Replying to question for college students and computer nerds

so next year i'm going to be a freshman at UVM and i'm going to need a computer. i really don't know much about computers, but i know i want a laptop, and i know i don't want to spend more than $1200. i want something that will be fast and powerful. any suggestions of models or where to look? oh yeah and i don't want an apple.
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-steve

[i treat each day like its game seven in overtime.
born to shine at home and over border lines.]