Home depot is offering these two laptops for $550 and $650 respectively. With student ID there is a $100 visa card on either and there is a $50 MIR on the HP. Both are 14" with i5-2410M CPU. HP lacks eSATA but has larger HDD and 6 GB memory vs. E420 with 4 GB. Are these good prices and do have advice on picking one over the other?
I need travel computer (and second home computer) for MS Office, especially Excel. Not demanding by many standards but multiple sheets, editing, and analysis require upgrade from office laptop on my dime.
I would also use the computer for web surfing, netflix/streaming video, skype etc. No games. (ok - Simms, FSX, etc might sneak on)
My priorities are 1) capability of doing the work 2) low weight/ long battery balance and 3) quality.
I assume 1) is not an issue. 2) - 14" screen size is fine for me and I would go smaller but not for a higher price. I can't find info about battery comparison. 3) Heat killed my old gateway, but otherwise I won't be abusing the thing. On the other hand, I would like to keep it for 4 or so years.
Thanks for any advice.
Do you recommend one over the other? I am not sure that as an adult sporadic pt time night student I could get the Visa offer or if those rebates are reliable. I could afford another $200, but for $1000 ish I would rather upgrade my desktop and monitor (for video editing) while I keep waiting for a new office laptop.
I need travel computer (and second home computer) for MS Office, especially Excel. Not demanding by many standards but multiple sheets, editing, and analysis require upgrade from office laptop on my dime.
I would also use the computer for web surfing, netflix/streaming video, skype etc. No games. (ok - Simms, FSX, etc might sneak on)
My priorities are 1) capability of doing the work 2) low weight/ long battery balance and 3) quality.
I assume 1) is not an issue. 2) - 14" screen size is fine for me and I would go smaller but not for a higher price. I can't find info about battery comparison. 3) Heat killed my old gateway, but otherwise I won't be abusing the thing. On the other hand, I would like to keep it for 4 or so years.
Thanks for any advice.
Do you recommend one over the other? I am not sure that as an adult sporadic pt time night student I could get the Visa offer or if those rebates are reliable. I could afford another $200, but for $1000 ish I would rather upgrade my desktop and monitor (for video editing) while I keep waiting for a new office laptop.
