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My student laptop thread (I want it all, and I don't want to pay for it)
littwentythree
Registered User
Registered User
I have a question for you all so I figured I would make another laptop thread. I need a laptop for school; Here are a few of the characteristics I would like it to have:
It should:
-Have Windows XP or Vista, I don't care.
-Have a CD/USB Drive
-Be Quiet
-Have a decent battery life
-Not run too hot
-Not run like a complete piece of shit.
-Wireless functionality (built in or added on, whatever)
-It would be nice if it was somewhat stylish and not a brick.
It does not need to:
-Run games, or have any type of graphics card that costs more than 99 cents.
-Be really fucking fast.
Think of my dream laptop as the kind that every kid asks for when they go off for college. They're going to use it to learn and study and ooh and ahh. Except that's really what I'll be using it for, and nothing else. Browsing the internet and editing Microsoft Office Suite files will be 99% of the work done on this laptop.
So I ask you, citizens of the technology forum. For less than $750, what am I looking at? I think the fact that I don't care about the processor speed/graphics card to a major degree should help me in finding a lower priced one. I think. Is it still crazy for me to grab something like this on a budget?
It should:
-Have Windows XP or Vista, I don't care.
-Have a CD/USB Drive
-Be Quiet
-Have a decent battery life
-Not run too hot
-Not run like a complete piece of shit.
-Wireless functionality (built in or added on, whatever)
-It would be nice if it was somewhat stylish and not a brick.
It does not need to:
-Run games, or have any type of graphics card that costs more than 99 cents.
-Be really fucking fast.
Think of my dream laptop as the kind that every kid asks for when they go off for college. They're going to use it to learn and study and ooh and ahh. Except that's really what I'll be using it for, and nothing else. Browsing the internet and editing Microsoft Office Suite files will be 99% of the work done on this laptop.
So I ask you, citizens of the technology forum. For less than $750, what am I looking at? I think the fact that I don't care about the processor speed/graphics card to a major degree should help me in finding a lower priced one. I think. Is it still crazy for me to grab something like this on a budget?
littwentythree on
Posts
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/msi-wind.aspx
Get anything with a Core 2 Duo and the Intel GMA X3100 integrated GPU. Presto, lots of computing power, good battery life, and utter shit for graphics.
Dell makes a huge lineup of these at the ~$500 mark.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/all-nvidia-8400m-8600m-chips-faulty/2
Sucks, I have a XPS M1530 and Thinkpad R61, both with 8400s (NVS 130/135/140 is just a rebadged 8x00).
HP Home has a $200 off $999 coupon NB3408 right now that stacks with their listed discounts. For example the DV6700t SE has a listed discount of $150 so if you get the base price up to $999 it'll take off another $200, for a total of $350 off $999 - well under your $750 mark.
A USB attatchable DVD drive would be really cheap, if it's not needed on the move I'd say try and grab a 360HDDVD drive for the handful of dirt it costs at the moment.
Mobile AMD Athlon TK57 (1.90GHz 256K) Dual Core
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic Service Pack 1, With media
8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™
2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
120GB1 Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM
ATI® Integrated Graphics RadeonTM X1270
Dell Wireless™ 1395 802.11g Mini Card
6 Cell Primary Battery
link
for 579$
The EEE, and Wind look OK on paper, but realistically chances are the small screen size, crappy keyboards and processors will hurt your productivity enough it's just not worth the slight increase in portability.
steam-taliosfalcon
XBL-AdeptPenguin
How do dell laptops run? I see a lot of them, but, you know, DELL. Looking at the D531 right now.
I don't have much against Linux, but I don't have much against Windows either and I've been using it for years. What would Linux help me do/help me do better that I can't already do with Windows?
That off-center keypad freaks me out, I'm left-handed enough already as it is.
Damn, I am picky. But these are some cool laptops and you guys are giving me some good ideas.
The e-value code 999-bqpr52k will get you a $50 discount on a Vostro 1510, if you get it in the next 24 hours. Not that you're buying within that time period or anything, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
Blog | Twitter | Free games | Unmaintained backloggery
That would be inconvenient if you're left handed. You could always get a mouse though, even a cheap USB one, if you don't mind the extra cost. They're pretty handy to have anyway.
Regarding Linux, from my experience I would say that it is:
It has a learning curve (even easy versions such as Ubuntu), but it's pretty fun once you've learned it. I've always moved back to Windows eventually though, just because it's what I'm comfortable with. And Office is the best suite I've found.
Retain your virginity throughout college?
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
PeregrineFalcon, spreading the truth, day by day.
360 : ThePmoney
Battle.net: Pmoney.thereal
I have almost that exact same laptop, it's the intel variant however I think its the m-6750 not sure though, but it has wireless N as well. I got it for $599 cdn too
EDIT: Also LOL to the linux joke, thats gonna have to be sig'd I think
If you want something similar but with a Core 2 Duo instead of an AMD chip, next week Office Depot will have one for the same price, according to this circular. Also 14.1", also 3GB RAM, also 250GB HDD, also $630.
Here's a link to the full description/specs.
Blog | Twitter | Free games | Unmaintained backloggery
This. My wife is on her third DVD drive in her Gateway notebook. Plus it had more crapware than any PC I had ever purchased ever. And it feels like a cooking surface when you use it.
This seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. I spent some time looking at laptops today and found that 14 inches was the perfect size for what I wanted (without being too small for me to want to use). I'll spend a few more days looking around, otherwise I'll likely go with this sometime in the middle of the week.
Edit: And I'd be formatting the HD and installing Windows XP. Gahhh preloaded programs.
Just reinstall Vista. You should get a disk with it that will allow you to do a "clean" install of it. I mean, if it came with XP I wouldn't recommend spending extra on Vista, but since you have it you might as well stick with it. It works fine, and there's no real use living in the past.
But yes, a fresh reinstall is a must on any prebuilt computer from a major vendor. I don't think I ever even booted my Dell before popping the CD in and reformatting/reinstalling.
EDIT: Seriously, 99% of the negative things you hear about Vista are just geek urban legends, and the other 1% are things that you simply get used to (in that they aren't necessarily worse, just different).
I'll stick with vista I suppose.
I'd also check this one out too.
Still a 14", but a Gateway. Comes with 4GB RAM, Vista 64-bit, built-in webcam and 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, but only Wifi a/b/g. The HP I posted earlier has 3GB RAM, Vista 32-bit, no webcam, 1.83GHz C2D, and Wifi a/b/g/draft-n.
It's $650 as opposed to the $630 HP at OD, but this one has no rebate. Depending on what sales taxes are like in your state, it could actually turn out to be cheaper, as rebates never include tax. Plus you'll probably get a few bucks in Bestbuy gift cards via RewardZone.