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Smart/ College Kids: Please Read!

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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
I'm trying to pick out a laptop for college, and I feel utterly swamped with indecision. I'm thinking of a Toshiba with the i3-330m processor, but only b/c of the battery life and a snappy salesman. I need something with at least:
4gb ram
2GHz processing speed
Dual Core
100GB memory
Under 700$
4 Hours Battery Life*****
Many Karma's for a good soul to help me in my quest.

Jun 11 2010 5:44PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
You know that battery life all depends on what you are doing?


Oh and inb4 Apple trendwhores.
Jun 11 2010 5:45PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
..in after PC fanboys who want to make everything a mac vs pc debate?
Jun 11 2010 5:48PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
PC means personal computer, not windows.

And who says I am a Windows fanboy? I just know that there will be several members pushing for a Mac with nothing to back up the argument.
Jun 11 2010 5:50PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
my brother has a similar toshiba laptop and is kinda satisfied with it. it had serious ventilation problems, but windows 7 (vs. vista) solved these issues pretty much.

i would go for that thing, looks good, but check if the graphics card is a good one, because its normally an area where cheap pcs suck. so you might be able to find a similar laptop with a better gc at the same price.

and if the laptop isnt the best thing ever, the fuck, it was only 700 $ and you can buy another one in two years. seems better than buying a 1500+ mac and have to use it 4 years and have to worry about anything because it was so fucking expensive.
Jun 11 2010 5:52PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
Okay, I do not want a a Mac because it will not support my school's software......please don't turn my legitimate request into a selfish debate to amplify your personal tastes. If you want to get technical, I am looking for something with a high capacity battery, but there's really no reason to exemplify your intelligence in my post, as you did not provide a helpful answer. If you're looking for a big karma boost, please provide a helpful answer.
Jun 11 2010 5:53PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
^directed at no_steeze
Jun 11 2010 5:54PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
Well of course I will give you a very thought out and well researched answer because a big karma boost is involved!


Well in that case, I would recommend going with th....... oh wait.... who gives a fuck about a number on the internet full of teenage fucks.

-k to you OP
Jun 11 2010 5:55PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
you know what i mean, it's a colloquial term. and i teasingly called you a fanboy because you were the first post and brought up the mac vs pc debate.. yes, there are plenty of people who buy macs for no good reason but some of you PC warriors act like there's no logical reason or way i could prefer macs.. i dont get the debate, to each his own, they each have pros and cons
Jun 11 2010 5:56PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
i forgot, i use a decent (~700$, build on performance, not on weight or battery power) laptop as my regular pc and go to seminars/lectures with my 300$ asus eeepc netbook.

best thing ever, 10 hours battery at best, 5-6 hours on full retard mode and can handle word/excel, calculation programs easily. the smaller screen is NO DEAL whatsoever, you actually dont mind.

might be a possibility.
Jun 11 2010 5:57PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
even tough internal memory isnt that big a deal, i advice you to get something around 500gig-ish

my previous laptop had 150gig and i found it a bit on the short side, i always had to plug in my external harddrive if i wanted to pick a movie or watch a series....

spend like 50$ more and have more than enough space, you wont regret, especially if you watch a lot of movies/series on your pc....

just my 2cent....

and i myself am very happy with my HP intel I5 core, i think it's a DV7 ....
Jun 11 2010 5:59PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
I am still very curious as to why you are still calling a 'PC warrior'. Was there any indication as to what OS I am running right now?
Jun 11 2010 5:59PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
dude i dont give a shit haha... im just saying drop the stupid debate. accept that people can use macs for reasons other than looking good
Jun 11 2010 6:16PM
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1337
Posts: 31053 - Karma: 29,231
gainsaver.com
Jun 11 2010 6:16PM
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2L208
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
get a refurbished macbook, i have had mine over two years and not one problem yet
Jun 11 2010 6:17PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
+k to you good sir, first helpful response I've received. I suppose I am more curious about brand reputability, as I don't have the time nor the expertise to build one myself, although I am fully aware it is the best option. I am going to be a college student in need of running multiple apps at once, really no gaming besides Jibbin and the occasional flash game.
    So, my main priorities are battery longevity and processing speed. I'll be taking notes, viewing multiple web pages and applications at once, and listening to lots of music/ working with musical applications. Please list some reputable brands and models, if you can. Also, I prefer a screen that is in current standard dimensions, widescreens create obnoxious distortion. My main goal is to have a laptop that can make it through my full schedule without needing a recharge. Thank you for your advice thus far, I hope this new knowledge will help.
    As for no_steeze, I also could care less about karma, so if negating mine made you feel like a big man, I'm more than happy to accommodate you. I understand if you need to compensate, but please try to be more helpful in your responses.

Jun 11 2010 6:18PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
op go on amazon and look at batterys I did this for my laptop and saved a ton I was able to order the laptop with a 3 cell and a high capacity 6 cell for roughly the same cost ad the laptop with a regular 6 cell from the manufacturer. Also if they try to screw you on ram or hard drive, these are both very easy to upgrade yourself, and upgrading ram doesn't void the warranty on any comp I have seen
Jun 11 2010 6:27PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
Generally opening up the laptop itself voids it.
Jun 11 2010 6:28PM
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2L208
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB990LL/A?mco=MTA4MzIzMzA $900 7 hours of battery life, 2.26 gig processor 2 gigs of ram upgradeable to 8gigs no viruses
Jun 11 2010 6:34PM
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1405 - Karma: 1,576
I went to business school and pretty much everything we did had to be run off windows. I went to school with a PC, a nice one at that. It lasted me 2 and a half years of school and a year of living in Mammoth, but then pretty much shit the bed. At that point I was almost done with school and really wanted a mac, but had to have windows to run my school's programs. So I got a mac and installed bootcamp and windows. It was the best decision I ever made. My school life and my personal life were essentially split between the windows side and the mac side. Now that I've finished school and don't have to run programs that other people tell me to (at least not as often) I almost never use windows, and I am sooo glad that I have a macbook.

I know you said you don't want a mac, but if your reasons are because you need windows to run specific programs for school, you should know that there are ways around that. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Jun 11 2010 6:40PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
this.


A good mac + bootcamp = :)


I do everything except our business school stuff on the mac side, and when we have to do spreadsheet/programs/etc... I just boot it in windows, couldn't be easier.


Jun 11 2010 6:42PM
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2L208
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
beat me to it, mac is the fastest computer to run windows
Jun 11 2010 6:43PM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
I love my HP DV3T entertainment notebook. Running Windows 7. its got a 13 inch widescreen and I have a 22 inch external monitor too. Great for everything I do (Engineering) and also great for movies and such.

One more thing, def. get a backlit keyboard. Comes in handy in the dorms.
Jun 11 2010 6:47PM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
OMG YOU GOT A NEW ICON
Jun 11 2010 6:49PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
If I may be so blunt: I AM NOT BUYING A MAC. a "PC" doesn't just "Shit the bed." It all depends on what make and model you buy, hence my questions. Please try to answer my OP. If I need to restate:
Battery Longevity*****
4+gb Ram
Dual Core Processor (2+GHz)

Please, I am lower middle class, and this is a legitimate decision making process for me. Tout your fanboy-ism's in your own posts.


Jun 11 2010 6:55PM
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uni-corn
Posts: 13846 - Karma: 651
So you come to a site dominated by teenagers and Mac fanboys?

Best of luck chap.
Jun 11 2010 6:57PM
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Liam.Butler
Posts: 709 - Karma: 17
just stop,he already said he does not want a mac.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6102727&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#tabs
This looks like pretty good bang for your buck, Im a desktop fan boy so my laptop brand knowledge isnt the best.
Jun 11 2010 6:59PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
yes, this is really the only forum i am an active member of. I would rather have the opinions of people I can identify with than java sipping middle-aged men. I know that several of the more intelligent members on here have been to or are currently in college, although it seems that a sad few have graced my post thus far. Feel free to leave, no_steeze, your input hasn't been helpful.
Jun 11 2010 7:03PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
dude im all for the nonsense shittalking on here but keep it out of threads like this, youre just acting like a small dicked elitist nerd
Jun 11 2010 7:04PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
plus K EC, but can som1
Please
Help
Me Out
on my
original
Post????
Jun 11 2010 7:10PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
sorry i dont know shit about PCs haha..
Jun 11 2010 7:10PM
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find
Posts: 431 - Karma: 27
you don't need a good computer for college. you also don't need battery life. chances are, all you'll be using your computer for is writing essays and lab reports, surfing the internet, watching a ton of Hulu, and maybe making a few spreadsheets. also, whenever you use your computer it will be plugged into the wall. i've seen maybe twelve people ever using laptops during class, and about half of them were just tooling around because taking notes is much easier by hand.

so the only advice i can give you (though i guess you won't be taking it) is to just get a mac because they simply don't get viruses. i'm not saying that anybody running windows will get screwed by the internet, but i just know that a few of my friends got viruses and it's a huge pain in the ass to have a broken computer at school.
Jun 11 2010 7:17PM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
It's fags like you that give mac users a bad name. You not only give a link to a laptop that has half the ram that OP requested but its $200 over his limit. What reasoning do you have for suggesting this other than you're a loser mac user who knows nothing other than macs are trendy?
Jun 11 2010 7:25PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14486 - Karma: 10,632
Look for an HP. I'm no computer wiz, but HP makes the most quality "PC". I do love my Mac though haha.
Jun 11 2010 7:26PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
yeah, youre helping so much more with this post.. seriously cant you fucks find a PC circle jerk forum to talk about this shit on?
Jun 11 2010 7:27PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
on a lot there are little panels to open specifically for upgrading ram

and I know my case is unique, but on mine i need to take off the whole back. However, the manufacturer said the warranty is still legit if you only touch the ram or hard drive

just trying to give a few tips because i know that hes looking to save money
Jun 11 2010 7:30PM
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Joe_
Posts: 648 - Karma: 14
just got a toshiba a505-s6305 laptop for 900 bucks off newegg, with i7 + 4gb ram + nvidia 330m with 1gb dedicated ram, which puts it above the most expensive macbook pro ($2,200) in terms of hardware. i'm gonna try and install mac osx on it, if i get it to work i'll have a better machine for less than half the price. if it doesn't, ubuntu should work fine. ill probably keep windows on another partition just to run shit. oh, and i also got a 160gb solid-state drive, which should make it much much faster than anything else on the market now. word
Jun 11 2010 7:33PM
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popNfresh44
Posts: 3757 - Karma: 44
dude, are you serious? macs are definitely not faster than a good PC for running windows. also, if you were to match specs of a powerful PC laptop on a Mac, you would end up spending literally three times as much.

I have a gateway laptop, it has core2duo @ 2.1 GHz, 4GB RAM, 64 bit, standard intel graphics (not bad, not great either), 320GB HD. The battery lasts about 2.5 hours, but you can upgrade to a 6 cell battery which lasts around 5 hours. its 15.6" of screen, a full keyboard and numpad, its thin and has great ventilation. Cost me $700 a year ago. I believe the model is NV58.

hope this helps
Jun 11 2010 7:39PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
Thanks Joe n PopNFresh, how reliable has the Toshiba been? I'm not gonna claim to b a computer wiz, but i have enough experience with the internet to avoid viruses, and macs get 'terminal illness' instead. So, my main concern is motherboard reliability, screen durability, keyboard + pad durability, etc.
Jun 11 2010 8:02PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,949
When i added memory to my computer, i had two MAJOR warranty problems and it wasn't void...



Since when did you turn into me 3 years ago? You're unprovoked hate is annoying.
Jun 11 2010 8:15PM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
don't mind him, he's just longing for what he lacks.
Jun 11 2010 8:33PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
don't get a mac. whatever you do.
Jun 11 2010 8:36PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
Click for larger image
Jun 11 2010 8:39PM
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[konrad]
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
Lenovo IBM Thinkpad
Jun 11 2010 9:14PM
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BrewskiJr
Posts: 5738 - Karma: 1,478
Dell Latitude my friend. I absolutely love mine. Had not had a single problem with it. Here is a latitude in your price range

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/latitude-e6510/pd.aspx?refid=latitude-e6510&s=bsd&cs=04
Jun 11 2010 9:38PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
didn't read any other posts but i have a dell standard issued for my school adn it sucks dick. 
If i could get a new computer I'de surely choose and apple.   apples really are superior compared to most PC's  - not all  there are some solid PC's  but you ahve to pay up for them. 
Jun 11 2010 9:40PM
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BrewskiJr
Posts: 5738 - Karma: 1,478
really must have been a shitty Dell. All the dells I have ever used or anyone in my family have used have last yeaars. Dell service is way superior to Mac too. My service plan, if i need something, a Dell representative would show up in my dorm room need be it. However, I have never had a problem with my latitude.

The battery is 6 hours (standard)
over 2 GHz processor
a 500gb +250gb storage
15.6" display
not too shabby
Jun 11 2010 9:53PM
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remove
Posts: 2566 - Karma: 1,026

I've had really good luck with ASUS

Jun 11 2010 9:53PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
just get something cheap with those specs

save your cash money
Jun 12 2010 12:41AM
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icon1234
Posts: 3081 - Karma: 1,475
You really should just get a 15 inch MBP. I am no mac fan boy, in fact I just dropped 1200 bucks on PC desktop that I made myself. However in relation to LAPTOPS, I feel from personal experience (I own a 13 MBP) nothing can beat a mac. They were designed so elegantly that I have yet to find a single problem with the actual design of the machine. The operating system runs terrific with the hardware specs, and it really outdoes any other laptop regardless of its specs. In addition after using countless of friends laptops in my dorm, I felt my mac was significantly faster in almost all aspects even when their laptop had equal or better specs then mine.

If your really interested that much in having a solid performing computer with regards to its specs you should just buy a PC instead. Your going to get a much more powerful machine and pay way less. So if you want a laptop, I really believe that your not going to be able to find a better machine. However, Mac PC's are garbage and wouldn't use one if I got it for free.
Jun 12 2010 2:37AM
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Wall_Nut
Posts: 629 - Karma: 113
I need a PC for my school, I've narrowed it down to a few brands:
Toshiba
Asus
Dell
Gateway
what do you recommend?
Jun 12 2010 2:46AM
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