Buying a new laptop

But I need some advice on the specs. I need to keep it under $1400...preferably around $1200. I've been looking around on bestbuy.com and circuitcity.com and the like.

Originally, I was looking for a Hewlitt Packard or Toshiba laptop with a 15.4" screen, 100GB (5400 rpm) hard drive, 1GB memory and an AMD 64 processor. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find all of these in one laptop for my budget.

So my question is what could I possibly "skimp" on without regret. I won't budge on my 1GB of memory or 15.4" screen. My choices are any combination of the following:

100Gb (4200 rpm) hard drive
80GB (5400 or 4200 rpm) hard drive
some form of Intel processor

I don't do a lot of really intensive stuff. I rip CDs quite a bit, but thats about as intensive as I get. Other than that I surf the interweb, write papers for school (a big multi-tasker).

Thanks for any advice.

 

I've come across these two at circuitcity.com...

Toshiba notebook
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid...ategorylist.do/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#tabs

HP notebook
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/141884/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#tabs

The HP only has a 4200 rpm hd but non-shared video memory while the toshiba has a 5400 rpm drive but shared video memory.

help...im going crazy trying to figure this out!

 

You should checkout the IBM site. They have Factory lease returns and Referbs for a pretty good price. I have sold over 20 of these to my customers without a single problem.

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/s...1&catalogId=-840&langId=-1&categoryId=2576396

 

it isnt that hard to find one..........
http://www.compusa.com/specials/sales/021906sale/default.asp?prod_group_category_id=2110&pfp=fod

in compusa theres a couple that meat the requirements u want the price is good and the laptop is good u shuld chek it out

 

yes, there are some on compusa.com that fit my specs, but nothing different than i found on circuitcity.com or bestbuy.com...

my question was: What can I "skimp" on without regretting it later?

ie: 1) is there a big difference between 4200rpm and 5400rpm, 2) not being a big gamer or anything, will i notice a huge performance decrease between a laptop with shared video memory and one with dedicated video memory...things like that.

thanks again

 

no one has any advice on this?

 

I am not a fan of HP, there are many instances where if plugged in for a long period of time the batteries are boiled out. I always recommend dell, I have good experiences with them, and no complaints other then my dell is a bit heavy, but its also a few years old. Good luck but if you asked a dozen people what kind of laptop they would recommend you would get 12 diffterent answers.

 

thanks for the reply.

im not asking about the brand of laptop, i'm asking about the specs...

example: is there a big difference between 4200rpm and 5400rpm? (ripping CDs is about as intensive as i get), and not being a big gamer or anything, will i notice a huge performance decrease between a laptop with shared video memory vs one with dedicated video memory?...things like that.

 

well there is a big difference in the faster hard drive. how mobile do you want to be, as the faster drive speed does draw more power. If you don't game then go with integrated video you won't notice that much of a difference. is this system a desktop replacement? If you're not heavy gaming, why would you need a 100gb hd I think 80 would be more then enough. now sata is a big difference over ide, it has faster seek times making the computer faster.

 

The easiest things to upgrade after the purchase would be the HD and the RAM. So you could go with half the RAM and add the rest later. Also I think thesunscreen is right about the HD. If want the most life from the battery get the slower and smaller one. If gaming is important then go for the speed.