Lap Top Advise - Which Computer to Buy?

[M.D. Holloway]

I use a Dell Latitude 600 lap top for work and I have a Compaq Presario for home use. I want to get a lap top for writing and occasional web surfing. I really want to separate my work computer from my writing computer.


At present my writing is in MS Word with some graphics. In the future I may want to explore some desktop publishing but that is future out. Right now I think I want a lap top that has the following features:
1) Thin, light weight
2) Reliable
3) Less than $800
4) Wireless capability
5) 20+ gig storage
6) CD Burner
7) Good battery life (3+ hours)

I don't think I am asking for a lot. I will consider Apple, IBM or Dell or any other brand provided it fits the bill. Also, I would like at least a 3yr warranty. Is that too much to ask for? What do you guys think?

[id10t]

Smallest Apple iBook - $1000 shipped, give or take, less if you work for an educational institution in any capacity - but not much.

[M.D. Holloway]

hmm - I am an adj prof at UNT. That would provide a discount and I could also claim it on my taxes as a deduction for my freelance work. This is starting to get interesting.

[id10t]

Yup. The 3 mac laptops I've helped folks order lately have gotten basically free shipping and 10 or so extra bucks off the price...

Just did some checking, apparently there is a UNT apple store, or at least, the apple website told me that "University Of North Texas has a Custom Apple Store, where an administrator has selected products especially for your needs."

So it may be even cheaper/easier...

[azasadny]

I've always had good luck with Dell laptops. I've seen a few good HPs, but I've never had good experience with Compaq, Toshiba or Sony.

[M.D. Holloway]

The MacBook looks rather nifty.

[bryanthompson]

have we another convert?

[stevepaa]

Allllleeeeluuuia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Allllllllllllllllleeluuuuuuuuia

[M.D. Holloway]

I used a Mac when I published for PCA - it was different but I liked it. Never had a virus or unexpected shutdown. It is very possible I will bite the forbidden fruit. Gimme a reason...

[id10t]

No viruses, spyware, etc. And it "just works".

As much of a geek as I am, and as much as I like making $75/hr fixing windows issues, I just *love* sending folks to get a Mac when they ask what computer to buy. Usually the last I hear from them, unless it is a call of "I just *love* this Mac you told me to get"

[M.D. Holloway]

well, your getting close to having me solidify this in my head - MacBook and furgitaboudit.

What Moses did for me with the Casio digi cam, id10t will do for me with the MacBook. So, what do you know about them as far as the models, features, good to have apps and so forth?

[cegerer]

Out of the dozens of computers I've owned, the ONLY one I've never had a problem with is my Sony laptop, and I bought that as a Circuit City demo 2 years ago that had been manhandled and abused.




Knock on wood!

[Drew001]

Go with the MacBook.
You'll fall in love with OS X. It's what a modern OS should be.

If you need to run Windows, you can download BootCamp from Apple and run Windows or OS X whenever you want.

In the future, should you need more hard drive space, the MacBook lets you remove and replace the internal hard drive very easily.

[charlesbahn]

I'll second the SONY.

[rfuerst911sc]

I like the Dell Lattitude notebooks. We have them at work and I have my own they are quite rugged. I believe the "commercial" laptops are made with better quality parts than the "retail" laptops. I use my laptop every day and I also use it for tuning my Megasquirt EFI ECU and have never had a problem. I know several local vendors that stopped carrying Dell Inspiron laptops because of quality issues but they still sell Lattitudes.

[TWork]

I think you'd be doing yourself a favor in getting a Core 2 Duo processor. It's a substantial improvement over prior generation Intel processors and substantially better than anything AMD has out.

[PorschePilot]

Didn't have good luck with a Sony Vaio. Won't buy another one.

Just bought a new HP from Best Buy. They have some great prices on HP's right now. I did a lot of research and the HP gave me the most bang for the buck, especially at Best Buy sale prices.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
I used a Mac when I published for PCA - it was different but I liked it. Never had a virus or unexpected shutdown. It is very possible I will bite the forbidden fruit. Gimme a reason...

The current educational special gets you a free iPod Nano with purchase.

If you want you can apply the difference and upgrade to an iPod video.

There's also a $100 printer rebate, you can get an HP printer/scanner/copier for free.

And you can install Parallels so you can run Windows apps if you really want to or install any flavr of Linux if you feel like dic*ing around with it all without reformating or repartioning.

Scott

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
well, your getting close to having me solidify this in my head - MacBook and furgitaboudit.

What Moses did for me with the Casio digi cam, id10t will do for me with the MacBook. So, what do you know about them as far as the models, features, good to have apps and so forth?

Basically all Mac laptops are very close in specs.

You have 3 size screens. The 15's and 17's are identical except for screen size.

The MacBook comes with the same processors as the 15 and 17. You get less of a video card but that only matters if you are looking to do intensvie 3d gaming and such.

As far as apps you don't really need to buy a thing. It's all bundled in. You can download The Gimp if you don't want to pay for Photochop.

Take your edu discount and add it back into the box as a free RAM upgrade.

Scott

[bryanthompson]

buy ram from otherworldcomputing.com instead of through the apple store... it's about half the cost, and the quality is very good. I've bought a ton of ram in the last few months, and OWC is the bee's knees.