<p>I have a long time before I need to get one, which is good since technology will only get better. I wont' game a lot, but a powerful machine won't hurt. Anyone know what's coming out next year? Will most laptops have blu-ray and 4 GB RAM? Should I focus more on a laptop with really good battery if I plan to use it a lot? I don't want to get a traditional Dell, maybe a good Toshiba or ASUS.</p>
<p>NetBooks look like they will be hot.</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to Larrabee in 2010 (new graphics paradigm coming).</p>
<p>Nehalem should be a lot faster than Penryn.</p>
<p>I'm hoping for more LED Backlit LCD displays - maybe in standalone displays and laptops.</p>
<p>I'm hoping for more computers with ATI or Intel Integrated.</p>
<p>USB 3.0. Wireless USB. Should be lots of good stuff next year.</p>
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<p> [QUOTE=A. Kumar] I don't want to get a traditional Dell, maybe a good Toshiba or ASUS.
Check out Lenovo - the Thinkpads are of great quality. Don't buy an Ideapad though, as they're not very good.</p>
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[quote]
NetBooks look like they will be hot.</p>
<p>Nehalem should be a lot faster than Penryn.</p>
<p>I'm hoping for more computers with ATI or Intel Integrated.
[/quote]
Yes netbooks will be hot, but they also won't a good primary computer</p>
<p>Nahalem will be faster, but it won't be coming to laptops anytime soon...</p>
<p>I would look for an ATI card especially the molbile 4850 and 4870 that should come soon, but intel integrated graphics are still very weak, ATI's integrated 3200 is amazing for an integrated card.</p>
<p>"Nahalem will be faster, but it won't be coming to laptops anytime soon..."</p>
<p>This is a computer for next year so I assumed Sept 2009. Nehalem mobile should be shipping by then.</p>
<p>I think that netbooks will be running Linux or Windows XP. I have a few Pentium 3 laptops that work just fine running Windows XP. For many, they will be primary machines.</p>
<p>I would not want to try any serious typing on a keyboard thats on a 9 inch computer...</p>
<p>You can get an external keyboard for a whopping $10.</p>
<p>That seems to defeat the purpose of a laptop a little.</p>
<p>It depends on what you're using it for. I usually use an external keyboard for my MacBook Pro. At home and at the office, I use Synergy to connect my desktops to the MacBook Pro and use the desktops' keyboard and mouse to control the MacBook Pro. At my son's apartment, I use an external keyboard directly connected to the MacBook Pro.</p>
<p>If I'm travelling, I bring the XPS M1330. I always bring a Bluetooth mouse. If I have a lot of space, then I'll bring an external keyboard. If you're doing heavy typing at a desk, a keyboard is fine.</p>
<p>One other thing - I was having a bowl of soup while using my Compaq Presario and accidentally spilled it. I was using an external keyboard and so a $10 keyboard was ruined. If I had been using the laptop keyboard, the repair would have been a lot more.</p>
<p>Does the college have a plan which gets you one with a deal. Many times those can be a really good deal. But, you are limited to whatever they have available (e.g., a MAC of some sort and a Dell of some sort). But usually they are good machines at good prices and you get school software installed (like the wireless stuff for the net, and other school software). Additionally they often provide support if it has a problem.</p>