Buying a laptop for college

[pubby]

I need to get a laptop for college. My college recommends Mac or Dell (like every other college :roll: ) but I don't want either of those. I'm looking to do the standard stuff, plus maybe some gaming--not like AoE III or anything, but I'd like to be able to use it for something maybe about WoW quality.

 

I was just wondering if anyone knows about decent computers. I have a pretty good budget: $2,000 at least, maybe up to 2,500 or 3,000?

 

I was thinking HP would be the next place to go? Or are Dells really not that bad? My experience with Dells is not happy. I have a Dell right now, and I really don't want to do it again. Anyway, any suggestions are helpful. Thanks so much! =)

[deloriagod]

If you're looking for good gaming then Alienware is the way I went. They over charge quite a bit, but other than that I'm happy with my gaming noteboook. Maybe check Bestbuy or something, I know they carry gaming notebooks once in a while.

[Sinkhan]

AlienWare is way over rated, over priced, and it is NOT the best in the gaming world.

 

 

 

For some serious gaming capacity at your budget...you could go HP like you said, but not Alienware. Casio also makes decent ones too.

 

 

 

And if all else looks bad: Get a mac :roll:

[mbridges7718]

Also Alienware was bought by Dell.

[Greatsilverwyrm]

For 3000 you could get an alienware, and they are overrated, but not without reason.

 

 

 

If not that, then you should look at a sony vaio, or toshiba, both of which have some high-end laptops that could handle gaming.

[beniscool218]

I am not going to recommend a type of laptop, because I don't really know much about each type of computer, but I will say something about Dell... Don't get a Dell! The laptops are terrible, and a couple of my friends have had terrible experiences with Dell laptops. One of them bought one, and after 2 months, it began to crash, almost to the point where you couldn't use it for 15 minutes without it freezing and then shutting down. Then, when it couldn't be fixed, and they got rid of it, they decided that they would get another laptop. And for some reason they got another Dell... They have had it for a year now, and apparently they all hate it for some reason, and are very angry with it.

 

 

 

If you get a laptop, just don't get a Dell.

[Cruiser]

When you buy alienware, you're paying for the name and that shiny case (which isn't that cool anyway :? ). I had this arguement with someone on MSN once, and built the *exact* (yes, exact, down to the model names on the Alienware website) same computer AlienWare wanted $3500 for, I carted up for $2100 on Newegg.

 

 

 

Anyway, Newegg.com has a pretty wide selection of laptops. Decent low end laptops for doing school work on and some high end stuff for gaming if that's what you really want. If anything, it's a good place to look around to see what you can get for your money. Wouldn't hurt to order it there either. Great shipping times and service. :mrgreen:

 

 

 

Edit ----

 

I've gotta comment on the Dell hating. The Inspiron laptop my dad bought unopened off ebay has worked flawlessly. I hate to say it, but the people that buy Dell all the time, usually aren't the best at keeping computers free of spyware and the like (not all, most). It may have been a hardware issue, but it was most likely spyware and so on. :x

[vladmoney]

Alienware is overpriced, but they provide good PC and notebooks, at an overpriced price ofcourse. If you have the money, and with 2000 you can get a good alienware laptop, it is worth it i think. Not only that, from the many times i have read from credible sources (pc magazines and what not), they have really good costumer support.

[Artie_900]

Okay, here's the first thing: I can almost guarantee you that you don't need a laptop, no matter what they tell you. Last year I don't think I had legitimate call to haul mine out in class once, and I'm majoring in software engineering. If you want to save some cash, you could get a much better desktop computer for much less money.

 

 

 

That said, there's something to be said for being able to play RS while looking industrious in useless required liberal arts classes, so if you insist on getting a laptop, my reccomendation is Toshiba. Toshiba laptops are rocks, durability-wise. Dell, on the other hand, is absolute trash (they buy the cheapest parts they can and pass the savings on to you, as well as terrible computers) and Alienware is all well and good if you don't mind dropping ludicrous amounts of cash for a huge, fifteen-pound overheating brick of a computer (but it'll look awesome!) And I'm not even going to dignify the suggestion you get a Mac with a response.

 

 

 

My reccomendation is still to get a real computer, though. You can upgrade those and they won't be essentially useless in 3-4 years.

[blade995]

If you want to game go for a desktop.

 

 

 

Since you have a very big buget you could put $1000 to a desktop gaming computer and then $1000-1500 for a laptop that just does the basics for school.

[Nadril]

Okay, here's the first thing: I can almost guarantee you that you don't need a laptop, no matter what they tell you. Last year I don't think I had legitimate call to haul mine out in class once, and I'm majoring in software engineering. If you want to save some cash, you could get a much better desktop computer for much less money.

 

 

 

That said, there's something to be said for being able to play RS while looking industrious in useless required liberal arts classes, so if you insist on getting a laptop, my reccomendation is Toshiba. Toshiba laptops are rocks, durability-wise. Dell, on the other hand, is absolute trash (they buy the cheapest parts they can and pass the savings on to you, as well as terrible computers) and Alienware is all well and good if you don't mind dropping ludicrous amounts of cash for a huge, fifteen-pound overheating brick of a computer (but it'll look awesome!) And I'm not even going to dignify the suggestion you get a Mac with a response.

 

 

 

My reccomendation is still to get a real computer, though. You can upgrade those and they won't be essentially useless in 3-4 years.

 

 

 

Agreed 100%. Especialy with that budget, man, if I had even half of that budget I could get an amazing rig.

[vladmoney]

Okay, here's the first thing: I can almost guarantee you that you don't need a laptop, no matter what they tell you. Last year I don't think I had legitimate call to haul mine out in class once, and I'm majoring in software engineering. If you want to save some cash, you could get a much better desktop computer for much less money.

 

 

 

I agree, if you don't have to use an airplane to get to your college, i strongly recommend a pc (or unless its required in your course [not recommened but required]).

 

 

 

EDIT: They are having a sale at Toshiba laptops right now (they say it ends today :shock: 25% off) so if you want to get one get it now. I have to say toshiba laptops are pretty expensive too.

[Noobs_own_2]

Well altho dell might be your style, you should still look in to it. I recently got a dell Inspiron 9300 Notebook. I customized it the way I wanted and it got here in about 2 days ground UPS.

 

its got good specs, but I need a biger battery because with the processor and g-card it drains wayyyy to quick.

 

Its got: Windows xp Media Center Edition SVP2

 

Intel Centrino Mobile 2.0 ghz

 

1.0 gb of ram

 

Hitachi 51.1gb hard Drive

 

Samsung(I belive) dvd+rw

 

Came with a internal wirless card

 

Ethernet and modem

 

digital video out

 

6 usb ports

 

17.4 inch wide screen lcd

 

256mb Nvidia geforce 6800 go graphics card (I belive)

 

....

 

 

 

All in all, a very nice computer, and i got if for $1700 with the rebates and things dell offers and I'm sure you can get a student discount.

 

Also if you want gaming, Acer and http://www.monarchcomputer.com might have something

[irulepoker]

Well, I personally use IBM laptops ( now Lenovo laptops because of the buy out of the IBM PC's last April) because, well, lets say this. My mom is somewhat high in the staff list there...

 

 

 

Now if my mom would just open up that friken tablet she got for free from Lenovo I could make some sigs...

 

 

 

Anyways, I really like my thinkpad. I've had it for 4 years, never had a problem with it. I do all my school work on it also, plus all the extra stuff I use ( a lot more then you would think.) We put one memory upgrade on it, and it's been fine. Durable too. Only thing I don't like about it is my model doesn't have exterior power buttons so I can't use my display as easy. But oh well, this is fine too.

 

 

 

I'd recomend getting a nice tablet for school. Enough power and memory, yet you can still draw in class if you get bored. I always like that aspect of it. If you want, I can pm you a link to finding a nice one for not so much cash.

[weezcake]

I merged noobs_own_2's post into this thread. I assumed you clicked "new topic" instead of reply. :)

 

 

 

As for my recommendation: you don't actually need a laptop for college at all. And if you insist, I have a Dell Inspiron 700m. It's light weight and easy to carry around (4lb) :)

[pubby]

About the tablet suggestion. . . are those really capable of playing games? And they're really pricey. And don't they have less power to make them smaller and more portable?

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm still sure I want a laptop.

 

And I'm still sure I don't want a Mac. :P

[deloriagod]

When you buy alienware, you're paying for the name and that shiny case (which isn't that cool anyway :? ).

 

 

 

My little alien lights up when I turn my computer on.. That's pretty cool imo... As most people said, Alienware is WAY overpriced.

 

 

 

 

 

And as far as good customer service? It's not that great. My dad caleld them to ask about my bro's computer (which took forever to get, because they ran out of memory..) and had to talk to a guy in another country, and couldn't ahrdly understand him...

[tunaboy692004]

When you buy alienware, you're paying for the name and that shiny case (which isn't that cool anyway :? ).

 

 

 

My little alien lights up when I turn my computer on.. That's pretty cool imo... As most people said, Alienware is WAY overpriced.

 

 

 

 

 

And as far as good customer service? It's not that great. My dad caleld them to ask about my bro's computer (which took forever to get, because they ran out of memory..) and had to talk to a guy in another country, and couldn't ahrdly understand him...

 

 

 

helo dis es kareem, ow may ey elp you tuday

[pubby]

^^^^^^^^^^^ That's what happened to me when my first Dell had bad wiring.

[magekillr]

Okay, here's the first thing: I can almost guarantee you that you don't need a laptop, no matter what they tell you. Last year I don't think I had legitimate call to haul mine out in class once, and I'm majoring in software engineering. If you want to save some cash, you could get a much better desktop computer for much less money.

 

 

 

sing it brother =D>

 

 

 

anyway...sometimes even though you never will use it in class...some colleges *cough* virginia polytechnic college of engineering *cough* are persistant about their requirements and if something is required...they don't care...they just want you to have it :roll: ...though i still have not given up in my fight against Virginia Polytechnic's tablet pc requirement...they insist on being ahead of technology like when they were the first university in the world to require a desktop computer in 1984... :roll:

[vladmoney]

Hey, I was wondering if someone can answer some of these questions:

 

 

 

1. Ok for Ram I was wonder what is the difference between 533MHz SDRAM and 667MHz SDRAM? And is it worth it to upgrade ( 2048MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1024MBx2) [add $380.00] vs 2048MB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (1024MBx2) [add $405.00] )?

 

 

 

2. The HDD also seems to come in two types, i know i want 100 GB, but whats the difference in 5400rpm and 7200rpm? And also is the upgrade worth it (and extra $170 more :shock: )

 

 

 

3. Also for graphic cards (something i have knowledge in) i have a few choices. And i was wondering which one will suit me well (i play some games but not many, but would like to have atleast an ok graphic card). Here are the ones offered: NVIDIAÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî GeForceÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ Go 7600 with 128MB ($120), NVIDIAÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî GeForceÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ Go 7600 with 256MB($220), or 256MB ATI MOBILITYÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ RADEONÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî X1400 HyperMemory ($99, diff price because from diff company).

 

 

 

If somone is smart enough please answer, that would be great. Thank you.

[tunaboy692004]

You shopping for a dell vlad? Because i am right now, and if you buy a laptop over 1000$ you save 350$ automatically, its a really good deal actually. But anyways, The Harddrive is worth the upgrade to 7200rpm, but the Ram really depends on the use.

[Cruiser]

Hey, I was wondering if someone can answer some of these questions:

 

 

 

1. Ok for Ram I was wonder what is the difference between 533MHz SDRAM and 667MHz SDRAM? And is it worth it to upgrade ( 2048MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1024MBx2) [add $380.00] vs 2048MB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (1024MBx2) [add $405.00] )?

 

 

 

PC4200 (533MHz) runs slower than PC5300 (667MHz). Like a CPU, faster ram should help performance in places, but you'd have to look up how it helps. I can't think of any good examples right now. :?

 

 

 

2. The HDD also seems to come in two types, i know i want 100 GB, but whats the difference in 5400rpm and 7200rpm? And also is the upgrade worth it (and extra $170 more :shock: )

 

 

 

Like the RAM, the bigger number is better. Instead of spinning the platters (the magnetic media inside the drive) at 5400rpm, you're spinning at 7200rpm, speeding up access times to things on the drive. This can make a huge difference if you're transfering large files (or large numbers of files) off and on the drive.

 

 

 

3. Also for graphic cards (something i have knowledge in) i have a few choices. And i was wondering which one will suit me well (i play some games but not many, but would like to have atleast an ok graphic card). Here are the ones offered: NVIDIAÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî GeForceÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ Go 7600 with 128MB ($120), NVIDIAÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî GeForceÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ Go 7600 with 256MB($220), or 256MB ATI MOBILITYÃÆââââ¬Ã¾Ãââ RADEONÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâî X1400 HyperMemory ($99, diff price because from diff company).

 

 

 

Again, the 256MB card should out perform the 128MB card. I don't know what the comparison between the 7600 and x1400 is though. :(

[Nadril]

@ Cruiser:

 

 

 

The x1400 is a fairly.. bad atempt by ATI to make a cheeper card. I would personaly go with the 7600GO 256mb :).

[vladmoney]

OK did some research myself, so i guess i will post just incase somone is wondering (or is to lazy to do it themselves :-$ )

 

 

 

1. http://www.barefeats.com/5472.html <-- its for macs but its probably same for windows

 

http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cfm?A ... 1801032003

 

*these 2 are good*:

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=44929

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=44929

 

Still not sure, they say there is about 10%-15% speed increase, on regular use. But they also say it can reduce battery life and add extra heat.

 

 

 

2. Found out its really not worth it that much, and price should be the your biggest concern when buying this. If you have the money buy 667, if not don't worry about it too much.

 

 

 

3.

 

 

 

BUT AS LAST TIP EVERYONE BUYING LAPTOP CHECK OUT: notebookreview.com. It has a bunch pro and user reviews for pretty much every laptop, and great forums!