now allow me to overclock the AMD proc well beyond the intel's 0.13 GHz advantage)
Western Digital black edition Harddrives (or velociraptor if you have the money)
Rosewill PSU (cheap, big, cool, powerfull, reliable)
Azza case
Acer makes good monitors
Creative & logitech make good speakers
Logitech makes good keyboards and mice

Spoiler: intel

there are alot of people that like intel, but i just cant rationalize it in my head, amd is so much cheaper (like sometimes 1/4 the price cheaper and when your looking at a $1k unit, 1/4 is a $750 discount) for product that is just a tiny bit worse
Intel is in most premade computers (dell, alienware, HP (most), etc..) which is one of the reasons they are so expensive compared to a custom equivilant, my computer (which is running a net total of about $1200, costs about $2500 on Dell and $3000 on alienware, hell, even the custom built equivilant with just the intel proc is about $2000

/rant

 

[Loop Stricken]

Other: Build your own.

 

[octafish]

Best Laptops I've ever laid hands on are Macbook Pros. They are tough, stylish, and have great, nay, fantastic battery life. Decent power too for your typical Mac applications. Pretty good customer support too from what I've heard. Oh and they have iMovie which is the most intuitive easy to use video editing suite I have ever come across, I'm still looking for something half as good for PC. I don't own a Mac because I can't afford the premium, and I've always been a PC man. What can I say I like to tinker. For mobile PC experience I have a Toshiba netbook that has never put a foot wrong.

The best Desktop builder is YOU.

 

[havass]

Wall o' Text

Yeah I am aware Apple makes good computers. But macs are mostly used for design and media, which isn't what I need.

 

[Mariakitten]

Mac, you can run windows games with wine opener you know. =P

 

[havass]

And no, Apple's not counted because the only good mainstream game you can play on a Mac is..what, Sims 3?

But only if you're too stupid to know how to install a second OS.

I'm a lazy ass bastard so I might as well buy a computer which ALREADY has windows installed. But yes, I do not know how to install a second OS. But then I never really intended to in the first place.

 

[havass]

And no, Apple's not counted because the only good mainstream game you can play on a Mac is..what, Sims 3?

Team Fortress 2.

Edit: And Torchlight.

Macs do have Steam now, so there are a fair few games being ported over.

Still. It just means next time I have to buy a game, I need to take this into consideration. Besides, Macs are more design software orientated.

 

[MagicMouse]

Dell is winning the poll. *Facepalm*

Anyone in a computer related field will tell you that Dell is the worst. Horrible parts/assembly, non standard models, HORRIBLE SERVICE ect. Though they are used often because they are CHEAP.

HP and Lenovo(formerly IBM) are the best quality for a decent price.

 

[Hansliszt]

I usually build my own shit from parts, so the only brand experience i can share is of my Hewlett Packard laptop, wich is running decent, so far i didn't have to deal with any tech support.

 

[Doomdiver]

Of the companies I have had experiences with (laptops and netbooks only):
Dell - I try to avoid, they make pretty screens but everything else is a bit sub-par.
Advent - Avoid, the Advents I've used never lasted long.
Asus - Absolutely no problems with. Brilliant little netbook.
Toshiba - Great specs for the price, terrible speakers. Still a brand I would recommend though.
Lenovo - I would highly reccommend. Nothing bad I can say really.
Sony - Only had experience with one laptop. It's pretty poor value in terms of specs but has lasted many years.

For desktops all I know is avoid Dell. They are a pain in the ass to do anything with inside. I just build my own these days so I don't really know much else about Desktops sorry.

 

[Riddle78]

Other. Build it yourself. Motherboard from these guys...Video card from these guys...
So on and so forth.

 

[havass]

Yes I know that, but I'm simply warning the OP just incase he maybe tempted to get one.

Was never a huge fan of Steve Jobs. So I'll never get a Mac. Unless I need it for school or something. Then I'll only buy it if I have spare cash and another computer.

 

[TheComedown]

So I've had..3 Acers (Laptop and desktop) and all of them have given me problems. Like constant BSOD-kind of problems. And apparently I'm not the only one. My friend's Acer desktop has a tendency to shut down on him on a whim. Thus I have deep hatred of Acers and need advice on what to buy next time. And also because I'm too lazy to build my own.
So Escapists, which computer brand are you using, and would you recommend it to others?

And no, Apple's not counted because the only good mainstream game you can play on a Mac
is..what, Sims 3?

EDIT: Yes, I am aware you can play more than Sims 3 on a Mac. No, I just don't want an Apple because it means I need something extra to play games on it. And also this would have to be taken into consideration next time I buy a title. Which I would prefer not to because I'm a lazy ass bastard and don't like limiting my options.
EDIT 2: For desktops it's pretty much straightfoward. Build your own. So let's leave the above poll to be about laptops.

http://www.ibuypower.com/lobby.aspx

maybe you should try something like that, most of the shelf pre built ones are either stupidly over priced and/or stupidly underpowered. something like that lets you set your price and parts and does the rest for you.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

The last three laptops I've owned are a 7-year old Dell 5100, a 2-year old Toshiba Satellite, and I'm typing this up on a year-old Gateway.

The Dell, even though the company gets a lot of flack, still runs fine even though one of the hinges is broken. The big problem I have with it is that you have to boot it up twice to actually proceed to the XP loading screen, and it doesn't do media well, which is probably due to it's age. It's quite a trooper. I'll be sad to see it go.

The Toshiba had great speakers and worked fine while we had it, but it crapped out after my dad dropped it. We still salvaged the hard drive and transferred it to the Gateway, which is also decent, although the speakers aren't as good.

None of them are for gaming, although you could play Spore on low settings with the Toshiba.

In the next week I'm hopefully getting my own laptop for school and some gaming. I was considering the Asus G73jh, which had killer specs and from what I read could play pretty much every game currently on the market. A steal for the roughly 1600$ price. But I eventually settled on the Sager NP8690, which while not as powerful as the Asus, is only 15.6", as opposed to the 17.1" screen the Asus had. It should still be able to run most games, though. The vanilla price is 1209$, but when I'm done customizing it would be in the 1500$ range. You might not upgrade it the same way, though.

So, thats my 0.02$. Hope it helped, with laptops anyway.