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Laptop Shopping Help?
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 2005-11-13 11:23 PM |
Pro  4189    Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow |  Subject: Laptop Shopping Help?OK, so I'm going abroad in <4 weeks. I need to have a computer for my university studies, library isn't going to cut it because I'm living at a different campus than I'm studying at. I have a great desktop (I bought way more machine than I needed freshman year, but it's still working tip-top for me). But of course, taking it to Ireland with me is not practical. So! I worked out my before-taxes pay for a "Standard" week of work at the post office, and it came out to around 1050. Take out some dosh for taxes, we'll say 800. Alright, so I want to buy a laptop. Not because I need one, but I want one to take with me so I can stay up till 3 AM and actually talk to my parents and keep my files together on there since I'll be working on my honors thesis. It basically needs to word process and do the internet. Period. Really, that's all I need it for. So I'm looking for a low- level laptop. I'd be willing to spend 700 at the most (it's probably just going to go to my parents when I'm done with it). So, the strategy may be one of the following: Buy after thanksgiving for the sales and put it on a credit card and then pay the CC off with my first paycheck. OR, wait till after christmas and buy it 4 days before I leave. Suggestions on brands? What to look out for? Anyone had a horrible experience with laptops? |
| 2005-11-13 11:43 PM in reply to: #283958 |
Regular 62 Rochester, MN | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I'm not sure what platform you prefer but I'd recommend an iBook. They're really durable and setting them up on a network is easier, which is good if you're going to be switching between campus and networks. For the price range you've given, you'd have a hard time finding the same quality of the iBook in a PC. It also comes with fun, nifty software. Since you're a student, you can get a 12" for $950, or referbished for $700+ |
| 2005-11-14 7:00 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Extreme Veteran 427 Shiloh Illinois | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? A few words of advice -any advertisements in the newspaper for best buy or whatever, dont believe it until you see one in a box, they put out sales and they just try to get you in there hoping your set on buying a laptop and buy the next best one and spend more. -stay away from celeron processors, they get rediculously hot, like burning hot -get any extra RAM you can, get 512 minimum look for a good deal with a laptop case included, because you will end up needing one heres a few I found for sub 800 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.as... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.as... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.as... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115317 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115314 All of those will need a copy of windows office, which costs 150-200 I believe. And that includeds word, power point, excel, outlook, Access (front page maybe?) Extra warranties are worth it, laptop batteries loose theyr charge after a few years, and a new one runs at about $150. So its is deffintly worth it. Check out officemax and officedepot first though, they are the best place, if they advertise it, they have it. Then you have a local place you can take it when you spill a water bottle on it etc. |
| 2005-11-14 7:01 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Champion 5183 Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? there is no better place to buy refurbished mac stuff than http://www.smalldog.com i LOVE This store, their customer service and "coporate values" are second to none. check out their deals and packages. of course, a windows based machine would be cheaper. but who wants to use a windows machine for anything remotely creative or academic??  |
| 2005-11-14 8:07 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Pro 4189 Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? Yea I know that photoshop and InDesign tend to run better on Mac's, and those are the "big" programs I use a lot. I use Macromedia suite a lot too, but not as often as Adobe. I used the Mac lab when I was designing my book last quarter. But I'm just not as "familiar" with the Mac format, although I like it. I think if I had more face time with it, I'd be OK. I'm really just looking for a good deal. Buying XP isn't a big deal, I'd get the students and teachers edition. Thanks for the website references, the smalldog site is ADORABLE!! keep 'em coming! |
| 2005-11-14 8:11 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Queen BTich 12411 , | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I just ordered the Inspirion 6000 from Dell. Pretty good price. |
| 2005-11-14 8:46 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Pro 3906  St Charles, IL | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I vote for an iBook. They can be fairly cheap, if you get a refurbished one ( direct from Apple even ): http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa Click the red 'Sale' tag on the right side. $699 for a 12" iBook. Bump the ram up to at least 512 (I'd go up to 768 or 1 gig if you can). I'll bet that you won't want to part with it after though. -C |
| 2005-11-14 10:53 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Pro 4206 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? My first brand choice is dell, then my second would be toshiba. I'm been in the computer industry for around ten years and these by far are the best brands out there. |
| 2005-11-14 10:57 AM in reply to: #284211 |
| Veteran 303 SF soon! | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? >My first brand choice is dell Just one thing to note about Dells... a lot of their parts are proprietary so when something breaks down, you most likely will have to send it back to Dell for replacement or repair. |
| 2005-11-14 11:02 AM in reply to: #284215 |
| Veteran 303 SF soon! | Subject: PS I second everyone's recommendations re iBooks. I ended up with a PC simply because I already had the software I needed. Had I gone with a G4, it would've been expensive for me to replace my full MS Suite and Visio. |
| 2005-11-14 11:13 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Expert 893 Livermore, Ca | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I had a toshiba, it was a good thing I bought the extended the warranty. The lcd failed three times. I just bought a HP and so far it works good. |
| 2005-11-14 1:03 PM in reply to: #283958 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I would definitely encourage you to get an iBook. The interface is pretty easy to learn - it's fairly intuitive and shouldn't take you too long to pick up once you start using it. I think that the Apple laptops are much more reliable than the Windows ones, from my personal experience. |
| 2005-11-14 8:53 PM in reply to: #284004 |
Master 1938 La Crosse | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? possum - 2005-11-14 8:01 AM there is no better place to buy refurbished mac stuff than http://www.smalldog.com Oh, I love smalldog. The best part of the whole operation? Whenever they ship you something, they include a little baggie with like5 or 6 little plastic toy dogs. I used to have a herd . . . pack? . . . of about two hundred of those little guys. Then I changed jobs and left my pack in the top drawer of a coworker. Good times. Phoenix, I have a Powerbook G3 (older machine) which has OSX on it. Good little machine, I was thinking of selling it on eBay for a couple of hundred. I'm not certain about the reliability -- it's probably four or five years old. But if you want it, we could cut a beginnertriathlete.com deal. Here's the apple website . . . http://www.apple.com/support/powerbookg3/ Bunch of 'em on eBay, search for "Pismo". |
| 2005-11-15 2:03 AM in reply to: #283958 |
Veteran 305 Wichita Falls | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? one word "MAC" |
| 2005-11-15 4:21 PM in reply to: #283958 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? Lots of Mac people here. I however would go with a Dell. I'm a software developer and I wouldn't buy anything else. When buying a laptop, the key is to get the highest resolution you can on your laptop (1400 x 1050 minimum) as it is the most difficult component to upgrade. Memory, processor, and hardrive can all be upgraded later. It also improves the resale value of your laptop. FWIW, I've had my laptop for just over two years (Dell Inspiron 5100) and have had no problems. It is my main computer. |
| 2005-11-15 11:03 PM in reply to: #283958 |
| Champion 8903 | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I just bought an HP Pavilion and am completely satisified with it. Stay away from the Acer brand...I don't even want to begin to tell you the headaches I had with 2 brand new ones, both of them going back before I settled on the HP. |
| 2005-11-16 8:06 AM in reply to: #283958 |
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I have had several dell laptops, they work great, and you can usually get a good deal, very practical for a college student. You may not want to wait till after Christmas, you never know what stock will be and you might find yourself scrambling around to ge what you want. |
| 2005-11-16 10:03 AM in reply to: #283958 |
| Veteran 407 Dallas, Texas | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? I've had three Toshibas and loved them all. Great machines. Remember that you will need a plug converter for a US computer. Bill |
| 2005-11-16 10:38 AM in reply to: #285741 |
Master 1938 La Crosse | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? Tri-It - 2005-11-16 9:06 AM I have had several dell laptops, they work great, and you can usually get a good deal, very practical for a college student. Of course, in re: Dell: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... |
| 2005-11-16 11:08 AM in reply to: #285442 |
| Veteran 303 SF soon! | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? >I however would go with a Dell. I'm a software developer and I wouldn't buy anything else. Hmm. I must've had horrible luck then. My last laptop was a Dell and I had problems with it after six months. After 1.5 years, I finally gave up and it's currently in the trunk of my car. |
| 2005-11-16 11:10 AM in reply to: #285936 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? stupidnickname - 2005-11-16 7:38 AM Tri-It - 2005-11-16 9:06 AM I have had several dell laptops, they work great, and you can usually get a good deal, very practical for a college student. Of course, in re: Dell: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... Haha. I knew there would be a cross-reference. |
| 2005-11-16 11:34 AM in reply to: #283958 |
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? Uggggg.........I hate bad customer service!! Sounds like they made some mistakes and did a bad job at recovering from them.....My experience with Dell has always been positive, shipments have arrived before the estimated due date and zero equipment issues..... |
| 2005-11-16 11:41 AM in reply to: #286010 |
| Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? Tri-It - 2005-11-16 8:34 AM Uggggg.........I hate bad customer service!! Sounds like they made some mistakes and did a bad job at recovering from them.....My experience with Dell has always been positive, shipments have arrived before the estimated due date and zero equipment issues..... That dude's feet on that site you have there "coremultisport.com" are pretty gross. My feet look much better. Want a picture? (shoes.jpg) Attachments ---------------- shoes.jpg (11KB - 4 downloads) |
| 2005-11-16 11:50 AM in reply to: #286028 |
| Tulsa, Oklahoma | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? ChuckyFinster - 2005-11-16 11:41 AM Tri-It - 2005-11-16 8:34 AM Uggggg.........I hate bad customer service!! Sounds like they made some mistakes and did a bad job at recovering from them.....My experience with Dell has always been positive, shipments have arrived before the estimated due date and zero equipment issues..... That dude's feet on that site you have there "coremultisport.com" are pretty gross. My feet look much better. Want a picture? Yeah, but I think his might SMELL better.......and he probably get's paid to be a foot model! |
| 2005-11-16 11:58 AM in reply to: #285896 |
Expert 893 Livermore, Ca | Subject: RE: Laptop Shopping Help? SMUJD - 2005-11-16 10:03 AM I've had three Toshibas and loved them all. Great machines. Remember that you will need a plug converter for a US computer. Bill Don't dells come with a converter? |
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