posted on May 29, 2004 01:06:16 PM new
My youngest is graduating this week from HS. Does anyone know of any laptop deals? Any recommendations HP - Toshiba - Dell? What should I be looking for? I'd like to spend less than $800 if possible. Thanks...oh darn..no way to make this eBay related...maybe I'll get one for me too
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on May 29, 2004 01:10:41 PM new
I really really like my Toshiba. My husband bought me a Compaq and I made him take it back and get his money back on it.
I don't know what it is, but the Toshiba is - just to me - a better laid out machine. Plus, the Compaq crashed easily and I've had this one almost a year with no problems at all. I'd highly recommend one.
I've read bad things about the Dells lately, maybe that's why they're on sale? I've never seen a Dell though, so I don't know if I would like it or not. My next choice was a Sony Vaio but they were $$.
Best thing to do is go to a store that carries them and play with them. That's why I knew I wanted a Toshiba. You would think they are all laid out the same but they're not.
posted on May 29, 2004 01:16:03 PM new
We sent all of the kids out the door to college with Toshiba's. The youngest just finished her junior year (and first year not in the dorms with DSL) and the Toshiba was a great space saver too. My personal laptop is also a Toshiba and goes with us on vacation because it is easy to use, doesn't crash, and is durable.
Edited because I forgot to add that I have neard alot of negative comments about Dell lately, their customer service is really bad and they act like they are superior to the user instead of helpful. (Maybe this has something to do with the outsourcing of the customer service dept. to India.)
We bought all of our Toshibas online after we went to different stores to "test drive" them...
[ edited by minniestuff on May 29, 2004 01:21 PM ]
I used to be the Computer Store Manager for a private liberal arts college. Before going out and buying a computer... you need to ask yourself (and your youngest) a few questions.
1) What will the computer be used for? Things that might help determine this will be the field of study your student will be entering. Will they just be doing word processing / internet for papers? Or... does their field have higher demands such as image editing, sound editing, etc... Some fields (art, music, theatre, communications) are going to have a stronger presence with an Apple computer (and my personal favorite) Other fields (law, computer science) are likely to favor windows enviroment computers. The majority of the rest of the fields can easily use either kind.
2) Does the college recommend any particular system? If they do... chances are you should go with their recommendations. They may seem pricier at first... but usually with good reason. By the time you dish out the costs for the software and extended warranties that are probably installed with their packages... your savings are going to be virtually non-existant (and you may even find the college package to be cheaper!)
3) Understand the difference between business class and consumer class machines. Consumer class machines are built with lower quality parts and are not designed to get the hours upon hours of use that business class machines do. Stay away from consumer class machines (like the Dell Dimmension desktops and Dell Inspiron notebooks) and instead invest in a quality machine like the Dell Optiplex and Dell Latitude machines). You'll find that the business class machines should last the entire four years your student is in college. On the other hand... you'll probably have to replace a consumer class machine 1-2 times due to the wear on lower-standard components.
4) With laptops... make sure you understand the warranty coverage. Laptops take a lot of abuse in college. If an extended warranty is offered... it's probably worth it. Especially ones like Dell's "Complete Care" package. This package allows for repairs on things that typically wouldn't be covered under warranty (such as running over your laptop with your car... or dropping it on the ground, etc...)
5) This is the part parents hate to hear... don't try to cut corners on your childs computer. I'm sure you don't want to hear this... but any $800 laptop out there isn't going to provide your student with the necessary equipment to perform their educational needs well. You're going to be spending $100,000 plus on tuition. You shouldn't skimp on the tools to go with it. If you invest in a $2000 laptop now... your child and yourself will thank you for it later.
6) Don't forget about payment plans. Often you can get an extended payment plan at low interest rates.
7) Look to see if the manufacturer has special educational pricing. Both Apple and Dell have this. I would recommend both of these companies highly. Their service is outstanding. Gateways service is so-so. Toshiba's service is horrible.... (you can't even understand their tech reps)
8) Make sure you get all the necessary software.
9) When in doubt... ask the professors in the department your child plans to study in. Find out what they recommend their students use... and see what they and their collegues use.
Hope that helps. Also... timing can be important. Wait 'till closer to school to buy. You'll either be able to get better pricing... or you'll get a more powerful computer for the same price.... oh... and don't forget a good laptop case!!!! Let me know if I can be of any more help!
posted on May 29, 2004 01:51:22 PM new
Hate to jump in and say good things about Dell now. Our company has always used Dell laptops, so I decided first to get a Dell desktop to replace my Compaq. The Compaq's hard drive fried and even though we got that replaced, it was time to get a more stable machine.
The desktop is a 2.2GHz machine with 512MB of Ram - because I do a lot of graphic work for the eBay stuff we do.
After literally NO problems with it for almost 19 months, we wanted a laptop with wireless capabilities -- to make listing a bit easier and convenient (seriously). The ordering process was flawless and the thing just hums....
Two caveats about buying any laptop --->
1) Get the biggest, baddest thing you can afford! Get the fastest processor, the largest amount of memory and the biggest hard drive you budge will allow. Having it be outdated in less than 6 months won't be fun for you, or your grad.
2) Get the WindowsXP Professional operating system and NOT the WindowsXP Home Edition. There's a big difference in stability. The Pro version is rock solid while I've heard bad things about the Home version.
Just a couple of quick thoughts.
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on May 29, 2004 02:07:01 PM new
when I was shopping recently for another desktop (should probably also apply for laptops), I was told to look for:
"800 Mhz to run Windows XP. The faster the bus speed the more efficent (and faster) the data is processed between the CPU and the different hardware, i.e. hard drive, video, sound, etc.
Also when selecting components:
- 521 MB RAM (DDR is better than SDRAM)
- 7200 RPM Hard drive speed or better (there is a new on out that acts faster but I don't remember what it is called)
- Minimum 80 GB hard drive, 120 is better if you will be working with photo, 250 if working with editing movies."
That being said, my Toshiba has:
2 GHz processor, 512 MB main system RAM (expandable to 1 GB), 40 GB hard drive, 15 inch TFT screen, USB 2.0 ports, CD-RW/DVD combo drive, modem and LAN connector, and it weighed less than 7 pounds.
And it works fine on cable modem. I have been on faster computers though and they are amazing. The MHZ I was recommended put me out of the price range I was looking for. I understand everyone saying more is better, but heck, they're all outdated in a year or two anyway.
posted on May 29, 2004 02:09:22 PM new
i need some advice-
when i travel esp overseas,i would like to bring with me a laptop computer.
now i understand it would be expensive to surf the web while in the air,but when i check into a hotel,i would like to visit all the sites as i do now-vendio,yahoo,ebay etc etc.
I dont want to run into any problem at the airport security or having problem connecting while overseas,and i dont want to spend a lot of money as i will be using it only when i am away,what choice do i have??
(i am thinking of spending 1k or a little more say 1200 )
also would like to add-since i dont travel that much,may be once or twice a year,i dont want one which can be obsolete soon.
thanks
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on May 29, 2004 02:10 PM ]
posted on May 30, 2004 04:13:32 AM new
Thanks all for the help. I'll call the school on Tuesday and see what they recommend. Looks like it's not as simple a decision as I had hoped
**********************************
Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on May 30, 2004 05:40:37 AM new
one way is to find out what the other students are buying
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 30, 2004 06:00:27 AM new
Some of the deepest discounts around will be thru the college's bookstore. Whatever you decide, check their prices before you buy online.
___________________________________
When a dog howls at the moon, we call it religion. When he barks at strangers, we call it patriotism. - Edward Abbey
posted on May 30, 2004 07:00:09 AM new
Two words: Avoid Compaq.
And for a college-bound kid, I'd avoid PCs altogether. Give your kid the gift of never having to worry about viruses. The Apple Store has refurb iBooks starting at $749.
posted on May 30, 2004 08:43:55 AM new
Washingtonebayer,
That is very poor advice... founded on ignorance. The majority of colleges in this nation support both Windows and Macintosh platforms. Certain disciplines at certain colleges even require Macintosh computers. Fluffy is giving good advice to strongly consider an Apple laptop. Compared to THOUSANDS of viruses that can affect a Windows platform... to date there has only been ONE virus written that can affect an Apple OSX computer.... and it's not widely spread.
Again, the best bet is to talk with your school (which I see you're planning to do!) and find out what they recommend. If they give you a variety of options (which many colleges do...) feel free to come back here if you need help deciding. Make sure you let us know what field your child is going into... and what kind of previous computer experience they have.
Also... don't forget to check with the college on special pricing for software. Microsoft Office is a good example. It retails for $399.99. The Academic price is just $199.99. Even better... if your college has a site-license... costs can be as low as $5 per user (that's right... 5 bucks!!!) Of course, that's not available at all schools... but if your school has it... it would be foolish to spend $400 when $5 would get you the same product. Good luck again... and let us know if you have more questions!
posted on May 30, 2004 10:37:42 AM new
Just checked the school bookstore web site and the discounts are offered on Apples. Daughter is thinking pre-med science based major. iBooks g-4 from $949 and Powerbook G-4 from $1400.
One early question about macs - do they have built in wireless modems that will communicate with our home's (all pc's) wireless network?
All Apple laptops have the ability to install an Airport Card. This is a wireless card that uses the standard configuration for wireless networks. It will connect fine to any wireless network (Mac or PC). It's possible that the school may even be including this in the quote. Just look at the specs provided to find out.
With your daughter going into Pre-med... an Apple computer would be a very good choice. She will have heavy courseloads in Biology and probably Chemistry. Both of those fields are saturated with Apple users in the academic environment. Having a computer that is running off a Unix shell (like OSX is..) also gives an added advantage to any student in a Science field.
edited for typo...
[ edited by eauctionmgnt on May 30, 2004 10:44 AM ]
Not surprising that MSN would make this seem like an unresolved issue.... considering who owns MSN!!! It's an example of poor reporting. Secunia updated it's report to include the fixes on 5/22/04... yet MSN didn't release the story 'till 5/26/04.
Bottom line... all operating systems are going to have vulnerabilities. But... Apple has FAR less than Microsoft... and provides better/faster support.
posted on May 30, 2004 06:20:38 PM new
eauctionmgnt, only ignorance I see being shown is your knowledge of what I do or do not know.
I can most assured tell you that at the College I just graduated from last year, if you used a Mac, you would not of been able to use them in class. None of the classrooms had macs and only one lab on campus had 5 macs for the entire student body.
This was at a local community college, so going to a full 4 year university may or may not be different.
I have never worry about a virus, because I know how to run a pc correctly.
posted on May 30, 2004 07:11:59 PM new
Washingtonebayer,
Saying:
Most college labs and classrooms now use pc's, so to use an apple product would not be the best choice
is much different than your last statement of:
the College I just graduated from last year, if you used a Mac, you would not of been able to use them in class. None of the classrooms had macs and only one lab on campus had 5 macs for the entire student body
Your last statement shows that even Community colleges have SOME Apple support (otherwise they wouldn't even have an Apple lab). I can assure you that 4-year colleges ARE run much differently than community colleges when it comes to computer support. For you to say that an Apple product is not the best choice is indeed an opinion you have founded on ignorance. You'll notice I have not said that an Apple is the only choice for Neglus's daughter... nor necessarily is it the best/worst choice. That's why they should talk with the college, find out what is being used, and make an informed decision based on the results. My personal opinion, however, is that an Apple will perform much better in the long-term with fewer support issues than a Windows machine.
edited for typo
[ edited by eauctionmgnt on May 30, 2004 07:12 PM ]
i was gonna jump right into this melee, but decided you are maybe suffering tmi..so if you still reading;
just let me say::::
yours is not an easy decision..maybe your youngest should be left with the final decision...after all, your "youngest," that generation is probably at least, if not more, computer literate that all of the posters...and that for sure, includes me.
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myopinionofcourse, myoldtoy
posted on June 3, 2004 12:57:56 PM new
Update: Just heard back from the college bookstore and they said that the college is not Apple-based and the only requirements the college asks is that every computer is set up with Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Office XP Professional. Soooooooooo...I will start looking. Youngest doesn't care which one she gets. She isn't a techie kind of kid The family defers all technical decisions to me LOL..blind leading the blind
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
posted on June 3, 2004 12:59:58 PM new
I forgot to THANK YOU all for the great input! I'll let you know what we finally decide. I think we will wait a little while for when the prices come down after the graduation-gift surge. If anyone hears of any great deals in the meantime, please let me know! Thanks! Email is: [email protected]
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Sig files are too much trouble! http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
