Thinking About Getting A LAPTOP.. Help!

[MonStar]

I am thinking about getting a lap top computer for when I start college next year. I am thinking about it because I type like 70 words per minute compared to how slow I write.. very slow. I think it would be a good idea. What do you guys think? Brands, prices, etc. How I would have access to the internet, etc. Please help me out guys. :cool::cool:

... Probably would get it as a graduation present.

MS

[Orange357]

Sony Vaio, cheap but nery good ****.

[Tru]

Check this (http://www.research.ibm.com/resources/news/20020206_metapad.shtml) out...

And this one too (http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/04/17/modular.computing.ap/index.html)

They be out in the Fall I think, and are like $1K.

[MonStar]

I am not looking for the latest technology crap sorry guys - I am thinking of something affordable, pretty fast, with some decent memory and everything like that that isnt slow as sh*t and wont crash etc. :D:D

MS

[Gyno Rhino]

Get a desktop. Laptops are for the guys that lift Jane Fonda weights while drinking their Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato. ;)

I'd just get a simple setup. Spend less than 1K.

[MonStar]

Laptop is definitely what I am going with but I just cant decide what. :D:D

MS

[Budiak]

Well if he's thinking about getting a laptop then he's obviously got a ******* desktop, unless he's tapped into the matrix to post.


10001010101100010100101011100101010110101111000111001010110100111000101010110010101

HAHAHHAHAAAAA!!!


Oh yeah, I think that Dell is the best computer company in America right now that makes pre-built systems. Give one of their syustems a shot.

I know, the guy in the commercials is a dousche, but the computers are nice.

[Gyno Rhino]

Dude, you're gettin' a....

[MonStar]

Yeah I have a desktop, I need a laptop for note taking during class, which brand is best. So far Dell and Sony were suggested... :):)

MS

[CBates]

I'd go with Dell, I do computer tech support and have to support all these laptops, I see this least problems with Dell. Whatever you do, don't get a Compaq, 80% of the laptops that have problems are Compaqs.

[Delphi]

I liked my Sony Vaio so much that I bought one for my wife. They now have some models with AMD processessors, so you can get some good power without paying for the Pentium name. I put Win2k on mine, and I love it. Just beware of loading any HP drivers- written very badly and destroyed my Windows setup. Had to reload Win2k because of their lousy code writing.

The two Compaqs I've had dealings with had terrible problems with the touchpads. At unexpected times the cursor would start drifting in one direction and the laptop would have to be restarted. Didn't matter if the most recent driver was loaded, and would happen even if not special touchpad enhancement software was loaded.

I just bought a recertified Dell Latitude for a friend for his birthday. I didn't get to play with it much, but it seemed really solid. Good battery life. IMO Dells are overpriced. This particular model cost $3000 when it came out two years ago. I paid $850 for it, recertified.

[Scotty2]

i would also suggest dell.. i have a dell desktop and have had no problems so far

[BabeinTraining]

Hey, well I've got a laptop and a desktop. My laptop is honestly a peice of sh*t, and it was top of the line when I got it. The thing with laptops is that they only come with 4 gigs of hd on average, and with all the crap that comes on it, an isp program, and say a media player, you're not left with much at all. I wanted a laptop for my first year of college also, but it's not much help AT ALL. I'd say if you really hate writing, bring a recorder to class and save your money. Desktops are much more capable, and laptops run out of battery in less than an hour (and that's if you leave it on the entire time, turning it on/off wastes much much more power.) Besides, the only way you can get online on a laptop is if you're sitting at home with it plugged in the wall anyways. Oh, unless of course you'd like to use up long distance cell minutes. Laptops aren't worth anything in my opinion.

Danielle

ps- mine was a sony vaio

[Praetorian]

I bought a Labtop in Thailand and it was cheap as hell...

Compaq Presario 700
Mobile AMD Duron processor 946Mhz
124 mb RAM
15 GB Harddisk
24 x Cd-rom
1.5 Floppydisk
Windows XP Home Edition

and I even got a good videocard :D

I paid ike 900 USD....

Compaq is quite good, i use it at school...

[MonStar]

Centaurion-
Compaq Presario 700 you said works fairly well? Whats the battery life like? How much USD? $900? Memory is decent. I just want the internet and basically windows. Thats all I need it for... I definitely want something under $1000. So either a Sony Vaio or a Compaq or a Dell. Want the entire thing under $1000 though no doubt. :):)

MS

[MonStar]

... I also need one with some BATTERY LIFE! Thinking about it some only have like 1-2 hours battery. I want something like 5-6 or more. If thats even possible.

MS

[Delphi]

Dell = good battery life = higher price

Vaio = need 2 batteries or charger = can afford the 2nd battery

[MonStar]

Delphi-
So I am guessing that you would recommend the Sony Vaio? What kind of price do they run? Affordable? Are you saying that I could afford the 2nd battery if I go with this one? Help me out bro. You seem to know your sh*t about laptops. :):)

MS

[Delphi]

I've got an FX140 and my wife has something like an FX230. They're solid- never had any hardware or driver problems with either. I'd get one with an AMD processor instead of a PEntium- mmore bang for your buck. You can probably get a decent one for $1100-1300. These other guys know their sht, too. I'd really have to warn you about the Compaq touchpads. MAybe they're not all that way, but I'm 2 for 2 with them being screwy. They also have a weird way of publishing drivers, they call them SoftPaqs or something like that.

[MonStar]

Delphi-
So you have an FX140 and your wife has an FX230, okay what were the prices of the both of those? Because price is really really important. And instead of a typical Pentium processor youre recommending an AMD processor right? Yeah f*ck Compaq my destop is Compaq and its always freezing. Pathetic. And I dont care for touchpads anyway I want a mousepad. Would that be a big problem? Dont most of them come with software like Windows and Microsoft Word etc.? :help::help:

MS

[MonStar]

... With your Sony and your wife's what is the battery life like? Most are around 2 hours I think or something like that. Is it possible to get an extended battery life or something along those lines? :cool::cool:

... How do you access the internet? Do you just use a phone line or what?

MS

[MonStar]

I want to be able to access WBB obviously but I am going to use it to type notes in classes next fall. Those are the 2 reasons I want one, hehe. ;);)

MS

[MonStar]

http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/popup/specs_fxa32b_refurb.pdf

Check out that link - it has the...
Sony FXA32/B
AMD Duron 900 MHz
15.0” XGA (1024x768)
128 MB SDRAM
15 GB Hard Drive
DVD-ROM Drive
Windows XP Home Edition
Refurbished
Free Printer
$999.99
I think that the price is affordable and it looks really decent. What makes AMD processor any better than Pentium III? :confused::confused:

MS

[MonStar]

http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/promotion_refurb.shtml

This link has the list of all the Sony's laptops. They range from around $1000 - 1500. I am definitely going with closer to $1000-1100. I might end up having to pay some of it. I dont know how much my family wants to spend for a graduation present. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

MS

[Tru]

Just to let you know, that OQO handsized PC is only gonna be $1000 and it's pretty loaded. If I was going to college, I would definately consider it.

[Praetorian]

my compaq presario 700's battery lasts for 3hours...

[MonStar]

Okay thanks...

Tru-
OQO Handsized PC, you said that this would be around a $1000. Does it have a keyboard? Thats what I need because the biggest reason I need one is to type my notes in class ya know? If it doesnt even have a keyboard its basically worthless. :):)

MS

[Praetorian]

check this out

http://athome.compaq.com/

[McBain]

'A docking cable allows it to connect with an external keyboard, mouse and monitor. It can also be networked to an existing PC or laptop through an Ethernet cable or wireless connection.'

-The OQO article.

Just for my $0.02, id stick with something a bit more well known than OQO or whatever its called. The first link you posted looked pretty decent for a reasonable price, it has a touchpad though. sorry dont know the difference between amd and pentium3.

[Delphi]

Sounds like a good deal, as long as you get a one-year warranty. With power management enabled, I can go about an hour, but that's actually with the harddrive spinning most of the time, and the screen not blanked much. There's a bay for a 2nd battery.


Originally posted by MonStar
http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/popup/specs_fxa32b_refurb.pdf

Check out that link - it has the...
Sony FXA32/B
AMD Duron 900 MHz
15.0” XGA (1024x768)
128 MB SDRAM
15 GB Hard Drive
DVD-ROM Drive
Windows XP Home Edition
Refurbished
Free Printer
$999.99
I think that the price is affordable and it looks really decent. What makes AMD processor any better than Pentium III? :confused::confused:

MS

[MarshallPenn]

Monstar - AMD vs. Pentium is not worth answering, just go read the tests. AMD makes the better chip. My Dell laptop sucked, not to say they haven't improved -- as for desktops, I only buy Dell. My laptop is out of your price range, so I would suggest the Vaio or the Compaq or an iBook.

[MonStar]

Ill probaby go with a Sony Vaio with an AMD processor and a mouse of couse no touchpad crap, and hopefully some extra battery life well see. :D:D

MS

[Praetorian]

touchpad is cool :cool:

[Tru]

My friend says there's an accessory for a small keyboard that slides out from the little case, but for taking notes in class you could do it like people do on palm pc's and just use the little pen. It's basically like a palm pc with the power of a PC for a decent price.

[Twiztid]

i like my Toshiba

[MonStar]

Probably going with a Sony. Around $1000. Well see what happens.

MS

[Delphi]

Originally posted by Twiztid
i like my Toshiba

Does Toshiba make a laptop with a touchpad now? They've got a reputation for being very rugged. I never could get used to the pointing stick I had on an old WinBook (pre-Pentium days).

[Shankerr]

Dude, for college/university, I would definitely recommend getting both a laptop and a Palm handheld, or similar.

For classes, use the Palm with a keyboard attachment to take notes, its the same size as a laptop keyboard, but, obviously, the rest of the unit is smaller, its quicker to set up and take down (important if you have classes in quick succession), you can mark exam/etc dated into it as soon as you hear them instead of making a note of the date, then forgetting to transfer it to your timer later, and its not as annoying to the guy sitting behind you (and trust me, it's fu*kin annoying to the guy behind you). Once you get back from class, just plug it into your laptop, transfer the information, and study the notes from there, or print them off.

As for the laptop, use it for everything else. Even if it sits on your desk at rez 99% of the time, it gives you the flexibility to take your work home, out to the park, wherever the chicks are, whenever you want to. :-) Definitely a better choice for university than a desktop!

And as for price, don't worry about it. I don't know where you are planning to go to school, but I know for me, next year is going to cost me a fortune, so the price of a laptop and Palm is nominal compared to the total cost of education.

Shane

[Twiztid]

Originally posted by Delphi


Does Toshiba make a laptop with a touchpad now? They've got a reputation for being very rugged. I never could get used to the pointing stick I had on an old WinBook (pre-Pentium days).

yeah, it has a touchpad. I've had no problems with the machine.
p 1.1 ghz, it runs pretty good.

[MonStar]

Yeah thanks for the good replies guys. Now I have to convince my family to buy me a laptop for next year. My family has their favorites, theyre real a*sholes.

MS