Laptop for college

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68falcon

Senior member
May 8, 2005
274
0
0
ok, im going to Clemson University in south carolina,Majoring in Computer Science/Engineering, but that doesn't matter. Clemson recommends IBM's Thinkpads, the X41, Z61T, T60, or the more expensive T60. I personally don't like the way they look, and would prefer a different brand. I mainly need to use it for college task, i don't need office, and i get a free upgrade to xp pro from clemson. im going to download a lot, cause i have dial up at home, so i am going to take full advantage of the high speed internet, and would like to do light gaming but nothing serious. it will be my first laptop, so dont know a whole lot about them, so any suggestions would be greatly apreciated, thanks
 
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kainthelongshot

Member
Oct 28, 2005
50
0
0
I'll give you a hint - this coming from a recently graduated engineer. . .

Buy 2 systems. 2k is a huge amount of money. Buy yourself a nice desktop that you can use to play games, download, listen to music, . . . . *cough* study and office work. Then get a cheap laptop to give you the mobility.

I made the mistake of buying a giant brick of a laptop for around 2k and quickly found it outdated. Granted that was a couple years ago (when I first started college like you), but with the way things are today, tech only moves faster. If you buy that 2k laptop you will quickly find that new technology will quickly overtake it. Buy or better yet, build a decent desktop, and buy a cheap laptop for study. If you need better tech then you can upgrade the desktop for peanuts compared to upgrading a laptop.

Seriously, laptops for me have the least holding value when it comes to staying with technology. I can almost bet that if you get a laptop, there is a desktop equivalent that is better and cheaper. So you are already behind the 8 ball when you get it.
 
6

68falcon

Senior member
May 8, 2005
274
0
0
thanks everyone for your suggestions, i already have a fairly capable desktop. my first choice for all this was to buy an alienware, my parents told me they would pay 2000, and i would cover the rest with my graduation money, but i decided against that. and they will only give me the money for a laptop.
 
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n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
0
It's not about looks, it's about usability. Give the Thinkpads a chance.

I'd recommend going to a couple of stores (you can usually find a thinkpad at a used comp shop) and playing with a couple of the machines. Laptop keyboards are all fairly wacky, and some can be downright annoying (Sony).
 
6

68falcon

Senior member
May 8, 2005
274
0
0
ok, i configured the E1705 and i have a couple of questions. right now im at $1979 with 1.83ghz duo processor, 1Gb 667 mhz ram, 80GB 7200rpm SATA drive, 256 ati mobility radeon x1400 video card. i have question about processor and video question. do i need to go up on the cpu any, or is it ok for what im doing, and for 50 bucks more i can upgrade to the 256 nvidia GO 7800. is it worth it, thanks
 
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MrTux

Senior member
Nov 6, 2001
717
0
0
Will you be bringing your desktop to college? If not, do you plan on bringing your laptop to library, classes, etc.?

If you are bringing your desktop, get a light and durable notebook like the ThinkPad X41 (or any brand that makes something small, although I really think you should give the ThinkPad a chance).

If you aren't bringing your desktop and plan to leave your laptop sitting in your dorm most of the time, by all means find a nice deal on a desktop-replacement Dell laptop. Coupons are abundant at places like dealmein.net or slickdeals.net.
 
6

68falcon

Senior member
May 8, 2005
274
0
0
im not sure if i will have room to bring my desktop yet, right now im not planning on it, but im not sure if i would want to anyway.
 
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bigshooter

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,157
0
71
You need to check out xpbargains or another of the hot deals sites. You can get that same computer for much less (or for the same price get a lot more).

From what I've read DDR2 533mhz is actually just as good for core duo as 667mhz because of the lower latencies, but it's up to you on that since I'm not sure if running your memory out of sync with fsb is going to affect your speeds.

I wouldn't go up on the CPU anymore. The higher you go the higher the premium you pay for incremental speed increases. The upgrade from 1.66ghz to 1.83 for $100 is good, but do you want to pay $200 more for 117mhz? I hope you chose the WUXGA screen as well, they rock. Other than that you should be fine, just make sure to look for current coupons. THere is a $750 off $1999+ notebooks right now. With that coupon you could get the 7900go, the SB audigy integrated sound, 2gigs of ram, and the 80W batter and still pay under $1800 (before shipping and tax).
 
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stu1811

Senior member
Nov 9, 2005
405
0
0
Originally posted by: kainthelongshot
I'll give you a hint - this coming from a recently graduated engineer. . .

Buy 2 systems. 2k is a huge amount of money. Buy yourself a nice desktop that you can use to play games, download, listen to music, . . . . *cough* study and office work. Then get a cheap laptop to give you the mobility.

I made the mistake of buying a giant brick of a laptop for around 2k and quickly found it outdated. Granted that was a couple years ago (when I first started college like you), but with the way things are today, tech only moves faster. If you buy that 2k laptop you will quickly find that new technology will quickly overtake it. Buy or better yet, build a decent desktop, and buy a cheap laptop for study. If you need better tech then you can upgrade the desktop for peanuts compared to upgrading a laptop.

Seriously, laptops for me have the least holding value when it comes to staying with technology. I can almost bet that if you get a laptop, there is a desktop equivalent that is better and cheaper. So you are already behind the 8 ball when you get it.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
I'm graduting in 13 days.
 
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SilentZero

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2003
5,158
0
76
If your going to spend 2k for a laptop...without a doubt go with a IBM. I have been using them for a while now, and I have yet to see a laptop that is as durable and the support is great (not to mention the great keyboard feel!). I used a IBM during my undergrad and grad school on a daily basis, and I am typing on one now as a matter of fact. They are pricey and you could get more for your money hardware wise elsewhere..but they have my vote.
 
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Ionizer86

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
5,292
0
76
Get something light and cheap. Don't pour a lot into getting a nice video card in an 8lb brick. May I suggest getting a Dell e1405 for <$700. The objective is to get the most for what you're paying, not to be stuck in the "I must blow my entire $2k" mindset.
 
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kainthelongshot

Member
Oct 28, 2005
50
0
0
Actually many of the posters are right. Give Thinkpad a shot if you must spend that kind of money. I would not get an alienware, voodoopc, or falcon laptop. Sure it looks cool but you use you get more utility, features, and better performance if you go Thinkpad or Dell.


Originally posted by: stu1811
I'm graduting in 13 days.
Click to expand...


Congrats. :)

I'm actually thinking about going back to grad school myself
 
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Ionizer86

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
5,292
0
76
Originally posted by: kainthelongshot
Actually many of the posters are right. Give Thinkpad a shot if you must spend that kind of money. I would not get an alienware, voodoopc, or falcon laptop. Sure it looks cool but you use you get more utility, features, and better performance if you go Thinkpad or Dell.
Click to expand...
So I noticed, so many people in 07 has a T40 or T41, a ton in 08 have a T42, etc. It seems like about half the laptop owners buy the current T model the summer before freshman year. Moreover, of all those with Thinkpads, I've only known one person who needed some hardware service. I've seen a good number of Dells, HP, Toshiba, etc having hardware issues, but just one Thinkpad.

The most astounding thing was that this one student had a really old and slow Thinkpad (Pentium II 300 with a 6GB disk), but it was in great hardware condition. She upgraded to a new HP with an Athlon 64, and within three months, she had to send it back to get the busted backlight replaced.
 
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w00t

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2004
5,545
0
0
Originally posted by: arcenite
If you don't plan on playing any games I would have to recommend a MacBook Pro <3
Click to expand...

macbook pro is sweet so is the macbook.

but

"Majoring in Computer Science/Engineering"

that is where I just said go to notebook reviews figuring he would hate mac.

 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
imo you can't have your cake and eat it too unless we know a little more. are you going to take the laptop to class/library or is it going to sit in your living quarters? what type of gaming are you going to do?

i would take your decent desktop if possible and then get a ~$1200-1400 t series lenovo laptop. they are excellent, built like tanks, have good battery life and good keyboards.

a friend of mine has one of the gaming dell xpss with a 7800gt or gtx go and it weighs a ton, has no battery life and i freakin huge.
 
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alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
0
you can do all your gaming at home...get a desktop.

what you need the laptop for, otherwise, is notes, documents, downloading, and other small things. your having a 1.66 duo or a 1.83 duo processor isn't going to help you download any quicker and a downgrade to a 5400 rpm drive wouldn't hurt you too much. if you have $2000 to spend on a laptop, you more than likely have space to fit a desktop. if you think your current one is too big, build one of those small desktops that have a box-like case. getting a $1000 desktop + a $1000 laptop will be much better and even going $1100 on desktop + $900 on laptop wouldn't be bad either
 
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