Computer help

[tyler33 0]

I need a computer for school, and I have been putting it off. A while ago dell had a good deal, but it was apparently a promo only for a week. It was a new inspiron with 2gb mem, and 160 gb hard drive, with a cd/dvd burner and MS suite for $870. Now it seems like there isn't any sales going on. I know what I want. I want a 15.4 screen laptob, 2 gb memory, 160 gb hard drive (lots of songs and pics, burning videos) 8x cd/dvd burner, 6 cell or 9 cell lithium battery, and I am thinking a intell or amd duo processor (something to run 3 or 4 programs at a time), and to top it off I want MS suite so I have MS word.

So I am going back and forth right now between dell and Hp. Seems like prices change daily which is bothering me. I am looking to spend $880 max.

I am just looking at some feedback or what people think. Which is better, anyone know a good price I can get on one?

I am looking at the dell inspiron, dell 1501, HP 6000t, and HP 6000z.

Any input would be great, thanks in advance.

[hockeyherb 1]

Just a suggestion, if it's cheap to upgrade the hard drive size I'd up it from 160 GB if you plan on storing lots of music and videos.

[D-MaN88 0]

I'd take a good hard look at Toshiba Satellites. I'm using one that I received for my graduation present and wow, Toshiba makes a sick laptop. From everyone that I've talked to as well that has Toshiba's say that you can't go wrong with any of the Satellite models. Though Dell, and HP can have somewhat good deals, I'd also take a look at other brands such a Toshiba, I love mine and I'm sticking with Toshiba until something happens to change my mind.

(No I don't work for Toshiba :))

[bubber27 0]

Do you want to go Dell or HP because they are so big?

Take a look at ALL laptops. Dell and HP aren't necessarily the best comps you can buy. Toshiba, Sony, Gateway. Acer makes some really nice models. Those Ferrari laptops? Oh boy, very very flashy!

Got me a Compaq Presario V6000. Not too bad at all. Kinda on the heavy side though. Does the deal for me (got me my custom machine too that has all the goodies I need).

The Dell's are nice cause of the various builds you can get customized, and the warranty on them is really good too.

Take a look at all the avenues. Remember, for the amount the laptop will run you, you can build a desktop with twice the features for about the same price.

[ExitTwoEighty 7]

take a look at slickdeals.net and http://www.fatwallet.com/c/18

it's a site for deal finders, and sometimes they have the best deals.

[Thockey17 1]

Get a Lenovo

[Vapor 0]

I doubt your going to get a core2duo machine with all your specs for under 900 bucks. Ive seen the core duos (1.5-1.6) for under 800 on dells site. And having multiple apps open at the same time is (usually) not dependent of clock speed, it is dependent on the amount of ram you have. 2GB should be plenty for you.

[tyler33 0]

Intel® Celeron® M Processor 520 (1.6 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

Intel® Pentium® dual core processor T2130 (1.86 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

Intel® Core Duo processor T2450 (2.0 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

Intel® Core 2 Duo processor T5300 (1.73 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TK-53 (1.7 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache)

AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-56 (1.8 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-58 (1.9 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-60 (2.0 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-64 (2.2 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

Out of them which do you think I could get away with for a processor? Like I said I would like 2 gb memory, 160 gb hard drive, 8x cd/dvd burner, and MS suite. Another question I have is how many songs/pics (estimate) does 120 gb hold comared to a 160gb? Thanks.

[lee92 2]

i was in your position at the beginning of the summer, and went with dell. i got the inspiron 9400 (this was about 1 month before they revamped their friggin' lineup). mine came to $1900 cdn, taxes in, and i got the 2.0 ghz duo core 2 processor, 2gb ram, 80 gb hard drive (i just bought a 300 gb external hard drive for my music n movies), and the nvidia 7900 graphics card. to me, dells deals repeat every 4 weeks. i think one is a ram upgrade, one a memory, one a video card upgrade, and i don't remember the other.

[blues_91 0]

I got a dell as well. Inspiron 640m laptop, core2duo, 2gb ram, and 160gb hdd. So far it's been pretty good, but if you don't have any budget issues, I'd go with a IBM Thinkpad for sure. My dad has one from work and it's a pretty nice, I'll probably go for one of those in the next year or two.

[tyler33 0]

Hey I need some quick help I am ordering my computer today. Hp has a pretty good deal going on. I am getting a intel core duo processor 2.0 ghz. I am getting 160 gb hard drive for all the music, pics, and some vids. I am just getting the supermulti dvd cd burner b/c I will never use the lightscribe. Theres also a thing where you get upgraded to windows home premium vista, they reccomend 2gb to run it. I talked with a guy at a computer store, and he said that 1gb ram is plenty for what I would be doing, if I got a faster processor everything would be fine. My question is with this vista and for what I am planning on doing, do I really need the 2gb or memory? Do you think 1gb will be just fine? My mom is also making me get a warranty, which is either going to be a 2 or a 3, 2 is $125, and 2 is $200. Should I bother with the 3, I am kinda thinking if something goes wrong it should be with in the first 2. I am ordering it today, so any help would be great thanks.

[sc37 0]

I'd say get the 2GB. The more you have the better things will run, especially on Vista with all the fancy visuals. Plus, it makes it easier to run multiple programs at the same time or if you wind up needing some resource hogging program for like graphics or something. Warranty is up to you...I never buy them unless they are really desperate and give me a good deal. But also think about how long you gonna keep this thing. For some ppl they can spend money whenever and upgrade, etc. but if you plan on running this thing till it dies, it might be worth it.

[Vapor 0]

without a doubt get 2GB of memory and only get the 2 year warranty

[tyler33 0]

Thanks for everyones help. I ordered the Hp 6000t last night. I went with 2 gb memory, 160 gb hard drive, intel core duo procesor, super multi cd/dvd burner (b/c I would never use the lightscribe), roxio premier 9, and I put a 2 year warranty on it. I figured after 2 years I would be out of the dorms and in an apartment, and I would then have a desktop. The total with my student discount was like $980, I didn't think that was too bad. My friend has an extra microsfot suite to install, I just need MS word. But I need to put some kind of security on it, I am looking between norton and mcafee. I dont really know any other brands, but I am looking for something that is good security that works on vista ultimate that doesn't slow it down. I have read reviews on norton 360 and it claims it slows it down. Any one have a suggestion? Also does the secutiry last forever? Because when you get it with the computer it is usually like 15 months or 24, how does that work? thanks again.

[Vapor 0]

never use norton or macafee if you want your system to be responsive. Panda isnt so bad... but then again, I havent used anti virus in over 6 or 7 years

[blues_91 0]

Take a look at Kaspersky internet security.

[lee92 2]

to avoid a new topic, does anyone know if they've released directx 10 video cards for laptops? actually, a better question would be would it be even worth it to upgrade from a NVIDIA 7900 GS to a directx 10 video card, or am i fine for now?

[tyler33 0]

So in reality do I even need a security program on my computer. When you order the software to install, such as Kaspersky like blues_91 said, how long does it last for? Do they run on trial time periods, such as 1 year, or 2 years before you have to upgrade. If I dont need an anti-virus though let me know, I can save more money.

[Thockey17 1]

So in reality do I even need a security program on my computer.

YES!

[lee92 2]

So in reality do I even need a security program on my computer. When you order the software to install, such as Kaspersky like blues_91 said, how long does it last for? Do they run on trial time periods, such as 1 year, or 2 years before you have to upgrade. If I dont need an anti-virus though let me know, I can save more money.

if you're taking the laptop with you to school, you might want to check out if the school offers a antivirus/security package first, before blowing money on one. the university i'm at gives every student mcafee antivirus software, free of charge, so i never had to bother purchasing one.

[tyler33 0]

Ok, I'll talk to my college and look into some. One last question and then I'll be done bugging everyone on the whole computer thing. What is the best software program used to copy dvds. From what I hear there all the same, it rips the dvd to your computer saves it, then you can just burn it on a new dvd? I'll be burning a lot of movies, so I want one that is going to work really well, that doesn't slow my computer down.