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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,805
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Laptop for graduating daughter....recommendations?
My daughter is graduating from highschool and will be attending college this fall. She thinks she wants to go into accounting (yuck
 ).My wife and I want to buy her a laptop as a graduation present, but I have not kept up with recent advances in computers. I simply want to buy her a laptop for around $600-$1000. It needs to have: DVD drive CD drive wireless internet (?) In the past, I have simply went to Bestbuy and bought an HP or Compaq mid priced computer and called it a day, but now there are so many choices and such a wide swing in prices that I need help!   My gut tells me that just about any computer with the above features will be OK, but I don't want to screw up. I DO NOT want to spend much over $1000 on something she may lose or break.
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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05-15-2007, 06:04 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,392
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Get a mac. Little more than the budget, but worth it.
If it must be a PC, or if the extra $400 makes it for you, I just got a Dell D520. Upped it to Intel wireless (instead of Dell/broadcom), doubled the memory, and upped the screen to 15" from 14". $805 after shipping, comes with XP home, takes Linux with less issues than XP.
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“IN MY EXPERIENCE, SUSAN, WITHIN THEIR HEADS TOO MANY HUMANS SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF WARS THAT HAPPENED CENTURIES AGO.” |
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05-15-2007, 06:08 AM
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Slumlord
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,983
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I bought my daughter a Toshiba for University last September. She tells me the Dell's and Sony's were all breaking down. None of the Toshiba's failed.
I also have about ten Toshiba's in my workplace, they have ever failed. A $1,000 Toshiba laptop is a good computer.
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84 Cab - sold! 89 Cab - not quite done 90C4 - winter beater |
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05-15-2007, 06:29 AM
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,805
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No mac...
I don't know what Linux is and I hope I don't ever need to know I am totally clueless on all of the various processors out there now. What ever happened to the good old days of just picking a 486dx because it had the math-co-processor? Bestbuy has a bunch of HP's in my price range, should I just go buy one and let her return it if she wants something different?
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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05-15-2007, 06:36 AM
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,805
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Quote:
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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05-15-2007, 06:38 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,510
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Tim go with the Toshiba laptop. I just bought one (from Best Buy) 2 months ago after my SECOND HP laptop shot craps. It has a combined DVD/CD read/write drive, 2g ram, 160g hard drive, and wireless already installed. on sale it was $850 and even off sale it is less than $1K. If you want I can get you the model number or you can just go to Best Buy and it will probably be the one closest in price to $1K. $800-$1K right now seems to be the sweet spot for any laptop to get all the features you are looking for.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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05-15-2007, 06:40 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: I'm out there.
Posts: 13,084
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If she's as clumsy as my teenage daughter she needs one of those Toughbooks the military uses. I figure if the laptop can survive desert heat, sand and IED's it might survive for a while in the hands of my daughter.
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My work here is nearly finished.
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05-15-2007, 06:42 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,510
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Tim here is the one I have. It is now $899, but they are throwing in a free soft side case with a cordless mouse: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999971500050004&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050031&id=pcmprd71400050004
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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05-15-2007, 06:47 AM
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,805
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Quote:
EDIT: thanks Kurt for the link
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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05-15-2007, 06:50 AM
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Slumlord
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,983
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My wife got a demo Toshiba from bestbuy for $100 off regular price. Stil brand new. About $600.
Toshiba have two lines I think, satellite is one, but the higher priced series is more rugged.
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84 Cab - sold! 89 Cab - not quite done 90C4 - winter beater |
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05-15-2007, 06:50 AM
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I have 2 Toshiba notebooks, each over 10 years old - both are very outdated but still function perfectly.
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Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
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05-15-2007, 06:52 AM
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Slumlord
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,983
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Time for the Apple fanatics to chime in...
 I have to admit, those Apple commercials are funny.
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84 Cab - sold! 89 Cab - not quite done 90C4 - winter beater |
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05-15-2007, 06:53 AM
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We got a HP(junk) widescreen from BB. should have gotten a Toshiba...
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1974 911s "It smelled like German heaven" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ySt9SeZl9s |
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05-15-2007, 06:53 AM
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Work in Progress
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One thing I might recommend is trying to get ahold of someone at her school in the accounting department, and seeing what they are using. You will want to make sure that the computer will be compatible with the programs that she may be running in accounting. Ideally she would be able to have the same programs avaliable on the laptop as what they are teaching in the classroom.
Also I know there are discounts avaliable for students on software, are there similar discounts on hardware? Rich
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"The reason most people give up is because they look at how far they have to go, not how far they have come." -Bruce Anderson via FB -Marine Blue '87 930 |
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05-15-2007, 06:56 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,510
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Tim I see the notebook now only comes with 1g of ram, but it is expandable to 4g. You should still be ok with the 1g even running Vista.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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05-15-2007, 06:57 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,970
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Tim,
Do NOT get an HP. After its a year old no parts available, so they want you to buy a new one instead of fixing anything. Do you have a Costco in the area? Their guarantee is excellent and if it messes up within a year you just take it back for a new one or refund. Personally I like Dell or IBM Thinkpads. Buy one with a premium Visa/MC or AmEx and they double the warranty for free. Thats two years and after that with a college student its toast anyway. My Dell 600M is 3-4 years old, spends its life in a bag thrown around in an airplane and in a new hotel every 3-4 days. Still going strong after NO repairs in almost 4 years...
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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05-15-2007, 07:12 AM
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19 years and 17k posts...
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I just bought a Dell Inspiron 9400 for $1000 that I'm very happy with. 17" screen, 2GB RAM, 120GB hard drive, WinXP, wireless, Ethernet, 6 USB ports, etc... It's big and bulky (more of a desktop replacement than a portable).
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Art Zasadny 1974 Porsche 911 Targa "Helga" (Sold, back home in Germany) Learning the bass guitar Driving Ford company cars now... www.ford.com |
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05-15-2007, 07:31 AM
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What?!?!
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MAC MAC MAC!
We bought our daughter one in March of '06 right before high school grad. She went to Univ of AZ in August '06 and just got home last weekend for the summer. Her laptop has been solid. She loves it and it NEVER gives her problems. It ALWAYS works. She speaks often of others at school with PC laptop having network probs, printing probs, internet probs, video probs.... You get the point. It was the first Mac I ever bought and was a little hesitant. A close friend bought one for his son and his story had me convinced. I wanted her to have as little problems as possible while at school. Chasing computer issues or not being able to complete assignments would really add frustration. She has reported back that she loves it and would never have anything else. Within a day of having it, she was comfortable using it and the "learning curve" was a joke. GET HER A MAC! Look into their refurb program and get a reconditioned unit. Now... Arc flash suit properly donned, ear plugs securely in place... bring it on!
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running shoes, couple tools, fishing pole 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback AWD, 5speed 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX, 5speed 2014 Tundra SR5, 4x4 1964 Land Rover SII A 109 - sold this albatross |
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05-15-2007, 07:31 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,970
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Quote:
__________________
2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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05-15-2007, 07:35 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 8,279
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The $500-$700 Dells
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05-15-2007, 07:38 AM
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1987 Porsche 911 Targa 3.2 
1974 Porsche 911s
Bruiser
MazdaSpeed3
