Laptop shopping

[Antiochian]

When it comes to computers, I'm really far from an expert. I need to replace my old laptop and have been doing some online shopping. I'm a grad student and writer, so I obviously want to store lots of word documents, plus a good amount of pictures and music (few hundred songs, maybe a few thousand pics). Does anyone care to make a general recommendation for how much memory and how big a hard drive I should be looking at while checking out models, and anything else I should be considering?

 

[Panda]

So you only use it for things like word and playing music? Do you want an ultra portable style thing or a larger one? Is HD important to you? How much are you looking to spend? Do you do any video editing? Gaming?

 

[Father Heathen]

Don't get a Toshiba.

 

[Panda]

Don't get a Toshiba.

^^^ Two of mine overheated though I have been told newer ones are better. I would avoid Dell as well.

 

[Father Heathen]

^^^ Two of mine overheated though I have been told newer ones are better. I would avoid Dell as well.

I purchased one early this year and the hard drive failed after only a few months. I've heard bad things about Dell, too.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Get the most expensive mac that you can afford.

 

[Panda]

I purchased one early this year and the hard drive failed after only a few months. I've heard bad things about Dell, too.

Wow not good. Was overheating I had problems with with my Toshiba. Kinda melted the HDD (well warped from heat) and some other stuff.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Wow not good. Was overheating I had problems with with my Toshiba. Kinda melted the HDD (well warped from heat) and some other stuff.

I have two Toshibas and a mac.

All of them are more than three years old. One toshiba is almost 8 years old (they grow up so fast!) the other is five. Mac is three - going on four. They are all begging me to drive.

Anyway, both Toshibas are functional, which is impressive to me because they are about 120 in computer years.

Mac is my favorite because of the programming. Both Toshiba's hard drives have been completely destroyed by viruses multiple times.

Mac isn't as tough. Well, it looks tough but I've been through two screens, three cameras, two keyboard casings, four hard drives and two mother boards. My warranty just expired. But it's my favorite and the new ones are awesome.

Dissertations are female dogs.

 

[Antiochian]

So you only use it for things like word and playing music? Do you want an ultra portable style thing or a larger one? Is HD important to you? How much are you looking to spend? Do you do any video editing? Gaming?

Not a big gamer at all. I just want to type documents, store iTunes songs and pics, play DVDs, and maybe upload a few Youtube vids. I'd prefer to not spent over $800, definitely not over $1,000. I don't care so much about size, but would probably prefer something in the middle.

I want Microsoft Office to be installed.

Thanks.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Not a big gamer, I could care less about HD. I just want to type documents, store iTunes songs and pics, and play DVDs. I'd prefer to not spent over $800, definitely not over $1,000. I don't care so much about size, but would probably prefer something in the middle. Thanks.

That's not hard to find. Just look for something with the latest Intel processor and a good wireless setup. You can get one for a lot less than $800 bucks these days. I'd ask a knowledgable friend to go shopping.

Toshiba is an excellent brand in this range.

 

[Antiochian]

I have two Toshibas and a mac.

All of them are more than three years old. One toshiba is almost 8 years old (they grow up so fast!) the other is five. Mac is three - going on four. They are all begging me to drive.

Anyway, both Toshibas are functional, which is impressive to me because they are about 120 in computer years.

Mac is my favorite because of the programming. Both Toshiba's hard drives have been completely destroyed by viruses multiple times.

Mac isn't as tough. Well, it looks tough but I've been through two screens, three cameras, two keyboard casings, four hard drives and two mother boards. My warranty just expired. But it's my favorite and the new ones are awesome.

Dissertations are female dogs.

Grew up on the Macs, but I don't like them. I do appreciate all the advise coming my way.

I currently have a Compaq that's over 5 years old and it's as almost as slow as an embalmed body.

 

[Antiochian]

That's not hard to find. Just look for something with the latest Intel processor and a good wireless setup. You can get one for a lot less than $800 bucks these days. I'd ask a knowledgable friend to go shopping.

Toshiba is an excellent brand in this range.

Will do. Thanks again.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Grew up on the Macs, but I don't like them. I do appreciate all the advise coming my way.

I currently have a Compaq that's over 5 years old and it's as almost as slow as an embalmed body.

I am a mac. I'm running widows on it too, so I get the best of the mac world and the crap from windows.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

I have a Macbook Pro and it is easily the best computer I've used. Just works. The only thing I don't like about it is Windows, lol. You must have terrible luck, angellous, because I've never heard of anyone having so many problems with a computer, let alone a Mac, lol.

 

[Panda]

That's not hard to find. Just look for something with the latest Intel processor and a good wireless setup. You can get one for a lot less than $800 bucks these days. I'd ask a knowledgable friend to go shopping.

Toshiba is an excellent brand in this range.

Not a big gamer at all. I just want to type documents, store iTunes songs and pics, play DVDs, and maybe upload a few Youtube vids. I'd prefer to not spent over $800, definitely not over $1,000. I don't care so much about size, but would probably prefer something in the middle.

I want Microsoft Office to be installed.

Thanks.

I would avoid Toshiba if I was you but that is just because I've had bad experiences with them in last few years. Sony are pretty decent something like this might suit you Sony Viao. Sony are a wee bit expensive but I know a few people who have them and they are great. Acer are a bit of a favourite of mine, something like this might be up your street Acer Aspire. I actually have an Aspire though a different model from that one and I love it. Decent size screen, big HDD for your media and stuff.

Some general tips for you. I would look minimum 4GB of memory these days. That is easily in your price range (you could probably get 6GB but would be a waste for what you say you use it for) and at least 320 GB HDD if you store a decent amount of music, if store movies would look at at 500 GB (or consider external drive).

Also the site I was linking to, I've been told by Americans, is a good place to get computers and computer parts from. Don't buy from a physical shop unless on sale as 9 times out of 10 is cheaper online.

 

[Father Heathen]

I would avoid Toshiba if I was you but that is just because I've had bad experiences with them in last few years. Sony are pretty decent something like this might suit you Sony Viao. Sony are a wee bit expensive but I know a few people who have them and they are great. Acer are a bit of a favourite of mine, something like this might be up your street Acer Aspire. I actually have an Aspire though a different model from that one and I love it. Decent size screen, big HDD for your media and stuff.

Some general tips for you. I would look minimum 4GB of memory these days. That is easily in your price range (you could probably get 6GB but would be a waste for what you say you use it for) and at least 320 GB HDD if you store a decent amount of music, if store movies would look at at 500 GB (or consider external drive).

Also the site I was linking to, I've been told by Americans, is a good place to get computers and computer parts from. Don't buy from a physical shop unless on sale as 9 times out of 10 is cheaper online.

Newegg is indeed a great online store.