I know this is a tablet forum but it's also one of the most tech savvy sites I belong to.
So my Laptop died a painful death on the weekend, wife decided it needed a bath while it was running.(glass of water) So I'm in the market for a new one just don't know what yet. My old one (Dell 640m) was a great laptop had no intention of replacing it any time soon as it did everything I wanted it to. The really nice thing I found it did (for me anyway) was the 7pin svid type port actually allowed me to run Component video and 5.1 out to my HDTV. So I never had to stream or convert any files just ran them off the laptop.

Anyway anything that is comparable with it would be great just don't want to buy junk either. Here's a few I looked at yesterday but again not sure thought I'd get some advise, maybe there's something way better coming or out that I haven't seen.
Dell XPS Acer 3810T (<-price was $699 CND for the Acer)
The reason these two grabbed my attention was the HDMI out, so I can still use to connect to my HDTV or HD projector.
Any help or advise would be great, thanks.

Clinton

Not really interested in a netbook, I do have a desktop fairly good one infact but I don't care to use it that often. I'd rather have a laptop that I can do most if not all tasks I want/need to. The Dell 640m that I had did this very well but there really isn't any point in spending $600 on the same laptop when I can justify to the wife whatever I feel I want. She wants to buy me a new one but I just want the ok on whatever I feel I need.

Clinton

If you can afford it, get a Lenovo Thinkpad. They may not look fancy, but they are sturdy, durable, and will always get the job done. They are designed with little details that make the difference, for example the keyboard has special drain holes for liquids dropped on it, the inner frame is a magnesium alloy, etc

If she's paying for it (with her own money, not yours) how about a MacBook or better yet, a 17" MacBook Pro?

I'd second this recommendation. They're not the prettiest things in the world, but they are good all-round workhorses that will take a beating. Have certainly seen numerous co-workers spill entire coffees / water jugs / wine glasses / froyo cups on them and yet the live to see another day.

Thanks guys. Forgot to mention I hate Apple crap, it's not an option.

Can you get a lenovo with Hdmi out? I haven't found one local yet.
Searching the net right now.


Clinton

I third that motion, only adding that you want a T-series thinkpad. R-series is not nearly as endurable and stable, and likely to disappoint.

Well, I don't hate the Apple crap, and you asked for recommendations. I hope you're not thinking of running that Windows **** on your new laptop are you?

Well this is my thread asking for advise for me so I'm just going with what I want. I absolutely hate Apple crap, womb have another one if their products in my house.
I don't mind windows as most of my experience is using it. I do have or did have a Linux partition. But it was not my main OS.

Clinton

OK dude, good luck in your search for a replacement.