Buying a laptop

[Xenega]

I am having some difficulties with deciding on a laptop to buy for when college starts, and I was wondering if you guys might know more about it than me.

I was leaning towards buying a Mac, because I have heard a lot of good things, and I know that everyone who has one (who I know) likes them... But, I have also never used a Mac before, so I don't know what I would be getting into exactly.
Also, because I am so used to using PCs, buying a PC Laptop might be the best option for me, but I don't know...

Also, what should I look for in a laptop? What is the most important to be paying attention to?
I am going into college, so I know I don't need "the best of the best", but I also don't want to be stuck with some crappy useless laptop that will always die on me.

So, if anyone knows anything about this, and what I should do, any input is really appreciated.
Thanks in advanced!
:D

[Stee]

Whats your price limit?

[Mayareira]

Could use more information on what you want. Are you planning to play games on it? How important is portability for you? How much are you planning to spend?

[Xenega]

I guess it really depends on what one... I am willing to spend up to around $1,500
It's for college, so I don't want to spend way too much.. lol

I don't think I will be playing games on it, I might play some Flash games

Oh, and also I think I will be taking a class on 3D Animation...

Portability, as long as I can bring it to my classes and back home, lol

[Headspace]

I guess it really depends on what one... I am willing to spend up to around $1,500
It's for college, so I don't want to spend way too much.. lol

I don't think I will be playing games on it, I might play some Flash games

Oh, and also I think I will be taking a class on 3D Animation...

Portability, as long as I can bring it to my classes and back home, lol

Macs good for all of that, but they're pricey for anything that won't be obsolete within 2-3 years

[#686578]

Not only is there an entire section of the forums dedicated to this area of interest.

There's also an entire STICKY in that subforum about this ONE topic. Complete with deals and references, sorted by price range.

[Xenega]

oh, I didn't know/see that.

I did try search, but nothing came up, so I probably did it wrong..
My bad
>_<

Thanks though guys!

[#686578]

Also, some constructiveness for this post: check out delluniversity.com to see if your college is listed on it's discount page. It's a pretty big discount on some laptops, $1500->$1300 or so sometimes more (Up to $400 in one case, the discount scales [ununiformly] with the cost). I actually just bought the M1530 for a lot less at the same specs as without the deal.

Specs in spoiler:
[spoiler:39rib2j2]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Order Detail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Description:
----------------------------------------------------
XPS M1530 - Intel® Core? 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
Unit Price: $1,324.00
Quantity: 1
Total Price: $1,324.00

-- XPS M1530 --
-- Intel® Core? 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
-- [223-5880]
-----------------------
-- System Color --
-- Flamingo Pink
-- [320-6758]
-----------------------
-- Memory --
-- 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
-- [311-7823]
-----------------------
-- LCD, Color and camera --
-- High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) &amp; 2.0 M
-- [320-6693]
-----------------------
-- Video Card --
-- 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
-- [320-6082]
-----------------------
-- Hard Drives --
-- Size: 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
-- [341-5632]
-----------------------
-- Operating System --
-- Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
-- [310-9764]
-- [420-5769]
-- [420-5924]
-- [420-6436]
-- [420-8566]
-- [420-6995]
-- [420-7590]
-- [463-2282]
-----------------------
-- Software - Adobe --
-- Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
-- [420-7468]
-----------------------
-- Combo or DVD+RW Drive --
-- Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
-- [313-5820]
-- [420-8183]
-----------------------
-- Sound Card --
-- High Definition Audio 2.0
-- [313-4783]
-----------------------
-- Wireless Networking Cards --
-- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
-- [430-2449]
-----------------------
-- Productivity --
-- No Microsoft Office
-- [412-1397]
-----------------------
-- Software - Antivirus --
-- McAfee SecurityCenter 15-months
-- [410-1184]
-----------------------
-- Primary Battery --
-- 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
-- [312-0638]
-----------------------
-- Warranty & Service --
-- 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
-- [412-0359]
-- [950-3339]
-- [960-3652]
-- [960-8710]
-- [988-5618]
-- [983-5942]
-- [988-5617]
-- [984-2360]
-----------------------
-- Accident and Theft Protection --
-- Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 3Yr Warr.
-- [412-0358]
-- [960-9188]
-- [991-1159]
-- [420-8653]
-----------------------
-- Dial-Up Internet Access --
-- No ISP requested
-- [412-0148]
-----------------------
-- Adobe --
-- Adobe Photoshop + Premiere Elements
-- [410-1196]
-----------------------
-- SECURITY --
-- Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
-- [467-2337]
-----------------------
-- Bluetooth and Wireless USB --
-- Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
-- [430-2566]
-----------------------
-- Doms Camera and Color --
-- High Res, PINK glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2MP Camera
-- [320-6787]
-- [420-7715]
-----------------------
-- Processor Branding --
-- Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
-- [310-9348]
-----------------------
-- Dell Printer Driver --
-- Windows Vista? Premium
-- [310-8628]
-----------------------
-- DataSafe Online Backup --
-- Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr
-- [987-4817]
-- [420-7092]
-- [420-7091]
-- [988-0099]
-----------------------


Subtotal: $1,324.00
IVA: --
Shipping and Handling: $19.99

Import Fee: --

Shipping Discount: -$19.99

Total: $1,410.07[/spoiler:39rib2j2]

[Shuemue]

-- System Color --
-- Flamingo Pink

Fuck yeah, if I ever buy a laptop I'm gonna get a pink one!

[BarthelloSylph]

Buy a Lenovo. They are ugly, but they are solidly constructed and their apps that come with the system aren't just memory hogging add ons.

[#686578]

-- System Color --
-- Flamingo Pink

Fuck yeah, if I ever buy a laptop I'm gonna get a pink one!

I dont know if people either think I'm gay or a woman yet, but I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes pink. :nikkei:

[Shuemue]

You don't know the half of it, lol.

[#686578]

Me or you? [insert wink here]

[Shuemue]

I'm the motherfuckingpinkpimp.

[Sonomaa]

my new laptop, only comes in one color though sadly

http://sonomaa.com/laptop/IMG_0032.jpg

[Ikith]

Whatever you do don't buy from any retail store! Order it direct from the manufacturer! You not only get a better deal but you get better parts etc.

[#686578]

Is that the vostro? Specs?

[wintersquall]

ah, sono got the 17" - i got the 15" vostro fairly well upgraded a couple months ago, it's heavy, and it barely fits in my messenger bag but it totally rocks.

how'd you load it out sono? and more importantly, how do you lug that thing around?

[Osede]

[quote=#686578]

-- System Color --
-- Flamingo Pink

Fuck yeah, if I ever buy a laptop I'm gonna get a pink one!

I dont know if people either think I'm gay or a woman yet, but I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes pink. :nikkei:[/quote:18dyq9p8]

I would like to get pink if they do offer for my vostro and free

Usually I prefer some "unique" color instead of those "general" colors that ppl would pick. Just that my friend keep bitching on me because I got a pink NDS bag lol

[Boyiee]

[quote=Osede]

-- System Color --
-- Flamingo Pink

Fuck yeah, if I ever buy a laptop I'm gonna get a pink one!

I dont know if people either think I'm gay or a woman yet, but I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes pink. :nikkei:

I would like to get pink if they do offer for my vostro and free

Usually I prefer some "unique" color instead of those "general" colors that ppl would pick. Just that my friend keep bitching on me because I got a pink NDS bag lol[/quote:3s9burzu]

I have a few pink shirts as well as a pink ipod, shoes, and I was looking to get a pink laptop... But alienware doesn't have that I don't think. Sad.