Before I ask the question I want you all to know

[ShockerMan4x4]

Before I ask the question I want you all to know that I have spent well over 15 hours going ALL through this forum board looking at both the Acer boards and the Toshiba boards.

I'm entering college this fall to study Electrical Engineering. I've decided I want a TPC but I am having trouble deciding between the C303Xci and the Toshiba 205. Let me first say that I am leaning towards the Acer. This is what I feel about the Acer:

+ Faster processor
+ Larger screen
+ Larger hard drive
+ Built in DVD burner

- Slower graphics card
- Heavier
- Lower resolution
- More defects? (see below)

Basically I have been all over the Acer and Toshiba boards. From reading through them both it seems that the Acer has more technical problems than the Toshiba. Not only that, but the Acer has the most repeated problems and the worse turn-around time at Acer. Maybe this is the case, maybe it is not, but I am yet to talk to someone who has NOT had to send in their Acer. The big issue with that is, if I bought the Toshiba, I'd buy it from Best Buy with the performance plan, meaning if something goes wrong I can simply go to the nearest Best Buy and have it fixed. With the Acer, I'd probably be without a computer for a long time. So if I thought the Acer was more reliable I'd be fine with getting it, but after hearing some of the horror stories, I'm a little skeptible.

Also, I mentioned graphics card. Although I doubt I'll have much time for gaming in college, this will be replacing my desktop and I may play games once in a while at school. The lower resolution screen also comes into factor here albeit a larger screen.

The larger screen size is mearly nice but I hear the higher resoultion is actually better for the tableture.

Weight is hardly an issue because I will mostly carry it around in my backpack.

So based on my specific needs, which would you think is the best decision for me? I REALLY like having a larger screen and faster processor but not at the loss of a working piece of equipment. I really appreciate you answering my question for me because as I'm sure you are all aware, $2000+ is a BIG investment for an entering freshman into college, so I thank you all ahead of time.

[kilar]

I am also an engineering student, and I know people with the Toshiba. If you look at the Microsoft tablet forum,http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...es/tablet.mspx, you will see that there as many repeated technical problems with the Toshiba as there are with the Acer. The difference is that Acer bashers come to to tabletpcbuzz.com to rant, and Toshiba bashers go to microsoft.com. Bot have their fair share of hardware problems and tech support failures.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Toshiba tablets still have to go to Toshiba for repair due to the specialized nature of the tablet hardware. So, you would take the Toshiba to Best Buy, and they would still have to mail it to Toshiba for repair. Toshiba loses the advantage of repair turnaround time there, unless Best Buy will give you a loaner computer until your tablet gets back. I have read that typically, repair times for Toshiba and Acer are rather quick--4 days or less. My Acer was repaired in one day, but it spent three days in transit in the FedEx mail system.

In the event of a repair with Toshiba or Acer, you would be without it for one week. The selling point here is whether or not Best Buy will give you a loaner until repairs are complete. If not, then this issue is a draw.

I chose the Acer because of the larger screen and built in optical drive. Toshiba gives you more bundled software--OneNote being the killer app in the bunch.

Here is my recommendation:
Acer
+ larger screen
+ built-in optical drive (DVDRW/ CDR)

Toshiba
+ better graphics and resolution
+ bundled software

If Best Buy will give you a loaner while your tablet is at repair, then go with the Toshiba. If not, then the decision may come down to graphics and screen size that you prefer.

Either one is a good choice.

[ShockerMan4x4]

I can actually check out a laptop from my school if I need to but still, tech problems are a bummer.

[kilar]

The problem with playing with bleeding-edge technology is that hardware fails, and tech support always sucks. I can recall the when the PDA craze came about a few years ago, and people had problems left and right. Same with DVD players years before.

I consider it a calculated risk to depend on my tablet for all my engineering classes, but it is worth that risk.

I was angry that I had to survive a week without the tablet while it was being repaired, but I did get it back rather quickly. Many will say that they either have not had problems, or that their repairs were quick. The problem is that people will post when they have something to complain about, not when they are happy.

I say roll the dice and get a tablet--Acer or Toshiba. Most likely, you will be happy, even if you have to send it in once for a repair. But, the chance does exist that you will be that guy who has sent in three tablets for repair. Hopefully, it won't happen to you. The risk may be worth the reward.

[Akil]

Kilar,

Well put [unworthy] Kudos

[Delta772ER]

I hate to burst your bubble, but either way you do, do not get the Best Buy warranty extension, it sucks. I had an HP laptop that they had in and out 5 times in a matter of 3 months, all for the same problem that they never even fixed. Your better off going directly to Toshiba and/or Acer to get the warranty. As far as shipping times, Best Buy was actually the worse, I have a Toshiba laptop, normally get a box same day and get it back within 2 business days if they are a problem. Acer normally takes 3 or 4. So both are pretty good about getting it back in a timely manner. Just whatever you do, don't get the Best Buy warranty, it is nothing but a waste of money, and once it's out of the manufactures warranty period they fix it themselves.

[Omega_CEO]

Hey, I'm also an entering college freshman also, and i'll be majoring in computer engineering. Recently, I just bought an Acer C302XMi and so far it is going pretty well. I also did a lot of research myself, but in the end I end up buying an Acer. I find Acer to be a big advantage over Toshiba because of the screen size, installed memory (1 GB), DVD-R/DVD-RW, dual monitors support, a lot cheaper, and hard drive space.

Also Acer provides one of the best warranties around, they cover accidental damage, meaning if you drop your Acer, they will replace it. I would never recommend buying the Best Buy warranty since my friend, also my roomate, bought a Toshiba laptop and accidentally dropped it and Best Buy doesn't not cover accidental damage. So he has to pay Toshiba several hundred dollars in order to have his LCD screen replaces.

And another thing, I just had a problem with my Acer recently, when I first got it the "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH" keeps appearing. So i called Acer up, and the lady seem pretty nice to help me out, she sent FedEx to pick up the laptop the next day and they did. I got my laptop back excatly a week later and they replaced the memory module, and I have no problem ever since.

So in the end I would recommend getting an Acer for its excellent warranty, larger screen, built in DVD burner, and larger hard drive. I also play some games occasionally, such as Vice City and so far i have no problem with its 64mb of video memory, and for the lower resolution it is totally worth it with the 14.1" screen size.