Help me pick a laptop for junior in HS

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raaizin

raaizin

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My daughter needs a new laptop, I saw this one. It has an AMD processor. I have always bought Intel. This computer will be used for homework, to go online, and to video chat with sibling away in college. Naturally I would like to go with the cheaper one. Would its performance be dramatically different from the less expensive one. Please excuse my ignorance on this subject
smile.gif



http://deals.bestbuy.com//laptops2/produ...ve++satin+black

or

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-Obsidian-...remium/19530771
 
Any chance the school has a buying deal with a vendor? Friend's daughter got a Dell with a 4 year warranty (unheard of) thru the school; onsite repair @ the school.

Just something to look into.

edit: sorry, misread; thought she was going away to school.
 
Last edited:
Yeah I'd see if the school gets a deal.

I'm a fan of the macbook air because then you're lugging around a minimalist thing instead of some giant heavy unit.

We just got hp elite book 2560p laptops at work, and while the screen is nothing like you would get in a higher end product like an apple macbook pro quality-wise, it really is a nice machine, feels well built and runs well. Ours came with i7 processors and 4gb ram, and I'm guessing they were around 1300 with docking stations.
 
I'd go with something like this:

http://outlet.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/outlet_us/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=445&Code=LR3B6TZ-0596XF3

Similar in price to the others, but the build quality seems to be much better than most consumer notebooks. I used one for a while and I'm probably going to pick one up as a back-up computer. It's an impressive little machine. The AMD E350 would work just fine for the use you described above.
 
For a student I would not overspend on the machine. Get an extended warranty. Lenovo has a really fast turn around program that is not expensive. Some warranties think 2 weeks is acceptable loss of laptop for repair.

Lenovo depot repair is overnight a box. Which you package and send back the same day and potentially get back next day.
 
Macbook Pro.

/end of thread.

LOL.


In all honesty, i'd say a mid priced Lenovo. For the price, they are built exceedingly well.
 
Originally Posted By: rjundi
For a student I would not overspend on the machine. Get an extended warranty. Lenovo has a really fast turn around program that is not expensive. Some warranties think 2 weeks is acceptable loss of laptop for repair.

Lenovo depot repair is overnight a box. Which you package and send back the same day and potentially get back next day.


This.
 
If you want Lenovo to repair the laptop subject to youthful mistakes, you need to buy the "accidental damage" warranty. Same for Apple, I doubt their standard warranty covers accidental damage. Not all 'extended' warranties include accidental damage coverage.
 
Originally Posted By: BearZDefect
If you want Lenovo to repair the laptop subject to youthful mistakes, you need to buy the "accidental damage" warranty. Same for Apple, I doubt their standard warranty covers accidental damage. Not all 'extended' warranties include accidental damage coverage.


I know ASUS includes accidental damage as part of many of their laptop warranties. Though I'm not sure it applies to those sold at Best Buy and other large chain retail outlets.
 
Depends on the budget. No way I'd spend a ton of money but get something that is built well.

Also make sure it has a REPLACEABLE battery since its something that will need to be taken care of sooner than later in a high school/collage aged user. Also look at the cost of these batteries since some brands cost quite a bit more over the main stream units.

This unit is towards the higher end but still built well and smaller sized for caring around. Good CPU with very good graphics. The hard drive is slower but longer life more storage for the battery.

I'd love to get one of these for my Daughter to replace her 15.6" Asus that is dying a slow death but it looks like the koolaid will win and I'll be out only $2000 MORE than this unit.

Take care, Bill
 
Originally Posted By: raaizin
My daughter needs a new laptop, I saw this one. It has an AMD processor. I have always bought Intel. This computer will be used for homework, to go online, and to video chat with sibling away in college. Naturally I would like to go with the cheaper one. Would its performance be dramatically different from the less expensive one. Please excuse my ignorance on this subject
smile.gif



http://deals.bestbuy.com//laptops2/produ...ve++satin+black

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-Obsidian-...remium/19530771


Does your daughter know computers well?.... meaning as well as you or better?

If she does, then I would seek her imput in this matter. If necessary, give her a maximum-allowed price range to work with and seek her opinions also.

Kids love to be included in matters like this one. Plus it provides your daughter some degree of importance and trust in certain family matters - like this one.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: raaizin
My daughter needs a new laptop, I saw this one. It has an AMD processor. I have always bought Intel.

AMD processors are fine in general, but not the E-series one in the first of the two machines that you linked to. It's really a weak CPU, designed for netbooks, not notebooks. It'll be OK for basic web browsing but not much else, unfortunately. I'd suggest either getting something with a higher end AMD or Intel i3/i5 CPU.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: raaizin
My daughter needs a new laptop, I saw this one. It has an AMD processor. I have always bought Intel.

AMD processors are fine in general, but not the E-series one in the first of the two machines that you linked to. It's really a weak CPU, designed for netbooks, not notebooks. It'll be OK for basic web browsing but not much else, unfortunately. I'd suggest either getting something with a higher end AMD or Intel i3/i5 CPU.



Agreed. An i3 would DOMINATE those with ease.
 
One more question, doesn't toshiba look like a good deal compared to the HP & Lenevo.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Satin+Black/5768046.p?id=1218692163002&skuId=5768046

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/lifecare/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=268938U&category-id=EE41656D5F51E55161504F88E98FE321


http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-Pavilion/A4G32AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000iPFD8tjX;sid=luhgzRmvs7mHzkn3xODJRcGgovSlmC2zU71NwcownDPtZnmpEGlS87CJ?HP-Pavilion-g6t-2000-Notebook-PC
 
Originally Posted By: raaizin
One more question, doesn't toshiba look like a good deal compared to the HP & Lenevo.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Satin+Black/5768046.p?id=1218692163002&skuId=5768046

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/lifecare/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=268938U&category-id=EE41656D5F51E55161504F88E98FE321


http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-Pavilion/A4G32AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000iPFD8tjX;sid=luhgzRmvs7mHzkn3xODJRcGgovSlmC2zU71NwcownDPtZnmpEGlS87CJ?HP-Pavilion-g6t-2000-Notebook-PC


I would never buy a consumer grade HP laptop, they are the worst of the junk out there. I still stand by the Acer I recommended earlier. I've had excellent luck over the years with acer and acer built laptops.
 
Lenovo is my first recommendation, followed by a "business grade" machine from one of the major brand names. Stay away from gimicky stuff such as super thin, super light, etc.

With a little luck a machine is this category will last her through the final two years of HS and four years of college.
 
Here's an Acer at KMartdotcom ($348+tax)

http://dealspl.us/Laptop_deals/p_acer-mesh-gray-15-6-as5733-6838-laptop-pc-with-intel-core?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dealsplus+%28dealspl.us%29
 
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah


I'd love to get one of these for my Daughter to replace her 15.6" Asus that is dying a slow death but it looks like the koolaid will win and I'll be out only $2000 MORE than this unit.

Take care, Bill


I cant really think of a laptop on the market that would cost $2579 to acquire.
 
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