Ordering/buying my first laptop soon and i was wondering if there is anything special i should get with it like are the optional batterys worth it? or do brands really matter if the hardware is the same anything important like that? I already know what i want but dont know which company im going to buy it from so i dont really need help with the hardware aspect...
First laptop
- Thread starter honkydory
- Start date
Brainonska511
Lifer
- Dec 10, 2005
- 29,732
- 15,340
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What do you want to do with this notebook? What size are you looking at? What's your budget?
If you're going to be running Vista, 2GB is recommended for smooth performance. Extra main batteries aren't really worth it unless you're going to be away from a socket for extended periods of time (another words more than 6 hours). Modular batteries can be useful if you're traveling a lot and want to extend battery life by an hour or more. Dedicated graphics cards are not worth it if you aren't going to be playing games made after 2005 because of the hit to battery life. 7200RPM vs. 5400RPM drives aren't really an issue. Only get the 7200RPM drive if you are going to be working with large files. Otherwise, high density 5400RPM drives are just as fast as lower density 7200RPM drives.
If you're going to be running Vista, 2GB is recommended for smooth performance. Extra main batteries aren't really worth it unless you're going to be away from a socket for extended periods of time (another words more than 6 hours). Modular batteries can be useful if you're traveling a lot and want to extend battery life by an hour or more. Dedicated graphics cards are not worth it if you aren't going to be playing games made after 2005 because of the hit to battery life. 7200RPM vs. 5400RPM drives aren't really an issue. Only get the 7200RPM drive if you are going to be working with large files. Otherwise, high density 5400RPM drives are just as fast as lower density 7200RPM drives.
i like brainonska's post.
also, consider whether or not a webcam/mic/bluetooth/etc. is important for you. i didn't want a webcam but after a month of ownership, i regretted not getting a built-in one. see if these small things are important for you.
depending on your needs, some brands are better than others. people praise IBM/Lenovo's build quality here but if you want a gaming laptop, Asus is definitely the way to go. it all depends on your needs and wants.
also, consider whether or not a webcam/mic/bluetooth/etc. is important for you. i didn't want a webcam but after a month of ownership, i regretted not getting a built-in one. see if these small things are important for you.
depending on your needs, some brands are better than others. people praise IBM/Lenovo's build quality here but if you want a gaming laptop, Asus is definitely the way to go. it all depends on your needs and wants.
slugg
Diamond Member
- Feb 17, 2002
- 4,723
- 80
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Is this for student use?
The 13 inch Apple Macbook is great, but a bit expensive. Dell's inspirons are bigger and more brittle, but you can't beat the price. While not as cheap, HPs are a bit more rugged than Dells.
If you have basic student needs, I think you'd be happiest with an Apple Macbook. One thing you should know about Macbooks, however, is that in order to connect the laptop to another monitor or projector, such as when giving a presentation, you have to bring an adapter with you (sold separately I think, but not sure).
If you have something against Apple computers (which I don't understand, but is very common), then I'd say get an HP. Dell's consumer grade laptop (Inspiron line) is made out of cheap plastic with poor build quality. I owned one and had the chassis twist and crack in my backpack (Dell backpack designed for the machine). HP's new chassis is quite stiff and tight, exactly what you want and will last in suitcases, backpacks, etc.
Whatever you do, stay away from Sony. Overpriced and not even that great.
The 13 inch Apple Macbook is great, but a bit expensive. Dell's inspirons are bigger and more brittle, but you can't beat the price. While not as cheap, HPs are a bit more rugged than Dells.
If you have basic student needs, I think you'd be happiest with an Apple Macbook. One thing you should know about Macbooks, however, is that in order to connect the laptop to another monitor or projector, such as when giving a presentation, you have to bring an adapter with you (sold separately I think, but not sure).
If you have something against Apple computers (which I don't understand, but is very common), then I'd say get an HP. Dell's consumer grade laptop (Inspiron line) is made out of cheap plastic with poor build quality. I owned one and had the chassis twist and crack in my backpack (Dell backpack designed for the machine). HP's new chassis is quite stiff and tight, exactly what you want and will last in suitcases, backpacks, etc.
Whatever you do, stay away from Sony. Overpriced and not even that great.
HP or Apple in my book right now. Though you can't beat the Thinkpads for ruggedness, unless you get a ToughBook.
If you are planning on taking it to class for note taking and the like, then I would recommend a 13" screen, that seems to be the right size for fitting it onto most any desk out there, with enough room left over for a small notebook for when you need to sketch graphs and the like.
If you are planning on taking it to class for note taking and the like, then I would recommend a 13" screen, that seems to be the right size for fitting it onto most any desk out there, with enough room left over for a small notebook for when you need to sketch graphs and the like.
I've owned an Apple iBook, Dell Inspiron 9100, HP/Compaq Evo, and my current IBM Thinkpad X40.
The Thinkpad, while actually no faster than the iBook I bought years ago (1ghz Pentium M running at 600mhz to improve battery life), is one heck of a laptop, and by far superior to the rest. It's almost bulletproof, the keyboard is nice, and the support is great.
If you're schlepping your laptop with you everywhere, the MacBook (made by Asus for Apple - Asus makes terrific hardware!) is another fine choice, and worth the money. It's cheaper than most similar thinkpads, the battery life is good, and if you overlook the integrated graphics they have quite a lot of horsepower under the hood - add sufficient RAM, and they make terrific photoshop machines.
If you want a cheap laptop, go buy an HP. Of all the cheap laptops I've seen, HP's stuff sucks the least.
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