2008 guide to laptops

[52vincent]

Things have changed a lot in the past 12 months since our 2007 back-to-school guide to laptops costing $1,000 or less. A new class of mini-laptops--less-than-$500 machines small enough to fit on a sheet of paper--has taken off. Microsoft recently ended sales and support for Windows XP, while Apple last fall updated the Mac operating system. And the solid-state hard drive is gaining steam as an alternative to the heavier, hotter and power-gulping hard drive we know and love.

Top 8 Laptops Under $1,000 -- (Except The Mac) (http://www.topnewsblog.info/tblog_10570.htm)

[PrntRhd]

Nice blog link, but the amount of memory in a notebook running any Windows Vista should be maxed or it will be plodding along. 1Gig is just not enough for more than web browsing and emails.
That blog also totally ignores the XP downgrade option available from some vendors, it just claims XP is not longer available.

BTW, Lenovo just released info on their new 120 gig solid state drive for notebooks, most solid state drives will blow the budget the blog set as a parameter.

[52vincent]

Though most of laptops are come with vista now, but still many people perfer the xp to the vista, xp is more easy and convenient for use.

[jlreich]

With the exception of the Toshiba Satellite A300 I think the offerings are pretty bad. Well, the mini laptops are what they are I guess.

Also there is no mention of warranties. I would never, never, never ever buy a warranty from a store like BB or CC. But I always encourage to buy the three year next day onsite from the manufacturer ($250-$300). If you plan on the laptop lasting a few years I think it is a must.

If you are going to pay as little as $500, then no I wouldn't worry about it. But anywhere near $1000 you should invest the extra for the warranty.

[Lostatsea3]

I'm automatically going to disregard this, just because they show a Bestbuy guy for their main picture... anyone who knows anything about computers would not go to bestbuy.

[classicsoftware]

This unit (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007585) is awesome....

I got one for my daughter to take to college....

Note the three year warranty....

The Vista Business has an XP Downgrade disk. You can put either on the system.

Finger print reader..., Card reader, really nice battery life....

This is one hot unit.....

[jlreich]

Yeah I like that. DVD burner, n/g/b wireless, decent hard drive space and good CPU. It's a good deal. :)