First off, I want to say congratulations to the class of 2009!!!.

Secondly, my dad, for a graduation gift, is going to buy me a laptop for collage. I was wondering what would be the best laptop to fit my needs for the right price.

What I'm using the laptop for:
-school (typing/stuffs)
-music (listening to music, downloading etc...)
-interwebz (duh)
-in the $600-$700 price range


I want a decent processor, nothing crazy, just something where I can run more then 2 programs without my computer wanting to shutoff. I also would like some decent ram. I was thinking of a mac, but I'm open to suggestions.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115539
Didn't look too hard but this seems to be solid.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115592

That one is for 50$ more then your price range but it is alot nicer. It has ddr3 ram and better video card. I wish you had more money cause i think the t6xxx processors are not that powerful these days.

Thinkpads are very good.
Asus stuff is decent
Don't get anything over 15" or you will probably regret it. It will turn into a desktop with a small screen because you don't want to take it anywhere, and the battery won't last long at all.

Normally I'd recommend a cheap desktop with netbook, but you're going to be hard pressed in the $600 range for both, especially because I couldn't find a $200 netbook. If your dad is willing to go up to $1000, I'd get a $700 desktop with a $300 msi wind or something.

As a general rule for laptops: AMD Sucks, Intel graphics suck, bigger is not better. Just know that laptops are supposed to be portable, and you're good to go.

I could probably design him a 500-550$ PC then grab the 300$ netbook if he wants to do 850$.

unfortunately, you'd end up:
$100 17" monitor
$40 400W PSU
$20 LOL CASE
$50 250 GB HDD (or 35 for an 80 GB)
$20 LOL DDR2 RAM
$20 LOL OPTICAL DRIVE
which leaves you $250 for graphics, processor and motherboard. Any decent onboard graphics will run well over $100, as will the processor. Of course, if you can reuse any of the previous parts, especially the monitor, you're in luck.

ps, you're not getting a macbook with only $700

My friend just got one on ebay or craigslist actually for 700 and it works fine.

If he has a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers I can get him set up easy.

I'm probably going to just end up going to Best Buy and looking there. I want a Dell or a Mac. Does a Mac come with any outstanding audio/video editing software?

Do not go to a store to buy a laptop. If you want a dell or a mac go on their website to buy it. The stores will rip you off.

I hope you enjoy being ripped off by 50-150% in price, plus bloatware pre-installed. Tool.

Why is Dell so popular? Is it really just because they let you pick the color of the back side of the display? You guys probably know even more than me about how sucky Dell is, and I am continually amazed when people want one of their products, for no apparent reason other than "I want a Dell". What is the draw!?!?! Check me on this, but all the good shit like GPU's come from companies like Nvidia or ATI anyway, Dell's innovation was in its supply-chain, not its product anyway, so what is the big deal with Dell? A friend of mine bought one of their laptops because she could get it in pink. This sort of thing I understand, but on a site like SEN (obviously computer-oriented), I am baffled.

Now you see why I get a bit flustered sometimes in the topics here.

Because companies like dell, apple, and sony produce greener laptops than acer, asus, and HP. Dell has susan g. komen for the cure and product red laptops which benefit lives. Dell also does not export its e-waste to countries like china. Desktops are a different story. You can build a desktop that is greener than any company brand.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jul 7 2009, 4:33 am by Excalibur. Reason: Removing disrespectful comment.

Green is gross, get out of here with your horrible green advertising No one honestly cares that much, if they can get a non-green computer that is so much cheaper and better.