So I'm buying a new laptop...

[neptunesnet]

But which one!

(Before anyone says it, I don't want a Macbook. I'm not too fond of dishing out $1,000+ for anything, esp something that'll technically be obselete in a few years. I'm just a student. I don't do any extensive video/audio editing and thus don't need one. Unless you have such a compelling argument as to why I should go Mac that you're convinced I'll be convinced, don't bring it up.)

I've been doing a little research and have an idea of what I want (Intel Core i3, 14 to 16 inch screen, at least 3GB of RAM with 64 bit operating system, Windows 7, nice quality webcam, reasonable battery life, optical drive), but even still the whole process kind of intimidates me. I'm afraid I'll end up with something that doesn't suit my needs just because I'm being cheap.

Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts about or suggestions on what type (as in power/desktop replacement, ultraportable, etc.) and brand of laptop I should buy?

 

[Halla74]

For $350 you will be hard pressed to beat this Compaq I just bought.
I absolutely love it.

Compaq - Factory-Refurbished Laptop / AMD Athlonâ„¢ II Processor / 15.6" Display / 3GB Memory / 250GB Hard Drive
Model: cq62-209wm | SKU: 1272095

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Compaq+...rive/1272095.p?id=1218245810204&skuId=1272095

What's Included
•Compaq Factory-Refurbished Laptop / AMD Athlon™ II Processor / 15.6" Display / 3GB Memory / 250GB Hard Drive
•6-cell lithium-ion battery
•65W AC adapter
•Software: Adobe Reader; Adobe Flash; Microsoft Silverlight; Cyberlink DVD and more
•Owner's manual
Product Features
•From our expanded online assortment; not available in all Best Buy stores
•VISION Technology by AMD
Makes your digital photos and Web sites look amazing and gives a boost to digital music playback.
•AMD Athlon™ II dual-core processor P320*
For enhanced performance.
•3GB DDR3 memory
For multitasking power, expandable to 8GB.
•Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media; also supports LightScribe direct-disc labels using compatible LightScribe media.
•15.6" LED high-definition display
With BrightView technology and 1366 x 768 resolution showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.
•250GB hard drive (7200 rpm)
For fast read/write times.
•ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 graphics
Feature up to 1405MB video memory for lush images.
•One-touch launch keys
Open your frequent applications with the touch of a button.
•Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n)
Connect to the Internet without wires.
•Built-in 10/100 Ethernet LAN with 56 Kbps modem
For quick and easy wired Web connection.
•Weighs 5.5 lbs. and measures just 1.4" thin
For easy portability.
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.
•Software package included
With Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, Cyberlink DVD and more. 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 included.
•AMD, AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, QuantiSpeed, AMD PowerNow! and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

 

[neptunesnet]

My mom actually recommended this one. Which is ironic, seeing as how she knows nothing about computers beyond Microsoft Word & Yahoo Mail.

I'll look into this one more. How are the quality of your webcam pictures? And what's the battery life?

 

[Halla74]

My mom actually recommended this one. Which is ironic, seeing as how she knows nothing about computers beyond Microsoft Word & Yahoo Mail.

I'll look into this one more. How are the quality of your webcam pictures? And what's the battery life?

I don't ever use a webcam.
I honestly have no idea if this laptop has one or not.
From the specs above I don't think it does.
I'm old school I guess.
I don't know how important a webcam is to you.
For the price of this system if the webcam is the only thing it is missing, what would it cost to get a USB webcam nowadays?
I dunno.

Regarding battery, I have been able to run mine for about 1 hour and 45 minutes without the battery, using Windows 7 and MS Word + MS Excel.
CD-burning uses up alot of power.
With the right power settings it is OK as far as battery life is concerned.

 

[BlueScreen]

Cheap normally equals cheap, but you can reduce the price sensibly by not spending on what you don't need.

If possible I'd go for something that has low power usage. It means better battery life, less heat and less fan noise while trying to think. The mobile i5 is not a bad processor choice for this (i3 might be enough), and get a mobile graphics card that will run well on windows 7, but is low power rather than built for high end gaming. You also want to watch the weight. If you are a student you don't want to lug around something too heavy (ie. the decision should be do I need my computer with me today, not can I be bothered carrying it). Third thing would be the screen type. If you get something with a really cheap screen, the text might look blurry; you will also never get the right colours out of it, but I'm more picky about colour because I use it for photography. Maybe just check one of the models you are getting in a shop to see if the screen is okay. Also check for ghosting in video if you use it for watching movies and webcam.

 

[KDude]

I just bought this Vaio with similar specs to the ones you listed. Best Buy has black and white versions..If it matters, you could customize something similar for a little more on the Sony website.

This HP is cheaper than the Sony, but still an i3 laptop with webcam and better battery life (over 5 hrs). Might be more up your alley. And here's a Toshiba with similar features and 6 hr battery life. The difference is that the Sony has 4g and some wireless hdtv features you probably don't need. The Sony screen is probably better too. That, and cheaper Toshibas kind of feel like they're made with flimsy plastic.

As for categories, I guess this $500-700 range is "high end budget". The avg person can't go wrong with them. So don't worry about being cheap, you can still get something decent for it.

 

[TopherRed]

Might want to look into Acer laptops too...they tend to specialize in affordable. Specs, I'm not too familar with.

 

[neptunesnet]

Thanks guys for your suggestions, but I bought a laptop! Actually bought it about a week ago.

She's an HP Pavilion dv5, and she's everything I wanted! (Intel Core i3, 14.5 inches, 4 GB of RAM with 64 bit operating system, up to 4.5 hours of battery life, Windows 7, optical drive, under $700)

My only complaint is that I wish the webcam were better. But other than that, she's great!

 

[Mr. Sherlock Holmes]

I just got a new laptop for $1700 (Australian).

Toshiba, 18.5" screen, 1TB HDD with a thing that removes the head if it falls to prevent data corruption, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 2.4GHz intel i7 processor, webcam, thumbprint recognition, Windows 7, Blu-Ray drive, backlit keboard, some other specs that I forget... Anyway, I'm very happy with it. The cheapest I found the same computer outside of where I got it was $2200.

 

[highlander]

I know you said not to say it but Macbook Pro is the best. Your PC is far less likely to be riddled with spyware or malware which is actually worth something.

 

[Mr. Sherlock Holmes]

I know you said not to say it but Macbook Pro is the best. Your PC is far less likely to be riddled with spyware or malware which is actually worth something.

I've had a PC for the past 5 years and never had a single malware or spyware issue. And my only protection was AVG Free edition.

 

[neptunesnet]

I know you said not to say it but Macbook Pro is the best. Your PC is far less likely to be riddled with spyware or malware which is actually worth something.

 

[KDude]

Just get some virus/malware protection and you should be OK. Microsoft offers a good one for free now: Link

That, or you could get one with more bells and whistles and pay for it. That should be OK above though. The people who are in greater danger of getting malware are those who trade a lot of files in office spaces or email where there isn't a clear level of security -- OR... people who surf too many weird porn sites (especially with their main browser and all of flash, javascript, etc opened up). Of course, I doubt you'll have the second problem. I never see anyone else who asks for help be something other than those two.

Anyways, like I said earlier (I think), it's hard to go wrong with $700 or so. It's a competitive segment of the market, so you tend to get a lot for your money compared to a couple of years ago. I've used Macs too - mostly all of my life.. since the early 90s, and off and on until recently. They're not even close to being priced correctly, given the actual hardware. I don't find it worth paying more, just to have a better OS. Windows 7 (and it's associated problems with malware) just aren't that bad really. Not for the average user. And not for one who exercises a little caution.

 

[highlander]

I've had a PC for the past 5 years and never had a single malware or spyware issue. And my only protection was AVG Free edition.

How would one know when the AV software only catches about 35% of what is out there? For all you know, your machine could be part of a botnet.