<p>I'm searching for the best laptop to take with me to college, on a budget. My budget is $350-$500, but that doesn't mean I want crap (I've seen brand new ones on eBay and Amazon for that much). I've heard awesome things about Toshiba, and I hate Macs. Anything you or your siblings have bought that really stands out as great?</p>
<p>Here are my requirements for my college laptop:
Wifi capable (obviously)
Webcam (MUST for my boyfriend and I to have a somewhat normal relationship)
At least 2gb RAM
160gb hard drive for processing</p>
<p>It’s not about loathing all things Mac, Apple is a great company but I’m more into the HPs and such. Macs are harder for me because they close out of certain websites like jerks. Too temperamental. Anyway, this is a thread about what is the best other than saying Mac, so you telling me you can’t help is really useless.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with disliking Macs or disliking Windows, all a matter of personal preference (though from past experience I’ve found that many Mac-haters often have never even touched a Mac before :p).</p>
<p>I’ve got a MacBook Pro right now and I’m hoping it will last me at least another 3 or 4 years. Although, I’ll have to decide what to do if I end up getting and taking the full ride at my state school that comes with a $2,000 computer stipend.</p>
<p>haha I have touched a Mac before. I don’t HATE them, they’re just not me, so S.A.M is right - just my preference. Dells are alright, I’ve had a desktop in the past and it was a little below average in longevity.</p>
<p>I’m running an HP Pavilion dv4 with 4GB RAM, a 320 GB, 7200 rpm hard drive, and a 2.2GHz Intel processor. It cost me about $600, so you should be able to easily find one with your specs in the $300-$500 range.</p>
<p>It has an Intel Pentium dual-core processor (not the best, but for basic stuff it will suffice), 4GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB hard drive, and a built-in 1.3MP webcam all for $499.99. You have to consider if you want a warranty on top of that as well, which of course will inflate it to $600+. </p>
<p>By the way, that Asus laptop got a 4.7 out of 5 stars from 95 reviews, pretty darn good.</p>
<p>hahaha yes yes agreed. anything super asian-y is usually good. i was on a website before that rated lifetime comparisons of laptops, and toshiba was number one. mac was two or three? but hp was the worse. that kills me since i LOVE hp, but the facts are the facts :/</p>
<p>Those two are the only two I would ever consider purchasing. I have had a Mac for 4 years now and I hate it. I was in love with it for 3 years but lately I have come to despise it. Keyboard is falling apart. I hate how there is no right click unless you Command+Click. Its running extremely slowly. I can’t upgrade past Leopard since I don’t have 1 GB of RAM. </p>
<p>I’m going to get a Latitude in August and probably put Linux on it.</p>
<p>Wow MrSudden you got 3 great years out of a computer and now you hate it… I hate most of mine after a year or two and the last 3 years things have moved so far in computing that no older computer could keep up no mater how good they were 3 years ago…</p>
<p>But as for what to buy… nothing now, wait till mid summer and look at your options then. The new low power CPU’s are going to be available on everything by then and you will be comparing all day computing power on windows 7 or MacBook Pro. </p>
<p>I love some of the new 12" ultra light Windows 7 machines with a 2nd 23" LED monitor and wireless keyboard for using when at a desktop. BUT for reliability I would have to recommend a MacBook Pro because your in college to work hard at learning new skills and PC tweaking should not take up your time especially when you have a paper due and no time to play with your computer.</p>
<p>But if you’re like me, and want to go bargain hunting for cheaper laptops with good specs, Acer is good. I got mine two years ago, and it’s an Acer- about $300, with 250 GB and 2 gigs, expandable to 4. Not the best computer by far, but worth it for the price :P</p>