LAPTOPS!!!!!!!!! I'M CLUELESS. $100 to whoever helps....................

<p>ok. so i won't give you $100 but i really need your help. i'm not computer savvy at all and i'm going to college in month and desperately need a laptop to buy. here's the minimum requirements given by the university...</p>

<p>-800MHz Intel, AMD, or equivalent microprocessor
-WIndows XP or XP pro
-256 MB RAM
-8GB hard drive
-24x CD-ROM drive
-Ethernet capability</p>

<p>i dont do gaming or any complicated media programs and stuff. i just need something with word, internet, cd burner, dvd, powerpoint...you know, the common stuff.</p>

<p>obviously i'd love something CHEAP, but i'd rather pay more for a better laptop. i'd also love a laptop/notebook thing where you can flip the screen and write on it, but it's definetely NOT necessary. i'm just looking for something reliable with good performance, good warranties, good customer service, and such.</p>

<p>i've looked at dell, hp, toshiba, best buy, circuit city, my school website...everywhere. i just don't know what to get.</p>

<p>please suggest a certain model b/c i don't know where to start if you just say "dude get a dell." i just want more bang for my buck. and if you could, please suggest the best regular laptop and the best flip screen one.</p>

<p>THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR EVERYTHING! </p>

<p>and no i don't want an apple pc, sorry.</p>

<p>No laptop currently on the market has specs lower than any of those. Just get the cheapest model from Dell, HP, Gateway, IBM or Compaq.
Dell's is called the Inspiron 1200 and it costs $499. All the other brands probably have computers in a similar range. Just go to their websites.</p>

<p>How about an ACER Aspire, its only $599 after rebates...
here are the specs....
<a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115195%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115195&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Or you can just configure your Dell inspiron 6000 to fit your budget. You can get a decent computer thay way too. May be you can look onebay, you might just find a cheap used one. </p>

<p>Now I dont know your budget...so this is kind of hard...
You can also get a alienware....expensive but high performing....
<a href="http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Sentia/sentia_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-SENTIA&SubCode=SKU-PERFORMANCE%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Sentia/sentia_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-SENTIA&SubCode=SKU-PERFORMANCE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>hope that helps....</p>

<p>Let me ask this question. Why do you want a tablet(computer screen you can write out) pc?</p>

<p>Tablet notebooks are defintely awsome....but they tend to be more expensive and bulkier than the traditional notebooks....expect to pay $1500 and up for a decent tablet notebook......</p>

<p>Take a look at these two tablets.....
TOSHIBA
<a href="http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4021227&JRSource=google.datafeed.TOS+R15-S822%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4021227&JRSource=google.datafeed.TOS+R15-S822&lt;/a>
HP
<a href="http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/tabletpc/tc4200/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/tabletpc/tc4200/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>----both of notebooks weight around 10 Lbs and are about $800 more than the traditional notebooks with comparable configurations.</p>

<p>But I don't understand what the point of it would be for a student. Can you give me some reasons? Because I can think of a lot more negatives then positives.</p>

<p>I don't get it either Kinglin. I don't think they're worth the extra price for a student. I think if I got one I wouldn't even use the features that come with tablets :confused:</p>

<p>well i just wanted one because it seemed useful to not have to write out essays and then type them up when you can just write them on the screen and convert it to text. also for notes and stuff. but like i said, def not necessary, just a plus. but do i really need it...no.</p>

<p>thanks for the suggestions. keep them coming. and my budget is anything under $2000, but that doesn't mean i actually want to pay that much. i'd only pay $1 if that was possible, but just to keep my options open, i'll say anything below $2000.</p>

<p>Why would you write and then type an essay? I think I've yet to hand write an essay for quite some time now. You can just type it up, and modify from there. In fact it's a lot easier to transform a rough draft to a final copy, when you don't have to rewrite the entire thing, but rather just make edits on your computer. It's just that I think at least in the education area, tablets aren't really worth the editional money, and the cons. Now if your in art or some thing like that, I would say go along with the tablet.</p>

<p>Coqui, I think the Acer I recommend would do all the stuff you need to do....
Because you dont play games nor do you do any CPU-intensive activity on your notebook....a notebook in the thousands would be a waste of money...</p>

<p>But if you want an awsome notebook, just buy alienware....sure they are expensive but they are extremely well build.....
<a href="http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Area-51m_7700/area-51m_7700_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-AREA51-M-7700&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.alienware.com/product_detail_pages/Area-51m_7700/area-51m_7700_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-AREA51-M-7700&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT&lt;/a>
---check that out, it is one of the fastest notebook one the market....</p>

<p>Dude, this is what you do.</p>

<p>Go to Office Depot right now- before this Saturday ends.</p>

<p>Get a Compaq v2000z and configure it with the following specs:</p>

<p>AMD Turion 64 ML-28 (1.6GHz)
14" WXGA Brightview Widescreen
ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M
256MB DDR SDRAM (You can add more yourself later)
54g 802.11b/g WLAN w/ 125HSM/SpeedBooster
60GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
12-cell Lithium Ion Battery
XP Home
HP Deskjet 3847 printer</p>

<p>Total Price including $40 shipping - $954.99 (not including tax)
subtract $400 in rebates - total = $554.99 (not including tax from above)</p>

<p>They'll give you four rebates right there and you print the last one from here: <a href="http://rebates.teg-online.com/officedepot/Rebate_Print_Frameset.asp?Item_Key=249541&odserver=www.officedepot.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://rebates.teg-online.com/officedepot/Rebate_Print_Frameset.asp?Item_Key=249541&odserver=www.officedepot.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you want upgrade a bit more but I don't see how you can beat a deal like this. Turion 64 BIT (meaning it can run Windows Vista when it comes out), mad long batter life, excellent screen, and great overall product.</p>

<p>Run to office depot right now or you'll regret it.</p>

<p>"But I don't understand what the point of it would be for a student. Can you give me some reasons? Because I can think of a lot more negatives then positives."</p>

<p><a href="http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10028%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10028&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Take a look at these two tablets.....
TOSHIBA
<a href="http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.pro...ed.TOS+R15-S822%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.pro...ed.TOS+R15-S822&lt;/a>
HP
<a href="http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/tabletpc/tc4200/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/tabletpc/tc4200/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>----both of notebooks weight around 10 Lbs and are about $800 more than the traditional notebooks with comparable configurations."</p>

<p>the hp weighs 4.6 lbs</p>