Laptop Advice

[Pagal4321]

Yes, it's yet another laptop thread.....and looking for some advice from the CP faithful.

I'm looking for a laptop, just for casual use, surfing the net, using Microsoft Office, listening to music, MAYBE watching some movies/shows. So I figure I'm not looking for anything too flashy...
My price range is anything under $700, if at all possible.

I've been looking at Dell Inspiron notebooks, but just saw this deal on at Futureshop. Anyone want to tell me if this computer is good or not? Or can anyone recommend something different all together?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN

[Incinerator]

This is probably good enough for your needs, save a hundred bucks.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...5000FS10109644

[ken0042]

It sounds to me like pretty much any laptop that is less than 3 years old will suit your needs. So at that point anything in the $500-600 range will do quite well. And of course that laptop that Incinerator pointed out is a pretty good deal.

What I would look at is what you need; thinking outside the box. How portable do you want this to be? So should you look at a 2nd battery? What about size- a 9" screen is way more portable but a 15" screen is easier to see and the keyboard is also friendlier to use.

Myself, I try to stick to Dell or Toshiba laptops fwiw.

[Pagal4321]

Thanks Incinerator! Was browsing a bit after I wrote the thread, and saw that one.

Ken: Looking for a decent sized screen. Looked at that Dell Micro laptop that they just released, but was looking for more RAM, and I think a bigger screen(15" is fine) is high on my list.
Other than lugging it around the house, and maybe taking it to the library a few times when I'm studying, I don't see portability being the biggest issue.

[Rathji]

Dell Inspiron 15

500 bucks, free shipping, and free lessons in whatever language they speak at the call center speak when you call to figure out why they shipped it to the wrong address.

I have 3 laptops from Dell, and despite the issues with them shipping to an old address once, I would not hesitate to use them again. Just make sure on the address they are shipping to before you click order.

[dobbles]

i have had good luck with dells, but have also had really good experience with Acer's. i know they are not exactly a high prestige name in computing, but they often offer very cheap machines that when upgraded can have better specs for less price than some of the name brand stuff.

[Pagal4321]

http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/...n&OC=NI15_F_4E

Well think I've all but decided on a Dell Inspiron 1525. It's on sale for 599 with a 1.86 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core, 4GB of RAM and 250 GB hard-drive. Everything I want and need for under $700 bucks.

Will be checking if there's anything comprable at BestBuy/Futureshop tonight.

[Traditional_Ale]

Don't get a Mac.

[Igottago]

Why is it that smaller laptops (14 inch screen or less) seem to be more expensive than a 15.4 inch screen?

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Why is it that smaller laptops (14 inch screen or less) seem to be more expensive than a 15.4 inch screen?

This made me quite upset this past week. I needed a new laptop, as my old ones screen quit working. I carry mine around quite a bit, so I needed a 14inch or smaller. I could have bought a 15inch that I liked for around $600 at futureshop, but the same computer in a 14inch was around $800.
I ended up paying $800.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Why is it that smaller laptops (14 inch screen or less) seem to be more expensive than a 15.4 inch screen?

Smaller = more expensive because its harder to make.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

This made me quite upset this past week. I needed a new laptop, as my old ones screen quit working. I carry mine around quite a bit, so I needed a 14inch or smaller. I could have bought a 15inch that I liked for around $600 at futureshop, but the same computer in a 14inch was around $800.
I ended up paying $800.

This is exactly my scenario as well. I want to buy a laptop smaller than 15.4 but not sure if its worth spending the extra cash for it. You can get really good deals on 15.4" laptops it seems.

[Rathji]

15.4 are more mass produced, have larger parts that are cheaper, and have less design hurdles to overcome due to packing parts into a smaller case.

9 inch laptops are running at between $350-450 for the non touch screen variety, but that is done with a reduction in performance.

[Jayems]

never been happier with my 13" macbook, but may be out of price range.

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/hom...ok?mco=MTE3MjE