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InvisibleYarry
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Registered: 01/04/04
Posts: 23,762
Laptop Advice?
    #8296260 - 04/17/08 01:46 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Im looking to pick up a laptop for when I go to school in september. First off is it worth waiting til around september, or would it be just as good to get one now? I know computer prices are really variable.

Anyways im looking to spend around a grand, what would you guys recommend? What features, what specs? Also of note, I will be using it as my primary computer, so some music downloading/torrents/not so graphically intense gaming will be going on as well.


--------------------
Grumpy Old Man.

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InvisibleTechno_Raver

Registered: 05/05/06
Posts: 328
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Yarry]
    #8296364 - 04/17/08 02:08 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

If you wait till September the prices are likely to drop, and you could get a better system for less money. Also you should shop around Labor Day, for even a better deal. I would recommend a dual core processor, with at least 3 gigs of ram, and a 160gb hard drive. Also Nvidia graphics card, with minimum 256mb vram, for gaming. I've seen an HP in best buy yesterday with all those features, and a built in webcam for around $760.

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OfflineNephlyte
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Techno_Raver]
    #8296446 - 04/17/08 02:29 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Techno raver has the same advice i might give.

Other things you might consider:
Will you be carrying it around all day?

If so, you should consider a couple of other factors. Namely weight and battery life.

I didn't put much importance on this until i had to carry my laptop to every class (plus lunch and library) for school. Now i can't believe i used that 6 lb monster for as long as i did.

My new laptop is around two lbs and gets 6 hours of battery life (i never knew how much it sucked to be chained to a wall outlet). Along with its power adapter, it weighs less than most of my books.

With a 1000 dollar budget, you probably can't get many new laptops like mine, since i got mine second hand. Also, any new laptop you could buy for that amount would be a limited device, which you might not want.

Anyway, just throwing out another variable to consider.


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana

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Invisiblebadchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,379
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Nephlyte]
    #8296539 - 04/17/08 02:48 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Not to sidetrack but just a quick question for you guys: Do the majority of people take notes via laptop in lectures nowadays? When I was in college, nobody took notes on a laptop.

I think I'd go absolutely crazy in a lecture hall with 500 people simultaneously typing on a laptop.

The only comp advice I'd offer is buy a full keyboard and mouse. I can't stand typing significant amounts on a laptop.


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...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge.  It is an indellible experience; it is forever known.  I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P.  Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H.  Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436

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Offlinethe man
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: badchad]
    #8296831 - 04/17/08 04:02 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

macbook. wait for student deal. 100 bucks off and a free nano. cant go wrong... garanteed to lst longer then a PC and not bullshit customer service.


--------------------
And Moses Said "Let my mushrooms grow!"

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Offlinegilesypopper
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: the man]
    #8296848 - 04/17/08 04:07 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

the man said:
macbook. wait for student deal. 100 bucks off and a free nano. cant go wrong... garanteed to lst longer then a PC and not bullshit customer service.




Quote:

the man said:
macbook. wait for student deal. 100 bucks off and a free nano. cant go wrong... garanteed to lst longer then a PC and not bullshit customer service.




Quote:

the man said:
macbook. wait for student deal. 100 bucks off and a free nano. cant go wrong... garanteed to lst longer then a PC and not bullshit customer service.




Quote:

the man said:
macbook. wait for student deal. 100 bucks off and a free nano. cant go wrong... garanteed to lst longer then a PC and not bullshit customer service.




...FTW!


--------------------
Law breakers, law makers, let us fight them all, why not.

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OfflineSeussA
Error: divide byzero


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Posts: 23,480
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Techno_Raver]
    #8299677 - 04/18/08 03:05 AM (16 years, 1 month ago)

> macbook

Although I like OS-X, I feel that Apple hardware is way overpriced.

> If you wait till September the prices are likely to drop

If only it were that easy. Prices drop because the newest, latest, greatest comes out making what you were looking at "obsolete". In an odd sort of way, the prices stay fairly fixed while the models change.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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OfflineNephlyte
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Seuss]
    #8300862 - 04/18/08 12:38 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

Seuss said:
> macbook

Although I like OS-X, I feel that Apple hardware is way overpriced.

> If you wait till September the prices are likely to drop

If only it were that easy.  Prices drop because the newest, latest, greatest comes out making what you were looking at "obsolete".  In an odd sort of way, the prices stay fairly fixed while the models change.




:thumbup:


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana

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Offlinethe man
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Registered: 08/12/99
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Nephlyte]
    #8301024 - 04/18/08 01:33 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

but after 100 bucks off and a free 180 dollar ipod you can sell. get a good macbook for like a grand or less for you guys in the states. and if you feel the hardware is over preiced take into account customer service. how many horror stories have you heard of peoples Hps havign to be sent away not to have a computer for a month, having to deal with crappy sales and tech people ect ect. something to consider to


--------------------
And Moses Said "Let my mushrooms grow!"

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OfflineSeussA
Error: divide byzero


Folding@home Statistics
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Posts: 23,480
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Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: the man]
    #8301191 - 04/18/08 02:26 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Don't get me started ranting on HP... horrible people, sucking horse penis, hacking phlem, have problems, shouldn't have bought an HP.

But... Apple has it's fair share of problems... keyboards that don't work, keyboard updates that don't help, batteries that die, wireless problems, top cases that break near the palm rest, faulty harddrives, overheating problems, etc.

I would deal with Apple techsupport over HP techsupport any day of the week, without question.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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Invisiblejohnm214
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Yarry]
    #8301521 - 04/18/08 03:58 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Go with dell. The exploding catch-on-fire/ burn you're legs battery isn't a defect, its a feature

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InvisibleDieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: johnm214]
    #8301590 - 04/18/08 04:23 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

johnm214 said:
Go with dell.  The exploding catch-on-fire/ burn you're legs battery isn't a defect, its a feature



:lol:


I have a Lenovo, and like it very much.  They are a little more expensive than the mainstream brands, but the hardware is quality.  (For example the power jack is not directly soldered to the motherboard, unlike HP and Dell)

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Invisiblejohnm214
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: DieCommie]
    #8301602 - 04/18/08 04:27 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

also a good point. The soldered on power jack makes it difficult to use the laptop as a laptop, i.e. unplugging/plugging more than once a month without the thing losing power.

Dell quality
VVV

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InvisibleTechno_Raver

Registered: 05/05/06
Posts: 328
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: johnm214]
    #8302521 - 04/18/08 09:19 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

I used to be a dell tech, and I'll tell you- we had a lot of work, even on the new units.

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Invisiblejohnm214
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Techno_Raver]
    #8302586 - 04/18/08 09:51 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

omg!!!


Please tell me, on the Inspiron 5150, did you infact use a brand new motherboard to replace it when the ac power plug inevitably becomes detached, as the indian folks claimed, or did you just solder the thing back on/ use a refurbished one that had the plug soldered back on?


And about what percentage of the work you did was related to detached AC plugs on the motherboard

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OfflineSeussA
Error: divide byzero


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Registered: 04/27/01
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: johnm214]
    #8302830 - 04/18/08 11:12 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

> did you infact use a brand new motherboard

In my experience, seldom do you ever get a new part when serviced under warranty. One of the reasons I try to talk my clients out of unneeded repairs. More often than not, the refurbished parts fail. My experiences are mostly with HP and Apple.

I know for fact with HP, when I return a warranty part as "unverified failure" that HP simply reboxes the part and sends it back out. I guarantee that every part I send back to HP is a verified failure. (I have actually been sent the same part that I returned on a previous case.) I hate HP channel services.

With Apple, I get new parts for a month or two after the model is launched. After that, almost all parts are refurbished. Apple actually records information about who refurbished the parts and can track down bad lots. Did I mention that I hate HP channel services? Anybody that buys an HP computer deserves what they get. Junk. (Except for their servers which are nice, but those come from the Compaq side of the company.)


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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InvisibleTechno_Raver

Registered: 05/05/06
Posts: 328
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: johnm214]
    #8303062 - 04/19/08 12:24 AM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

johnm214 said:
omg!!!


Please tell me, on the Inspiron 5150, did you infact use a brand new motherboard to replace it when the ac power plug inevitably becomes detached, as the indian folks claimed, or did you just solder the thing back on/ use a refurbished one that had the plug soldered back on?


And about what percentage of the work you did was related to detached AC plugs on the motherboard



I replaced the motherboard with a refurbished one, and sent the damaged one to dell, to fix. About 20%-30% of my work involved replacing motherboards due to power problems.

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InvisibleTechno_Raver

Registered: 05/05/06
Posts: 328
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Seuss]
    #8303090 - 04/19/08 12:33 AM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

Seuss said:
> Anybody that buys an HP computer deserves what they get. Junk.




I have two HP Laptops, and I haven't had any problems with them. I think HP is definitely better than DELL. Well, the only issue that I would address, it that the baterry life sucks, but I could get a longer lasting battery.

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InvisibleDieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Seuss]
    #8303178 - 04/19/08 01:12 AM (16 years, 1 month ago)

This is a prime example of why it pays to be hardware savvy.

I buy from ebay, extra cheap. No extended or manufactured warranty, but it doesnt matter because with with the money I save I can self insure/warranty. Parts are easy to replace, and its quicker to just replace yourself. Dont have to deal with dumb tech support or annoying bureaucracy.

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InvisibleHeavyToilet
The Heaviest OfThem All
Male

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 9,458
Loc: British Columbia
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Yarry]
    #8304463 - 04/19/08 01:08 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

If you absolutely need to get a laptop for school here's my recommendation:

Get a shitty used laptop for $200.

Then spend the other $800 on real PC.

For many types of courses, you can't use a laptop in them. For all the time you'd spend trying to get the formatting right or whatever, you could just write down the notes (like try taking any mathematical course and you'll see what I mean). If you're going to be taking any science courses you can pretty much forget it (unless it's computer science).

I got a computer for $800 (after shipping and taxes) and it can easily run any game made to date... amazing computer. I'm a student but I'm very happy with my decision not to get a laptop.

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InvisibleDieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: HeavyToilet]
    #8305698 - 04/19/08 07:31 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

I dont use my laptop to type notes at all. I use it to do work around school and with other students.

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OfflineNephlyte
Misfortunate One
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Registered: 10/11/05
Posts: 1,025
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: HeavyToilet]
    #8306668 - 04/19/08 11:45 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

HeavyToilet said:
If you absolutely need to get a laptop for school here's my recommendation:

Get a shitty used laptop for $200.

Then spend the other $800 on real PC.





I like this and Diecommie's use of ebay. These are things i do.

I keep a limited, light laptop with a good battery life and keep a high powered machine at home.


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana

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Offlinethe man
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Registered: 08/12/99
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Nephlyte]
    #8306870 - 04/20/08 12:49 AM (16 years, 1 month ago)

ee Pc by asus


--------------------
And Moses Said "Let my mushrooms grow!"

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Offlinerazeshul
SPORE PRINT
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: HeavyToilet]
    #8319893 - 04/23/08 05:34 PM (16 years, 29 days ago)

try a sony vaio :P


--------------------
Razeshul is the name of my avatar and the action described here are all his action from his unreal world.

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InvisibleHeavyToilet
The Heaviest OfThem All
Male

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 9,458
Loc: British Columbia
Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: Nephlyte]
    #8320977 - 04/23/08 09:20 PM (16 years, 29 days ago)

Quote:

Nephlyte said:
Quote:

HeavyToilet said:
If you absolutely need to get a laptop for school here's my recommendation:

Get a shitty used laptop for $200.

Then spend the other $800 on real PC.





I like this and Diecommie's use of ebay. These are things i do.

I keep a limited, light laptop with a good battery life and keep a high powered machine at home.




Yeah. What's the point in getting a high end laptop if you're going to use it primarily for school work and maybe surfing the net? That's just dumb and a waste of money.

I secretly laugh when I see people hauling around these brand new expensive laptops. They might as well have sucker painted on their back.

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Offlinetimmeh_87
Scientist
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Loc: Canada
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Re: Laptop Advice? [Re: HeavyToilet]
    #8334224 - 04/27/08 01:59 PM (16 years, 25 days ago)

Get a lenovo Thinkpad for sure. Ive had two and they are virtually indestructible. They are used a lot in industry because of that, and because they are made of /quality parts/.

You can find many good deals for off-lease thinkpads from universities or companies on ebay. I picked my first one up like that for $500, and my second one (R61) cost $700 new on ebay.


--------------------
Shroom up my rating if you think Im smart :laugh:. I'll hit you back if you seem cool.

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