Computer Advice for College?

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2005-08-13 04:19pm

College starts for me soon, and my parents are going to buy a laptop for me. I was wondering what people would recommend to buy. Also, for those who have been in college already, which is more useful for college, a laptop, or a desktop computer?

Lancer · Post by **Lancer** » 2005-08-13 04:23pm

A laptop is more practical. Just make sure you get a keyboard/mouse combo to use when your just using it at home or your dorm.

Anyways, most schools have deals with certain companies so you get discounts when you buy a school system from them. It's still a good idea to look around though, sometimes those discounts don't shave as much off the price as a sale at a retailer.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2005-08-13 04:28pm

A laptop and a wireless card are your best friends in the whole world! Seriously, my laptop has an integrated wireless card and it's meant I can tap into the wireless networks of my friends when I've been visiting them, can use the laptop whereever the hell I feel like about the house and generally don't have to rely on any wires whatsoever for optimum lazy bastard chatting to people in bed.

TimothyC · Post by **TimothyC** » 2005-08-13 05:56pm

Get on-site service. If something goes wrong it will save you a lot of time and frustration. I had my motherboard fry on me, and I was back up and running in 3 days. If I had to ship it in, It would have been closer to 3 weeks, and that 18 day differnece would have been getting to my notes to prep for finals in my case.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2005-08-13 06:07pm

First of all, find out sort of computers your collage uses and supports, there are some schools, which are almost excessively Mac for example, and while you could use a PC it will just be a world of frustration.

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2005-08-13 09:47pm

Alright, went to Best Buy today, got an HP. It's pretty decent. Also got a Logitech 518 mouse to go with it, and a new video card for my computer, although I'm going to need to return it and get a different one since I hadn't known my computer didn't have a PCIE slot.

tumbletom · Post by **tumbletom** » 2005-08-13 11:18pm

Jadeite wrote:Alright, went to Best Buy today, got an HP. It's pretty decent. Also got a Logitech 518 mouse to go with it, and a new video card for my computer, although I'm going to need to return it and get a different one since I hadn't known my computer didn't have a PCIE slot.

What are its specs? Is it a big or small laptop? Does it use Centrino?

The reason I as is that Im in the same boat you are in. I wasnt sure what I needed, but anyway I just bought an HP L2000 yesterday for college. It has that new AMD Turion cpu so Im hoping it doesnt end up sucking, but I usually trust AMD. I got it for 800 bucks so Im happy, though I have to wait 2 weeks while they build it.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2005-08-13 11:33pm

HP has a single decent laptop model, it's their super big one. It's not ultra-heavy, but has decent hardware, and a keypad. Other than that, I wouldn't suggest HP, Dell, etc. They tend to be a little over-priced.
www.discountlaptops.com has a good selection.

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2005-08-14 03:22am

tumbletom wrote: What are its specs? Is it a big or small laptop? Does it use Centrino?

The reason I as is that Im in the same boat you are in. I wasnt sure what I needed, but anyway I just bought an HP L2000 yesterday for college. It has that new AMD Turion cpu so Im hoping it doesnt end up sucking, but I usually trust AMD. I got it for 800 bucks so Im happy, though I have to wait 2 weeks while they build it.

I'll just quote it from Best Buy's site.

AMD64 technology provides simultaneous support for 32-bit and 64-bit computing, including today's 32-bit applications and tomorrow's 64-bit software

15.4" WXGA high-definition widescreen display with BriteView technology and 1280 x 800 resolution

100GB hard drive (4200 rpm)

ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M IGP graphics with 128MB DDR dedicated video memory; S-video TV-out

6-in-1 digital media reader supports Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, SmartMedia and xD-Picture Card

IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface and 4 high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer

Built-in 54g high-speed wireless LAN with 125HSM/SpeedBooster and BroadRange support (802.11b/g); 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector); 56 Kbps high-speed modem

Weighs 8 lbs. and measures 1.9" thin for portable power; lithium-ion battery and AC adapter

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2005-08-14 04:04am

I saw the Compaq version of that laptop at CompUSA, and upon exaining it suggested to one of my friends that they get it. They thought it was too ugly (wtf), but it seemed to be a really nice machine to me, especially considering the price. Turion is the win (full Athlon 64 functionality with lower power consumption and SSE3). My friend eventually decided to get a Sager 4881 for $1400 (insane ownage) because he wanted to replace his desktop, but this one that you got looks really good .

tumbletom · Post by **tumbletom** » 2005-08-14 07:02pm

[quote="Jadeite
I'll just quote it from Best Buy's site.

<snip>
[/quote]

Wow thats a nice layout--did you get a good price for it?