Lap Top Shopping

[Sowser]

My girlfriend's daughter is starting High School today and will be purchasing a laptop by this weekend. Her budget is $500 give or take and she'll be using it for typing up homework, using the internet, editing and storing pictures, loading music on to her i-touch, and all other manor of things that teens use their computers to do. I was looking at the Egg and found this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834146581 I don't know anything about the brand but it's along the line of what she's looking for to give you an idea. If anyone knows of any good deals or has any tips I'd appreciate it.

[Darkstar]

I would spend a bit more and get a core 2 duo.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... ku=9382535

something like that one. If thats not an option check the local rags for b2s specials. A buddy just picked up a laptop (Compaq/HP at Walmart for 299.00 and it would be fine for a student.

[Sowser]

While shopping I keep running across the brand Lenovo. They seem to use quality components, does anyone know anything about the brand?

[ibleet]

While shopping I keep running across the brand Lenovo. They seem to use quality components, does anyone know anything about the brand?

It's quite an extensive history, but Lenovo is basically the new IBM thinkpad line since its 2005 purchase of IBM's PC division.
Lenovo is the world's fourth largest personal computer manufacturer after Hewlett-Packard and Dell of the U.S. and Acer of Taiwan.

I'm in agreement with Darkstar, spend a little more and get a core 2 duo.

[Major_A]

I disagree. The T4200 has all the power states that make Intel the choice for laptops. On top of that she isn't going to be encoding video using Premiere Pro on it so no point in wasting money. I had to help my sister shop for a laptop when she left for college and I was looking at the fast processors and realized eventually that she doesn't use a PC like I do.

I don't recommend it, but my Eee PC 1000HA with an Atom runs Firefox, Photoshop (CS3), and other basic applications more than adequately.

On Lenovo: Everything I've ever read about them is that they are well built machines that don't come fully bloated like a Dell or HP.

[sasamkd]

I fully agree with Major_A.
Will sufice (even if she is going to encode video ). For those things she won't need anything more powerfull. I personally think the CPU is too powerfull for those things she is going to do, but I don't recomend anything less. Usually > cheaper CPU - cheaper components (lower quality).
Lenovo is OK.

[KnightRid]

anything below $800 and I tell people to just get the cheapest thing they can find that is NOT a celeron processor

That should be fine for what she is using it for!

Mike

[Darkstar]

On Lenovo: Everything I've ever read about them is that they are well built machines that don't come fully bloated like a Dell or HP.

I just bought several of the SL500 Lenovo (Core 2 Duo) for $500 and they are just as loaded as Dell and HP with the Bloatware. But they seem fine, i think after looking at them and using them the quality is not what it was when they were IBM manafactured.

[Sowser]

Hmmm, the best price I could find on the SL500 Lenovo was $550. The most intensive thing she's likely to run is Sims 3 and she's paying for it with her own money she earned working a summer job at $9 an hour so I'm really trying to find a functional laptop between $500-$600.

[pwcmed]

What about this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 8089774715 and then replace the hard drive with a 500 gig hard drive and more ram. She can use the extra hard drive as an extrenal hard drive.

Should be around 550.

[Tim Burton]

Get a NETBOOK! and save the money for tuition and books.

[Major_A]

Did you go to college?. If I had to go back in time and write one of my ten page reports on a 10" screen at 1024x600 I would've ended up throwing the netbook through a window.

[hnzw_rui]

Get a NETBOOK! and save the money for tuition and books.

A netbook is fine if you have another computer (e.g. desktop) which you can use. Otherwise, I really wouldn't go for a netbook as an only computer. There's just too many limitations. Sure, she's only starting high school, but still, it's the kids who usually find new stuff to do on their computers. Even browsing websites nowadays require quite a bit of CPU cycles what with the widespread use of Flash. Try opening a MySpace profile page and you'll be inundated with pretty bad web design. Pages are usually very busy and contain embedded Flash video or music playlists.

[Sowser]

Frys has a Lenovo T4200, 3GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, 15.4 inch display, DVD RW, Wireless laptop for $400 that I'm going to pick up. Thanks guys for the input!