Here's the situation. I know nothing about laptops. I need one mainly for college. I'm going through a compute certification for computer support.

I don't need high end graphics and sound but something in the middle.

Any suggestions?

U need it now or within the next few months? u looking for light and trasnportable or powerful and inexpensive? There are quite a few good $600 laptops with decent computing power. If you don't mind a 15 or 16" screen and a 5 lb notbook, there are some real bargains out there. There are top of the line core 2 duo laptops for $1500 and up. New netbooks are comming out in the 1st Q of 2010 with a core 2 duo processor and the Ion 2 graphics card (Nvidia 9600M) 3bs, 11.5" screen and less than an inch thick for $700 and up. There are atom netbooks that have virtually no graphics capability but sell for $250 and up.

As far as brands, you can't go wrong with Toshiba. We all use Dell laptops in my busines cause of service issues (overnight service and loaners). We have had very little problems with the Dells for the past 5 years.

Sailus

Probably something with power and inexpensive. The class I'm taking now has online video presentations as well as simulation that run through windows media player and excel presentations as well. Future classes will probably have something along the same lines.

I guess I would need a CPU that can run that as well as the graphics that can ruin that and decent sound. Something that won't sound like some on is talking from the bottom of a well.

Also it has to have wireless. Either built in or NIC.

One thing I forgot to mention is that it has to have Xp . As there are no classes with Windows seven yet.

Thanks, Sailus

I usually look here first:

http://www.tigerdirect.com
then:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/refurb/refurb_slc.asp?CatId=17&category=Laptops%20&%20Notebooks

They usually have some decent deals.

Thanks of the links Blind

I have narrowed it down to two laptops/notebooks.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4895487&CatId=3444

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5387457&CatId=3444

Looks like the Hp has a better processor but the dell has bells and whistles, like larger ram and HD space.

Still not really sure wich one to pick.

Any suggestions?

I'd save myself $30.00 and go for the less expensive one.... then again I'm cheap

The dell is like the notebooks I have for my business. The Keyboards can be replaced for $50 and dell keeps them in stock. I don't know how good HP's support is. If they've already been used on a lease, consider that you will be replacing certain parts from time to time. Keyboards are usually the first thing to go on laptops.

Sailus

Thanks guys.

I was thinking along the same lines Sailus. If I wanted to upgrade and repair things how easy would it be to find to parts? That was one of my concerns.

Ahh,

Good point, I've replaced a couple of lcd screens and keyboards all readily available on ebay.

The stuff is super easy to replace.... just takes a little patience.

sailus wrote:
U need it now or within the next few months? u looking for light and trasnportable or powerful and inexpensive? There are quite a few good $600 laptops with decent computing power. If you don't mind a 15 or 16" screen and a 5 lb notbook, there are some real bargains out there. There are top of the line core 2 duo laptops for $1500 and up. New netbooks are comming out in the 1st Q of 2010 with a core 2 duo processor and the Ion 2 graphics card (Nvidia 9600M) 3bs, 11.5" screen and less than an inch thick for $700 and up. There are atom netbooks that have virtually no graphics capability but sell for $250 and up.

As far as brands, you can't go wrong with Toshiba. We all use Dell laptops in my busines cause of service issues (overnight service and loaners). We have had very little problems with the Dells for the past 5 years.


Sailus

Ha ha,

I just bought a new lab top with Intel's Core I7 processors for way less than $1,500. It's smoking fast! I even got a free $100 wireless headset all w/free shipping. Here are the specs below. Cuz you should call me and I can explain to you how to get better pricing than HP's online listed price. As long as you are enrolled you can also get a student discount as well.



Operating system
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Processor
Intel Core i7-720QM Processor (Yeah Baby!)

Display
17.3" Diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900) (Yeah Baby!)

Dimensions
16.2" (W) x 10.9" (D) x 1.37"(min H)/1.70" (max H)

Weight
7.74 lbs

Memory
6144MB DDR3

Total memory slots
2

Maximum memory expansion
8192MB

Graphics card
Nvidia GeForce GT 230M (NB10P GE) discrete 1024MB up to 2815MB total graphics memory with 1024MB dedicated (Yeah Baby!)

Networking
Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

Broadband wireless
Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN & Bluetooth

Primary CD/DVD drive
LightScribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD R/RW Double Layer

Hard drive
500GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive [gigabyte is defined as 1,000,000,000 bytes, accessible capacity may vary]

Primary battery
8-Cell Lithium-Ion battery

Personalization
HP Espresso Imprint finish & HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone

Front-side bus (processor dependent)
1333MHz FSB (WOW)

AC adapter
120W AC Adapter

PCI expansion
1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

I/O ports
4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 4th port shared with eSATA 2 Headphone out 1 microphone-in HDMI 1 VGA (15-pin) eSATA + USB 2.0 1 RJ-11 (modem) 1 RJ -45 (LAN) 1 notebook expansion port 3 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire (4-pin) 1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver)

Speakers
Altec Lansing with SRS Premium Sound and Sub-Woofer

Software, full versions
HP Help & Support HP PC Recovery HP Advisor HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection Microsoft Works HP MediaSmart Cyberlink DVD Suite Adobe Acrobat Reader HP Games Powered by Wild Tangent

Software, introductory versions
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (including 60 days complimentary live update) Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition: 60 Day Trial


Basic warranty
1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Toll Free Support (NA) 1-Year Free Hardware Technical Support 30-Days Free Limited Software Support with 1-Year (from date of purchase) Free Limited Software Support with Product Registration.

ENERGY STAR Qualified
YES