Laptops - What do you have? What should I get?

Hola mis amigos. I need to buy a laptop for college coming up, and I'm asking for your assistance in helping me put my finger on the one that's right for me.

My first question is what laptop do you have and do you like it? How is it priced? Pros, cons, etc.

I've already looked at macbooks, alienware, etc. I prefer to NOT sell my firstborn for a laptop. Considering I don't even have a firstborn, one of those brands is definitely not going to happen.

Right now, the brands I'm looking at are Toshiba, Dell, and HP. I'm really digging the HP's, I've heard good things with Toshiba, and I've heard mixed on Dells. I've also heard good stuff about gateway, but haven't looked at those yet.

What processor and processing power is a good range to have? Do you like AMD processors or Intel? What's the difference between something like 2.0 GHz and 2.2 or 2.4 GHz or processing power? I don't really care about memory, because no matter what it is I'll probably upgrade it even more anyways. And I'd like 250 GB hard drive or more, preferably.

Any comments, advice, or suggestions are appreaciated.

So far, I'm really liking this one: HP - Pavilion Laptop with AMD Turion™ X2 RM-72 Dual-Core Mobile Processor - Bronze/Chrome - dv7-1245dx

 

Awesome man. My bro just graduated and is looking also. I have the absolute best pc for the buck. I have a HP limited edition 14.0". I think it has a 2.2 hz 4200 processor. What ever . Its the fastest one ive ever touched. GO WITH AN HP

Hot Deal: 25% off on HP Pavilion Special Edition Laptops - LaptopLogic.com

 

The difference between a 2.0 ghz, 2.2 and 2.4 Ghz processor won't really be noticed by you. Unless you are doing some serious movie/music editing or gaming that requires a really fast processor, you won't notice much of a difference. 2gb of memory is great to start with I have run protools, a music recording and editing softwre with no problems with 2 gbs of memory. I own a macbook pro and love it to death. I have had it for 2 years now, no virus, no crashes almost never freezes. It is still like new. I know they are expensive, but I will not go back to a PC. They have just introduced a 13in. mac book pro that is significantly less. I doubt I will change your mind, but if you buy any macbook right now, you get a free ipod touch. What many people do is just sell that, so you could deduct what you make from the purchase price. Anyways, good luck with whatever you get, and I don't work for Apple by any means. These are just my thoughts.

 

Go to notebook review.com they have great stuff there. I would suggest the T400.

 

I would stay away form dell or toshiba they have monitor issues I work on them everyday If I was in the market I would be looking at Gateways Hps arent bad I have had the best luck with beating around and hauling around Gateways they take some abuse better. I like the bigger screens on them we have been using Sonys lately they dont seem to bad for what i have used them.

 

used dell's most of my professional career, yeah they've had a few lemons over time but for the most part they make good products, and if you have issues they get them resolved.

HP's warranty sucks but they make a good product as well

 

No matter what OEM you get they all have their own problems. People that have MACS love them and yes there are no viruses because people create viruses for windows since they do not like Bill Gates.

I have a dell and it has run for 5 years without issue. I bought my kids HP pavilion's because they were only 500.00 for 2.2 dual core AMD with 2GB mem and 17" screen. They were a CircuitCity Special Last year.

Dell and Sony are outrageous on their pricing as is alienware. Personally I have know a couple people with Toshiba and they have each had either motherboard and monitor issue.

Gateway I have never seen anyone with but that does not mean they are not good.

Personally when I get a new laptop I will get an HP. Also I would get no less then a 17", memory min 2gb and dual core AMD. You can always upgrade to 4gb yourself and memory is cheap. The biggest problem I have is that these units come with Vista(crap). Hopefully Windows 8 which is in the works and I think has a beta out there will be much better.

check out tigerdirect.com as they run some great deals.

All this for just my 2 cents!

 

alienware is hp...

anyway, full disclosure, I do work for hp... but I swear that's not the hat i'm wearing when I give my feedback. I work in the server software division as an engineer.

I currently have an hp nc series laptop... this thing has been awesome. It's running on 3 years old now. Very solid unit.

My wife uses one of those touchscreen tablets from hp and she loves it. She works in IT and says it's her favorite portable she's ever had. Dell's have given her a major headache at her work.

I also have a Dell Mini9. While I love this little bugger to death and find it extremely useful (it is super tiny and uses solid state "hard drives"), it is not a primary machine. Definitely a secondary unit. I run Ubuntu 9.04 on it.

GuitarMan is right in what he says about processor/memory.

I agree you want at least 250GB, but I would steer you more towards 500+ since it's for college. you will live and breathe off of this thing.

Make sure it has wifi, DVD-R support, bluetooth, and get the biggest battery you can. Pretty cary cases are sissy. Especially in college.

 

alienware is dell, not hp, their sites are even linked now

 

If I were you I would go with HP.. I have had two of them. Not because they broke, but because I loved the first one so much, I had to buy another 2 years later. I actually have one of my HP used for sale on eBay right now for $200.. I have had a dell, along with most of my friends. Im going to be blunt. they are poop. Fans would always run high and noisy and it just gave up on me one day on my desk allowing me to retrieve nothing from it.. Just ask anyone who works in computer repair which computers come through the most often.. dell..
I would say to get a mac, because thats what I have(macbook pro), but I understand the cost factor. I will say I have yet to have even a hiccup of a problem with it though running 3 years strong.
So my advise is HP, good computer for a good price. I hope I helped!
Oh, and congrats on Graduating, youre about to step into the most exciting part of your life! I wish I could go back and do it all over again, so enjoy it..