Technology Laptop?

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pakbabydoll

pakbabydoll

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Hi, so I have to get a laptop. I don't really know much about computers so I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I have been looking at this one : HP 530 Laptop Computer - Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows Vista Home Basic.

This is the second one I have been looking at, its a little bit more expensive then the first one: HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC - Intel Celeron M 550 2.0GHz, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVDRW, 17" WXGA+, Windows Vista Home Basic

Is that a good one? I am a freshmen but I really want to get one that maybe I could use if I ever get in medical school. Thanks
 
pakbabydoll said:
Hi, so I have to get a laptop. I don't really know much about computers so I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I have been looking at this one : HP 530 Laptop Computer - Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows Vista Home Basic.

This is the second one I have been looking at, its a little bit more expensive then the first one: HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC - Intel Celeron M 550 2.0GHz, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVDRW, 17" WXGA+, Windows Vista Home Basic

Is that a good one? I am a freshmen but I really want to get one that maybe I could use if I ever get in medical school. Thanks
Click to expand...

What is your price range? I wouldn't recommend Celeron.
 
HP are known for their high quality computers at affordable prices. Them and Dell. If you are going to run Vista though, it is recommended that you have at least 2 GB RAM. Vista is great, in my opinion. Much more better than XP. A lot of people don't like it because it's takes up a little bit more RAM than XP , and it doesn't work too well with computers that were pre-installed with XP in the first place.

I have Vista, because I just bought a thinkpad a couple of months ago, and it's great. I have 4 GB Ram, and my laptop runs like a dream.

But anyways, 120 GB hard-drive memory is a bit low for a laptop I think, but if you are just going to use it primarily for school purposes that should be fine. There are newer wireless and better wireless standards than universal 802.11a/b/g, so you should look more into that. The 802.11a/b/g is a universal standard for wireless, so it will work fine if you don't plan to get very fancy with wireless networking. If I had to choose I picked the 2nd one. It has 2GB DDR, that means it has 2 GB RAM which is great! The 17 inch screen sounds tasty. Intel M is ok I think, but I really like Intel core duo because it has a bigger cache and better RAM.

here is a link to top 10 all purpose laptops by PC WORLD magazine:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/123678-1/article.html
good luck
 
pakbabydoll said:
$500- $800

Can you send me a link to the one you think is appropriate?
Click to expand...

For that price range, you can definitely get something better. I got a new laptop back in January and it cost less than $500. Office Depot is selling it for $450 now (online?). Not quite the road warrior, but definitely a decent weight (~6 lbs) slim laptop that gets the job done. Battery life is quite good. You might want to check it out.

Compaq Presario F700
AMD Turon 64 x2 1.90 Ghz
2.0 GB DDR RAM
120 GB HDD
15.4" widescreen LCD
802.11b/g WLAN
DVD writer with dual layer
Windows Vista Home Premium

Unless you are into gaming, I think this laptop would work well for you.

(BTW... I don't recommend 17" LCD if you are going to be carrying your laptop around with you all day.)
 
pakbabydoll said:
Hi, so I have to get a laptop. I don't really know much about computers so I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I have been looking at this one : HP 530 Laptop Computer - Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows Vista Home Basic.

This is the second one I have been looking at, its a little bit more expensive then the first one: HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC - Intel Celeron M 550 2.0GHz, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVDRW, 17" WXGA+, Windows Vista Home Basic

Is that a good one? I am a freshmen but I really want to get one that maybe I could use if I ever get in medical school. Thanks
Click to expand...

These are good configurations, besides the celeron processor. However, for your purposes having a more powerful processor won't make much difference. What are the respective prices of the 2 laptops you listed?

Personally, I'd recommend Dell. I've been using a Dell Inspiron for 3 years and only had one problem with it (USB drive sometimes stopped working) and so I called tech support and they had a tech out here in 2 days and fixed my computer. That's preety awesome customer service in my mind. They are great computers, very reliable, competitively priced and will get the job done well. My battery life is excellent (6-7 hrs), screen size is perfect (15.4" widescreen). You should be able to configure one to match your budget as they have a lot of options. If you decide on Dell look for coupons online - you can usually cut $50+ off your total.

Here: http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/inspnnb?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

I'd recommend the Inspiron 1525. For your price range you can get everything you're looking for and more, and a core 2 duo processor for just over $700, + coupon = possible $600 (seriously). If you want any help deciding on a configuration let me know, I can help.
 
I know some people (myself included) who had Inspirion and had issues. My motherboard went out eventually as well.
Have you looked at refurbs? I haven't bought one, but heard good things.

armymt: I am living in Savannah too.
 
Shoot, is that illegal posting links? I posted becuse they have daily deals for good prices to laptops.

Lenovo (took over IBM laptops) seems to have a lot of good deals as of late.
 
Personally, I'd recommend Dell. I've been using a Dell Inspiron for 3 years and only had one problem with it (USB drive sometimes stopped working) and so I called tech support and they had a tech out here in 2 days and fixed my computer. That's preety awesome customer service in my mind.
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you're not familiar with computers, customer support is a big deal. I would pick HP over Dell myself, but only on aesthetic grounds. Unfortunately, HP's customer service is supposedly pretty bad. I'm pretty comfortable fixing computers myself (until I have to get the soldering gun out), but if you are uncomfortable with that idea then customer service is going to be your new best friend over the next few years.

On that note, always get a warranty with your laptop. I have literally saved thousands of dollars over the years. Laptops differ from PCs in that their internal components are 1) more expensive, 2) less or not at all interchangeable, and 3) operate in a confined, hot environment that is more conducive to electronic failure. With my old laptop, the third time I replaced my motherboard on warranty they bought me out by giving me a brand new laptop worth $2500 (upon which I type now, in fact). My old computer was worth maybe $500 tops at that point, and the warranty cost $300, on which I also received several repairs that would have totaled over $2k by sticker price.
 
Auron said:
I'd recommend the Inspiron 1525. For your price range you can get everything you're looking for and more, and a core 2 duo processor for just over $700, + coupon = possible $600 (seriously). If you want any help deciding on a configuration let me know, I can help.
Click to expand...

I second the Inspiron 1525 recommendation. If you want to save a little more, you can get a similar Dell, the Vostro 1000 or 1500. Right now their having a $300 instant rebate, so the price is either $449 or $549. And you'll have something left over to purchase a good warranty.

http://www.dell.com/content/product...&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&dgc=BF&cid=20243&lid=507237
 
dear GOD, please get an apple computer and save yourself the hassle of dealing with viruses and all kinds of other problems.

mac's are surely more expensive, but invest in one and it'll last for more than 5-6 years...in a very good working condition. I had an iBook for the past 5 years, and its still working great! I use it as a server to back some stuff up on it...and i currently use a Macbook pro, which I hope to use through medschool and residency.
 
yeah because you know, viruses and other computer problems just don't happen on apples...

it's not rocket science to keep a PC operating smoothly.
 
fatwallet.com


laptops are great; lets you surf porn (or, if you must, lookup ochem **** online) while the prof drones on
 
halekulani said:
yeah because you know, viruses and other computer problems just don't happen on apples...

it's not rocket science to keep a PC operating smoothly.
Click to expand...


i'm not sure where the sarcasm lies here, but apples do have less viruses, a lot less; same with linux, which is what i use; osx and linux are also more stable; of course the trade off is there are just less programs out there, more restrictive etc.


but:
**** vista, XP is the windows you want if you want windows

get a 1yr warranty if it's a dell/compaq etc. (insert any crap-brand which basically is everything excluding IBM, apple, and maybe fujitsu ..........of course they're so expensive you might as well get the warranty anyway 😉 )
...........sell it after a year and get another one under warranty


again, fatwallet.com is your friend; lots of great $500 laptops with no rebates to choose from
 
Tensyle said:
dear GOD, please get an apple computer and save yourself the hassle of dealing with viruses and all kinds of other problems.

mac's are surely more expensive, but invest in one and it'll last for more than 5-6 years...in a very good working condition. I had an iBook for the past 5 years, and its still working great! I use it as a server to back some stuff up on it...and i currently use a Macbook pro, which I hope to use through medschool and residency.
Click to expand...

I'd rather get a nice IBM-compatible laptop with up-to-date antivirus software. I could do a helluvalot more, and it would be cheaper than an Apple.
 
DO NOT GO WITH A CELERON, unless you want sluggishness, slowness, and cheapness.

NewEgg has the Acer Aspire AS5920-6706 NoteBook w/ Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66GHz, 15.4in Wide XGA, 2GB, 250GB, DVD+-RW, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS, 802.11abg + N, Vista Home Premium for only $849.99 - $150 off - $30 promo code: noteb30 + $13.09 3-day shipping = $683 shipped. Tax in CA, NJ, TN.
 
Dell Small Business has the Dell Vostro 1500 Notebook w/ Core 2 Duo T5270 1.4GHz, 15.4in WXGA w/ TrueLife, 2GB, 250GB, DVD+-RW, Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, 802.11g wireless, XP Home or Vista Home Basic, 1yr warranty for only $549 w/ free shipping. webcam +$30, wireless-n +$49.
 
Concubine said:
NewEgg has the Acer Aspire AS5920-6706 NoteBook w/ Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66GHz, 15.4in Wide XGA, 2GB, 250GB, DVD+-RW, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS, 802.11abg + N, Vista Home Premium for only $849.99 - $150 off - $30 promo code: noteb30 + $13.09 3-day shipping = $683 shipped. Tax in CA, NJ, TN.
Click to expand...

Oh NewEgg, how I love thee. I bought all my parts from them when I built my desktop, then again for a number of my clients last summer. They have some great deals, shipping is fast.
 
Or if you are looking for a killer deal on a tablet pc:

HP has $400 off HP Pavilion tx2000z $1199+ w/ coupon code: NB0400 (exp 3/9).

new ultraportable HP Pavilion tx2000z Entertainment Notebook w/ Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-60 2GHz, 12.1" WXGA+ Wide Viewing Touch-screen (stylus included), GeForce Go6150, 2GB +$75, 160GB SATA, free DVD+-RW Lightscribe, 56k/NIC, 802.11b/g, free HP Imprint + fingerprint reader + webcam, 6-cell battery, Vista Home Premium for $1225 - $400 off coupon = $825 w/ free shipping.

Only 4.3 lb, full tablet functionality. convertible 12.1" display twists. handwriting capture.

I'll be going with this one when I start school this fall. Where else can you get a tablet with these features for this much?
 
Auron said:
Oh NewEgg, how I love thee. I bought all my parts from them when I built my desktop, then again for a number of my clients last summer. They have some great deals, shipping is fast.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Pretty much everything is reasonably priced and they have everything under the sun.
 
Noooooo! Whatever you do you must completely ignore anything that comes within 1000 feet of the name "celeron." From wikipedia "...the Celeron brand will often have less cache memory, or have advanced features purposely disabled. These missing features have had a variable impact on performance. In some cases, the effect was significant and in other cases the differences were relatively minor." I have NEVER been happy with any celeron based PC I've used, and I especially wouldn't trust it as a cheap version of an already lesser featured mobile version. It competes with AMD's Sempron (desktop)/Turion (mobile) line, but the difference is that the Sempron/Turion is functionally much closer to its big brother, the Athlon.

There are so many different configurations out there it's hard to recommend a particular laptop. In more general terms, I absolutely would not buy a single-core computer- look for "x2" for AMD processors, and Core 2 Duo for Intel (not just "Core" or "Core 2" but Core 2 DUO). Intel has always been more expensive since the beginning of time, but AMD processors have always come very close in performance. On a personal note, I've never met a Dell laptop that I liked; they tend to be big and clunky and just not well designed around their cases. There are exceptions to this, but as a general rule Toshiba, HP, and Sony laptops are much better looking- I particularly like the HP DVxxxx models. Also, for the most part warranties are a scam. I'm sure there are a few people out there who have been saved by an uber-expensive multi-year warranty, but Best Buy for one makes a ton of money off these (just listen to their quarterly conference call). If something goes wrong it will likely be with a single component like a hard drive or DVD drive (the most common problems), but either of those could be replaced very easily by anyone, and for much less than the cost of a warranty.

On another note- people saying "company x's computers are horrible" or "stay away from company y" are, for the most part, idiots. The only thing major companies do is design the case and MAYBE manufacture the LCD panel- all other components are purchased from 3rd parties. There are a limited number of these 3rd party companies so often you'll find the same components in different brands of laptops, and the contracts with these 3rd parties change all the time- this is especially true with processors (only AMD and Intel make these), video chips (Intel, AMD, and NVidia), hard drives (usual suspects are Seagate and Western Digital), wireless chipsets, CD/DVD drives, and many more. Laptops have custom motherboards, but even these are usually manufactured by a deal with a 3rd party. Most of the time when someone is biased against a company it's because they had a single bad experience and they just haven't had a bad experience with their new company, YET.

I haven't called a customer service department in about 7 years (not counting calling Comcast to report an outage). It's not that I haven't needed help- it's just that a problem does not exist that someone else hasn't had before. There are lots of tech-help websites/forums out there that are all accessible via Google, and you'll also get tech documents from the Microsoft Knowledge Base and anything on your computer company's website. I guarantee you that with Google you have more tech-help information at your fingertips than the guy in India using HP or Dell's customer support tool. All these technicians are ALLOWED to do is take you through the official troubleshooting procedures; if they deviate from this and something goes wrong it makes the company liable, so they are specifically discouraged from thinking outside the box. As long as you can find a computer to do a Google search on, you can find a solution to your problem.
 
halekulani said:
yeah because you know, viruses and other computer problems just don't happen on apples...

it's not rocket science to keep a PC operating smoothly.
Click to expand...

you'd be surprised at how difficult it may be for some people, med-students included.
 
The only bad thing I've experienced with my Inspiron (1200 FWIW) is the battery life. It started out being pretty good, but it won't last longer than 3 minutes now if it isn't plugged in. That really sucks. I'm too lazy and cheap to replace it though, since I don't take it away from home.
 
dEterm1ned said:
I know some people (myself included) who had Inspirion and had issues. My motherboard went out eventually as well.
Have you looked at refurbs? I haven't bought one, but heard good things.

armymt: I am living in Savannah too.
Click to expand...


Hey Hi determ1ned. Good to meetcha! I live near the Armstrong Atlantic university, around abercorn road. I am taking the MCAT this May. Do you know the where is that MCAT testing place? I have a map, but I am not too familiar with the area yet. Take it easy! Georgia Rulz! haha :laugh:
 
uzybear said:
i'm not sure where the sarcasm lies here, but apples do have less viruses, a lot less; same with linux, which is what i use; osx and linux are also more stable; of course the trade off is there are just less programs out there, more restrictive etc.
Click to expand...

both linux and os x can be run on a PC
a mac, likewise, can run XP and os X, but at a higher cost

why are you buying overpriced hardware again? to take notes in class?
:laugh:

it makes sense if you're using a mac to do intense photoshop editing/video editing

it makes zero sense to pay more for hardware when you can get the same software/OS on a cheaper pc to do the same basic tasks such as web browsing, downloading, etc.
 
to the OP:

See if you can catch a good deal on an HP Pavillion. I got one for frosh year of undergrad (about 6 months ago!), and it's excellent. Runs really well, pretty smooth, hasn't died on me randomly. I don't know the pros/cons of Intel Centrino Duo, but mine uses it and I like it a lot. They go on sale every so often, so just keep an eye out!
 
halekulani said:
it makes zero sense to pay more for hardware when you can get the same software/OS on a cheaper pc to do the same basic tasks such as web browsing, downloading, etc.
Click to expand...
It just depends where your priorities lie. Apple hardware is more expensive, but it's pretty high end stuff. Comparable features in Sony Vaio's yield similar prices. So there's no question that there's an Apple or Sony premium, but there's a Dell/HP premium as well- you could buy Lenovo or a no-name brand and get even more bang for the buck. Or heck, why not buy an OLPC? It can do the basic functions you're talking about and it's dirt cheap. The reason people buy Apple is because they like the style, the OS, the Apple community support, and it's a bit of a status symbol. Maybe those things don't matter to you, but it doesn't mean that Apple people don't have sense. I personally love OS X, but I'm just not willing to pay the price. If money were no object, I would keep my desktop a Windows machine for general use and gaming, and get a Mac laptop for all things portable.
 
halekulani said:
yeah because you know, viruses and other computer problems just don't happen on apples...

it's not rocket science to keep a PC operating smoothly.
Click to expand...

Actually, coming from a well versed computer background, apples tend to run much smoother and have much less virus attacks than PCs. Its all because the hacker community at large doesn't give a hoot about apple and focuses its energy on the much larger Microsoft company.

Having said that, I would go with the above rec. of Dell, get a $300-400 and buy a 4 year accident warranty (free laptop if broken/dropped/spill coffee on it...) for a total price of around $700. Def. your best bet since you are not into gaming and just looking for a portable computer.
 
cofcemt said:
Having said that, I would go with the above rec. of Dell, get a $300-400 and buy a 4 year accident warranty (free laptop if broken/dropped/spill coffee on it...) for a total price of around $700. Def. your best bet since you are not into gaming and just looking for a portable computer.
Click to expand...
$700 total - $400 laptop= $300 warranty. That's 75% of the value of the computer, only the computer won't even be worth 75% in 1 year, let alone by year 3 or 4. Plus, 3-4 years from now you're probably going to be looking to upgrade anyway- and you'll get a much better laptop for $3-400 in 3-4 years. Even if they replace it with a brand-new, current generation model, AND don't charge any deductible, shipping, or other fees, I just don't see how a warranty like that is worth it, especially on the low-cost equipment we're talking about. My recommendation is take your chances, save the money from the warranty now, and instead put it aside for when you need a new laptop in the future (upgrade or replacement). Run your own warranty plan.
 
kypdurron5 said:
It just depends where your priorities lie. Apple hardware is more expensive, but it's pretty high end stuff. Comparable features in Sony Vaio's yield similar prices. So there's no question that there's an Apple or Sony premium, but there's a Dell/HP premium as well- you could buy Lenovo or a no-name brand and get even more bang for the buck. Or heck, why not buy an OLPC? It can do the basic functions you're talking about and it's dirt cheap. The reason people buy Apple is because they like the style, the OS, the Apple community support, and it's a bit of a status symbol. Maybe those things don't matter to you, but it doesn't mean that Apple people don't have sense. I personally love OS X, but I'm just not willing to pay the price. If money were no object, I would keep my desktop a Windows machine for general use and gaming, and get a Mac laptop for all things portable.
Click to expand...

i've already acknowledged apple hardware is for high performance. you don't NEED it to web browse and use word.

i never suggested apple people don't have sense; i'm more concerned with people who say "pay more for the apple" when this person CLEARLY has a budget. money is a factor for the OP.

secondly, apple hardware != software
hardware doesn't miraculously spawn viruses on its own. like i said, you can dual boot into OSX and get the same benefits of any mac owner if you are really that concerned about stability. if you're concerned about hardware, there's warranties for that. not to mention, pc parts are readily available for replacement.
 
Get a light laptop, something like Dell D430. You dont need any kind of heavy performance and a large laptop will jsut weigh you down everyday.

Go here for alot of reviews and specs on laptops:
http://www.notebookreview.com/
 
halekulani said:
both linux and os x can be run on a PC
a mac, likewise, can run XP and os X, but at a higher cost

why are you buying overpriced hardware again? to take notes in class?
:laugh:

it makes sense if you're using a mac to do intense photoshop editing/video editing

it makes zero sense to pay more for hardware when you can get the same software/OS on a cheaper pc to do the same basic tasks such as web browsing, downloading, etc.
Click to expand...

I'll be the first to admit apple overprices their hardware, especially their notebooks. HOWEVER:

I was a devout pc user up until about 1 year ago (with the exception of work, where I still use a pc). After that, I bought an imac to replace my desktop computer. Couldn't be happier. It's everything you need for a good price. No viruses, os x leopard is beautiful, the screen and web camera are awesome, and the bundled software is perfect for every day use. I cannot emphasize enough that for the average user, apple does an outstanding job of providing everything you need in an easy to use form. However, a mac desktop would not be a good idea if you do any of the following:

Heavy gaming
need to use software that is restricted to windows
like to spend extra on components to modify your computer (other than RAM)
 
pakbabydoll said:
Hi, so I have to get a laptop. I don't really know much about computers so I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I have been looking at this one : HP 530 Laptop Computer - Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows Vista Home Basic.

This is the second one I have been looking at, its a little bit more expensive then the first one: HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC - Intel Celeron M 550 2.0GHz, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVDRW, 17" WXGA+, Windows Vista Home Basic

Is that a good one? I am a freshmen but I really want to get one that maybe I could use if I ever get in medical school. Thanks
Click to expand...

For that price range you can get a really good laptop that will last you through medical school. I would recommend a dell latitude with a pentium core duo or core duo 2 processor. The latitudes are business class so they are light and built like a rock. Plus dell has the best warranties.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/latit?~ck=anav&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04


If not those then you can get a really good laptop from Bestbuy, circuit city or the like when they have their specials for around $400-500. Just remember to get one with the Pentium Core Duo or Core 2 Duo processor. That's the most important. The AMD turions are good but they consume a lot of energy so you won't get as much battery life per charge as you would with the core duos. In terms of RAM memory 512mb to 1gb would be good enough. 1 GB would be good for med school becuase you might be looking at high resolution slides that take up a lot of memory to load. And if at all possible stay away from windows vista. Ask them if they can install xp instead and your computer will run a thousand times faster than if it was loaded with vista. If you get vista, then you will have to get at least 1GB of RAM for it to even work. All the rest of the stuff like screen size, hard drive size, dvd burner, etc. is up to you.
 
the cheapest computer you can buy is just a pencil and some paper. if you want to edit, just use your eraser, and to delete, just scrunch up the paper and throw it in the waste basket. your brain is the hard-drive, and it has unlimited memory space and RAM. hehe
 
so I got a 2GB DDR2 Compaq. I got the cheapest one with 2GB of memory which was not Celeron. Only thing is it has Vista so I am going to have to install Linux or XP on it because I can stand Vista.
 
pakbabydoll said:
so I got a 2GB DDR2 Compaq. I got the cheapest one with 2GB of memory which was not Celeron. Only thing is it has Vista so I am going to have to install Linux or XP on it because I can stand Vista.
Click to expand...

So you can stand vista? or you can't? In my opinion, Vista is great. I really love Vista, and I had both XP and Vista running on two different computers. Oh well, that's your call, it's your dollar. Linux is good and free and all but why waste money on xp? vista is already pre-installed.
 
armymt said:
So you can stand vista? or you can't? In my opinion, Vista is great. I really love Vista, and I had both XP and Vista running on two different computers. Oh well, that's your call, it's your dollar. Linux is good and free and all but why waste money on xp? vista is already pre-installed.
Click to expand...

ops sorry still getting used to the new keyboard. I can not stand vista. I don't know why, I think its because my brother hates it and he got it in my mind that I will hate it too. I would not waste money on XP, my brother is a computer geek so he said if I want he'll install it on mine. I think I am gonna go with Linux though.

I have Compaq Presario F756NR Notebook PC
 
I set up my fiancée's wireless network with an HP desktop and notebook with an acer notebook. Networking on Windows is a serious pain if you ever want to do that. Plus, minor wireless glitches that happened with both the Acer and with the HP caused the wireless to say it was not connected even though it was working. I had to do some command prompt junk to fix it. So there are still bugs in Vista. Why these things still happen I'm not sure.

By the way, as for overpricing, as has been said millions of times about Macs is that for the components there is no overpricing especially when you buy at the right time. Buying right after they are updated plus buying during the summer with getting the ipod deal plus education pricing is great.

(The macbooks were just updated and would be great for you). Free printer if you'd want it too. I'd say get the $1199 mid range model and you will love your computer. Plus, if you want it to last for four years you are going to want to not get a piece of junk that will drive you nuts after 2.5 years forcing you to buy another one.

2.4 GHz Intel C2D
2 GB RAM
13.3" screen = light in your backpack
160 GB HDD
Wireless N
Good battery life with the new more efficient 45 nm Penryn chips
Firewire 400
Mac OS 10.5 Leopard = Time Machine backups and not worrying about losing your files
Bluetooth 2.0 plus Leopard means bluetooth wireless headphones and A2DP will work great with your Macbook plus any kind of peripheral that uses bluetooth
 
SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black edit
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista ® Home Premium Edition edit
HD DISPLAY Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800) edit
VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 edit
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz edit
HARD DRIVE Size: 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive) edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini-Card edit
INTEGRATED WEBCAM No Webcam Option edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell) edit
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0

774 from dell (so i guess tax+shipping would push you over, sorry but you can recustomize it)

INSPIRON™ 1525
$649
after $270 off instantly
• Powerful Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T2330 Processor
• 2GB memory* and an enormous 250GB* hard drive
• Plays and creates CDs and DVDs

Offer ends 3/12/08, 5:59am CT

if u can't match up the prices via the dell website, use this link

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&oc=DNDEPA1&s=dhs&dgc=EM&cid=28463&lid=648767
 
I'd wait if I were you. Intel has a new processor line that should be out by summer (Intel "Atom"), these look like excellent CPUs that should be more energy-efficient (longer battery life).

This rumored HP model looks like a sure winner. Wait until April at least to see how the ultraportable laptop market has evolved. Like another poster mentioned, try to get a really lightweight, more portable laptop... in the past they've usually been more expensive but lately the prices have dropped as new products come out.

Also, stay away from Crapple.
 
crazy_cavalier said:
I'd wait if I were you. Intel has a new processor line that should be out by summer (Intel "Atom"), these look like excellent CPUs that should be more energy-efficient (longer battery life).

This rumored HP model looks like a sure winner. Wait until April at least to see how the ultraportable laptop market has evolved. Like another poster mentioned, try to get a really lightweight, more portable laptop... in the past they've usually been more expensive but lately the prices have dropped as new products come out.

Also, stay away from Crapple.
Click to expand...
Atom is more for mobile internet devices and ultraportables and won't have much processing power.

Montevina should be released in a few months. Montevina will be a full processor set that will reduce energy consumption (by 20-40%) and boost performance through DDR3 memory, better processors (coupled with Penryn), etc.
 
Thank you guys but I already got one... I got Compaq Presario F756NR, DDR2, 2GB. 5.9lbs and 15.4" widescreen.
It was $599 + 250 service plan + tax= $900

I realize that I might have paid extra but my parents were rushing me and they did not want me to buy one online.
 
pakbabydoll said:
I would not waste money on XP, my brother is a computer geek so he said if I want he'll install it on mine. I think I am gonna go with Linux though.
Click to expand...

Wow...you just became incredibly hot to me! 😉

Been 100% Linux for four years now, and I have no desire to go back! I'm planning on getting a tablet (haven't picked one yet) with fairly minimal power for taking notes and general school stuff. Then I'm gonna piece together a nice desktop for photo editing.

Nate.
 
pakbabydoll said:
Hi, so I have to get a laptop. I don't really know much about computers so I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. I have been looking at this one : HP 530 Laptop Computer - Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, DVDRW, Windows Vista Home Basic.

This is the second one I have been looking at, its a little bit more expensive then the first one: HP Compaq 6820s Notebook PC - Intel Celeron M 550 2.0GHz, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2GB DDR2, 160GB HDD, Dual Layer DVDRW, 17" WXGA+, Windows Vista Home Basic

Is that a good one? I am a freshmen but I really want to get one that maybe I could use if I ever get in medical school. Thanks
Click to expand...

Get a Mac.

PC's are more expensive when you consider all of the maintenance.....
 
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