Windows laptops

Mike Danger

So, my younger sister is packing off to college and wants a laptop.

I'm already familiar with Apple's product line, so I know what's going on there. However, I am totally out of the loop in terms of everything else. My old roommate had a Lenovo, which I thought was a quality machine, but other than that, I don't know very much.

Can anyone point me towards what's considered quality these days? I'm not sure which direction I'm leaning in just yet.

The budget is <= $1100.

Her computer usage basically consists of:
- email
- Facebook
- instant messaging
- videos
- music/iTunes (she has an iPod Touch she's going to want to sync)
- word processing and your other normal office applications

CptKemzik

With that budget you can get a decent (lenovo) thinkpad (look at the edge line in particular) although, depending on whether lenovo is sponsoring sales, you wouldnt get too many bells and whistles. This doesnt sound like it would be a problem for her though.

I'm posting from my new thinkpad right now and it's pretty swell so far.

Count Funkula

Honestly, with your budget and requirements, a MacBook (regular) would be the perfect machine. If you need to run Windows on it, you can. But, with OSX there isn't any reason to.

Straygatsby

You're WAY over budget for your needs list. You could pick up a simple Dell netbook (or even their smaller notebook) for a third of that or less and hit all your needs.

Now if you're talking about higher end video and or editing/cutting, then maybe blow the cash on some Mac-y, but it sounds like it'd be wasted cash to me. I'm not a big fan of Thinkpads, personally.

bobmyknob

At $1,100, might as well get the Macbook Pro since it has the newer processor and with the student discount it'd be under that. Otherwise, I'm a huge fan of Thinkpads and Asus laptops.

ED!

Thinkpad X1/2/300 would be fine - the 100 is the "netbook", 200 is the small portable, and 300 is the larger (but still light) big boy.

However, if she is just coming out of high school and going into college - I would recommend the Mac with the student discount.

puffycow

I would go with a $500-$600 laptop from any of the bigger companies. If she is used to Macs, then go with the Mac for that budget. But if she is used to Windows machines, save the money and get a cheaper laptop. She won't need the power.

Big Red Tie

MacBook air or cheap pc laptop because those aren't very high requirements

ceres

Is there a physical size requirement of any kind?

Dritz

As has been said Lenovo's are amazing. I'll go against the grain and say they are even better than Apple products with one small caveat. They defiantly do not measure up to the prettiness of Macbooks. As a vain person that'll always made me lean a little toward Apple.

Mike Danger

She definitely wants something 13"+ (that is to say, not a netbook)

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

CptHamilton

My wife and I just picked up new laptops last week. She got a Lenovo V-series (560?) for $650 and I got a Toshiba G-something-or-other for $399. Your needs list is pretty much what she wanted with the addition of photo editing in photoshop from camera raws and wanting it to not obsolete itself out of usability for 2+ years. So far she's happy with hers and it is, I suspect, overpowered for what she wanted to do. I use mine for pretty much what you said plus hobby projects in Visual Studio and playing Dwarf Fortress.

So what I'm saying here is, as others have said, $1100 is way more than you need to spend unless you have a mac hard-on. Best Buy has surprisingly good deals on laptops and, if you go to one in an upscale area, a decent selection. Go by your local one and look at Toshibas and Lenovos; she can probably get one plus a wireless mouse and a laptop bag for 70% of her budget.

ED!

Only reason I suggested a MacBook - if shes young - is because she is going into a social circle that is going to be Mac HEAVY. It may seem stupid, but a MacBook would certainly (in some way) ease that transition to fitting in. Sad but true -

Big Red Tie

Mike Danger wrote: »

She definitely wants something 13"+ (that is to say, not a netbook)

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

because of the screen or keyboard?

Mike Danger

Both.

KPC

At that budget I'd find it hard to recommend anything other than a MacBook Pro: http://store.apple.com/us_edu_5000448/product/FC374LL/A?mco=MTgwOTc3Mjg

On the other hand, I think ASUS makes some good laptops. Or maybe the HP Envy?

SeñorAmor

Straygatsby wrote: »

You're WAY over budget for your needs list. You could pick up a simple Dell netbook (or even their smaller notebook) for a third of that or less and hit all your needs.

Now if you're talking about higher end video and or editing/cutting, then maybe blow the cash on some Mac-y, but it sounds like it'd be wasted cash to me. I'm not a big fan of Thinkpads, personally.

Came in to say this. Unless you need something specific (like OSX), you'd be silly to not by a Dell nowadays. They make quality machines for ridiculously affordable prices, and their tech support is top-notch.

When my work Lenovo dies, I'm sure I'll end up getting a Dell as a replacement.

JacksWastedLife

We just got my wife one of these. It's an incredibly awesome little machine. It's super light while still feeling (and being) sturdy. The battery lasts for a good 5+ hours when my wife can't be bothered to plug it in. The keyboard is a nice size with "real" feeling keys., which was one of the major criteria for my wife. Netbooks felt flimsy and had uncomfortably cramped keyboards.

I think when we finished tinkering with the components it cost around $700 total.

I like it far better than the 15" macbook pro I had for work. I even am a little jealous of the form factor when I'm tired of lugging around my 17" monstrosity.

Renn

I'd go with a Thinkpad X1.