Im starting school next year and going into a Computer Science program. I do some light Photoshopping with various things, designing my xanga/myspace/livejournal layouts. I want to load my copy of Warcraft III onto it too. I'd like something cost effective, and I dont really want to spend more than 1500, if that much.

Any suggestions on specific notebooks, what components I should concentrate on, or brands I should stick with would be greatly appretiated!!

Im not too clueless as to this stuff, but I trust someone here knows of some crazy website where they sell top line notebooks for a dollar and a half.

Newegg.com , I got my Acer for $880.00

I got,
Windows XP PRO
CPU Type Intel Celeron M Processor 370 1MB L2 cache, 1.50GHz, 400MHz FSB
Screen 17.0" WXGA (1280 x 800), Acer CrystalBrite Technology
Memory Size 512M DDR2 (UPGRADED TO 1 GB)
Hard Disk 80GB (UPGRADED TO 100 GB)
Optical Drive DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
Graphics Card Integrated Intel GMA 900
Video Memory shared memory
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot PC Card slot for one Type II card, 32-bit PC CardBus architecture, Zoomed Video support
Battery Life 3.5hours
Dimensions 15.8" W x 11.3" D x 1.5" H
Weight 7.9lbs

Its built well, and has some of the best 1-800 support I have ever had to use.

I suggest that if you aren't going to use the battery alot, that you should get a p4 processor.

Also, same with graphics card. I think you should get something somewhat new. Like a Mobility radeon. OR a new Nvidia. especially for War3.

And as for everything else, go with what medic got.

dont get a dell or a compaq... theyre shit...

how bout a imb think pad... the new series... it has a titanium frame if youre taking it to school

Actually Dells are one of the most recommended laptops, I would recommend a Dell laptop, but if I did I would recommend a small business one from dell. They have come nice little workstation notebooks, there expensive though . If you buy small business they are the best on the market, plus there cheaply built like the Compaq or Dell Desktops. My mom has a Dell 600m and its a nice little laptop, has survived many falls, and has the longest battery life I have seen out there. When it is 100% charged it has lasted me about 4 hours. Now as for Compaq, anything Compaq is a bad idea once you touch it...

Plus its no longer IBM, its Lenovo. The thinkpad is way to over priced. Like anything made by Lenovo (Or good-ole IBM) IBM is now all about IT, and they do it good.

Dells have shit customer support.

That once again depends on if you buy from the Home Office or Small Business section. We have American support when we call Dell, if we need support. Plus you just have to know the right code to punch in when your on hold to get American support.

I imagine you're interested in a Windows-based laptop?

Yeah.

Although I have an interest in Linux, and have the "Red Hat Linux Bible", so I can learn a bit. Though with school its probably best to stick with Windows.

Another question to all, are there any processors or anything I should try and stay away from?

In my computer science program, we write software on Sun Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and do assembly on MIPS processors, actually. A lot of CS programs don't develop on Windows.

Huh, well Im not sure what my school's program is like, or what theyll require. Maybe Ill need something else.

Im 9 nine months away from school right now anyway, so I wont really know for a while.

At this point Im just looking for hardware.

If you do go with a Windows based PC, you can always do a multiple boot, Windows XP, Red Hat, Sun (Which is usless in my words) but people still use it. Or you could just go with a laptop with no OS installed and do it all yourself.

Yeah but then if I need windows I would have to spend a hundred bucks to buy the gorramn thing.

Can anybody tell me about HP laptops? Should I steer clear or are they ok?

I would get an Alienware laptop, but that's me, since I like computers with high processing, and graphics.

See, like I said before, I dont need anything that extensive for 1) my first laptop, and 2) my school laptop.

That, and Alienwares are way overpriced.

Also a good point, haha.


I tyhink my biggest worry is about getting the wrong brand. Certain brands are going to have reoccuring problems throughout their laptops. I'd love to go Dell but generally I think Id be paying more than most brands, and their customizing features make me go crazy with them, haha.

Oh well, Im not buying it for a long while anyway.

sony vaio fj series =]

its nice! and it costs around 1400-1500

well, i think toshibas are good.

mine has a crappy video card, but that's my fault for not checking that when i got it.


it's rather old.

toshibas do have a slight tendency to overheat, but as long as you don't block the vents and make sure air can circulate (i've elevated mine on rolls of tape), it's fine.

even when it does overheat it's not too big a deal. some models do overheat so much they shut down, but none of the three toshibas my family has collectively do.

of course, with laptops, i'd suggest you go as high as possible for non-upgradable things.

like the video card. (except in some cases)

what sucks with laptops is you're kinda stuck with the system you've got, so make sure it's good enough in the unupgradables.

Ive heard about Toshibas having problems wiht the AC input wearing out after it being plugged in and out alot, which may be a problem for me considering Id need it for school.

I looked at the FJ series, and it just seems like I could pay alot less for about the same stats. Other than the cam and mic, which I dont need, what exactly sets it apart, and warrants me paying the extra money?

just making a suggestion.. imho paying a little extra for reliability is always worth it

btw i have a fj and its great, no problems whatsoever

my sister's computer's AC input (toshiba) wore out.

but it's becuase she dropped it so many times, many times on the input. her solution to the problem included violently wiggling the plug around in the jack.

i think if you take good care of your comptuer it shouldn't be a problem.

it was under warrenty, so we just sent it in and got it back repaired.

and with a sony- it's not worth it. you're paying at least 300 bucks for the name alone.

you're not getting anything remarkable with them either, usually.

i'd stick to dell and toshiba.

Don't go with Dell. Their laptops are known for suffering from a high failure rate. We use them at work and deploy them across the university--they're nice when they're working, but we experience a lot of problems with them.

well, they do seem good with replacing things.

at least, last time i dealt with them. but that was just a CD drive...

but i suppose, you have to take risks somewhere.

and if you're going to take a risk that the laptop will fail, then i'd rather take it with a dell, who i've had experience with.

and as far as toshiba... i have a 7 year old toshiba that still works. of course, it's on windows 95, and nothing works with it, but it still works.