Help Finding a laptop with key specs!

[DoctorCarta]

Been looking the past week or so for a laptop for this upcoming semester for school.The laptop will mainly be used for school work but occasionally dvds/light gaming.Looking to spend no more than $1200 shipped but the cheaper the better.I prefer the following specs:

> intel core 2 duo
> 512mb+(eventually upgrade to 2gb)
> dvd/cd-burner
> dedicated graphics(vista/aero capable)
> preferably 15inch wide screen 1400x1050+
> 1 year warranty(hardware), should it be longer?
> 40gb+ hard drive (eventually purchase a 7,200rpm hard drive)

Thanks

 

[DoctorCarta]

just purchased this for $1190 shipped,hopefully it was a good deal.

Inspiron E1505, Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB/1.66GHz/667MHz)

15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm for Inspiron 6400/E1505

256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, English without Media, for Inspiron

Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron

8X DVD+/-RW Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505

SoundBlaster Advanced Audio for XPS M1710

Dell Wireless 1500,Minicard,USfor Inspiron ("N" internal wireless)

85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 6400/E1505

1 Year Limited Warranty

Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium, Free plus S and H payable at redemption

Upon receipt of PC, Go to www.dellvistaupgrade.com to redeemVista upgrade by 03/31/2007

1 Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

 

[alimoalem]

hey doctor carta, i just posted in your other thread (it's recommended not to make mroe than 1 thread about a related topic btw). if you could, i would return the inspiron. check out the HP dv6000t i spec'ed out for you. if dell won't give you your money back, ask if you can go for a different laptop (the dell latitude D620, also spec'ed out in my other post). it comes with everything you wanted, even the screen resolution and 3 years of warranty. i noticed you mentioned how 14" would hurt your eyes. why? resolution is the problem, not the screen's actual size. the dell d620 comes at 1440x900, just an inch shorter diagonally than the inspiron e1505.

just my 2 cents

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I have a similarly configured E1505 and I've been very pleased with my purchase. The WXSGA+ screen will surely please you, but don't expect miracles to come from the MRx1400 for gaming, although it will do older games at decent settings.

Nothing against HP, as they have excellent products and customer support, but I haven't had one problem with the Dell. Hopefully you enjoy the same!

 

[cheesehead]

I would go over the HP over the Dell - I've owned both, and while the quality of the Dell was only a little lower (it suffered from nasty overheating problems), the tech support is so much worse for Dell that I'm never touching one again. I have, however, had excellent results from HP tech support.

Asus makes the MacBook Pro, which, if you are a student, starts at $1800 or less. It has a Core 2 Duo, fast hard drive, good battery life, and runs Windows like a champ. It's a delightful laptop - a friend of mine bought one, and he's blown away by it. Asus has a well-deserved reputation for awesomeness, and the MacBook Pro is yet another fine Asus product. Tech support for Apple products is generally very good, though the AppleCare warranty is not a bad idea - you'll likely be using your MacBook for a long, long time.