Help me decide on a laptop

[Lenny]

After spending many hours checking Black Friday deals on laptops I think I've narrowed down to 2 models, an Acer and HP. I originally was just going to buy something really cheap but those models just didn't have the features I was hoping for. I also had planned to get an AMD CPU but AMD doesn't seem to have any good performing mobile CPUs these days so I went with the Intel i3.

Acer Aspire AS5745G-7671

HP Pavilion dv6-3143us

Both are around $600 with similar specs:
- i3 370M
- 4 GB DDR3
- 500 GB hard drive
- Video cards capable of moderate gaming
- HDMI output

The HP is slightly cheaper after rebate but I hear HP's reliability isn't very good these days although Acer isn't that great either but has improved somewhat in recent years.

The HP has a faster 5650 video card vs the GT 420M in the Acer which, while slower, is still a good performing card according to what I've read.

I also looked at a similar Toshiba that was about $50 cheaper but only had integrated graphics.

So I guess I'm mainly wonder if one brand has better reliability than the other? Probably would prefer the HP because of the faster video card but I'm concerned about reliability.

[Niner]

I have an HP laptop here that I purchased late last year and it's running just fine. In fact I have a few friends with HP laptops and no problems there either. Can't talk for the new models, but the HP you presented looks good to me.

The Acer is Sold out btw...

[Lenny]

The Acer is Sold out btw...

Yeah that sort of narrows the choice until I want to spend another 6 hours researching

[Lenny]

HP Pavilion dv6-3143us

Order placed

$630 paid - $50 rebate - $15 ebates = $565 net cost

[Niner]

Good deal Len. I think you made a good purchase...

[Lenny]

Good deal Len. I think you made a good purchase...

Good specs for sure. I just hope the long term reliability is there. My prior laptop, an Acer 5100, started having problems just after a year. All downhill from there. That reminds me I need to sell that for parts lol.

Oh and btw it's a gift for my wife not me but I get to share

[madhatter256]

I have a HP dv4-1225dx.

Works great. No problems with original hardware. Battery is only 70% as effective as it used to be, but it's 1.5 years old now.

They have good warranty coverage options, which I suggest you look into.

[Lenny]

I have a HP dv4-1225dx.

Works great. No problems with original hardware. Battery is only 70% as effective as it used to be, but it's 1.5 years old now.

They have good warranty coverage options, which I suggest you look into.

I get a free year from VISA and I may invest in a couple years beyond that as I've seen first hand how unreliable laptops can be. The VISA extended warranties are excellent. I already submitted a claim for the old Acer 5100 laptop when it was between 1 and 2 years old and got my entire purchase price back. That was within my free year of coverage so it didn't even cost me anything extra.