Laptop ideas?

[majeskyb]

So my sister was promised a laptop for Christmas if she did well on her mid-terms. She did, so the only stipulation is that the computer costs at the most $800. This is for a high school girl (currently in 10th grade), and should mostly be used for homework, though not exclusively. Used are fine, as long as they come with a warrentee, and either goes, Mac or PC. I'm quite computer proficient, but there are so many choices out there, that I need some help if I want to help her our sometime this year. Thanks for the ideas [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]

[Dojo2000]

You can get an awesome desktop for $800.

[epic]

You're going to get a junky laptop. I guess if she's going to use it for the general use of Office Applications and net surfing, $800 will be fine, but if she plans on doing anything more extensive, I'd vote for a desktop. Your money will go a lot further.

[majeskyb]

well, it's not my call on what to get. She was told a laptop, and I'm assuming it's so she can take it to school with her. My family already has plenty of desktops, so it's not like she can't use one of them if she had to. I'm just trying to help out my little sister since she knows next to nothing about computers. I know I can find some good laptops for under $800 though. I just wanted some ideas that maybe I couldn't think of

[epic]

Holds true for any noob student who needs a computer. Just spend some time looking around. I know you can probably find a Toshiba with these specs for pretty cheap.

Mobile Celeron, Pentium 4-M, desktop Pentium 4, or PowerPC G4 processors

At least 256MB of memory

Big hard drive to hold all those MP3s (atleast 30gb)

DVD/CD-RW drive for burning audio CDs

Wired and wireless networking for network-equipped classrooms and dorm rooms

Microsoft Windows XP Home or Apple Mac OS X

Microsoft Office XP Standard Edition or Office X for Mac OS

[Flowbee V6]

A good notebook should have at least 3 hours of battery life and preferably 6 lbs or less if she plans on toting it around with her a lot I've gone the refurbished route before to save money on newer laptops, and it has never given me problems

This is a pretty good deal to use as a benchmark http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...93559?v=glance
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...149-017&DEPA=0
Not a big name brand but offers the same warranty and features as my new high-end HP notebook. I think it only costs $40 or so dollars to get an extra 256 ddr sd ram to bump it up to 512

[majeskyb]

Yes, those Averatec laptops are nice. I really like how they feature AMD processors in them as well. I'm more leaning towards an Apple for her, just so it would be easier for her to understand and figure out everything that it has to offer. I already know what to look for. I don't want to sound rude, but I don't need advice on specs. Computers are what I do for a living. I was hoping maybe if you know of maybe a laptop (like the Averatec's, I completly forgot about them) that maybe you could point me to some good deals that I could show my sister, and the person purchasing it for her. Sorry if it sounded like I was wanting something else. Thank you all again though for your thoughts and inputs

[speedracer95v6]

inspiron 1000 is cheap.

[Mister DNA]

Why go new?

Get a Toshiba Portege 3490CT for $250, a new battery for $40 and maybe an extended battery (takes runtime from 3 to 8 hours) for another $50.

You end up with a 3lb computer that's more than powerful enough for school work for a lot less than $800. They are good computers. I swear by Toshiba, personally. Don't use anything else except for an old IBM Thinkpad, but IBM is pricey.

[C.O.Jones]

Want a tip?

I'm hedging bets, and waiting till a little after christmas to buy my cube (small desktop with wireless mouse/keyboard that I'm gonna hook up to my stereo system for playing mp3's video's, burned DVD's, games, etc..). I figure that after christmas Dell will have a ton or refirbed computers showing up. I know there a lot of dumbasses out there that will place a cup in the cupholder or try to be really smart and format the c:\, etc, etc...

Yes I know it's wrong to profit from dumbasses... it's just so easy.

[Tru2Chevy]

I'll vote for the Toshiba Portege's too. I have a Portege 7200 CTe, and it's a great little machine.

P3 600
64 MB built in RAM (upgradable to 320 for $85)
Savage S3 graphics (it does have ONE downside ;o)
12 GB hard drive

Very light, very thin. I see them on eBay all the time for $100-150, the docking stations are another $50-70, and an extended battery is under $50. Pick up the 256mb RAM stick and a hard drive, and she has a great school computer for under $500.

Let us know what she ends up getting....

- Justin

[casketcrewchick]

I am pretty sure you dont want a Sager 9860 like I just bought (more like a portable desktop than laptop).

I bet you can find a good deal just looking at different ads like Circuit City... or Worst Buy (I call them that cause my dad returned 3 things and they somehow still owe him 16 bucks and wont give it up- been like 8 days now...). I wouldnt be scared of lappys that cost even under 800 bucks. I mean my dad just got a satellite (1.5g i think) for $650 on sale. I am sure its got enough power to do what your sister needs.

[Merlin]

Whatever you get stay away from Compaq laptops.... biggest piece a crap Ive ever bought. The thing freezes whenever I move it and it is supposed to be a damn "laptop".

[3.4 slow to go]

tigerdirect.com, dell, e-bay.

[Skapimp]

with newegg and dell you'll have to pay tax... it's about $60 to think about.