…and I’m clueless on what to get. I need one basically for writing papers for school, stories and the like. Possibly internet and AIM if I can get my parents to get me internet in my room, then prolly music and a game or two. So what should I get? Price isn’t so much of an issue, but nothing over the top expensive. I’m open to either PC or Mac. Help me, Teeming Millions!
You just described a generic laptop. Any of them can do that.
Big issues to decide are:
- Windows or Mac. That is just personal choice although windows have more software.
- Desktop replacement, ultraportable, or somewhere in the middle
- Screen size. Bigger is nice but it has costs for battery life and adds bulk.
- Improtance of battery life. Juice misers tend to sacrafice some power in other areas.
Perfectly servicable laptops can be bought new for $800 or less. One of the most cost effective ways to buy one is by looking at weekly flyers from Best Buy, Circuit City etc. There buying power is hard to match.
There’s a place here in town called DOG Micro that sells refurbished computers out of what appears to be a disused airplane hangar. In early 2002 I bought a refurbished Fujitsu laptop from them for $400, and I am still using that machine today.
Just a few weeks ago I called them up, thinking about getting my wife a basic laptop, to do some price-checking. According to the guy there, they can usually come up with a “basic” laptop (wireless-ready, MS Office, other basics) for about $150.
That’s right: $150.
I don’t know if there’s a similar place in your town, but there probably is. I’d hit the Yellow Pages before you go to Best Buy.
Okay I’ll narrow it down more.
I want somewhere in the middle, portable wise. Nothing ultra bulky or particularly heavy.
I don’t need a huge screen at all, so small would be okay.
The battery life would have to be pretty decent if I’m traveling somewhere with it, though the majority of use will probably be somewhere I can hook it up.
PC and Mac I’m not swayed particulary either way. Is there anything I’m sacrificing by choosing one over the other?
:eek:
I’m going to see if we have something like that in town, that’s fantastic!
You are describing a really generic laptop. Unless you have a reason to get a Mac, I would say just go with a Windows PC. I am a fan of both but Macs are more proprietary and that makes them more expensive and have fewer software options. Macs are generally superior from an integrated design stanpoint however.
I would say find a large computer store. You don’t seem to have any needs that any modern laptop can’t meet. The major factor is how it looks and feels to you. Laptops are all about compromises. For example, a beefy, powerful system will generally have shorter battery life.
I find that most people don’t run laptops on batteries all that much. There is generally an outlet nearby unless you are on the road with it all the time.
You don’t need to spend a lot. Anything over $1000 is pushing it for those basic needs. There should be dozens of models to choose from.
PC vs Mac:
Most people use Windows PCs, so if you ever want to run a certain program (like if you see something your friend uses), chances are a PC will be able to do it. The advantage is basically that you’re using the most common operating system on the planet and just about everything – software or hardware – is made for Windows. The disadvantage is that it’s also a very common target for viruses and such. If you’re not too good with computers, you can end up with a lot of spyware and virus issues that you’d have to deal with on a continual basis. But then again, if you know how to protect yourself, it isn’t that big of a deal. What kind of computer are you using right now and have you encountered any problems with it?
If you choose to go with a Mac, you get a more stable, easier to use operating system that, for the most part, “just works”. However, the disadvantages include price (they’re usually more expensive than Windows PCs) and compatibility (many products, both software and hardware, aren’t designed for Macs). Basically, you’ll have a smaller selection of available things to use – but things that do work with a Mac generally tend to work well.
It’s sort of a tradeoff between quantity and quality, but the gap decreases a little more every year as Macs become more popular and Windows becomes better.
Support:
Another consideration that nobody seems to have mentioned yet is the support you’ll get with your laptop. How good are you with computers? Can you (or a good friend) fix problems when they arise? If not, consider buying from big laptop manufacturers with good after-sales support programs. Dell offers long warranties and at-home service. Apple offers its AppleCare program. Other big companies offer similar programs, but cheaper laptops from small companies may not come with much, if any, support.
Other things:
If price isn’t an issue, don’t buy secondhand. A new laptop will give you less hassles since it’ll have original factory equipment, valid software licenses, legitimate warranties/support, properly configured programs and such. Basic laptops aren’t really that expensive anyway and, if nothing else, a modern one will run programs much faster than ones from 3-4 years ago.
If you care about battery life, look for laptops that carry the “Intel Centrino” logo or the equivalent AMD ones (such as “Turion” or “Athlon Mobile”). This means that their processors were designed for use in laptops, usually resulting in lower power consumption – but check the listed battery life just to be sure.
Finally, set aside an afternoon and visit some local computer stores in your area. Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, OfficeMax, etc. are all good choices. They usually have laptops on display that you can play with. Even if you’re buying online, check out similar models in person first to make sure you like the size/keyboard layout/design/weight/whatever.
Hmm for the price your looking at , you should concider a pda as well.
Declan
I just got a Dell Inspiron 6000; you can get some pretty good deals from Dell if you look around on the internet for coupon codes. You hear more bad things about Dell now than you used to, but I think the negatives just surprise people because Dell used to be so far ahead of the pack.
The only current major-manufacturer laptop that seems to stand out right now is the IBM Thinkpad, but that quality comes at a steep premium.
For your purposes, I think smaller is better; mine is not the most portable of laptops, but that’s OK since 90% of the time I’m using it in my house.
In case you go looking for these, IBM doesn’t make 'em any more; they sold the rights to the ThinkPad name (and system specs) to Lenovo.
The current Toshiba on sale this week at Circuit City is fine machine and will do all you need for $ 600.00 after rebate & before sales tax.