What is a good laptop to get for school?

Question

I need a new &reliable laptop for university: typical word processing, internet, email, perhaps a small bit of video watching etc. Not looking to play games on it, so nothing fancy graphics-wise.

Preferably Windows Vista, brand doesn't matter TOO much but the more 'common/popular' ones would be nice. (acer, dell, hp, toshiba)

Budget is under $900 (Canadian) give or take a bit. Under 1000 for sure.

Lightweight and 13-15 inch screen; preferably 14.1, but 13.3 is good too.

Wireless internet, good battery life (3+ hours, 4-5 would be nice)

The average/typical storage size right now. Nothing huge, as long as the laptop will run at a fairly good speed.

Storage: the average would be ok. I'm guessing 2GB min?

Also, is Intel or AMD better? I'm looking for a laptop that'll last me 2-3 years at least. Really needs to be lightweight since I don't live on campus and will be busing, and doing a lot of walking.

Any suggestions/advice would be nice. Reliable brands, or a good place to buy them (not online). I've heard the LG one from futureshop (on promotion) is good, what do you guys think?

Thanks!

Answer 1

There's a pretty good HP 14.1" laptop. T5450(not sure of exact processor), 3GB, X3100. Price last time I saw it was about $650US.

Answer 2

A macbook is perfect.

All the things you want, it has.

Perfect for school, easy to carry around, amazing features, built in i-sight.

Just everything!

You will love it:)

Answer 3

HP Pavillion TX 2500z (tablet)

you can write on the screen and it is really fast. around $890  Base price american. Maybe a computer shop which sells hps can order one for you.

Answer 4

Go for Toshiba Satellite Series, core 2 duo. Most Technicians I met recommend Toshiba due to quality and support services. AMD is good for gaming and graphics. I recommend Intel. Yes, go for 2GB. Laptop nowadays have pre-installed Windows Vista. I just bought Toshiba Satellite L40-18Y, with 1.73khz. 200GB & 2 GB, with a cash price of $744.00. It's great. So great to watch DVD and music listening. If you go for cheaper one, go for ASUS or Fujitsu Siemens.

Answer 5

Alrighty then, lol.

If you’re buying a laptop, there are a few things to consider.

1.     The processor. Most, if not every decent laptop in today's market has dual-core technology. This means that it has two processors working as one to compute information. Now, what's the difference between speeds? In all reality, for a common user (that is not a hard-core computer geek like some of us), the difference between 1.8GHz and 2.0GHz is negligible. The only areas you will be able to notice will be in gaming, and video encoding.

2.     The memory. If the OS (Operating System) is a "32-bit" then it can only read approximately 3 GB of RAM. Only the "64-bit" processors can understand 4+ GB of RAM. RAM is what the computer uses to store temporary information, like open programs (internet, word processing, music players, etc...). A general rule of thumb is that the more RAM, the faster the computer will load programs/files to a point (as with everything). An industry standard nowadays is around 3 GB. The faster the "clock speed" of the ram (the higher the PC xxxx), the higher quality the RAM.

3.     Hard Drive space is what you store the more permanent information on - word files, music, videos, programs, etc....If you have an extensive music library (5000+ songs (legal songs)), then you should be looking at a computer with at least 250GB (1 GB = 1 Billion Bytes). If you don't really need all that space, then a laptop with 160+ GB of Hard Drive space would suffice.

4.     Graphics Processor!!! If you will not be watching many DVD's or playing any games, then you can settle for an integrated video processor such as the INTEL X3100. If you want the security of being able to play the occasional 3D game, then I would recommend a dedicated graphics card with dedicated memory (256MB or 512MB). You can check whether or not the card is integrated by going to "http://www.notebookcheck.net"

5.     Most laptops now feature DVD/CD Burners. Some offer a built in feature known as "Lableflash or Lightscribe." This will allow you to "etch" images on special CD/DVD's. It makes the finished CD/DVD look more professional.

6.     Price Comparison. Expect to spend $550+ for a decent laptop nowadays. You can sometimes (or during really good sales) find ones cheaper around $450.

       The first laptop I would recommend is the Toshiba M305D-S4829 from Circuit City this week. I just purchased it last Wednesday, and am typing on it right now. It has a ton of power, like seriously. I was playing BF2142 last night with no problems. It costs $699, but It'll be running strong for a few years before anything begins to become too demanding for it. The sound quality on this laptop is phenomenal. It has Harman/Kardon speakers that are Bose quality. It has 4GB of RAM, an ATI Radeon 3100 processor, which is nearly equal to most mid-range dedicated graphics processors. It support 802.11b/g/n networks. It has a standard webcam (not to mention facial recognition software for extra secured log-ons) and all the other features you need lol. The style on this laptop is phenomenal.

       If that is slightly out of your price range though, I would say go to Best Buy and pick up the HP DV5-1002NR. It costs $679, but it is nearly as good as the above laptop with only a few exceptions (it is actually better in some areas as well, lol). The touchpad on it has a glossy feel which is fine for cooler weather, but if its humid out or your fingers are the least bit sweaty, it becomes quite difficult to move the pointer. It has a slightly better video processor - the ATI Radeon 3200 (the main difference is that it has a HDMI output). It has a slightly larger screen at 15.4" WS. Its half a pound heavier, which isn't really a big deal to me at all. It also runs the 32-bit OS of Vista which will only support 3 GB of RAM, which is fine for nearly everything. I hope this helps you in your quest!

       The next two are right about tied for abilities if the above prices are a bit out of your budget. I would recommend testing each one, and then deciding which one you prefer better.

       The first one is the Toshiba L305D-S5868 from BestBuy this week at $549. It features the ATI Radeon 3100 which is capable of handling many 3D games, and in fact - it is the same video processor as the laptop that I am using. It features a built-in webcam, as well as standard DVD/CD re-write ability. It has a 250GB hard drive running at 5400RPM. One feature that it could improve upon is its stock RAM. From the store, it only comes with 2GB. This can be easily upgraded to 3GB from any computer retailer (including www.newegg.com). It also comes with a user-friendly touchpad as well as a nice blue form factor. Although it doesn’t necessarily have all of the extra-goodies, this laptop is perfect for the common pc user, and comes at a great price!

       The second one is the Toshiba L305D-S5881 from Circuit City. This laptop is nearly identical to the last l

Answer 6

Hi,

I found some good laptops that you might like:

- Acer Aspire 6920G-6A4G25Mn Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz / 4096MB / 250GB / TFT16.0 / DVDRW / Win Vista Home Premium retails at £706,96. Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 Ghz, 4096 MB, 250 GB. -http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/27-11071...

-Sony Vaio VGN-AR71M retails at £799.99. Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.1 Ghz, 4096 MB, 300 GB -http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/27-11144...

-HP Pavilion dv9880ea retails at £899,99. Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.5 Ghz, 3072 MB, 320 GB. -http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/27-11043...

There is also a good review on this Laptop:

- http://alatest.co.uk/hp_pavilion_dv9800_...

I hope it helps!

Answer 7

You have defined your needs very well

LG Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz Laptop (E300) - Black

Screen Size  13.3"

Weight   2.04 kg

$999.99

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddet...

Toshiba Satellite Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz Laptop (M300-02Q)

Screen Size  14.1"

Weight   2.34 kg

$849.99

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddet...

direct comparison,

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/compare...

2 products that caught my eye

& a 13.3" is sure way better for you > lighter in weight, bit smaller in size thus making lugging around that much easier

also battery run times are higher

Toshiba Satellite 13.3" Laptop featuring Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 (U400-04W)

$899.99

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail...

and just to make selection simpler for you, you will find that all 3 systems above feature the T5750 intel core 2 duo processor, which is a pretty high performer !