laptop help

<p>soo college is just around the corner, and i still don't have a laptop. i was wondering if any of you guys have bought a PC laptop with a good deal (under $1000), is light and easy to carry around, and has worked really well for you. i don't really need a fancy laptop (my major won't require it), but i do need a reliable one since i will be using it for the next four years. there are just too many choices out there and too many back-to-school deals, so it would be great if you could tell me what PC laptop you recommend.</p>

<p>i love my sony vaio and it's worked problem-free for three years (and i'm talking heavy usage, like it's on and thinking 12 hours a day).</p>

<p>but it's definitely not $1K ... maybe a refurbished one would be.</p>

<p>I just bought a pretty loaded Inspiron 1525 and got a pretty good sale price on their website, BUT I logged into their chat function and was able to get another $200 knocked off by asking if they could give me any further discounts for a student. I ended up saving $700 off full retail, so wherever you buy, ask to pay less than the "best price".</p>

<p>hey astrina, </p>

<p>so im in rome right now for summer school, and on tuesday someone broke into my apartment and stole like everything..so needless to say i need to buy a new laptop, and i love the vaio..i want to get the cr</p>

<p>i was just wondering if you still use the warranty (or think you will) soon..if you think your computer is still good and going to last</p>

<p>i really want to keep that computer a long time but i dont know what service pack to get out of the 1,2,3 or 4 years</p>

<p>cyberpowerpc. com</p>

<p>actually i've never had to use the warranty on my vaio, this computer was a serious godsend compared to the ones i've had in the past. it'll be three years this october :)</p>

<p>how much is the service pack for each year? i've never bought any kind of protection like that, but i think that a new computer every 4-ish years is standard for me. so i'd probably just squirrel away money for a replacement one after college.</p>

<p>then again, i don't download music or game on my vaio. i've got a bulky dell desktop for that job.</p>

<p>Check slickdeals.net every day for good laptop deals. </p>

<p>I say wait it out unless you need something quick and get a Dell XPS 1530 when it goes on sale. Pretty awesome laptop that's worked well for me thus far.</p>

<p>techbargains.com is another good one, too</p>

<p>we just got our son a MAC notebook and he loves it!! Didn't take long to switch over from windows etc... They are also running specials for students and giving rebates for a free HP Photosmart printer and an ipod touch!! Thought it would take months to get these but they literally came in the mail within 2 weeks!!</p>

<p>I picked up a new 14.7 wide screen Core Duo Lenovo Thinkpad. It's light, rugged, and I love the minimal black design. Has plenty of power for me, too. Price was much less than you'd think, but I'm a pretty savvy shopper and found the deal on Fatwallet/Slickdeals; I think you can still get them pretty cheap.</p>

<p>id say, wait til mid august and buy vaio SR series if you want something decent in spec with reasonable price.</p>

<p>if you have some extra money spare, then you might want to look into vaio z series. its bit pricey but i'm pretty sure you'll be satisfied with its spec and mobility.</p>

<p>thanks for all the replies guys! i actually am very interested in the sony vaio, but i'm looking for one in the $600-$900 range. i guess i will keep looking!</p>

<p>Here's a good deal:</p>

<p>Sony</a> VAIO Dual Core 1.73GHz 15" Laptop $600 - dealnews.com</p>

<p>There are tons of great deals at dealnews.com</a> - Find the lowest prices and coupons on computers, laptops, digital cameras, iPods, MP3 players, HDTV. Just keep your eyes open for a couple of weeks.</p>

<p>i just found a vaio cr320 for $850, and i actually really like it. is that the lowest it usually goes? what's the difference between the cr numbers?</p>

<p>notebookreview.com - best resource on notebooks</p>

<p>techbargains.com, slickdeals.net, dealnews.com all list deals, as well as notebookreview.com's forums, which have laptop deals specifically.</p>

<p>I second what Slorg said. Read some reviews of other laptops, and you could post on the NotebookReview.com forums, "What laptop should I buy". </p>

<p>I personally don't recommend Sony Vaios, they are quite overpriced for what you get, unless there is a big sale. The Dell Outlet (with coupons) is a good place to find deals, and HP makes some nice looking and decently priced laptops too.</p>

<p>alright. thanks everyone!! :)</p>

<p>One more thought... Before we bought our son his notebook we went to the bookstore at UCSD and talked to them about laptops etc... They are authorized MAC dealers but don't deal with HP... too many probs. So if something goes wrong, you'll have to take it elsewhere!</p>