Need help on selecting new laptop for college...

[MikeOnTheMic]

So basically, I just got back to the US after spending a year living and running around Israel, and the painful realization that all the computers in my house are P.O.S. has just hit me (especially after researching about the new Adobe CS3 products).

I need a laptop for college. My intended uses for the laptop are:
-Basic use (email, internet)
-Occasional DVD watching, downloaded movies, TV shows, and MP3s (VLC, iTunes, Winamp, uTorrent, etc)
IMPORTANT:
-Digital Media design, film editing, post production for school projects mostly, with the following:
-Adobe Photoshop
-Illustrator
-Premiere Pro
-After Effects

Occasional fooling around with music creation programs such as (I dont know these programs but would like to eventually get the basic jist of them) :
-Reason
-a mixing/mastering program like Pro-tools(but something available on windows obv.)

Budget:
Around $1000, hopefully no more than $1500

I'd like these features:
15 inch display, Ideally 17 inch
Firewire
ability to attach external monitor

I don't care how heavy, thick, or cumbersome the laptop will be. I will be bringing the laptop around the small campus (Yeshiva University in NYC), but I think I can handle a heavy laptop carefully, no problems.

Long battery life is not that important, but is always a perk.

Vista or XP is no matter, either way, I'm gonna install and use XP on the machine.

could someone maybe educate me in what I should be looking for as well? I have been out of the computer tech loop for a very long time...
1.) I should be wanting Core 2 Duo, right?
2.) 1 gb of memory vs. 2 gb?
3.) 5400 harddrive vs 7200 HD?
4.) Is a beefy graphics card important for my needs? ( I wont be doing any gaming...)
5.) What is the best time to buy a laptop in terms of sales, rebates, etc? I can wait to get it until just before school starts (August 29)...

I realize I probably won't find all the features I want, especially in my price range.
But any help at all is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Mike

 

[Brainonska511]

You say you can handle carrying around a 17" notebook, but think carefully about that. I have a 14" notebook that I don't carry around a lot and wish that it was lighter than 5.5lbs. I can handle the weight, I just wish I got something lighter. Go to a store and look at screen sizes to give you an idea of how big notebooks really are. Also consider trying to walk around with a textbook (about the weight of a 17" notebook) + another book or two in order to simulate what you'll be carrying around at school.

1) Core 2 Duo is the way to go. Any of them are fine choices, just make sure you choose the C2Ds with at least a 667MHz FSB.
2) 2GB if you are going to be running Vista. 2GB if you are going to be using XP with all those photo programs. Buy the RAM aftermarket as it will be cheaper.
3) Doesn't make too much of a difference. 7200RPM drives will not run significantly hotter and cut a minute or two of battery life at most. If you can swing for a high-capacity 7200RPM drive, go for it. Otherwise, just stick with a cheaper, high capacity 5400RPM drive. You can always get an E-Sata ExpressCard with an external SATA hard drive if you need faster access for some files/programs.
4) No. Integrated graphics would be fine for what you want, which will also give you the benefit of increased battery time.
5) Look at Dell. Compare prices of notebooks between the SB and Home sections as well as finding out if your school has any special discounts for buying through Dell or buying a notebook from the school directly. I'd recommend looking at the E1420 (14"), E1520 (15.4"), or the E1720 (17"). If you want better build quality, try configuring a D630 (14") or D830 (15.4"). All of those I suggested are all WS. If you prefer a regular aspect screen, take a look at the D520 as well (15" 4:3 display).

 

[MikeOnTheMic]

thanks so much.

also, I have been looking at Apple Macbooks and Macbook Pros, and I know that theyre quality, but are they really worth it? I mean, I'm not running a business or working for a company (yet), so a mac isn't all that important to me. PCs are a much better bang for the buck yes?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: MikeOnTheMic
thanks so much.

also, I have been looking at Apple Macbooks and Macbook Pros, and I know that theyre quality, but are they really worth it? I mean, I'm not running a business or working for a company (yet), so a mac isn't all that important to me. PCs are a much better bang for the buck yes?

I'd say only look at Apple's offerings if you want to use OSx most of the time. Also, for your budget, you'd be pushing it for the MBP, while the MB falls below your size requirements. For the most part, I'd say Windows based machines provide the most flexibility as there are many more Windows notebooks available than Apple notebooks. A good resource for notebook reviews is NotebookReview.com. Just type the notebook's name into the website's search to see if a notebook you're interested in has any reviews.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: MikeOnTheMic
thanks so much.

also, I have been looking at Apple Macbooks and Macbook Pros, and I know that theyre quality, but are they really worth it? I mean, I'm not running a business or working for a company (yet), so a mac isn't all that important to me. PCs are a much better bang for the buck yes?

Actually, right now Macs are a better bang for your buck simply due to their ability to run OSX, Windows, *nix, pretty much everything, all legally (that being the key) However, as someone else pointed out, you are better off looking for a windows based machine simply due to the fact that there are so many to choose from that you can shop competitively.

 

[MikeOnTheMic]

okay, so I think I will go with the Inspiron 1520, or 1720 not sure yet.

I can use my school discount and/or an online coupon to get 200-300 bucks off.


Just need some advice. What do you guys think about these upgrades?

If instead of the standard 1.66 ghz T5450, I upgrade to the 2.0 ghz T7300, is the performance jump worth the extra 125 dollars for me? How much better performance will the T7300 give me?

I think I'm pushing for the 17 inch 1720 (res. 1440 x 900). But I'm also considering the 1520 and getting it upgraded to high res. 1680x1050 screen. Which would you guys recommend?

Also, I'm in conflict over glossy screen vs. anti-glare. I've heard different things. Glossy just looks so much better to me, but people have told me its not good for designing because it shows unrealistic color contrast or something like that.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: MikeOnTheMic
okay, so I think I will go with the Inspiron 1520, or 1720 not sure yet.

I can use my school discount and/or an online coupon to get 200-300 bucks off.


Just need some advice. What do you guys think about these upgrades?

If instead of the standard 1.66 ghz T5450, I upgrade to the 2.0 ghz T7300, is the performance jump worth the extra 125 dollars for me? How much better performance will the T7300 give me? You could see a minor increase in performance, but not too much. If you have money to burn, go ahead and bump it up to the higher speed, but I don't think you'll see much real-world performance. As far as performance goes, buy the minimum amount of RAM and upgrade it to 2GB on your own to save money.

I think I'm pushing for the 17 inch 1720 (res. 1440 x 900). But I'm also considering the 1520 and getting it upgraded to high res. 1680x1050 screen. Which would you guys recommend? I'd go for the 15.4" laptop with the higher resolution screen. You say that you have no problems carrying around a 17" notebook, but you'll regret saying that when you start to carry it around a lot.

Also, I'm in conflict over glossy screen vs. anti-glare. I've heard different things. Glossy just looks so much better to me, but people have told me its not good for designing because it shows unrealistic color contrast or something like that. Glossy is fine for color sharpness, but it isn't good if you plan on using it outdoors a lot. Glossy vs. Matte is a personal preference issue. Each has it's pros and cons.

 

[MikeOnTheMic]

well right now dell is upgrading RAM to 2gb for free, so im good in that sense

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: MikeOnTheMic
well right now dell is upgrading RAM to 2gb for free, so im good in that sense

I didn't realize that. My advice holds only for if you need to pay for the upgrade.

 

[alimoalem]

in case you needed a second opinion, i second everything brainonska said.

* yes, you WILL regret getting a 17" laptop. the fact that it's 8lbs doesn't mean anything; all 3 of us can easily take 8+lbs around. but like a phone that weighs 2 lbs, a 17" laptop will be heavy for what it is.
* i'm not exactly sure how dell's inspiron line is doing but unless they upgraded more than just the appearance, i would try and get a latitude. better service, 3yr standard warranty on most of them (i think), and better build quality.
* i really like asus's laptops. build quality is good and so is the appearance. according to anand's review of laptop displays, asus's have one of the best screens in terms of color accuracy and contrast ratio. i think that might be good for you. the only problem i see with asus is that you'll probably get a GPU that's overkill for you so you'll be paying for something you won't need.
* i have a glossy screen and got it because i liked how it looked more but after realizing i use my laptop in a number of environments, i quickly saw that a matte screen may have been a better solution for me. it may not look as good but it's a lot better in bright environments (e.g. outdoors).
* almost forgot, definitely go with the higher resolution 15.4" screen instead of the 17". not only is it lighter, you get to see more on your screen. 1680x1050 is a little high for me but it's probably better for your uses. and 1440x900 is too low for a 17"