Help choosing a computer

[squeak12 10+ year member]

Well its about time that I invest in a new computer. Ive been using the same computer since 2000 and Im beginning to lose hope. So I think I will get a new one. It definately has to be a laptop. It wont be used for gaming ever. I just need it to do school work, microsoft office, run my tl, and use the internet. Also it must have 2 usb ports, cd-rw/dvd drive. Right now Im on my sisters, its a acer travelmate 2480-2943. I really like it and might get the same one if I can find it at a good price. Im looking to spend 750 or so. Less is better, but Im not set at this price.

Also what are yalls opinions on the internet cards that the cell phone companies have out.

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[RAINMAKA 10+ year member]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8032498&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050014&id=1157067574689

that one is similar to the one i have, got it at staples for 550 so they are probably even cheaper now. all i use it for is the internet, school work, and occasionally photoshop.

 

[squeak12 10+ year member]

I added a couple things to the first post that I thought of.

 

[elementxero 10+ year member]

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop that I bought a few months ago with the upgraded shiney screen.

Seriously one of the best machines I've ever owned, and I'm a DIY enthusiast with my main computers, which is what kept me from prefab laptops for so many years.

HIGHLY reccomended. I paid about 1200 for mine, but that was with the upgraded graphics and screen. Probably be about 1000 without those upgrades, possibly a lot less since I bought this a few months ago.

Only thing is you will want to wipe the OS and install XP from scratch. Dells (and all other manufacturers really) are notorious for bloating the christ out of the OS with trial programs and registry hacks.

 

[dinty01 10+ year member]

ill be ordering a new HP laptop, my sis has a dell and its alright but Ive used the HP's and theyre awesome. The screen is so much better and the speed of the computer is a lot better and the HP's werent much different hardware wise than her dell is, also, it may not be a big deal but when you call customer service you get American people who speak English, unlike with dell where your call gets sent to india or somewhere over there. So Hp is my vote and they arent that expensive, you could find a BNIB one for the price youre looking to spend

 

[elementxero 10+ year member]

HP is alright, but frankly Dell gets you better quality for your cash. You can get that screen type with either brand, and you can't compare two brands of laptops as the only criteria because obviously a $2,500 HP is going to outperform a 3 year old $700 Dell. Kind of a flawed comparison.

But honestly, I lean towards Dell based on my research/experiences with them recently, but if you aren't gaming at all it's gonna be tough to go wrong. If you are just using Office, browsing the internet, and playing MP3s you would be fine with a mid-range model from three years ago, yknow?

 

[brandontw 10+ year member]

just find the one with the longest battery life, and then find it used for cheap. thats what i did, and i dont regret it at all... battery life is the main factor in a laptop, everything else is sort of irrelevant...

 

[brandontw 10+ year member]

may i suggest a HP/compaq NC6000 ---awsome battery life, especially with the extra drive bay battery, and it has a radeon 9600 video chipset, so games are an option if you ever decide to broaden your horisons.

I got mine for 300$ with a flawed screen, been using it for 3 years scince then... no repairs, or anything..flawed screen is no biggie,

ive dropped it from counter height numerous times, open and closed, ive left it on in my backpack so it was insanely hot..no permanent damage.

and its powerful enought to use as a deskto replacement when im in between computers...

 

[brandontw 10+ year member]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-nc6000-P-M-1-6Ghz-40-0g-512mb-DVD-WX-Pro_W0QQitemZ280062559102QQihZ018QQcategoryZ140082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[brandontw 10+ year member]

ok im done.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

Well its about time that I invest in a new computer. Ive been using the same computer since 2000 and Im beginning to lose hope. So I think I will get a new one. It definately has to be a laptop. It wont be used for gaming ever. I just need it to do school work, microsoft office, run my tl, and use the internet. Also it must have 2 usb ports, cd-rw/dvd drive. Right now Im on my sisters, its a acer travelmate 2480-2943. I really like it and might get the same one if I can find it at a good price. Im looking to spend 750 or so. Less is better, but Im not set at this price.
Also what are yalls opinions on the internet cards that the cell phone companies have out.

If you wait around you can find excellent dell deals ($750 off $1500) and u can get a VERY nice laptop for around $850 or so.

Also bestbuy occasionally has ridiculous deals on toshiba notebooks (One was like 350 or 450 last time I saw one), those are also great.

Browse around the fatwallet.org forums and u can find some excellent computer deals. I got a $2300 (configured) dell laptop for $1400 shipped, and its not a buy/sell forum, its a forum for people finding low prices on everything.

 

[squeak12 10+ year member]

Any othe specific recommendations?

 

[vipervin 10+ year member]

x2 on the fatwallet

--> http://www.fatwallet.com/c/18/

i got my dell core-duo e1405 for ~$700 when it was first released to the public with the help of that forum

 

[squeak12 10+ year member]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-nc6000-P-M-1-6Ghz-40-0g-512mb-DVD-WX-Pro_W0QQitemZ280062559102QQihZ018QQcategoryZ140082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thinking of going with that computer but it says it only has a dvd rom not a cdrw/dvd. How much are those for laptops and how hard are they to install?

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

Thinking of going with that computer but it says it only has a dvd rom not a cdrw/dvd. How much are those for laptops and how hard are they to install?

you can buy an external but they are expensive