Help choosing a laptop

[Spidey-Bat]

I have to choose a laptop for college next year. The school offers 8 choices. Here they are:

Dell Inspiron 1420 $1138.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz
Operating System: Vista Home Premium
Memory: 2GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 250GB/5400RPM
Display: 14.1 inch Widescreen
Graphics: Integrated GMA X3100
Optical Drive: CD / DVD Writer Combo
Wireless: Wireless-N Mini-card
Battery: 6 cell 56Whr Lithium
Included Software: Office Home & Student 07
Enhanced Warranty: 3yr On-Site w/CompleteCare Protection

Dell Inspiron 1523 $869.00
Processor: Pentium Dual Core 1.73GHz
Operating System: Vista Home Basic
Memory: 1GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 80GB/5400
Display: 15.4 inch Widescreen
Graphics: Integrated GMA X3100
Optical Drive: CDRW /DVD Player Combo
Wireless: 802.11g Mini-Card
Battery: 6 cell 56Whr Lithium
Included Software: Office Home & Student 07
Warranty: 1yr In-Home Service

Lenovo ThinkPad T61 $1298.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz
Operating System: Vista Business
Memory: 2GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 120GB/7200RPM
Display: 14.1 Inch WXGA
Graphics: Integrated
Optical Drive: CDRW/DVDROM Combo
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g
Battery: 6 cell 56Whr Lithium
Included software: Office Home & Student 07
Enhanced Warranty: 3yr onsite w/thinkpad protection

Lenovo ThnkPad R61i $664.05
Processor: Pentium Dual Core 1.86GHz
Operating System: Vista Business
Memory: 1GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 80GB/5400RPM
Display: 15.4 Inch WXGA
Graphics: Integrated
Optical Drive: DVDRW
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g
Battery: 6 cell 56Whr Lithium
Enhanced Warranty: 1yr service

HP Compaq 6510b $992.25
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo 2.1GHz
Operating System: Windows XP Pro
Memory: 2048MB 667MHz DDR2
Storage: 120GB/5400RPM
Display: 14.1 inch WXGA
Graphics: Integrated
Optical Drive: DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
Wireless: Intel PRO 3945a/b/g
Battery: 6 cell 55 WHr Lithium
Included software: Office Home & Student 07
Enhanced Warranty: 3yr On-Site w/accidental protection


HP Compaq 6510b $735.48
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo 2.1GHz
Operating System: Windows XP Pro
Memory: 1024M 667MHz DDR2
Storage: 80GB/5400RPM
Display: 15.4 inch WXGA
Graphics: Integrated graphics
Optical Drive: DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
Wireless: Intel PRO 3945a/b/g
Battery: 6 cell 55 WHr Lithium
Warranty: 3yr On-Site

MacBook $1382.00
Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Operating System: MAC OS 10.5 Leopard
Memory: 2GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 160GB/5400RPM
Display: 13 inch
Graphics: Integrated
Optical Drive: SuperDrive 8x (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Wireless: AirPort Card & Bluetooth
Battery: 6 cell 55 WHr Lithium
Enhanced Warranty: 3yr AppleCare Protection

MacBook $999.00
Processor: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Operating System: MAC OS 10.5 Leopard
Memory: 1GB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 120GB/5400 RPM
Display: 13 inch
Graphics: Integrated
Optical Drive: Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Wireless: AirPort Card & Bluetooth
Battery: 6 cell 55 WHr Lithium
Warranty: 1yr Limited

 

[DAMU RYDER]

macbook

 

[ComicChick]

if you got the money, i'd say get the macbook. I sooo wish I had one.

if you're getting a Dell, go to the site and customize it yourself. i got the inspiron 1523 also, or something really close to that, and i got like 250 gb of memory and 3 gigs of ram, and it was under 700 before shipping. catch a deal, upgrade the stuff you really want and get a good one.

 

[Malice]

What do you want?
What will you use it for?
That is the question
That will drive what you buy, if you dont have restrictions

 

[jaguarr]

MacBook. Close thread.

jag

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Definitely not getting a MacBook. I'll just be using it for basic stuff: internet, typing up work, etc. Don't want to spend $1400 for that.

I'm leaning towards the HP because it has XP.

 

[Malice]

Vista is a good OS...just gets really bad press...

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Do you know the difference between Vista Home and Business?

 

[jaguarr]

Vista is a good OS...just gets really bad press...

Ehhhh, no, it really does suck. Stick with XP if you really must be a Windows sufferer.

jag

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I'll continue to be a "Windows sufferer". It's stupid for me to buy a Mac for $1400 when I don't plan on using it what it's best for.

 

[jaguarr]

I'll continue to be a "Windows sufferer". It's stupid for me to buy a Mac for $1400 when I don't plan on using it what it's best for.

It'll run Windows as well as Mac OS X (and even Linux if that's what you want to do). It just opens more doors and possibilities. The low end MacBook is basically the same price as the HP you're considering and has comparable or better specs save for the smaller screen. My wife has a MacBook and she went from the 15" screen to the 13" screen and says it doesn't even bother her a bit as the screen quality is so good. My advice would be to go see if you can actually find these systems at Best Buy or Circuit City somewhere and play with all of them and see which one you like the best.

jag

 

[Spidey-Bat]

The best HP has better RAM than the cheapest MacBook. Same processor, storage, HP has slightly bigger screen, and better warranty. Not sure of the difference of the drives.

 

[jaguarr]

The best HP has better RAM than the cheapest MacBook. Same processor, storage, HP has slightly bigger screen, and better warranty. Not sure of the difference of the drives.

It has more RAM, but I wouldn't say better RAM; they're both running DDR2 at the same speed. However, the way OS X utilizes memory is much, much more efficient than Windows (particularly Vista), so that 1GB of RAM in the MacBook is going to give you better bang for your buck (and RAM is mega-cheap and easy to install on your own, anyway, if you really want more). At any rate, I'm just thinking in terms of which system is more versatile and will allow you to do more with it, and that really is the Mac. You can run OS X, Windows or Linux natively or in a virtual machine environment with software like Parallels. Macs also come with a more complete complimentary software package out of the box and will run the latest Mac OS for much longer than Windows so as new OS releases come out, you'll be more likely to run them for many years to come on the Mac than you will a Windows box (Windows 7 will again require a hardware upgrade when it comes out). At any rate, I have stock in both HP and Apple, so makes no difference to me which one you get.

jag

 

[Kable24]

I love HP, but not a huge fan of their laptops even though I own 2 of them. Maybe it's the software installed on it more than the hardware. Check out Toshiba or Sony too. Toshiba makes some amazing laptops. As far as OS. Go with what you are comfortable with.

 

[jaguarr]

I love HP, but not a huge fan of their laptops even though I own 2 of them. Maybe it's the software installed on it more than the hardware. Check out Toshiba or Sony too. Toshiba makes some amazing laptops. As far as OS. Go with what you are comfortable with.

His choices are Dell, Lenovo or HP (or Apple).

jag

 

[Kable24]

Never hurts to check out other brand laptops. Out of those though, I would pick HP. Especially since they have WinXP installed and not Vista.

 

[jaguarr]

Never hurts to check out other brand laptops. Out of those though, I would pick HP. Especially since they have WinXP installed and not Vista.

I think he's required to get his laptop through his school (not unusual), thus the limited choices.

jag

 

[Spidey-Bat]

It's easier to get it through school.

 

[Kable24]

and usually more expensive in the long run.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

It's much more convenient though if there's a problem. I can give it to the school instead of having to ship it to the manufacturer.

 

[unbanyuppi]

buy a car

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Already have a car.

I ended up buying the Dell. Talked to a guy who will be a senior and he said the tech people hate HPs and it's a lot easier for them to fix Dells.

 

[Kable24]

HP laptops are a pain in the ass to take apart. Dell's are pretty easy to rip apart. Lord knows I have a few Dells stripped on my desks here at work.

 

[Malice]

I love my HP...if it breaks, I will end up selling it or sending it to them to fix...
Or in the end, buy a new one, since its almost 3 years old

 

[jaguarr]

Our tech guys have a love/hate thing with Dell systems. On the one hand, they're fairly easy to service. On the other, they break allll the damn time and are constantly in the shop. The HP's in service in our enterprise seem to hold up better under wear and tear and general use than the Dell's and don't tend to have as many problems overall from the way they tell it.

jag