So anything under $500 is a throw-away notebook? There are notebooks under $500 that last longer than 2 years. I know because I've worked on a few. I'm in the industry as well.

So is mine junk? Dual core CPU, 4 GB DDR3 memory, HD graphics, DVD Superdrive, HDMI port, LED screen? What I have is decent. Guess how much I paid?

By not working on those under $500 you are just shooting yourself in the foot.

Ask yourself two things.

First on the notebooks that cost $1,500 or more is that additional money all going towards "bells and whistles"?  Or is build-quality, individual component quality increased as a result?

Second, if the latter part of the first statement is even partially true, how adversly do you think sub-par build-quality and sub-par individual component quality affects a less than $500 notebook?

Not worth the risk in my opinion and if I spend more than an hour "looking at" someone's $500 notebook trying to troubleshoot an obscure issue that may or may not eventually be traced back to sub-par component quality etc. they're going to wish they had just saved some more money and purchased a "better quality" (ie.  less cheap) notebook.

Plus I'm not interested in changing the argument here.  Your initial point was that $479 wasn't "cheap".   I stated that I thought it was considered cheap (at least in the realm of notebook quality and not in terms of your financial situtation which I did not address).  I still maintain that point.  In my opinion any notebook under $1,000 is already compromising on quality somewhere (I don't care about the type of components in your laptop I care about build quality and WHO made the part) and you will feel that compromise somewhere someday.......now get a notebook under $500 dollars and I'm hard-pressed to refer to that in any other terms but "cheap".

In my books, "cheap" doesn't get to run my life, store my data, etc. etc. those are things better entrusted to hardware not assembled with a $5 soldering gun.

the Monk

The build quality is the same. I just have to settle for a cheaper CPU and GPU. No big deal for my uses. It also helps to go with a company that will stand behind the product should it fail. Most companies will offer a extended warranty if they know that the workmanship was faulty.

I've had plenty of notebooks that retail under $500 that hold up quite well. I think your assessment that anything under a grand is a waste is false.

Spending more than an hour to diagnose is expensive? Sounds like you have very high shop rates.

By the way even a $1500 dollar notebook can have issues. Never trust the drive that came with the computer. Always back up your data.

My overall point is that even a sub $500 dollar notebook can be a good investment.

The build quality is not the same.

I addressed your point that $479 isn't to be considered "cheap".  In the latop landscape it is.  Simple truth.

I don't have a shop.  These days I won't even "look at" an individual's failed system unless its as a favour for family/friends (my time however is still certainly not free).

Any notebook can have issues.  The "cheaper" ones are simply more likely to.

Again, your point was $479 wasn't to be considered "cheap".  I maintain (in terms of a notebook) it is.

So why should the public pay extra?

And to a good majority of us, $479 is very expensive.

I disagree. Same quality, different parts.

Kona...build quality will not be the same.

I am certain you can buy a Logitech keyboard for $20 or $30.

It is NOT the same build quality as the one I am using.....ALSO a Logitech...but 10 times that price.

the_monk isn't talking about up-spec'ing a processor and ram in the same machine/brand/model thus costing more.

He's talking about the difference between 2 computers that may have quite similar 'specs' but one is quite more expensive than the other.

It ain't [just] expensive because of its name...or trying to be 'exclusive'...it's the standards of construction, tolerances, material choices etc. that make QUALITY.

Build QUALITY means [mostly] higher price and better durability aka performance.

Both may still run Vista like a dog.....but the better quality one will still be functioning well enough for Windows 9.

The cheap one by then will be used as a door wedge.

Points taken Jafo. However I still don't think you need to pay an arm and a leg for a decent notebook. I'm happy with my sub $500 dollar choice and it's holding up pretty well. Good technology is getting cheaper everyday.

Gets to a dispose/replace only pricepoint, however.