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Laptops for College

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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
Hi, I know many of you know a bunch of stuff about laptops and computers and many of you are in college and own a laptop, and I would like your help. I hope this helps out other high school senors who are also interested in purchasing a laptop. I know there are probably other computer threads but Technoloy is crazy so I made a new Thread

Ok, well I will be attending college at the end of the summer and I need a lap top. I have been done a bit of research but, What do you NewSchoolers recommend and which do you have?

Pros, Cons, Links, price, or Anything that can help my research out would be greatly apreciated.

Just makes it easier for me to reseach and see other people opinions.

Right now my favorite is the Dell inspiron 9300
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/inspn/topics/en/inspn_9400_sp_overview?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
-I have heard good reviews about it and I know some people who have it and havent had any problems with it.

Thanks for your help NS!
Feb 26 2006 4:32PM
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bhill2.0
Posts: 6573 - Karma: 197
Everyone in my family had HP laptops, im not sure what kind but i was away and they switched it up and now we all have Powerbook G4's , there sick.

I know alot of people that use apple notebooks.

I dunno if this was any help.
Feb 26 2006 4:35PM
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Deafboy
Posts: 643 - Karma: 52
sterile
Feb 26 2006 4:39PM
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acoustikrage
Posts: 1001 - Karma: 10
ibm thinkpad t43.
Feb 26 2006 4:45PM
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Lord_Piot
Posts: 3727 - Karma: 13
the new apple laptop


use your student number and you save like 300 bucks off the price if you buy from their website (edu discount)

and buy applecare.
Feb 26 2006 5:30PM
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Jib_This
Posts: 8272 - Karma: 9
Something by apple.

MacbookPro, whatever the new iBook is called (it's not out yet)

Don't get some piece of shit that uses windows.
Feb 26 2006 5:32PM
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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
Yeah how do you get that discount?
Feb 26 2006 5:36PM
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acoustikrage
Posts: 1001 - Karma: 10
^cuz mac osx is so much better just because it's made by apple....damn, you freaking tools.
Feb 26 2006 5:36PM
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scarroll
Posts: 420 - Karma: 10
Yeah an iBook would be crazy, but wait (not shure if they are out yet) and get the intel iBook it is like 4x faster.
Feb 26 2006 6:00PM
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Badfish2
Posts: 3453 - Karma: 21
I'm pro windows, but my brother got a new powerbook G4 (12") the same time that I got my laptop (compaq turion64 14") .. If i didn't need it for development, i would have seriously gone with the mac- battery life was insane, resolution was amazing and it was portable (but $$$)

you also have to decide if you want a portable desktop or a laptop. cause 17" widescreen is a big screen. that dell you picked looks like a good deal but more in the portable desktop category because of the size. I haven't heard too much about the processor, (the dual core) but spring for the graphics card a gig of ram and if a larger battery is available, take it.
PS - black keys are awesome.. white ones get dirrrrty.
Feb 26 2006 6:26PM
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CooksCorner
Posts: 3939 - Karma: 22
if your going windows style, get the Acer Ferrari, its super powerful, light and stylie. If you want Mac...well thats easier its just basically how much money you have.
Feb 26 2006 6:41PM
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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
hey where did you get the compaq turion64 14" from. Website or store? Because im looking at it so just wodering
Feb 26 2006 7:05PM
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MitchPee
Posts: 8871 - Karma: 1,509
MAC's are overrated
Feb 26 2006 7:10PM
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TheStamos
Posts: 9311 - Karma: 910
Get a mac, im getting one soon. I have a regular pc right now with windows but im stoked on mac.
Feb 26 2006 7:17PM
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Badfish2
Posts: 3453 - Karma: 21
I got it from Futureshop .. it's a compaq with the amd64 ml-2, 80gig 5400rpm drive, 1 gig ram, combodrive and some radeon video card (200m?). the keys are white (which i hate now, i read newspapers a lot so they're kinda black now)

It's my first laptop, i really like it, seems pretty sturdy - i've been through 10 international airports in the past 2 months. I hate the software volume buttons.. which don't always mute. I'm going to get a spare 12 cell battery, the one I have just doesn't cut it.. only lasts 3 hours at best.

I mean, i can do everything that I want.. play all the games i want - madden 06 w/ high graphics, Ut2004 - it's portable (pretty light) and it wasn't overly expensive - i think it came to $1200cdn. I love having all of my connectors on the side too.

i would totally go with widescreen though, once you use it, you don't notice the lack of height.. you actually gain screen space.
Feb 26 2006 7:26PM
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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
Thanks man that was alot of help
Feb 26 2006 7:27PM
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dtn13
Posts: 1543 - Karma: 143
macbook is where its at
Feb 26 2006 7:31PM
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tahoeskier170
Posts: 384 - Karma: 10
im not in college but my old skool required laptops. i have a dell inspiron 8100 that my dad found at his office (dell set him and med partners up wit a ton of shit) and i love it. appels are nice but pricy. the sony viao series are nice
Feb 26 2006 7:32PM
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Badfish2
Posts: 3453 - Karma: 21
no worries..
for the most part, most of the bigger brand names are all good, nobody's really making crap. People think that just because they're paying a lot of money, they're getting better - but they don't need half the shit that they get.
oh, and watch the hinges, some of the cheaper laptops (and even my dad's toshiba) seem to go loose.
also, buying online is great and sometimes cheaper, but for laptops it's best to try before you buy.. especially the pointing device.
Feb 26 2006 7:54PM
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Capt.Flannel
Posts: 10928 - Karma: 36
I worked at IT (computer place) first semester and judging from how many problems and fixes we did, get an apple. On a college network, viruses over the network are VERY common and with a non-apple, you'll be succeptable to having your hard drive replaced atleast once. The only problem with Apple on campuses is that if it DOES break, not many places have people that know how to fix them or have pieces to replace them. But I rarely saw a broken Apple.
Feb 26 2006 8:11PM
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therealshiznaz
Posts: 234 - Karma: 10
go for an apple...I didn't get an apple because I was woried about making the switch, and lots of my friends did and I use theres a lot and regret not getting a apple
Feb 26 2006 10:12PM
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throwswitch
Posts: 467 - Karma: 10
macbookpro. on the apple store webstie lick education on the right and after a few simple questions your saving 200$+
Feb 26 2006 11:13PM
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rockymountainmilitia
Posts: 2706 - Karma: 12
I have a buddy in engineering who switched to mac and the rest of the whole program is on PC. No problems the switch is pretty much flawless. Universities tend to run their datbases and such on programs compatible with both mac and pc. I also use a powerbook g4, they are absolute gold. Pricey but really when you look at what your getting. a macbook or powerbook is a high end dell or ibm thinkpad. your paying around the same price as getting so much more with mac. plus. if you ever are thinking about becoming a pro skier you hafta have a powerbook g4.
Feb 26 2006 11:14PM
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throwswitch
Posts: 467 - Karma: 10
even if your apple does break, you can get it insured by whatever insurance carrier your parents have. DO NOT GET THE 300$ APPLE CARE PLAN. waste of money, they dont replace hardware issues, i learned the hardway 975 bones later. call your insurance carrier and for like 50 bucks a year they cover everything, including if you drop it or something, but macs are durable so it shouldnt be a problem. also with the mail in service for repairs, they send you a bax for the computer, all postage prepaid, and you get it back all fixe up about a week later = sooo sick. ok done ranting, but pretty much macs are the shit
Feb 26 2006 11:17PM
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chowe6
Posts: 357 - Karma: 30
if you know the OS then get the apple powerbook if you dont like the mac os then get an ibm thinkpad theyre expensive though, what ever you do stay away from HP and dell they are made cheap and fall apart fast, i work in the IT field and do this stuff for a living so just so you have a basis for taking my opinion, if you want a good cheap laptop go with gateway or toshiba (what i have) of course the best overall would be alienware but those will run you about 3000 and theyre best for gaming and shit, so there you go if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Feb 26 2006 11:23PM
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spere
Posts: 6105 - Karma: 248
MacBook Pro
Feb 26 2006 11:30PM
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JockinJLoads
Posts: 3480 - Karma: 6
one thing, make sure you get a vid card, and at least a gig of ram for all of those games and porn and music and such
Feb 26 2006 11:43PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
i love my mac, i recomend one
Feb 27 2006 12:05AM
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P-JO
Posts: 6853 - Karma: 75
I agree with everyone who said APPLE, you will not regret it. And if you do regret it, shame on you. Even my 14inch ibook, probably the weakest of the laptops Apple has (currently), is amazing for me, so dive in!
Feb 27 2006 12:26AM
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highSPEEDchase
Posts: 296 - Karma: 10
i would recommend hp (i have a dv1000 that is awesome) as well and the fujitsu lifebooks, my sis has that and it is sweet too.

i would not recommend sony, my family has had like three sonys and they have these nifty features that make you want to buy them, but the sonys that we had always crapped out. they throw in all this crazy half ass software that bogs the machine down.

apple is good too, but i personally dont liek the way the OS works, drives me crazy at work. so there is my 2 cents.
Feb 27 2006 2:21AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
i have the same one except 512ram but i plan on bumping it up too 1.25GB soon.


the only thing i wish i had was a 2.0 instead of a 1.6 but the 2.0 wasnt availble with compaq when i bought mine
Feb 27 2006 9:26AM
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Ghst
Posts: 5820 - Karma: 10
15 inch PowerBook
Feb 27 2006 9:34AM
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Schoening
Posts: 14332 - Karma: 1,268
powerbook
Feb 27 2006 9:36AM
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Cam
Posts: 2313 - Karma: 56
no no, get the new macbook....its the shit!
Feb 27 2006 10:05AM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
I have a powerbook g4 and i highly reccomend it for school. super slim and portable for bringing to class to take notes, never had a problem with freezing or anything, and good if your into video/photo editing.
Feb 27 2006 10:39AM
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