Any suggestions for the best notebook to buy?

[ThaiGold]

I will be going back to college this fall and was going to purchase a laptop before then. I know pretty much what I want, I just am lost at finding exactly that.

My budget means the price should not ultimately be higher than $1000.

I plan on using it at first for word programs and gaming as I will be focusing in English this year. But later on I will primarily be using more demanding softwares and video-editing programs since I am majored in Comp. Science.

A 15.4" screen seems optimal. HD and glare-free/reduced is just about a must.
I am looking for a Duo-Core or better at 2.0Ghz or so.
It will obviously need a graphics card over on-board. But what will it be?
2 Gigs RAM seems like it would not be enough, so I'm trying for 3-4.
HDD....At 100 Gig minimum for sale, does size really matter. 7200+ RPM's does.
It has to have a DVD/CD burner.
Bluetooth capabilities is also something I would really like to have available.
And that little extra something for the sound.
The only other thing to consider is that I have a distaste for AMD and try to stick to trust-worthy names like Intel, PNY, and Soundblaster (Those are just examples).


So the challenge is - What is the best laptop that you can recommend?

Building my ideal piece on Dell.com, I end between $970 - $1100 depending on the software and accessories (Vista, Nortons, HD, added VGA, and such).

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions someone more experienced in laptops can throw at me. And even if your pick is not right for me, maybe where you got it from will help even more.

[hockey man]

ThaiGold have you ever thought about a desktop? A desktop build would give you the ability to pick better components for your purposes than a laptop.

What particular models were you looking at with dell? Were you looking at the XPS line?

A couple of things that I saw over at Dell's web site was that both of the 2ghz CPUs are the older 65nm type. You really want to go to the 45nm processors for more better performance and battery life on a laptop. Those are the T8xxx and T9xxx models.

I would suggest looking at these two laptops from Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114458

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115458

[classicsoftware]

Look at these (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2030260032%2050001146&CompareItemList=N82E16834115436%2CN82E16834115435% 2CN82E16834115404%2CN82E16834115407%2CN82E16834115 422%2CN82E16834115419R%2CN82E16834115434%2CN82E168 34115398&page=2&bop=And).

I love Acer notebooks. I have a 10 year old Celeron with Windows ME that my cousin is using. Mine is a four year old Pentium M that survived a 4 foot drop off a table.

I just got my youngest this one (http://pc.pcconnection.com/1/1/144203-acer-travelmate-tm5720-6969-core-2-duo-t7300-2ghz-4mbl2-2gb-160gb-supermulti-agn-gnic-15-4-wxga-vb-lx-tke0z-006.html) for college....

[ThaiGold]

I already have a desktop Hockey Man, the laptop is more for school and work so I need the mobility. Also I am not specifically looking at Dell, it is just the only place I know of that allows such customization, so I can figure out exactly what components I am looking for elsewhere. Although the Inspiron 1525 is what I have mostly been looking at there. Thanks for the tip on the 45nm vs. 65nm, that is the kind of differences I am trying to catch but it is not always listed in the specs. Those are two excellent suggestions, that second link has shot right up to the top of my list. High specs and within the 1K mark.

Classicsoftware thank you for that link but those are all 14" except one, and that one is an AMD chip and VGA. But the one that you got for your child is definitely an excellent system that I will be considering.

Thanks for the suggestions guys but this thread ain't dead yet until I click pay now. So please keep them coming.

[hockey man]

Just a thought I had, what are the specs on your desktop? What would you think of using your desktop as your workhorse and just having a laptop for "light-duty" and classes? So buying a $500 laptop and then putting in a $500 upgrade on your desktop. That would really depend on what you have right now as your desktop but it is an idea.

[52vincent]

Personally I think Dell XPS series are very good.

[ThaiGold]

Well my desktop will handle what you are talking about HockeyMan. Right now it's being slowly upgraded from an out-dated powerhouse, P4 2.6 - 2Gb DDR RAM - DPERL865 Mobo - FX5600 VGA and such. But it will be a QuadCore 3.0Ghz - 4Gb DDR2 RAM - unsure of Mobo and Vid card but it will be an Nvidia 8000+ or better.

But as for the laptop I could probably get away with that without much hassling in the future, but I also need to consider my intense and sanity-devouring hatred of a waiting mouse cursor.

I have seen some laptops that, as I have grown accustomed to expect certain things from a computer like experiencing billions of calculations a second, have made me feel like I am in a comic book staring at an unchanging screen.
Not sure how bad the specs really have to be for that but I'd rather take the chance and have a laptop that still raises some competition in 6 years time.

Thanks Vincent,
The XPS does look good but the price starts so high by the time my specs are loaded, I am looking at a $1500+ machine. It also seems to be the only one they let you build with a card other than the Intel GMA X3100 video card. I was really hoping to be able to get an Nvidia card installed which is the main reason I am looking elsewhere than Dell. Not that I trust them that much but they do make it easier.

[hockey man]

With the ACER that I linked to that you liked you really shouldn't have much problems. That will probably be more than enough to keep Vista running smoothly. I really like that one. 3gigs of RAM and the newer 8100 CPU. Plus it does have dedicated graphics which will make it run faster.

[ThaiGold]

...the ACER that I linked to that you liked...

Some of the reviews talk about alot of OEM software and it slowing down the piece.
What good ones and bad ones did it come with?

After a lot of searching, it is looking like that one might be the buy and I'm just wondering now what the install would like upon arrival.

I am mostly curious as to what the security programs look like, if any, like Norton's or Mcafee. Does it come with what, a 30 day-trial of Mcafee? I'm not seeing any listed software info.

[ThaiGold]

Well Dell confirmed it. They offer only the X3100 with the Inspirons, and like I said the XPS starts just way to high for me. I don't get how I can build the same specs and one is $1050 without dedicated VGA and one with is $1500+. Aren't the biggest differences between the XPS and Inspiron just a sleeker design, weight, and a slightly better chipset?

Well by the end of the weekend I will have all in place to purchase what I decide. Right now it looks like the Aspire from Hockeyman, thanks.

[PrntRhd]

I am mostly curious as to what the security programs look like, if any, like Norton's or Mcafee. Does it come with what, a 30 day-trial of Mcafee? I'm not seeing any listed software info.
Check out Budfred's sig for security software or the sticky post mjc made for security programs. There are good ones for free/lower cost that work as well as the Norton/McAfee ones and have less overhead.

[classicsoftware]

I just spent the better part of a day getting the Acer I linked to ready for my daughter. It's one hot machine. It's fast, the screen is clear. The downgrade to XP is quirky.

It's a smokin hot PC and I highly recommend it. Especially with the 3 year warranty....

[hockey man]

Some of the reviews talk about alot of OEM software and it slowing down the piece.
What good ones and bad ones did it come with?

My Aspire 3610 came with a bunch of stuff. The only thing I kept was their ePower management program. It lets you control CPU speed, Wireless card on/off, LAN on/off, and screen brightness. I really like because you can get "customize" what you want happening when you are on the battery.


I am mostly curious as to what the security programs look like, if any, like Norton's or Mcafee. Does it come with what, a 30 day-trial of Mcafee? I'm not seeing any listed software info.

Definitely look at Budfred's sig. I don't remember what trial anti virus it came with but I went to AVG free. Norton and Mcafee are a waste of money.