getting a lap top for my daughter

[N2gaming]

Hello All

I'm hoping for some advice here, my daughter is getting a new laptop for college and she is undecided between a 14.1" or a 15.4" screen.

I was suggesting the 15.4" but she was thinking about the Sony Vaio 14.1". I just want to make sure she gets the right one at first instead of regetting the smaller size...

Thanks

 

[xSauronx]

if she intends to carry it fairly regularly, get the smaller one. a high-res screen will be plenty comfortable.

i like my 14'1" high res screen much more than i like my mothers 15.4" with its regular resolution, id never want to lug that thing around

 

[slugg]

A lot of girls like the Vaio's because they're "cute." She won't like it when the cheapo, flimsy plastic starts to fatigue and her laptop is falling apart after a year (or less). True story: a friend of mine had a Vaio and the chassis cracked open at the seam simply from moving it around in his bag. The same thing happened to me with my old, all-plastic Dell Inspiron. May I suggest something less cute but more rugged?

As for the size, if she's going to leave it at her desk, it doesn't matter. If she's moving it around, as small as possible.

 

[DerelictDev]

Uh 15.4" is pretty damn big and bulky, I wouldn't want to carry that around and I think a female would dislike it even more so. She is not going to regret the smaller size, nowadays I see many girls bringing those "mini" laptops with 12" or smaller screens.

Personally I would suggest looking into 13.3"- you should be able to find one with a pretty good configuration and she won't be carrying a brick around.
This is all assuming that she will bring the laptop to class to copy down notes, look at powerpoints, etc. If this is only for dorm use and won't leave the room then size doesn't matter. Otherwise if those are your only choices, take the Sony hands down.

 

[ColKurtz]

She'll appreciate the smaller size after lugging it around for a while. 14.1" is a good compromise in size/weight. I have had the opposite experience with VAIO's than the other poster. My in-laws have had 2 with no problems. I think most people consider them a bit overpriced, but Sony delivers premium style (if you're into that kind of thing, which I'm not really) and a solid package. Mac-esque. Thinkpads are always a solid choice, too, and have the best warranty value -- $99 for 3 years.

 

[MyLeftNut]

Sony Vaios definitely will have style taken care of. But if you want something of better quality and looks good at the same time, there's also the 13.3" Lenovo U330 with LED backlighting and switchable graphics. I think it's like 0.7-0.9in from thinnest point to thickest, and it's light too. Battery life should be about 5-6 hours on a 6 cell as well, like the Lenovo T400 with LED BL.

 

[IlllI]

the difference in weight between a 14.1 and 15.4 isnt too much is it? usually less than a pound?

 

[slugg]

Originally posted by: ColKurtz
She'll appreciate the smaller size after lugging it around for a while. 14.1" is a good compromise in size/weight. I have had the opposite experience with VAIO's than the other poster. My in-laws have had 2 with no problems. I think most people consider them a bit overpriced, but Sony delivers premium style (if you're into that kind of thing, which I'm not really) and a solid package. Mac-esque. Thinkpads are always a solid choice, too, and have the best warranty value -- $99 for 3 years.

Yea, I actually agree with that. The older Vaios were pretty tough, considering they were consumer grade machines. Unfortunately, the current generation feels very cheap and flimsy. Seriously, go push on one of the keyboards or take notice of how easy it is to flex the chassis. Simply picking up the machine with one hand flexes the chassis considerably. Who knows, maybe it's designed that way, but it definitely scares ME.

"MyLeftNut" (not mine, but the forum member) made a good point. The U330 can be had for a very good price, is pretty stylish, and is significantly better built than the newer Vaios. 13" is a great size to travel with, too. This is a great option! Google around - you'll be able to find a Lenovo CPP purchase program code - it'll give you a _huge_ discount. I got something like 6-700 bucks off my X200 that I ordered last week.

Also, the Dell XPS m1330 is another good option, just make sure to google some coupons. I actually had one of these over the summer. Considering the price, I can definitely recommend it. The keyboard is brittle, but other than that, it's well built, somewhat stylish, and not heavy.

Don't forget Apple. The MacBook is a great laptop, although newer models are expected to come out in October. In terms of price/performance, though, Apple is definitely a price premium. Most people say that the MacBooks are considerably durable, which is always a good thing. I personally have mixed experiences, but mine aren't representative of all.

If she plans on being mobile, I highly recommend you buy the smallest and most durable laptop possible.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: clandren
the difference in weight between a 14.1 and 15.4 isnt too much is it? usually less than a pound?

About 1½ pounds. Might not feel like much, but if she has to walk 15 minutes from class to class, will feel like 10 pounds difference. My wife had a 14" notebook (5.1 pounds or so) when she was in school and she ended up getting a rolling notebook bag (one with wheels and an extendable handle like luggage) just to get around campus.

N2gaming, will your daughter be using it as a small desktop computer, or will she definately be carrying it with her to all classes? If you (and she) are not sure, perhaps ask the school what to expect. My wife's school expected students to have their notebooks with them at all times (a grand experiment that only lasted a couple years). My school did not expect students to even own a computer.

If the notebook will be staying mostly on the desk in the dorm, then get the larger one. If it will be taken everywhere, then I'd go as far as to suggest a netbook-style unit, unless your daughter is not petite. Typical school work (unless engineering school) would involve going online or typing up papers. A netbook with a 9" screen can handle all that and be super portable. Perhaps consider an LCD screen, external HDD, mouse and keyboard for desk use, thus getting the best of everything.

 

[N2gaming]

Thanks everyone