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Laptop help

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pomme-de-terre
Posts: 3915 - Karma: 703
my desktop PC is on its last legs, the power supply is dying at an ever increasing pace (it just shuts off at random), the hard drive is almost full, and its like 8 years old anyways.

im taking my senior year of highschool at a college (2 days of school a week whatwhat!?) and i was thinking about getting a laptop so i could take it back and forth to class, and i was wondering if you guys had any quick suggestions or some tips or things to look when i go to buy a new laptop

realistically, im probably only going to use it to browse the internet, type essays/make presentations for school, and to watch videos/ listen to music, im not really a gamer, and my brother is a freelance videographer/editor, so if i ever need anything media-related done, i just send it to him and he does it for me, so that takes some requirements off the list, size is also not really an issue, (although.... the bigger the screen the better) id also like to keep it under $750

i know i should go to a store and talk to the people there, but im just looking for tips of what to look for and maybe some minimum requirements i should have in mind (like ram and memory and what-have-you)

+k for all help
Sep 7 2009 4:07PM
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SkiBumDreams
Posts: 560 - Karma: 10
If your main objectives are internet browsing and working with office and stuff you could look into a netbook vs a laptop, it would be especially nice considering how small and light weight they are which would be a huge bonus for going to and from class and you can get a decent one for around $300-$400. now they are smaller screens but with the extra money you were looking to spend you could create your own "docking station at your dorm desk consisting of monitor, keyboard, mouse, external dvd drive (netbooks dont have optical drives)and any other accessories you might want. now if you decide to go with a laptop make sure you pay attention to the size and weight of it if you plan on toting it to class everyday. For what you want to do you dont need top of the line, so it should be pretty easy to get below your price point. dell has great warranty coverage but you pay a bit for the name and such i am a fan of lenovo and toshiba laptops.
Sep 7 2009 4:50PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
What skibum said.

Netbooks are awesome for college. Battery life and size = everything good about them. They are no desktop replacement though.

I would buy a $200 netbook for school, and then a $400-500 notebook for surfing the net / watching movies / downloadin / burning things.
Sep 7 2009 5:54PM
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SkiBumDreams
Posts: 560 - Karma: 10
personally i dont see a reason for a netbook AND a notebook but on that note having a netbook and a desktop to use as a "server" (file storage, burning, large downloads, etc) might not be a bad idea or just replace your old comps power supply and upgrade to larger hard drives and more ram would be a good way to go. its actually what i was planning to do until my old desktop (about 8 years old) popped a capacitor on the motherboard.
Sep 8 2009 2:39AM
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Scott22~
Posts: 649 - Karma: 10
Power supply and a new hdd is like 100 bucks...
Sep 8 2009 2:49AM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
But if it's really 8 years old it might not really be worth holding on to.
You're probably gonna need a laptop in college, so just get a nice one and you'll be set for that too (I mean when you're actually graduated form highschool).
Sep 8 2009 2:52AM
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Scott22~
Posts: 649 - Karma: 10
In my experience there is no need for a laptop in college. Its a complete myth. Unless you are the type that likes to get together and have little study sessions where in reality you dont do shit for studying but instead delude yourself into thinking you are studying. Not to say a laptop isnt super easy and useful in many situations, but if youre hard up for cash dont believe you need a laptop to succeed. Errr unless you dont think you will be able to study in your living quarters... then you should definitely get one. Library computers can be in relatively loud locations compared to a nice little corner of some nearly uninhabited building hehe~
Sep 8 2009 2:58AM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
Haha yeah for most college students, laptops are perfectly useless. I got through my freshman year without needing one at all. My desktop was all that was necessary. So if you're still in HS and don't even know what you'll be doing in college, don't bother getting anything portable. Because more than likely you'll turn around when you pick your major and realize you need a completely different laptop/desktop for college if you do require one.
Sep 8 2009 8:31AM
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popNfresh44
Posts: 3757 - Karma: 44
why bring a laptop to HS classes? teachers will get pissed at you and there is virtually no point in my eyes, unless you suck at taking notes by hand. anyhow, i got a Gateway NV58, which was $699 in canada, and has more power than you need. its got a really nice solid frame, and a really dope keyboard with dedicated numpad. there are lots of options for laptops in that price range though, unless you get a Mac, where you can get an entry-level laptop for a much higher price.
Sep 8 2009 9:28AM
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sk1er
Posts: 614 - Karma: 10
If i were you id get a sick desktop for 400 bucks and a nice moniter to watch movies and shit on. reason being i had a lap top for two years, never took it to class and now none of my teacher allow them in class anyways. But i broke the screen on my lap top and just use it as a desktop and wish i had gotten a desktop to begin with instead of spending the money on a laptop.

But regaurdless of what you get id go with dell theyve taken good care of me.
Sep 8 2009 12:29PM
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ArnieP
Posts: 964 - Karma: 13
First time I have ever agreed with anything you have said.
Sep 8 2009 12:58PM
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Six.0.Tree-ski
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 67
dont get a netbook if you plan on typing fast for notes or even writing an essay... that would be a very stupid idea
Sep 8 2009 3:58PM
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yourthemannowdog
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 313
Throw it against the nearest wall.
Sep 8 2009 4:02PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
17 inch notebooks are awesome if you have a power outlet that follows you around everywhere you want to use your notebook.
Sep 8 2009 4:21PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i dont know about universities in the US, but in belgium you can buy cheap laptops through the university.
Basically the university orders a bunch of laptops via dell and they install university licenses of windows and other software, that and the fact they buy em in large quantities makes them super cheap+ you can configure your own laptop...

So i suggest you inform about it....
Sep 8 2009 6:18PM
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SkiBumDreams
Posts: 560 - Karma: 10
most of the 10 in netbooks have close to if not full sized keys, the only difference is some buttons like shift and caps lock etc are smaller than on a full sized keyboard. if you plan on toting it around with you be sure to look at size and especially weight whether netbook or notebook
Sep 8 2009 6:30PM
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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
i dont get it, i have an 18" and i get close to 3 hrs of battery time on it
Sep 8 2009 6:36PM
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yourthemannowdog
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 313
I think he threw it against the nearest wall, that's why he hasn't replied yet.
Sep 8 2009 7:33PM
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50in07
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 1,471
Mackbook pro
Sep 8 2009 8:27PM
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