Buying a laptop

[exalted512]

I'm wanting to get a laptop for school. Basically I'm looking for an internet/word processor/cd/dvd burner that I can download some programs onto and not slow down.

Budget is $700-850. I really want a dell. Ebay is also an option.
heres some sites that i know that have coupons and such

http://www.gotapex.com/
http://www.techbargains.com/
http://www.slickdeals.net/

does anyone have any more of those sites? I'll be picking it up in a couple months. Any input is appreciated :o

-Cody

[okiepolkie]

Without looking at brand so much(although I usually look at Toshiba and Dell), a couple suggestions to keep it from slowing down would be to get one with at least 512 MB's of ram, and if you can swing it, get 1GB of ram. The centrino processors area little better than the celeron equivalent.

May not be the info you were looking for, but thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

Have a good one.

[exalted512]

yea, I was going to go with at least a 512. I wont be downloading a lot of programs. Just the basic spyware, antivirus, and then a few programs i need for school. My home computer has 1gb of memory and a 250gb hard drive so im used to not having any problems with loading times. Thats why i want a decently fast laptop. Ive been looking on ebay and theres a few good deals on there.
-Cody

[audiobliss]

I would personally avoid AMD Sempron and Intel Celeron processors at all costs, and I don't *think* the Intel Centrino processor is that much better than the Celeron. That leaves you with Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon XP, and AMD Athlon 64. Having a gig of ram in a laptop would be nice, but probably not very practical. If you decide you want that much you'll have to add another stick yourself, as I've never seen a laptop come with more than 512.

I would also recommend looking at Toshiba, and I highly recommend IBM's laptops, though you couldn't get one (new, at least) in your price range.

As okiepolkie said, don't know if that's what you wanted, but that's what I said! :p

[okiepolkie]

My laptop is from 2003. It has a 1GHz Pentium III processor in it with 512 MB of ram. It has a CDRW/DVD player, but I rarely use them. I don't have a lot of programs on mine either, so it runs pretty smooth. From the time I hit the start button, until I can access my wireless internet, it takes 90 seconds.

[exalted512]

im not a big fan of amd. i dont understand how they can put those things in lap tops without overheating everything
-Cody

[audiobliss]

Well, there's a problem for ya. You need to be pro AMD. :D I'm a fan of them, myself. More efficient clock-cycle. More performance per dollar. Admittedly, the P4HT edges the Athlon64 with such programs as CAD and such, but that's about it.

[nesticle]

I've got the AMD Athlon 64 3500+ in my laptop and this thing is fast as a mofo. It was 1400 Canadian last august.

[nadams]

The AMD processors of today are not as hot as the one's you know, or, it appears, don't know. Modern AMD processors actually run cooler than equivalent Intel procs. Besides, all modern laptop slow the processors down when you're not using the full power of the laptop. That keeps them running cool and quiet.

[Schris22]

From my experience at ITS...I don't like dell's.

they are cheap though if that's what you're going for.
I do like IBM as someone else said. They have some tiny thinkpads if you're thinking about portability.

Toshiba is ok by my standards and I also like HP.

I would check A&M to see if they have any computer discount program. Dell is over here so there is a small discount...the coupons may be better.

Good luck,

Chris