Laptop help and suggestions

[EQTitan]

I'm going to be purchasing more then likely a used laptop for my first semester of college within the next 2-6weeks. I'd like to get my moneys worth which also means I'll spend some times debating certain features and extras if any....

I'd like to be able to run WinXP pro (as I own a retail disc) without having any problems. I'll also needs to run basic applications such as MS Office apps like excel, word, and access. Mayve a few others like Photoshop, and Flash/Dreamweaver MX.

I'm on a budget of about $500 maybe a little more if I can find a great deal. So, if anyone has any suggestions about make, model (please try not to be bias), and specs. Please feel free to respond, and thanks in advance.

 

[SrGuapo]

I would try to find a lappy with a Pentium-M CPU. 1.5 Ghz should be plenty. Also, I would try to get at least 256 MB RAM, 512 if possible. Integrated graphics is probably fine, unless you plan on gaming.

I would search around ebay and other sites to see what kind of specs you could get for $500.

 

[EQTitan]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo
I would try to find a lappy with a Pentium-M CPU. 1.5 Ghz should be plenty. Also, I would try to get at least 256 MB RAM, 512 if possible. Integrated graphics is probably fine, unless you plan on gaming.

I would search around ebay and other sites to see what kind of specs you could get for $500.

Maybe some Diablo over battle.net but thats it. Also a warranty would be nice even though nothing in life is guaranteed.

 

[ts3433]

This discussion may be of use

I doubt you'll find any kind of Pentium M system for $500. You'll have to put up with some sluggishness for that price, but make sure you have 512MB of RAM and you should get rid of most of those problems.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Walmart.com has a cheap laptop to compare against whatever deals you find used and in Hot Deals. There are some insane Dell deals if you catch them. Dell refurbs are another possibility.

For PhotoShop you probably want to look for 1 GHz or better, but it needs memory more than anything else. That Walmart one for example, needs at least a 256 MB RAM stick added. Running PhotoShop with less than 384 MB is going to be pretty slow, 384-512 MB should be fine.

www.Crucial.com to find what memory you need for a laptop you find, and to see how much it will cost. A pentium 3 based laptop might not really be cheaper when you add the cost of obsolete PC100/PC133 SDRAM memory.

 

[corkyg]

I have run XP Pro on a P3/750MHz laptop for over 2 years now - but have upgraded RAM to 512 MB and put in a 7200 RPM 60 GB HDD. Not sluggish at all for my work on the road. (Mostly digital photography processing.)