Looking at getting first laptop for college.

[leglez]

Ok I am a senior in high school and parents told me to start looking at laptops and they would help cover the cost. So I am looking for a laptop now. Not exactly sure what all I need since I have never owned a laptop before. I am going to school for Computer hardware/software and music production. I never game and if I ever do I will be doing it on my desktop. I recently borrowed a friends MacBook to see if I could get the hang of OS X. I am pretty sure I could do everything I need to do with a Mac and they also seem less bloated than a windows system.

Main things I need it for:

Word Processing
Listening to music
Most other office programs
Internet browsing
Instant Messaging
Watching movies when away from desktop

Not really sure on a price range yet, but lets say no more than $2,000. But I would like a 14" or more screen, 2GB of RAM, 2GHz CPU preferably C2D, 150GB+ hdd (I have a lot of music and movies), DVD burner, good battery life (I will mostly have it plugged into the wall unless I am away from home and then I will need a good battery) Light weight

 

[TheStu]

For those requirements, I would actually recommend not absolutely going out of your way to make sure you get a laptop with that size hard drive since you would be better off with say a 120GB drive, and then a 500GB+ external for all the stuff you don't need with you 24/7.

Also, given the amount of money you are willing to spend, then I would also recommend something along the lines of the MacBook Pro
2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM
8600M GT
120GB 5400RPM drive
15.4" LED backlit screen with 1440*900 res
6.x pounds
1" thick
~6hrs battery life

Something with those specs or better is what you should be looking for given what you have specified, and how much you are willing to pay. I personally recommend the MacBook Pro, but others might recommend HP (a good brand right now) or others.

 

[JustaGeek]

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That's what I would get if I had $2000 to spend...

http://www.shopping.hp.com/web...Usage&v1=Entertainment

Or use the link above to configure it yourself...

Good luck!

 

[Rottie]

You can pay a visist at either Dell or HP/Compag both allows configure it yourself based on what you use:
Word Processing
Listening to music
Most other office programs
Internet browsing
Instant Messaging
Watching movies when away from desktop

Apple MacBook Pro is good for music making/listening and have a better battery while watching DVD movies.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: leglez
Main things I need it for:

Word Processing
Listening to music
Most other office programs
Internet browsing
Instant Messaging
Watching movies when away from desktop

Not really sure on a price range yet, but lets say no more than $2,000. But I would like a 14" or more screen, 2GB of RAM, 2GHz CPU preferably C2D, 150GB+ hdd (I have a lot of music and movies), DVD burner, good battery life (I will mostly have it plugged into the wall unless I am away from home and then I will need a good battery) Light weight

Lots of music, lots of movies, lots of spare time...

Dude, have I got a deal for you! Take your home theater with you.

Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680

Since you like to watch videos...

here you go

 

[Brainonska511]

Just for the record, don't go buying anything now if you're only a HS senior. If you're going to get a laptop for college, wait until at least April to purchase it.

As for what to look at -

The Lenovo T61 is an excellent choice to consider as well.

 

[WackyDan]

Ok... here's what you really NEED to do.

For starters, don't buy now. You'll get a far more capable system if you wait until the summer before college and you'll probably save a few bucks too.... if you listen to me.

What college are you going to? Do you even know yet? A lot of colleges have a student laptop program where they extend the education pricing they get from Dell, Hp, Lenovo to their student body. The upside to this, is obviously lower price, but a lot of colleges with these programs also bump the warranty out to four years (you'll be done in four right?), and they can service the machines right on site (such as replacing planars) as well give you a loaner system for extended repairs. Trust me... it is an excellent value, and worth having the support of that vendor's product on campus. They typically also supply you with four years of antivirus for free as well and you'll get bundles at the discount too... ie; Laptop bag, MS Office, etc.

So I suggest you wait until you select a college and find out if they have a student laptop program. And sometimes the price doesn't seem to show a lot of discount... but keep in mind you might be getting an extended warranty, and a more valueble software bundle than you'll ever find retail or direct from a vendor.

 

[Xantus]

Go with the Toshiba, they are the best.

 

[TheStu]

WackyDan is right that you should wait, and definitely go to some stores to get a feel for screen sizes and the like.

 

[BrownTown]

Meh, why the heck would you need all those specs for a college laptop, personally I would go much lower. I mean 2gig on a laptop makes no sense, neither does a good video card. IF your a hardcore gamer and want something for that get a desktop to play games and a laptop to do work. My laptop isn't half what you are suggesting and it has worked fine for everything, the onyl flaw I've ever seen is that MATLAB takes awhile to load, but thats not even a RAM or CPU thing.

OH yeah, number 1 thing to remember I'd say is that you are totally gonna brake that sucker no matter what you get, so a warranty might be nice. I've broke expensive parts on my laptop five different times while in college, so at the very least if your gonna buy an expensive laptop make sure to treat it nicely.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
Meh, why the heck would you need all those specs for a college laptop, personally I would go much lower. I mean 2gig on a laptop makes no sense, neither does a good video card...

I guess you've never sat in a dorm, all by yourself, feeling homesick, wondering why you were born, and contemplating suicide...

 

[secretanchitman]

get my laptop, the macbook pro. it'll be $1799 with the stock specs (c2d 2.2Ghz, 8600GT 128MB, 120GB 5400RPM HD, 2x1GB, 15" widescreen 1440x900 LED in matte or glossy) after the education discount.

i think it is one of the best, if not, the best laptop out there.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
get my laptop, the macbook pro...

I heard you can't play games on a Mac...

Is that true?

That's why they have to give discounts...

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Dude, have I got a deal for you! Take your home theater with you.

Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680

Played around with one of these today, when I picked up my lappy memory...

OMG!!! What a monster!?!?!

It's also got the most beautiful panel I've ever seen on a 'notebook'!

LoL!

Forget about lugging this thing around!!!