New Laptop

[Timmy_2_Tones]

So now that I have my taxes done and I know how much money I have to blow. I am looking for a new laptop, with that being said what are the suggestion of the Forum? I am looking to keep it around $600- $700, here is an example of what I am looking at. [s:1f7widty]http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174;+Core%26%23153;+i3+Processor+-+Midnight+Blue/9739389.p?skuId=9739389&id=1218164404838[/s:1f7widty]


What is the opinion on that Laptop? I am just getting tired of this Netbook and desperately need a good laptop. What do you guys suggest based on experience which is better/worse, worth the money or not. I am fairly competent in understanding hardware and all that jargon. I am just wanting some input before I buy.

[David_3033]

The link is not working Timmy. At best buy we got a great deal on a laptop last year after christmas. It was a toshiba for around $500 something. Had 250gb a good processor and we have been happy since.

[MaximusR3]

if you don't mind ordering online, try checking out NewEgg and TigerDirect, they usually have some pretty good deals, plenty of free shipping bargains and are generally cheaper than bestbuy.


also, if you are comfortable buying refurbished items (Gamestop has been the only place so far to let me down on refurbished products) TigerDirect has this HP Pavilion dv7 that is normally a little over 1,000 running for 559.99


Has a 5 star review rating out of 300+ reviews, built in webcam, dvd-RW, 17" widescreen monitor, 320gig HDD, 2.10 Ghz processor, 4gb of ram, ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, windows vista (maybe you can work out a windows 7 upgrade), and it's shiny :o

check it out here if you'd like:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... etailspecs

[MaximusR3]

here's the one Timmy was referencing:



specs are similar to the one i listed. for some reason when that link is clicked it doesn't work, yet if you search it on bestbuy.com, that is in fact the url....weird

[smoke]

I'm a huge DELL supporter. Their laptops are just great. and are rock solid.
The real question is, what absolute requirements do you have, now that your wanting to purchase a laptop? This is really going to drive what you need in your system.

[MaximusR3]

i may be just taking a stab in the dark but i think Timmy's main objective here will be having portable porn, so a big HDD and a big screen are probably his biggest priorities. and a headphone jack goes without saying

[smoke]

i may be just taking a stab in the dark but i think Timmy's main objective here will be having portable porn, so a big HDD and a big screen are probably his biggest priorities. and a headphone jack goes without saying

So 17" screen and 500 GB drive. piece of cake! :mrgreen:

[David_3033]

Yes, you must have enough hard drive space for porn that is a must!!!

[Guest]

I haven't had good luck with Gateways in the past, I'd recommend staying away from them. I still believe the best thing I did was buy a Mac laptop, but they're more than you're budgeting. Acers normally get very good reviews and I've had good luck with them, and like people said, you can't go wrong with Dell.

As far as the porn goes, sounds like you'll need an external either way!

[Timmy_2_Tones]

Ok, I am looking for a Laptop with this.

• 15"- 16" Screen
• Minimum 320 GB Hard drive. SATA or regular
• Minimum 4GB DDR Ram
• Min. 2.0 Ghz processor
• Graphics Card other than Intel Graphics Accelerator (unless some can convince me that it is no longer shit)
• HDMI output
• Blu-ray reader is not a priority but would be nice.
• Not Asus or Acer

I have no real Demands that I need it for, the main desires are school (Microsoft Works, Word, Powerpoint, etc.). Also, If I want to play a game I would like it to be quite capable, as well as watch movies. I had a Compaq Presario and I loved it, it was a freakin' monster, I loved that computer all the way up too it's demise when I threw it against the wall cause I was pissed at my wife. So you know that is not a good way to treat a laptop. As far as porn goes I have that on almost everything I own, so that is not too much of a priority. I just want a solid laptop, now days it is too easy to get them custom built to meet my specs, I am more curious what you guys think is the BEST laptop really.

@ CGLefty thanks for the info I have never been a fan of Gateway, HP, or Compaq. The Compaq I had was a gift so I didn't complain. I have an iBook G4 that works perfectly, it just needs a new screen and hinge, my wife dropped it down a staircase one day. I definitely love the Mac.

@ Smoke [s:1zorcjpm]How hard is it to either:
1. buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed?
or
2. Dual boot and have linux be the primary OS?[/s:1zorcjpm]
ssanders taught me
I have a strong prejudiced against Microsoft and I want to use Linux because it is Open Source. I have always wanted a Dell or an Alienware because my true love is GAMING, but the price is up there a bit. I am still workin on getting the wife on track for a laptop closer to $1000

@ Max thanks for that pic and the info.

[DaCajun]

What you need is the Panasonic Toughbook so the next time you throw it against the wall it won't get hurt at all, but it does cost a lot more. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

[MaximusR3]

Good call Cajun, i'm sure this one would be able to withstand all Timmy's temper tantrums

it's said to rated to military specs and can withstand a fall of 90cm, heavy rain, dust, and sand storms. Only costs about 6,600 too :mrgreen:

[jack]

I'm a huge DELL supporter. Their laptops are just great. and are rock solid.
The real question is, what absolute requirements do you have, now that your wanting to purchase a laptop? This is really going to drive what you need in your system.

dell studio series baby.

[jack]

Good call Cajun, i'm sure this one would be able to withstand all Timmy's temper tantrums

it's said to rated to military specs and can withstand a fall of 90cm, heavy rain, dust, and sand storms. Only costs about 6,600 too :mrgreen:

good looking tough book maximus

[smoke]

Ok, I am looking for a Laptop with this.

• 15"- 16" Screen
• Minimum 320 GB Hard drive. SATA or regular
• Minimum 4GB DDR Ram
• Min. 2.0 Ghz processor
• Graphics Card other than Intel Graphics Accelerator (unless some can convince me that it is no longer shit)
• HDMI output
• Blu-ray reader is not a priority but would be nice.
• Not Asus or Acer

I have no real Demands that I need it for, the main desires are school (Microsoft Works, Word, Powerpoint, etc.). Also, If I want to play a game I would like it to be quite capable, as well as watch movies. I had a Compaq Presario and I loved it, it was a freakin' monster, I loved that computer all the way up too it's demise when I threw it against the wall cause I was pissed at my wife. So you know that is not a good way to treat a laptop. As far as porn goes I have that on almost everything I own, so that is not too much of a priority. I just want a solid laptop, now days it is too easy to get them custom built to meet my specs, I am more curious what you guys think is the BEST laptop really.

@ CGLefty thanks for the info I have never been a fan of Gateway, HP, or Compaq. The Compaq I had was a gift so I didn't complain. I have an iBook G4 that works perfectly, it just needs a new screen and hinge, my wife dropped it down a staircase one day. I definitely love the Mac.

@ Smoke [s:1n8rm4ge]How hard is it to either:
1. buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed?
or
2. Dual boot and have linux be the primary OS?[/s:1n8rm4ge]
ssanders taught me
I have a strong prejudiced against Microsoft and I want to use Linux because it is Open Source. I have always wanted a Dell or an Alienware because my true love is GAMING, but the price is up there a bit. I am still workin on getting the wife on track for a laptop closer to $1000

@ Max thanks for that pic and the info.

Those specs are pretty easy to meet. The blu-ray will drive cost up a lot. I have a DELL Studio 15" with all the bell's and whistles and came in under 1300.00. You can get one down in your budget range.

For DELL, you cannot buy one with Linux pre-installed unless you get a netbook. I love Linux, but will firmly admit, its not a good OS for just wanting to do stuff now. Many things require dependencies, and compiling.. + 99.9% of all applications/games run on Windows, which means to make them work under linux, you need an emulator.. I don't wanna discourage you, but unless you have a lot of patience or have a degree in Linux, I would lean towards dual booting, or stright Windows. Windows 7 is awesome. There are just no words to better describe it. They took all the good things, from all the other operating systems, and none of the bad.

Dual-booting : its easy, both Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Slackware) easy dual boot with W7, as does W7 with any of them. Ubuntu is the most user friendly, and fedora has the most bells & whistles.

Let me see what I can whip you up.

[smoke]

Here ya go, out the door at $898.00, with Microsoft Office 2007 Home.

[jack]

listen to smoke on this one linux is a pain, if i'm not mistaken dell is offering a studio for 700. also i think an xps for a little around 850, both are really great machines.... so you can't really go wrong with either.

[Pakman3000]

Surprised I haven't heard anyone say "Get a Mac" Must be all the hippies out here in CA. lol

[smoke]

Surprised I haven't heard anyone say "Get a Mac" Must be all the hippies out here in CA. lol

He eliminated a MAC when he said his budget was 600-700 dollars..

[MaximusR3]

MACs are awesome







for me to poop on!!!!

[Pakman3000]

LOL My next desktop will be a iMac 27" once my quadcore PC dies

[Taino67u]

hey is it true that Bill Gates bought Apple/MAC?

[Timmy_2_Tones]

@TLOG, the rason I am not buying a MAC (which is what I really want) is because I have a Apple iBook G4 and I am going to get the screen fixed so it will be perfect. I want a Laptop because I am more knowledgeable on a PC.

Also, I have this awesome skill that I can convince my wife to do just about anything, Within reason, so price is really the least of the issues here. I don't want to blow all of the Tax money on just a laptop.

@ Smoke Thank you for the info about that Dell. I think ultimately I am going to go with a Dell and do a dual boot with Ubuntu. I want to learn how to manipulate Open source programming and I am a trial by fire kind of person so I don't really like to just read all about it.

Also,here is a link to Dell with Ubuntu (preinstalled) http://www.dell.com/content/topics/s...=us&l=en&cs=19
They only offers two models but they are Ubuntu Operated Dell Computers.

[jack]

Thanks for the info timmy, I think I'll be looking into that more for my new setup

[smoke]

@TLOG, the rason I am not buying a MAC (which is what I really want) is because I have a Apple iBook G4 and I am going to get the screen fixed so it will be perfect. I want a Laptop because I am more knowledgeable on a PC.

Also, I have this awesome skill that I can convince my wife to do just about anything, Within reason, so price is really the least of the issues here. I don't want to blow all of the Tax money on just a laptop.

@ Smoke Thank you for the info about that Dell. I think ultimately I am going to go with a Dell and do a dual boot with Ubuntu. I want to learn how to manipulate Open source programming and I am a trial by fire kind of person so I don't really like to just read all about it.

Also,here is a link to Dell with Ubuntu (preinstalled) http://www.dell.com/content/topics/s...=us&l=en&cs=19
They only offers two models but they are Ubuntu Operated Dell Computers.

They added that Insprion recently, as it used to only be on the mini 10 netbooks that had Ubuntu as an option.
Let me know if you need any help picking one, My company is a premier dell shop, and my rep and I have a good relationship; I may be able to get you a discount.