Buying a laptop for college

[Harry]

I'm planning on buying a laptop for college this fall. I'm thinking I will use it instead of a desktop, and will attach my 204b when at my desk. I've never owned a laptop before. Here is what I am thinking of getting:


HP Pavilion dv6500t customizable Notebook PC
RM098AV

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/4MB L2Cache)
* – 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
* – Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
* – HP Imprint (Radiance) + Mic + Fingerprint Reader
* – 40% off upgrade from 1GB (2 Dimm) to 2GB (2 Dimm)!
* – 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* – DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

$1,258.99

1) Is an increase to 17" worth the increase in weight? (Knowing I have a 204b while at my desk)

2) Is the processor and ram overkill since I won't be playing any games (integrated video)

3) Overall thoughts or suggestion? Buy a desktop and a cheap laptop maybe?

[a500lbgorilla]

make sure its not heavy.

My laptop is heavy and I thought I wouldn't care but it really sucks major balls when I have to take it to class.

[JL]

make sure its not heavy.

My laptop is heavy and I thought I wouldn't care but it really sucks major balls when I have to take it to class.

QFT

Most people in my class have small light laptops, and then I would bring my massive 17" heavy ass thing.

17" = good for games, watching movies etc...but bad for school...

[euphoricism]

theres several dell laptops that can do greater than 1600x1200 in a 15.4"

Look at those.

[Harry]

Basically, I really want a laptop. I would just buy a desktop and laptop for college, but I think it would be annoying having two different HDDs and everything (different PT, etc..)

[vqc]

i bought a desktop replacement laptop and i regret every moment of it.
if i had to redo my purchase I wouldve just bought an Thinkpad T42.
If you plan on brining your laptop around campus as an everyday thing, weight matters, ALOT.

[euphoricism]

Basically, I really want a laptop. I would just buy a desktop and laptop for college, but I think it would be annoying having two different HDDs and everything (different PT, etc..)

It is. Its a total pain in the ass. Probably another reason i never use my desktop anymore.

Get a laptop and a 2001FP as an external monitor and youre set, as long as you can get the resolution high enough.

[meeloche]

I'd go with a cheap laptop for school stuff that can do simple stuff and a decent desktop for poker and everything else. For the laptop definitely go with the smallest one possible, you are going to get tired of carrying a big laptop around. Personally I don't like carrying my laptop to class, it's a pain in the ass and its much easier to just take a notebook, but thats just me if you really want to use a laptop smaller and lighter is better.

[Harry]

wtf @ sales tax online??? $88.13 tax... pfffff

[Isop]

Generally:
Pavilion=crap
Presario = crap
Toshiba Satellite = crap*2
Acer = the steenkiest crap I've ever had the misfortune to work on
Dell - hit and miss, but generally any upgrades are proprietary and cost one heck of a lot more than a generic upgrade

If I were in the market for a laptop I'd be looking at HP's business line for a PC. They were shown last week on American Chopper - Pops took one of the new laptops, slams it to the ground and just stomps on it. When he picks it up it powers up fine.

The business line of PC's are manufactured at a far higher level than the crap you can buy at bestbuy et al.

Since I wasn't committed to owning a pc, I bought a Macbook pro and it's turned into my baby. WindowsXp and Vista run better on a Mac with parallels than it does on any other system I've tried.

Isop

[givememyleg]

dude, get a dell

[acesfullokings]

I've got a PIII Dell and I'm looking at upgrading, will definately go Dell again.

[mrhappy333]

my DELL desktop lasted forever, and now I have A DELL inspiron 6000.
The Laptop kicks Ass!
edit: I dont have to carry it to class. It sits on my kitchen counter most of the time.

[euphoricism]

my DELL desktop lasted forever, and now I have A DELL inspiron 6000.
The Laptop kicks Ass!
edit: I dont have to carry it to class. It sits on my kitchen counter most of the time.

another FTR'r recommended this one to me as well. NWNewell. It does over 1600x1200, but we really didnt talk about how big or heavy it was.

[Harry]

I think it might be a shame to get all this processor power and memory without getting a video card. Starcraft II's got me all excited...

[Harry]

I'm thinking about this from dell:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLife™
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 DIMM
160GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
Integrated Audio
My Accessories
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)

$1,353

Main difference is a higher resolution (1680 x 1050), and a video card. Also says it wouldn't ship until June 11th which is kind of lame.

[meeloche]

The widescreen is great for everything except carrying to class, it might become a pain as all it does is make it bigger and heavier.

[|~|ypermegachi]

it depends on how much mobility you want.

i have a 12' laptop. it's served me well. i just whip it in and out like it's nothing (it's only like 4 pounds). you get used to the 1024x768 resolution.

anyways, i think 14' WS is a nice compromise between mobility and screen size.

17 is way too big.

[Harry]

I'm thinking I will get a 14.1" since I have the 20" 204b for when I use it as a desktop replacement. I'm checking out Lenovo too.

[meeloche]

good plan, the above specs look awesome and you'll be glad you didn't go with the bigger laptop.

[Harry]

hyachachacha ok so I think this is what I am settling on:

HP Pavilion dv6500t customizable Notebook PC
RM098AV

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T7100 (1.8GHz/2MB L2Cache)
* – 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
* – Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
* – HP Imprint (Radiance) + Mic + Fingerprint Reader
* – 40% off upgrade from 1GB (2 Dimm) to 2GB (2 Dimm)!
* – 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* – DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope


$1,143.99

I don't need high resolution since I will be using my 1600x1200 monitor when pokering. I don't need too much HDD space, or a video card since I won't be playing games on this machine. I also lowered the processor speed from the original, since I don't think its necessary.

I have heard a lot of bad things about the glossy screen though. That is the only display option though... we'll see.

Edit: Or this:

HP Pavilion dv2000t customizable notebook PC
RM669AV

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo T2350 (1.86GHz/ 2MB L2Cache)
* – 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
* – 128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200
* – FREE Upgrade: HP Imprint Finish/Microphone/Webcam
* – 40% off upgrade from 1GB (2 Dimm) to 2GB (2 Dimm)!
* – FREE Upgrade from 80GB 5400RPM to 120GB 5400RPM!!
* – DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
* – 802.11b/g WLAN
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

$1,003.99 (5.3lb compared to 6.14lb for the 15.4")

You decide!!!!!!!

[Harry]

This is what I decided on:

Intel® Core™ DUO T2350 (1.86GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic
14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA Display
1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMM
120GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Integrated Audio

Its from Dell. It's non-glossy which I couldn't get from HP. Total $828. I'm not going to use it as a desktop replacement. I will probably buy a nice desktop later this summer.