Want a Laptop, but what should I get?

[Hndrx]

I've got a little over $1,000 and I want a laptop however I absolutely know nothing about them. I'll need stuff like Word or whatever for school, I do some stuff with photos but nothing to sophisticated, like to browse the web and watch movies or videos online, but I don't play many games. What laptop should I get?

 

[mgacam2]

i just ordered a macbook pro 2.4 ghz but since it sounds like you dont play games get a regular macbook, since your a student they give you a 200 dollor discount and a free ipod nano until september. Take advantage of it, they run windows completely natively and have a right click button feature now, best laptops iv seen. Ever

 

[Hndrx]

Uh keep in mind that i only have a little above a thousand dollars so the Macbook Pro is too pricey and I would prefer a Windows seeing that I am not use to Macs.

 

[Brainonska511]

I would just look for something from Dell. You could probably decently equipped Latitude for that amount of money.

 

[WombRaider]

I suggest you take a look at the Dell Latitude D630. Starting price is $850.

 

[Hndrx]

hm looks good, how about the ThinkPad T60 or 61 (ive heard good things)?

 

[Ruptga]

I've heard nothing but good about the thinkpads, and I don't recommend Dell. I have an E1505, and the dang thing is falling apart after only a year.

edit: Dell is the cheapest though, so if you plan on keeping the laptop for a year or two, tops, it might be the best. But, if you're thinking of buying a good laptop to keep for four years or so, you'll want the quality of a Thinkpad.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
I've heard nothing but good about the thinkpads, and I don't recommend Dell. I have an E1505, and the dang thing is falling apart after only a year.

edit: Dell is the cheapest though, so if you plan on keeping the laptop for a year or two, tops, it might be the best. But, if you're thinking of buying a good laptop to keep for four years or so, you'll want the quality of a Thinkpad.

The Latitudes are better quality than the Inspirons. As for the Thinkpads, they are a good choice, but you'll most likely get a lower performing system for the same price as a Dell Latitude.

 

[HGC]

I bought a Dell Inspiron a couple of weeks ago with AMD dual core processor, 1 GB RAM, and a 4-5 hour battery for $575 delivered. The build quality seems fine to me, but even if it doesn't last I think it's a value at that price.

Don't forget that with Dell you can check their home site, their business site, and, if you're so inclined, their refurb site. They have regular deep discounts, and you can Google for coupon codes as well. If you don't see a great deal, keep looking for a few weeks, as they offer big discounts quite regularly.

 

[Commodus]

Originally posted by: Hndrx
Uh keep in mind that i only have a little above a thousand dollars so the Macbook Pro is too pricey and I would prefer a Windows seeing that I am not use to Macs.

Not to necessarily dissuade you from going Windows, but the regular MacBook is $999 with educational pricing. Office for Mac is $125 after rebate and gives you Excel, Powerpoint, Word, and Entourage (essentially, Outlook).

Don't worry about not being used to the Mac. You do have to learn, but it's pretty easy to get used to once you understand basic concepts (closing a window doesn't usually kill the program, disk images, etc.). And besides, would you rather spend a few hours removing bloatware and setting up security software, or expanding your OS skills?

If you do want to go Windows, the Lenovo T61 may be an option (watch the ship date, though!). You could also consider the HP dv6500t, though the battery life isn't exceptional.