If you have a MicroCenter in your are it's an excellent place for PCs, laptops and electronics. Top middle of screen is drop down menu listing locations. If you're not in a super rush, pays to watch for sales, they have them all the time. You can reserve a purchase online and they hold it (forget how long).

If you screen is getting bad as in squiggly lines, colors & patterns it might be overheating. (My older laptop does that.) A riser or cooling mat to allow air flow underneath fixed that problem.

Do you know exactly what you want to buy?
If you need any in-store advice at all, MicroCenter is a very good place for that, so I second Moonshadow's advice.

I don't know whether you want an Apple, but when it comes to customer service -- both before the sale and after -- the stores are tops (I might LOOK at Apples at Best Buy, but I'd never buy them there).

There are so many stores that sell laptops but finding somebody in those stores who actually "know" laptops can be very trying! But Best Buy could be a good stop just to check out the weight difference among larger screen sizes.

I've found that things purchased at Best Buy to be of inferior quality. Not sure whether they are getting substandard inventory because they are a big box sale store. Have you priced buying directly from Dell?

My current laptop is a Dell, purchased directly from them. I don't have a MicroCenter in town. I am tired of dealing with problems (while the warranty was still good) over the phone with Dell, it wore me out! I would like to buy locally so if there is a problem I can just take it back, if that happens. We have Office Depot and Office Max. I will be watching their sales. I've been reading Kim Komando's info on what to look for in a laptop, so I am trying to inform myself! She always has good info, if you don't already follow her. I do like to find out from other users what they are happy with and why.
Thanks for the replies.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kim Komando

I don't know if Sam's is on a par with Costco. I love purchasing electronics at Costco because;

1) you automatically get a 1 year extension over the mfg warranty

2. you get 90 (yes ninety) days to try the item and return (not exchange) no questions asked and I have used that feature. A+

3) they have a free Concierge service by phone (I believe darn close to 24/7) to help with set-up and tech issues and I have used that feature. A+

4) you can buy some items in the store but there is a wider selection online. I bought 2 laptops online, one Samsung, one Lenovo. The Samsung had an issue (can't remember, it's my son's) and Costco shipped him a new computer with a return box for the other.

I find Costco to be extraordinary in customer service. If you have really specific computer needs, you might not get what you want from them. Or if you are a computer guru, you can surely find great deals elsewhere or 'build' your own to your exact specifications. I don't have that kind of comfort level and have found Costco to work well for me.

I second the Costco recommendation for the reasons stated above. However, when I bought my current laptop I bought it at Best Buy, because they had the model that I wanted. It's an HP, and it was rated highly in Consumer Reports. I have been very happy with my purchase, and am not suspect of items that Best Buy sells.

I've always bought my computers online from Dell. Never had a problem. But if I were to buy in a store I think I'd buy at Costco if they had what I wanted (or from Costco online).

Love Costco, too! Customer service is amazing.

My next laptop will be a Mac and I'll probably buy it online. DS purchased both of his this way (first one was stolen, both purchased from the same online site) and saved $100 on last purchase.

My husband works in that industry (for Dell actually) and swears by Micro Center. They also have a website if there isn't a store near you. I've bought three laptops from them, all have done really well.

You're smart to skip Best Buy. Costco carries good brands but their prices are actually high when compared to Micro Center.

I would not hesitate a minute to buy from Sam's Club, Walmart, or Costco if they had what I wanted. Walmart and Sam's do have great extended warranties that you buy on the spot. Shop around, write down the technical specs (model, memory, operating system, etc), price and ask a good computer person. You have to compare apples to apples. I have a nephew who is the Technology Coordinator for a school system and is extremely knowledgeable in computers - he is my "go-to" guy.

I bought my first PC direct from Dell. It lasted about 7 years. I bought my last Dell from Walmart - have been extremely happy with it, but again, I consulted with an expert before buying. I thought he would send me to one of the true electronic specialty stores, but his comment was "check Walmart first - you can return anything to Walmart and Sam's if it doesn't work without having to go through a company hassle".

There is an Electronics forum here on GW that has some very knowledgeable people that can answer your technical questions also.

It's already been said -- but worth saying again: MicroCenter if you need advice, but Costco is a good second. I always seem to shop around the other stores anyway -- but ALWAYS end up coming back to MicroCenter and Costco. The other stores just can't compete...

Micro Center if you need questions answered. They are by far the best!

I haven't read the replies but let me tell you about my recent Best Buy experience.

Last year I needed a new PC. We buy all of our electronics from Best Buy, even the custom PC's my dh uses, because they are simply the best. IMO.

WELL! This salesman who was "helping" me (my whole family came with me) didn't know squat! We were all so frustrated we almost left, but we knew BB had the best product at the lowest price.

Me being me, I walked around the store looking for the manager. He came out of his office and I told him that the salesman didn't know anything, and the manager apologized profusely, then got a guy who was an expert on computers to help us. He sold us one within 5 minutes.

I don't know what happened to the sales people at BB. They used to go through classes and now I think they just hire anyone off the street with no experience NOR the desire to make a sale!

I am college faculty, so I ordered my dell through the Dell University program. I got a great deal on the 15" with the Core i5 processor. It is the model with the switchable lid. I've had it since last summer, and it has been great. I really like this laptop.

I considered Apple but I could not justify almost double the price, even with the education discount.

DH bought a newer 15" HP to replace his old 17"HP which he really liked, and this one is not as good of quality.

Our Dean has been giving away iPads at faculty meetings, and I won one today! I am so thrilled.

Our Dean has been giving away iPads at faculty meetings, and I won one today! I am so thrilled.

Nice! Lucky you! :)

Tuesday said: "You have to compare apples to apples."

There is your answer - buy a Mac.

"Micro Center if you need questions answered. They are by far the best!"

This is so true! We've bought several desktop computers and 3 laptops all from Micro Center. My husband also recently built himself a top of the line gaming computer. Even though he's worked with computers and in the industry for years, he still learns new things from the guys working at Micro Center.

We prefer the HP brand for laptops, I originally got a large 18 inch HP with all the bells and whistles and paid a lot of money for it. I had it 3 years and hated it. It was too large and bulky for me and a real PIA to work on comfortably. I was so glad when the battery finally died and it was just more realistic to invest in a new system.

The next round I just wanted the basics and got an inexpensive 15 inch lighter weight Compaq that my husband said would work well for my needs; my only real requirement was a number pad. We only paid 350.00 for the one I got, it had everything I needed and then some and it lasted 3 years until our puppy hit the screen with her tail. :c( One quick swoop and she broke the back light which my husband plans on fixing. But even if he doesn't, if you consider the investment cost compared to the return I got in use, 3 years for 350.00 isn't bad especially when I was really happy with it.

I just did the same thing with the new replacement, we paid 400.00 for a smaller HP with a number pad and I suspect it too will last just as long.

We get all of our computer related products from Micro Center and have had a really good luck each time.

One thing I learned from my experience is to just consider what the system will be needed for and buy with that in mind. I never used half of the stuff that came with my original laptop and the extra software was an added drag on my system. In retrospect I wasted over 900.00 buying my original laptop just because I thought I'd be getting a better system when in reality it was way more than my needs required.

"One thing I learned from my experience is to just consider what the system will be needed for and buy with that in mind. I never used half of the stuff that came with my original laptop and the extra software was an added drag on my system. In retrospect I wasted over 900.00 buying my original laptop just because I thought I'd be getting a better system when in reality it was way more than my needs required. "

So very true Lukki! And good advice to keep in mind. In fact, that is one of the reasons why I'm so sold on Micro Center. I'm a software designer by profession, so of course, I need top-of-the-line computer equipment, right?

Actually, not. Years ago, that was true, but not anymore. What I do is mainly number-crunching, which, it turns out, is not nearly as technically demanding as what the current gaming and streaming video crowd needs. --All this per the knowledgeable folks at Micro Center -- So the computers I buy now (I average about one a year between home and business use) are actually 'sturdy but not overly high-powered' machines that are light on all of the graphics and gaming boards and strong on number-crunching. So, cheap computers...

Thanks Micro Center!

Thanks Sweeby, I love my cheap computer and Micro Center! ;c)