Lap-tupz!

[thehoodedsmack]

I've recently been admitted to the University of Waterloo, one of Canada's most renowned universities, and I'm just thrilled.
(Feel free to +rep your congratulations)
I'm thrilled not only because I got in, but because my parents will be buying me a new laptop to use in the upcoming semester. Now, I'm no tech wizard, which is why I've come to you guys for advice. What would y'all recommend for a laptop that's:

a) portable (preferably 15.4")
b) powerful
c) good memory (I don't need something rediculous like 800GB, but something
like 160-250 would be great)
d) fast (I'm not sure if this is RAM or CPU related, but we were looking
for something upgradable to at least 4GB or RAM)
e) any extra features you guys think are cool, I'd be interested at looking at
f) oh yeah, no Macs. :mad:

Reply if you've got advice. I don't think price is too much of an issue. Thanks in advance!

[CrAsHOvErRide]

4GB of RAM? Well you said you weren't a tech wiz but I don't think you'll ever need 4GB unless you are a gamer or...the irony...a tech wiz (multiple debuggers etc.)

I wouldn't get anything fancy (unnecessary good graphic card for example) because that makes everything more stable and I think that's something you are looking for.

[Limited]

Congrats on the Uni place :)

Just a question, are you planning on doing any like video editing on it and are you planning on playing any video games on it.

[thehoodedsmack]

Congrats on the Uni place :)

Just a question, are you planning on doing any like video editing on it and are you planning on playing any video games on it.

All work and no play makes Smack a dull boy. I edit videos using Sony Vegas, and the only games I usually play are SW: Battlefront, Halo CE, The Sims, and a few RTS's. Oh, and I can't forget 3DSMax 8. Aaaand Adobe Audition. Also Flash, Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office, XNA Game Studio, Photoshop, and some other smaller programs.

[Sel]

Hah, chances are youre way smarter than me, but yeah, how long do you intend to use this?

Something with atleast 2GB of RAM and a descent processor is really all you need, and the graphics card would depend on what youre using this laptop for, if you dont need it for graphicly intense applications then go with some integrated thing. Its more than enough to play old games and do windows vista shits.

[Amit]

Well you can get laptops cheap around futureshop with 2GB of RAM and 120GB-160GB of hard drive space. Look for at least an Intel Centrino Duo T5400 CPU. I recommend you buy a Toshiba laptop since I have two of them and they both run flawlessly, reliably, and extremely fast. Laptops work best with Windows XP. Vista is hell on a laptop. Since you, apparently, do use somewhat graphic intensice applications, I'd say to try to find something with a Mobility HD 2400 or GeForce 8400GS/M

[Zeph]

You mind telling us what retailers you're considering? It doesn't do us much good to tell you what to get from Dell if you're just going to pick one up from Wal Mart. Also, I suggest getting a 17" notebook. The 15.4" ones are more portable, but they're just too tiny.

[JDMFSeanP]

17" for me is MONSTER and way too much unessesary size, but I use a 7" laptop :P

[Amit]

You mind telling us what retailers you're considering? It doesn't do us much good to tell you what to get from Dell if you're just going to pick one up from Wal Mart. Also, I suggest getting a 17" notebook. The 15.4" ones are more portable, but they're just too tiny.

Actually for most people. 15.4" is the perfect size. Most laptop bags out there don't fit 17" notebooks and you usually have to pay higher prices to get one. Having both 15.4" and 17" laptops I find the 17" monstrous and too big for a lot of portability.

[klange]

You mind telling us what retailers you're considering? It doesn't do us much good to tell you what to get from Dell if you're just going to pick one up from Wal Mart. Also, I suggest getting a 17" notebook. The 15.4" ones are more portable, but they're just too tiny.
17" is overkill. And he's going to college and needs something relatively small, 15.4" is also the standard...

@Amit: My bag was for a 14" (for my old laptop...), but I got my 15.4" to fit by ripping the side of the protective spongy layer. Works quite nicely.

[thehoodedsmack]

You mind telling us what retailers you're considering? It doesn't do us much good to tell you what to get from Dell if you're just going to pick one up from Wal Mart. Also, I suggest getting a 17" notebook. The 15.4" ones are more portable, but they're just too tiny.

My dad recommended Acer, as he has had good experiences with his old one. I almost thought of going with a Vaio though. Not for any technical reason, just because they look nice. That might be a bad decision though, I can't tell. One thing I'm being constantly urged is not to buy from Dell. Apparantly there's some unspoken truth that they're the evil-doers of the computer industry?

[Idjiki]

someone likes Naruto.... anyway


look for battery life specs too. noone mentioned that yet but its pretty important... you don't want to run out of battery when your im'ing your girlfriend in the middle of the professor's lecture.

I'd also say to get XP since it will run smooth on today's laptops which are designed for Vista requirements while Vista will run more sluggishly.

And i agree that the smaller the better. 7" would be just fine for me... I'd rather it fit in my pocket though... a "Pocketbook"

[thehoodedsmack]

someone likes Naruto.... anyway


look for battery life specs too. noone mentioned that yet but its pretty important... you don't want to run out of battery when your im'ing your girlfriend in the middle of the professor's lecture.

I'd also say to get XP since it will run smooth on today's laptops which are designed for Vista requirements while Vista will run more sluggishly.

And i agree that the smaller the better. 7" would be just fine for me... I'd rather it fit in my pocket though... a "Pocketbook"

I'm actually not a fan of Naruto, if that was directed at me. No idea where that came from. Anyway, I figure battery life will have to last at least 3 to 4 hours per battery for it to be effective for lectures and what-not. I figure I'll carry one or two extra batteries just in case classes are too close together. It may cost more to buy extra batteries, but I think it'll be worth it.

[beele]

someone likes Naruto.... anyway


look for battery life specs too. noone mentioned that yet but its pretty important... you don't want to run out of battery when your im'ing your girlfriend in the middle of the professor's lecture.

I'd also say to get XP since it will run smooth on today's laptops which are designed for Vista requirements while Vista will run more sluggishly.

And i agree that the smaller the better. 7" would be just fine for me... I'd rather it fit in my pocket though... a "Pocketbook"

Todays laptops will run vista fine, in fact, as fast as XP.


I would indeed recommend acer as well, since I have one (5920G high spec, check my pc specs for more) and I'm very happy with it. I would also recommend an insurance for your lappy, you won't regret it :)

[CrAsHOvErRide]

IBM > Acer.

Either work though. Hard to get IBM.

[klange]

IBM > Acer.

Either work though. Hard to get IBM.
IBM doesn't make laptops anymore, you're thinking Lenovo.

And clearly the Naruto comment was directed at me...