# Looking for a laptop in all the wrong places
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 30, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908 "2004-09-30T20:02:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/1 "2004-09-30T20:02:22Z")
Dopers, I have a dilemma!
My current computer is rather old and rusty; I’ve managed to install Windows XP, a DVD player, and extra memory, but it’s slow, _very_ prone to crashing, the video card is awful, and the DVD player never works.
For Christmas, my family and I are going in on a new computer–that we’ve decided, no matter what. 🙂
Now…
I go to university, and a lot of kids use laptops to type up their notes in lectures. I’d love to be able to do the same–to carry my own personal computer around, instead of having a desktop. All my files, all my notes, all my games and music–right there.
The problem? A laptop is expensive–close to $2,000!
What should I do? Should I stick with a desktop? Should I go for a laptop? Help!
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/2 "2004-09-30T20:23:16Z")
I’m not sure where you’re looking for laptops, but you can get them for much less than $2K. Your problem may be that you want a high-end gaming machine, in which case you are going to pay a bunch. If you want a perfectly competent note-taking, music-playing machine, you can get a Dell Inspiron for $700.00 or so dollars (plus a couple of hundred for a bunch of de rigeur add-ons like a bigger screen and something besides their miserable stock battery). The Dell is just one example – I’m sure other people will suggest alternative brands.
Or you can get an Apple iBook for anywhere from $1K - $1.2K. The 12 inch iBook is light and small which would be an advantage for schlepping it around to class.
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/3 "2004-09-30T20:29:49Z")
Thanks–great suggestions! 🙂
My problem is that I have the Sims 2 on my machine, and it crashes / goes re-e-eally slowly every time I try to play. I’ve talked to EA Tech and done everything I can, short of installing a new graphics card and rewiring the machine. I’d like to be able to play the game on my new computer,
but it’s not important–the note-taking and music is, and your advice has been great.
Where do you think I can find those prices?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/4 "2004-10-01T00:59:17Z")
Where are you located? In the US Circuit City has nice notebooks between $ 700- $900 every few weeks.
If notice that you’re Canadian. If your takling CA dollars that 700 notebook (US) will be 882+ whatever taxes are applicable.
1.00 USD United States Dollars = 1.26061 CAD Canada Dollars
Also see [www.dell.com](http://www.dell.com)
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### Author:  [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/5 "2004-10-01T01:50:44Z")
May I suggest the [Emachines M6810.](http://www.e4me.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_M6810) It has an Athlon 64 processor, 512megs of RAM, and a Radeon 9600 video chip (which should run Sims 2 very nicely) - and this laptop has a pretty good reputation on the net.
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-laptop-in-all-the-wrong-places/266908/6 "2004-10-01T03:34:28Z")
**RandomLetters** , **astro** , thanks! I’ll look at those straightaway.
Why can’t Christmas come sooner, eh? 😃