Help, I'm trying to buy my first laptop

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mobster011

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I don't really know too much about computers. I'm not buying it for gaming purposes, just general home and school use. I don't want a top of the line laptop, but I definately don't want a low-end laptop.

What I wanted to know is, what are some of the features/technical terms that are most important in a computer, such a Ram, processor, battery, etc.

Could someone please guide me on some of the things I should be looking for in a laptop, what is considered a good processor, Ram, etc, and what they all mean? Haha. I appreciate any help.
 
haha and you ask this the day AFTER black friday

main thing is just look at cost... at least 1 GB of RAM, I guess a dual-core CPU would be nice
 
[quote name='mobster011']I don't really know too much about computers. I'm not buying it for gaming purposes, just general home and school use. I don't want a top of the line laptop, but I definately don't want a low-end laptop.

What I wanted to know is, what are some of the features/technical terms that are most important in a computer, such a Ram, processor, battery, etc.

Could someone please guide me on some of the things I should be looking for in a laptop, what is considered a good processor, Ram, etc, and what they all mean? Haha. I appreciate any help.[/quote]

I'd recommend a laptop w/ Windows XP, and a hard drive speed of 7,200 rpm. 80 Gigabytes is usually the minimum size.
As far as RAM (memory) goes, at least 1 Gigabyte. 2GB would be ideal.
For the processor, i'd say Intel's Core 2 Duo. I'm not familiar with AMD's mobile lineup though.
Graphics, looks for "dedicated graphics" from ATI or Nvidia.
Battery, 9 cell or 12 cell.
 
I'd start out with a Dell Inspiron or Latitude if I were entering the market. Dell will give you the best customer support that you can get for a pre-built computer hands down.
 
IF you are going to get windows vista (and i by all means reccomend against it with every atom of my soul) get 2 gb.

Vista has a real bad bloat problem and if you want to get a computer that boots and views web pages and doesn't do anything else 1 gig may be alright. But i'd reccomend 2 gb or you will regret it in a few months...
 
Thanks for everyones responses.

Do all laptops come built-in with the ability to hop right on to a wireless network, or is there something seperate you would have to buy? And what exactly is this feature/accessory called?

Can someone provide their opinions on this Toshiba laptop?
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/toshiba-satellite-a215-s7422/4507-3121_7-32689116.html?tag=sub
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/rdet.jsp?poid=393781&seg=HHO

What would you consider good and bad about it?

For the RAM, it says:
Installed Size- 1 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology- DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz

Level1 suggested RAM of at least 1GB..but I don't know if that means its 1GB or 4GB. And what's the 667MHz for?
 
I've had more recent Toshiba laptops die on me because of a motherboard problem. The older ones seem to be more sturdy. So I say, stay away from Toshiba.
 
4GB from that link means you can open it up and put 3 more GBs of memory in if you wanted for a maximum of 4GB. That shouldn't be necessary for a simple nongaming laptop. If it came with 4GB it would be about $200 more.

All laptops nowadays come with a wireless network card which allows it to connect to a wireless access point. You will need to buy a wireless router to hook up to your home computer and DSL in order to connect your laptop to the internet. I guess you could also go to Starbucks or whatever and use their network if you're a cheapass.

I recommend googling "dell coupons" and looking at the cheapest laptops they currently have for sell. I think they have free S&H too for the holidays. Dell is good enough for anything not top of the line. I also second the others to stay away from Vista for now. Laptops can be kind of a pain in the ass to upgrade because everything is crammed in there so tightly.
 
I have a wireless router for my 360 so that shouldn't be a problem. How is Toshiba's customer service? I've heard Dell's customer service is great so I am starting to consider Dell
 
[quote name='mobster011']I have a wireless router for my 360 so that shouldn't be a problem. How is Toshiba's customer service? I've heard Dell's customer service is great so I am starting to consider Dell[/QUOTE]

Uh... really? I've heard they were terrible and I know a few people personally who have had bad experiences with them- relating to melting laptops and keys falling out.
 
Keep an eye on how much it weighs, too, if you plan on travelling a lot with it. There's nothing more unwieldy than a heavy laptop.
 
Get a Macbook. The haters here will argue with me to the death, but if you're not using it for gaming, a Macbook would be perfect. OS X is also much better than Vista.

If you do stick with a Windows machine however, for the love of all things good and holy, make sure you install XP.

EDIT: By the way, you can install XP on a Macbook anyway.
 
[quote name='PawnTakesKing']Get a Macbook. The haters here will argue with me to the death, but if you're not using it for gaming, a Macbook would be perfect. OS X is also much better than Vista.

If you do stick with a Windows machine however, for the love of all things good and holy, make sure you install XP.

EDIT: By the way, you can install XP on a Macbook anyway.[/quote]Ditto on his suggestion. Macs are a great alternative, especially if you just want to hop online, write, or do other basic tasks. They're also exceptionally portable in comparison to most other laptops, save for the "mobile" iterations of certain models. It just works. (I'm sure someone is bound to argue against it, though.)
 
[quote name='survivestyle5']IF you are going to get windows vista (and i by all means reccomend against it with every atom of my soul) get 2 gb.

Vista has a real bad bloat problem and if you want to get a computer that boots and views web pages and doesn't do anything else 1 gig may be alright. But i'd reccomend 2 gb or you will regret it in a few months...[/quote]

That said, it's time to go back to reality...
 
[quote name='PawnTakesKing']Get a Macbook. The haters here will argue with me to the death, but if you're not using it for gaming, a Macbook would be perfect. OS X is also much better than Vista.

If you do stick with a Windows machine however, for the love of all things good and holy, make sure you install XP.

EDIT: By the way, you can install XP on a Macbook anyway.[/quote]


The only problem with that is that he's be spending fairly big money for an average machine.
 
[quote name='n25philly']The only problem with that is that he's be spending fairly big money for an average machine.[/QUOTE]

First, the disclaimer of me being a PC user... I've never owned a Mac. Hell, I don't even own an iPod (Zune FTW).

With that said, a $1000 MacBook is not 'big money for an average machine'. It cost a little more than an equally-performing PC counterpart, but you also get more than an equally-performing PC counterpart. You get better sound, a better keyboard, a better screen, etc... everything is high quality. That's why so often you hear "it just works", you don't spend time finding a PCMCIA card to replace the broken integrated mobo sound, etc.

Fact is, MacBooks are well made. You can save a few bucks if you go with a cheap PC counterpart, but you ultimately get what you pay for.

I regretted my 17" Toshiba due to the weight, and I regret my 13" Averatec due to how cheaply made it is.

If I were buying a new laptop today, I'd go with a MacBook. Great build quality, certainly fast enough for the next ~3 years (even the lowest end model, gaming excluded of course), and you get some great software bundled with it. Plus, they're far more aesthetically pleasing than any PC.
 
[quote name='Koggit']First, the disclaimer of me being a PC user... I've never owned a Mac. Hell, I don't even own an iPod (Zune FTW).

With that said, a $1000 MacBook is not 'big money for an average machine'. It cost a little more than an equally-performing PC counterpart, but you also get more than an equally-performing PC counterpart. You get better sound, a better keyboard, a better screen, etc... everything is high quality. That's why so often you hear "it just works", you don't spend time finding a PCMCIA card to replace the broken integrated mobo sound, etc.

Fact is, MacBooks are well made. You can save a few bucks if you go with a cheap PC counterpart, but you ultimately get what you pay for.

I regretted my 17" Toshiba due to the weight, and I regret my 13" Averatec due to how cheaply made it is.

If I were buying a new laptop today, I'd go with a MacBook. Great build quality, certainly fast enough for the next ~3 years (even the lowest end model, gaming excluded of course), and you get some great software bundled with it. Plus, they're far more aesthetically pleasing than any PC.[/QUOTE]

I just paid $450 for a HP laptop PC with a 1.7 ghz dual core athlon cpu, 1 gb ram (found a deal for 2 gb for $35 to help with games), a 5400 rpm 160 gb hard drive, and a 15.4 inch widescreen monitor. It boots up quickly, can do everything you would want to do on a mac, and can play most modern games. I have had no problems with it at all, and yes it has Vista. Unless its worth $500 to lose a little weight (mine is 6 pounds) and have a build in webcam, a Mac is a terrible idea. They are completely over rated and over priced (considering the minimum cost for a macbook is $1100...).

Oh and just looking it up, that $1100 mac has a 13" screen, 1 GB ram, and an 80 gb hard drive. In other words, its a piece of shit. Its CPU is a little faster, but what are you going to use that for on a Mac?
 
[quote name='Koggit']First, the disclaimer of me being a PC user... I've never owned a Mac. Hell, I don't even own an iPod (Zune FTW).

With that said, a $1000 MacBook is not 'big money for an average machine'. It cost a little more than an equally-performing PC counterpart, but you also get more than an equally-performing PC counterpart. You get better sound, a better keyboard, a better screen, etc... everything is high quality. That's why so often you hear "it just works", you don't spend time finding a PCMCIA card to replace the broken integrated mobo sound, etc.

Fact is, MacBooks are well made. You can save a few bucks if you go with a cheap PC counterpart, but you ultimately get what you pay for.

I regretted my 17" Toshiba due to the weight, and I regret my 13" Averatec due to how cheaply made it is.

If I were buying a new laptop today, I'd go with a MacBook. Great build quality, certainly fast enough for the next ~3 years (even the lowest end model, gaming excluded of course), and you get some great software bundled with it. Plus, they're far more aesthetically pleasing than any PC.[/quote]QFT my friend. As a Mac user who gets to use Windows on my desktop, I can't express how nice it is to rarely have problems with my Macs. Their laptops are exceptional in build quality and they're very portable.

I had a friend who decided to purchase a 17" HP laptop for around $1500 a few months back. I got a few days to play around with it, but as far as build quality, it comes nowehere close to Macs. Plastic bezels, plastic keys, screen that didn't cut down on the glare and Vista. The price of having a nicely built laptop with software that, I hate to say it, just works, is well worth the extra money you put into it.
 
[quote name='DrFoo']I just paid $450 for a HP laptop PC with a 1.7 ghz dual core athlon cpu, 1 gb ram (found a deal for 2 gb for $35 to help with games), a 5400 rpm 160 gb hard drive, and a 15.4 inch widescreen monitor. It boots up quickly, can do everything you would want to do on a mac, and can play most modern games. I have had no problems with it at all, and yes it has Vista. Unless its worth $500 to lose a little weight (mine is 6 pounds) and have a build in webcam, a Mac is a terrible idea. They are completely over rated and over priced (considering the minimum cost for a macbook is $1100...).

Oh and just looking it up, that $1100 mac has a 13" screen, 1 GB ram, and an 80 gb hard drive. In other words, its a piece of shit. Its CPU is a little faster, but what are you going to use that for on a Mac?[/QUOTE]

With all due respect, you seem to be rather biased in this regard.

First of all, the $1100 Mac is actually a $1,000 Mac after student discount.

Second, I was 99.9% sure that the mac book was lighter before finishing your post, which is a HUGE issue. Light laptops cost more. Most 4lb laptops start around $600 when you get a good deal, and average price is $800 - $1,200. That alone makes such a huge difference. As I said, my 7lb Toshiba was far too heavy for me to consider truly 'mobile'. I could not just throw it in my backpack without taking something else out to keep the weight bearable.

Third, the lowest end MacBook is much faster than your PC. Not only is a much faster processor, but OSX is much more efficient. The MacBook is faster, but even if it wasn't, with equal hardware the Mac would be faster.

Fourth, you list 13" screen as a negative thing... it isn't. It keeps it light. The MacBook's screen is likely much higher quality than yours. The new LED screens have incredible brightness and contrast, and I bet the 13" is the same resolution as your 15", resulting in a higher pixel density which creates a sharper image.

Fifth, since your laptop has Vista at that price, how long have you had it? Two months, tops? It's not fair to say you haven't had any problems with it. That's not a point you're yet fit to make. I bet in the course of 3 years you do have issues. I would, honest to god, place money down on a bet in favor of you having technical issues with that $450 laptop within 3 years. I would not be comfortable placing the same bet against a Mac. That's based on my 3 years of experience as a ERT at Staples (think Geek Squad, except paid less).


As I said, I don't own a Mac and I never have... MacBooks are just great products at a good price. I would not be recommending a Mac if the OP were looking for a desktop... but for a laptop, definitely.
 
I own and operate a computer repair shop, I would highly recommend AGAINST getting a laptop with vista. As far as brand goes... I'd recommend HP for any "name brand". you can get them right off HP's site, you can probably find a coupon code or something on-line (or on this site maybe?)

just make sure you get windows XP (you only need XP home, but a lot of places are requiring you to get XP pro, or vista...)

I'd say get at LEAST 1GB of RAM, and a dual core cpu (stay from celeron or semperon CPU's), get a Core 2, Athlon or Turion CPU.

I have worked on several brand laptops, including opening them up and fixing issues inside. HPs are the best in build quality you'll find, and have the least amount of overheating problems I've seen.

I'd say to stay away from Mac's... I worked on an Ibook and macbook in my time and they are built pretty cheaply inside (which is why they are probably so light)

in the macbook there were parts that were litterly held together with shiny tape.....and if they do have a problem, mac computer support and repair si harder to find, and more costly.

just my 2 cents,
 
[quote name='Drnick']
i'd say to stay away from Mac's... I worked on an Ibook and macbook in my time and they are built pretty cheaply inside (which is why they are probably so light)

in the macbook there were parts that were litterly held together with shiny tape.....and if they do have a problem, mac computer support and repair si harder to find, and more costly.

just my 2 cents,[/QUOTE]

No offense, but what Macbooks have you been looking at?

I've opened up both of my Macbooks, and the only "shiny tape" as you call it is actually foil tape used for shielding the wires. It doesn't hold together any parts whatsoever. In fact, you can cut the tape or remove it completely and the Macbook is still fine.

And as far as support goes, just call Applecare if you have any problems. They'll have your machine back within a week.
 
They aren't quite as bad as I said, but no you are still wrong. Smaller screen size does not make a laptop better for most people. Nobody should have any problems carrying and transporting a 6 pound laptop that has maybe an 18 inch diagonal closed. Yes a lighter and smaller laptop would be nice but I would much rather keep my 2.4" of screen size. Also you never mentioned the hard drive, which has half the space.

OSX isn't much more efficient than Vista if it is at all. You can install and run Vista on a pentium 1 with 128 mb of ram and it will run reasonably. Obviously if you have 1 GB of ram and a dual core processor you won't have any problems with standard programs.

I admit that the Mac has a faster processor. I'm still wondering what people use it for. Unless you're compiling video footage there isn't much use for it on a Mac. Your computer won't boot up or load programs faster (thats bottlenecked by the hard drive for the most part). So if your not going to use it for games a faster CPU is mostly pointless.

And still even after it is $1000 you're still paying over twice as much for half the hard drive, half the memory (after the upgrade), and a smaller screen. Even if you want a smaller laptop I don't see how it is worth that much. And I don't know anybody who has had major problems with Vista (including people who have had it for much longer than I). The media is making it out to be far worse than it actually is.

I actually agree with Drnick. There isn't really a reason to use Vista or OSX over XP at this point. You can still do all the same things without any additional difficulty and you can probably get a faster rig.
 
[quote name='DrFoo']They aren't quite as bad as I said, but no you are still wrong. Smaller screen size does not make a laptop better for most people. Nobody should have any problems carrying and transporting a 6 pound laptop that has maybe an 18 inch diagonal closed. Yes a lighter and smaller laptop would be nice but I would much rather keep my 2.4" of screen size. Also you never mentioned the hard drive, which has half the space.

OSX isn't much more efficient than Vista if it is at all. You can install and run Vista on a pentium 1 with 128 mb of ram and it will run reasonably. Obviously if you have 1 GB of ram and a dual core processor you won't have any problems with standard programs.

I admit that the Mac has a faster processor. I'm still wondering what people use it for. Unless you're compiling video footage there isn't much use for it on a Mac. Your computer won't boot up or load programs faster (thats bottlenecked by the hard drive for the most part). So if your not going to use it for games a faster CPU is mostly pointless.

And still even after it is $1000 you're still paying over twice as much for half the hard drive, half the memory (after the upgrade), and a smaller screen. Even if you want a smaller laptop I don't see how it is worth that much. And I don't know anybody who has had major problems with Vista (including people who have had it for much longer than I). The media is making it out to be far worse than it actually is.

I actually agree with Drnick. There isn't really a reason to use Vista or OSX over XP at this point. You can still do all the same things without any additional difficulty and you can probably get a faster rig.[/QUOTE]

OS X is more efficient. This is a fact. I refuse to waste my time conveying facts to you.

Why are you so hellbent on distorting facts? Did Steve Jobs rape your sister? Did Bill Gates give you a blow job? I don't understand the corporate loyalty -- and corporate loyalty is the only reason for you to be biased.

You spew nonsense. Your memory comparison is so convoluted I don't even know where to begin -- so I won't.
 
Now, now guys...let's get back to helping the OP find a laptop that will suit him.

Exactly what kind of things do you plan to do with your laptop? Are you gonna be doing a lot of transferring files between it and a desktop? Or just internet/word processing?

How important are specs to you and actual use. Are you familiar at all with OS X?
 
[quote name='Koggit']First, the disclaimer of me being a PC user... I've never owned a Mac. Hell, I don't even own an iPod (Zune FTW).

With that said, a $1000 MacBook is not 'big money for an average machine'. It cost a little more than an equally-performing PC counterpart, but you also get more than an equally-performing PC counterpart. You get better sound, a better keyboard, a better screen, etc... everything is high quality. That's why so often you hear "it just works", you don't spend time finding a PCMCIA card to replace the broken integrated mobo sound, etc.

Fact is, MacBooks are well made. You can save a few bucks if you go with a cheap PC counterpart, but you ultimately get what you pay for.

I regretted my 17" Toshiba due to the weight, and I regret my 13" Averatec due to how cheaply made it is.

If I were buying a new laptop today, I'd go with a MacBook. Great build quality, certainly fast enough for the next ~3 years (even the lowest end model, gaming excluded of course), and you get some great software bundled with it. Plus, they're far more aesthetically pleasing than any PC.[/quote]

That is such BS. I have a macbook and a tablet notebook that were similar in price when purchased. The Macbook was just under $1100 while the tablet was just under $1300 Let's see what I got for my money...

Processor: About even as the Macbook had a core duo while the tablet had a pentium M. Considering I bought the macbook a year after the tablet I consider it fairly even as the core duo wasn't available at the time of my tablet purchase.

Memory: 512mb on the Macbook, 1 gig for the tablet

graphics: Macbook integrated, tablet dedicated (yet weak) ATI video card

Case: The macbook looked like a cheap toy from the day it arrived and the case was white plastic. I looked kind of like a giant lego piece. Within months it had brown spots from the warmer component in the laptop as the casing was CHEAP. With my tablet other than a few rubber tabs that came off on the bottom and slight normal wear and tear from going pretty much anywhere I go, it has still held up like a champ.

Audio: Mac's have better audio? My Macbook doesn't have any speakers! It's headphone or nothing. Again, cheap. I won't give the tablet much props here either though as unless you're right in front of it the audio is crap.

Keyboard: This would be more of a preference thing I guess, but the giant "We assume you can't type" style keys on my macbook are annoying. The tablet feels like a regular keyboard.

screen: My macbook has definately got the edge on this one, it's looks really nice. The tablet is really nice as well, but since I won't count the tablet functionality since it wouldn't be fair since Apple doesn't have tablets, Apple would take the lead on this one.

Anyone who lives in reality known that the "It just works" is pure Mac Cult bullsh!t. It's what they use to pray on people that don't know anything about Macs since their advertising strategy seems to be "lie our asses off" My Macbook runs like shit. It's slow as hell despite having a dual core processor and programs crash often even after a fresh install. The only reason I put up with it is because I got it to get more familar with OSX as I gave up on it some time ago, but I like to be familar with as many OS's as I can.

As for my tablet, it survived over a year of the half-assed XP tablet edition, and has run like a champ for over a year now with Vista Ultimate. I can count the number of things that crashed on it with one hand quite easily as it's a nice low number, zero.

Will it be that way with everyone, of course not. That's why I hate Mac users so much. Their too busy kissing their own asses for owning a Mac to live in reality. All computers have issues no matter the hardware or the OS they use. I have yet to come across a single Mac that didn't crash frequently. Does that mean they are all like that? Of course not.

To say that prices are the same is insane, because it's just not true. Apple is known for throwing in crap video cards and slower memory. Nothing wrong with that as not everyone always needs super fast hardware, but compate a Mac & a PC at the same price and 99 out of 100 times the PC will have much more powerful hardware.
 
*SIGH* It's turned into a Mac vs. PC war. OP, if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask them. Hopefully you find a laptop that works for you.
 
[quote name='Koggit']With all due respect, you seem to be rather biased in this regard.

First of all, the $1100 Mac is actually a $1,000 Mac after student discount.

Second, I was 99.9% sure that the mac book was lighter before finishing your post, which is a HUGE issue. Light laptops cost more. Most 4lb laptops start around $600 when you get a good deal, and average price is $800 - $1,200. That alone makes such a huge difference. As I said, my 7lb Toshiba was far too heavy for me to consider truly 'mobile'. I could not just throw it in my backpack without taking something else out to keep the weight bearable.

Third, the lowest end MacBook is much faster than your PC. Not only is a much faster processor, but OSX is much more efficient. The MacBook is faster, but even if it wasn't, with equal hardware the Mac would be faster.

Fourth, you list 13" screen as a negative thing... it isn't. It keeps it light. The MacBook's screen is likely much higher quality than yours. The new LED screens have incredible brightness and contrast, and I bet the 13" is the same resolution as your 15", resulting in a higher pixel density which creates a sharper image.

Fifth, since your laptop has Vista at that price, how long have you had it? Two months, tops? It's not fair to say you haven't had any problems with it. That's not a point you're yet fit to make. I bet in the course of 3 years you do have issues. I would, honest to god, place money down on a bet in favor of you having technical issues with that $450 laptop within 3 years. I would not be comfortable placing the same bet against a Mac. That's based on my 3 years of experience as a ERT at Staples (think Geek Squad, except paid less).


As I said, I don't own a Mac and I never have... MacBooks are just great products at a good price. I would not be recommending a Mac if the OP were looking for a desktop... but for a laptop, definitely.[/quote]

$1000 after a student discount? WTF does that matter? Not everyone on Earth is a student. Other companies offer student discounts as well.

Wow Mac users love to run around the truth. A 13" laptop is lighter than a 15.4" laptop? Wow, what's next you going to tell me a paperclip is lighter than a truck? Look online for 13" inch Windows based laptops and they will still be cheaper and more powerful.

If OSX is so much more efficient then how come when bootcamp was made available programs native to both OS's where shown to run 7-15% faster in XP than they did in OSX?

Again, apples to oranges. 13" against 15", and you're making assumtions you don't know are true.

ERT, just like geek squad? Wow, that's explains a lot...
 
[quote name='PawnTakesKing']No offense, but what Macbooks have you been looking at?

I've opened up both of my Macbooks, and the only "shiny tape" as you call it is actually foil tape used for shielding the wires. It doesn't hold together any parts whatsoever. In fact, you can cut the tape or remove it completely and the Macbook is still fine.

And as far as support goes, just call Applecare if you have any problems. They'll have your machine back within a week.[/quote]

I've seen similar in PCs. Just because there is something in there that looks cheap doesn't mean it is. Typically something like that serves a specific purpose and sometimes is even there so their customer support can tell if someone's been tampering for warrenty reasons.
 
[quote name='n25philly']$1000 after a student discount? Not everyone on Earth is a student.[/QUOTE]

Did you read this thread at all? The OP is a student.

[quote name='n25philly']Wow Mac users love to run around the truth. A 13" laptop is lighter than a 15.4" laptop? Wow, what's next you going to tell me a paperclip is lighter than a truck? Look online for 13" inch Windows based laptops and they will still be cheaper and more powerful.[/QUOTE]

Okay, now it's obvious you didn't read this thread. I specifically said a comparable (4lb) Windows laptop could be found for around $700 while the MacBook is $1,000. I also said I'm not a Mac user, yet you call me one.

Read the rest of the thread before posting, and then post something helpful.


OP: Don't let the fanboys sway you. Go to a store that carries Macs and play with a MacBook. Hold it. Type with it. Decide for yourself.
 
[quote name='Koggit']Did you read this thread at all? The OP is a student.



Okay, now it's obvious you didn't read this thread. I specifically said a comparable (4lb) Windows laptop could be found for around $700 while the MacBook is $1,000. I also said I'm not a Mac user, yet you call me one.

Read the rest of the thread before posting, and then post something helpful.


OP: Don't let the fanboys sway you. Go to a store that carries Macs and play with a MacBook. Hold it. Type with it. Decide for yourself.[/QUOTE]
I personally think the macbooks aren't that much better then any other laptop to tell you the truth, and they're a little more expensive. The macbook pro however, is in a class of it's own. Nice design, feels sturdy, good performance numbers. I would probably splurge for a pro if you had the money, you can always sell it down the road for a decent price if you want to get a new one.
 
I wasn't even aware there was a distinction between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I thought it was one line.

So the MacBook are the same lineage as iBooks (plastic casing) vs. MacBook Pros which are the same line as the PowerBooks (aluminum casing)?

If that's the case, I throw my hat in for the MacBook Pro. Been using a PowerBook G4 and I love the build. When I was recommending a Mac I was imagining that laptop specifically.

But yes, OP, your best bet is to go to a store and try out the laptops. Get a feel for the keyboard, the OS, and see how light they are.
 
[quote name='Koggit']Did you read this thread at all? The OP is a student.



Okay, now it's obvious you didn't read this thread. I specifically said a comparable (4lb) Windows laptop could be found for around $700 while the MacBook is $1,000. I also said I'm not a Mac user, yet you call me one.

Read the rest of the thread before posting, and then post something helpful.


OP: Don't let the fanboys sway you. Go to a store that carries Macs and play with a MacBook. Hold it. Type with it. Decide for yourself.[/quote]

I did apparently miss your mention of the pc pricing for 13". Still amazing that you've never owned a Mac and yet still managed to post every standard bit of Mac User BS
 
[quote name='SteveMcQ']Now, now guys...let's get back to helping the OP find a laptop that will suit him.

Exactly what kind of things do you plan to do with your laptop? Are you gonna be doing a lot of transferring files between it and a desktop? Or just internet/word processing?

How important are specs to you and actual use. Are you familiar at all with OS X?[/QUOTE]
I want it to be my primary PC. So I will be using it to store a couple thousand iTunes songs, about a thousand digital camera photos, and the regular Word, Excel, etc. documents. I won't be gaming on it. I won't really be storing any videos. Mostly for web browsing, iTunes, and digital camera phots.

I don't want to rule out a Mac cause my friends haven't had problems with theirs, but price is somewhat of a factor. I don't want the most generic, bottom of the barrel notebook, even if it is a good name brand. Nor do I want something high end. I want something in the middle.

On Black Friday I bought the followinw Toshiba notebook for $400.00. For my purposes, do you think this a good notebook to stick with or should I just return it and find something that would be better?
 
[quote name='mobster011']I want it to be my primary PC. So I will be using it to store a couple thousand iTunes songs, about a thousand digital camera photos, and the regular Word, Excel, etc. documents. I won't be gaming on it. I won't really be storing any videos. Mostly for web browsing, iTunes, and digital camera phots.

I don't want to rule out a Mac cause my friends haven't had problems with theirs, but price is somewhat of a factor. I don't want the most generic, bottom of the barrel notebook, even if it is a good name brand. Nor do I want something high end. I want something in the middle.

On Black Friday I bought the followinw Toshiba notebook for $400.00. For my purposes, do you think this a good notebook to stick with or should I just return it and find something that would be better?[/quote]Well, considering what you plan to do with it, it should suffice (without having seen the specs of the one you got).

I don't know the availability or the price of them, but if the Apple Store has the PowerBook G4s (maybe refurbished so you can get them discounted) I'd look into them. They're incredibly stable and well built. Though I'm not sure if they come with the software bundled.

I know I'm sounding like I'm really pushing for Macs, but after having a Mac laptop for over two years now, I've had no problems with them. The software is intuitive and easy, which is more than I can say for my Windows XP desktop.
 
Ok, I'm starting to consider a Mac (but not any more than a PC) and I was wondering something....following are the specs that come up for the standard Mac in the cart:

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Accessory Kit
80GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512MB

Does the combo drive mean that it can burn DVD's and CD's, or it can only burn CD's but play DVD's?
 
[quote name='mobster011']Ok, I'm starting to consider a Mac (but not any more than a PC) and I was wondering something....following are the specs that come up for the standard Mac in the cart:

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Accessory Kit
80GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512MB

Does the combo drive mean that it can burn DVD's and CD's, or it can only burn CD's but play DVD's?[/quote]From the one you mention, I think that's only read DVD/write CD. I think their CD/DVD writing combo is called a SuperDrive.
 
I've had a Dell Inspiron 600m for two years. Three of my family members also have their own.

Overall, we're very happy with them. No hardware failures, except for my keyboard which needed to be replaced ($20). This is not surprising considering I use my laptop A LOT.

Dell's support is just okay. It seems to depend on who you are talking to in their department. Some of them will help you more than others. I had one guy tell me that I needed to pay for my replacement keyboard, but then another guy sent me an extra one for free! So go figure.

If all you want is the basics, I don't see a need to go for a Macbook. You can find a much cheaper alternative in the Windows-based land. However, I must say, that Macbooks are very nice, and if you have the money you should consider one. My girlfriend bought one a few months ago, and she loves it.

Be sure to check out www.bensbargains.net for good deals. I had an awesome 50% off coupon on my laptop. And no matter what laptop you get, or what operating system, make sure to have at least 1GB of RAM. That's essential.
 
[quote name='SteveMcQ']From the one you mention, I think that's only read DVD/write CD. I think their CD/DVD writing combo is called a SuperDrive.[/QUOTE]
Ok, I saw on their site it is called a SuperDrive. Does this mean that if I wanted, I could illegally burn a rented DVD? What legal uses are there for a DVD burner?
 
[quote name='mobster011']Ok, I saw on their site it is called a SuperDrive. Does this mean that if I wanted, I could illegally burn a rented DVD? What legal uses are there for a DVD burner?[/QUOTE]

The same legal uses there are for CD burners, floppy drives, zip drives, etc.

It's just a way to store things. You can burn a backup CD or DVD of your photos, etc.

In my opinion, with large reusable flash drives being so cheap and convenient, CD/DVD burners aren't worth the hassle anymore. It takes a few minutes to burn a CD, and then you have to find a case for it, etc. I much rather just stick a flash drive into a USB port, copy-paste and be done with it.

Even burning a movie on DVD isn't worth the hassle anymore. There are countless ways to stream the video to a TV wirelessly or through a wired network.
 
[quote name='Koggit']OS X is more efficient. This is a fact. I refuse to waste my time conveying facts to you.

Why are you so hellbent on distorting facts? Did Steve Jobs rape your sister? Did Bill Gates give you a blow job? I don't understand the corporate loyalty -- and corporate loyalty is the only reason for you to be biased.

You spew nonsense. Your memory comparison is so convoluted I don't even know where to begin -- so I won't.[/QUOTE]
Actually the main reason I am so biased is I hate Mac Fan boys (not referring to you, really, although I guess I can tell you are kind of an ass now). And I said OSX might be a little more efficient, but it is not a huge difference. 512 mb ram and any dual core processor will let you search the internet, watch videos, and play music on Vista.

Here's what it boils down to for me:
On both Macs and PCs you can search the internet, use word processors, listen to music, and watch movies.

On my PC, I get 2.4" of more screen size (since Apple charges much more for larger laptops I think it's safe to assume they cost more to produce), double the hard drive capacity, and I can play Team Fortress 2, Rome Total War, and Unreal Tournament 2004. For half the price.

On the Mac, you get OSX (if you like it more), a faster CPU (which has almost no use on a Mac), and a lighter laptop. It's no contest as far as I'm concerned. I'll agree, though, that the OP should just go try them both out for himself. I'm done arguing about Mac vs PC.

And more on topic, OP, I would just keep the Toshiba if you're just going to be doing the basics. Most any laptop can do the things you listed without any problems. And as Troopa said try to get a laptop with at least 1 gb of Memory.
 
I already returned the Toshiba. I've decided that I'm gonna go with a Mac.

Is it hard to find software compatible for Mac that will allow me to work around the locks placed on DVD's to burn them?
 
I already returned the Toshiba. I've decided that I'm gonna go with a Mac.

Can someone recommend a downloadable software that allows me to burn dvd's and override the locks they have that restrict burning them?
 
Thanks but I've decided I'm gonna go with the Macbbook.

Anyone know of any free software that will allow me to override the restrictions on DVD's to burn them?
 
[quote name='mobster011']Thanks but I've decided I'm gonna go with the Macbbook.

Anyone know of any free software that will allow me to override the restrictions on DVD's to burn them?[/QUOTE]
Afterdawn.com might be a good place to look for info. As for the laptop, a mac isn't a bad choice if you're not really going to be gaming.
 
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