need laptop suggestions

[Warhawk]

Hey guys

Budget: $500 - 600

I'm about to start college and I was looking for a reliable laptop. I don't care about the video card because I won't be playing games on it. I don't really care about RAM either because memory is so dirt cheap I can upgrade to whatever I want if necessary.

Anyway, what I do care about is processor. I really want a core 2 duo but its almost impossible to find a core 2 duo in the price range I am looking at. As far as size goes I really like smaller laptops like the 14" or maybe 15" if I have to.

I was looking at one of these laptops, the only thing I am afraid of is that it is too small. Also, how is that cpu? The intel atom? Is it good, bad? That laptop has ultimate portability too. I would HATE having to lug around some heavy @ss laptop at school.

Anyway, plz give me some suggestions!! Thnks!!

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Hey guys

I was looking at one of these laptops, the only thing I am afraid of is that it is too small. Also, how is that cpu? The intel atom? Is it good, bad? That laptop has ultimate portability too. I would HATE having to lug around some heavy @ss laptop at school.

Anyway, plz give me some suggestions!! Thnks!!

That CPU sucks, period. Intel Atom is plain suckage. EEE PC is expensive toy for people like you. Get a cheap 15.4" instead.

Intel Atom platform still sucks due to their failure to deliver a better chipset than 945GM. It is single core and doesn't even have superscalar processing. The CPU itself is designed for mobile internet device.

I would suggest you take something like this:

$450

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147763

Yeah, it's crap, but it'll work, at least within warranty.

Personally, I like this one better:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220348

Sadly, it's out of your price range.

My suggestion is that don't just look it at newegg. They may have best deal for computer components, but laptops are another matter.

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Sometimes Best Buy has something cheap:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8892861&type=product&id=1211587728253

[Reign]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Intel Atom is an energy saving CPU. That's what it was made for. It lacks much needed performance.

These are the three best brand of laptops you can buy in their order: Toshiba, Acer, Asus, *maybe HP. It seems like HP is getting much better.

[Warhawk]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Ok I knew toshiba and asus made great laptops, but I was almost positive that acer was trash! Convince me otherwise!! But avalanche, that Gateway looks good!! I can probably stretch my price range to get that too!

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Well, I actually agree with Warhawk about Acer. Acer has a bad reputation on laptops since...., I can't actually remember. Now Gateway is actually part of Acer.......

edit: Acer's bad reputation is mostly software/hardware integration and support. The hardware is actually not that bad. I would buy a cheap Acer if they priced right and offer the adequate power that I require, and anyone who can support him/herself will not have problem using an Acer.

[Warhawk]

Re: need laptop suggestions

wow, this one would have been perfect for me. Too bad its out of online AND in-store. I will have to keep searching.

[Eagle101]

Re: need laptop suggestions

That Gateway Avalanche posted looks good imo. :)

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: need laptop suggestions

I thought Toshiba were meant to be flimsy.

[Xylaquin]

Re: need laptop suggestions

It is single core and doesn't even have superscalar processing.

...my Intel Atom in my MSI Wind is dual core

[AvalancheDiode]

Re: need laptop suggestions

...my Intel Atom in my MSI Wind is dual core

That's HyperThread, an Intel patented technology that allows single core processor to run like a dual core.

[Eagle101]

Re: need laptop suggestions

I am not that good in Laptops, but for laptops for Uni i may have some experience because i currently own one, and is under a yr old.

To warhawk, does that laptop have to be a label? if not thatn you could go for any 14.4/15" lappy with a Core 2 Duo T7*** or T5*** you need'nt worry bout the model types as you wont be gaming on it. A C2D T7300 runs at 2.0ghz and thats good.

For Ram, you can get the default (i.e. which comes with the laptop) and buy more then, i have found them to be cheap on amazon when i bought mines.

[Warhawk]

Re: need laptop suggestions

^^To warhawk, does that laptop have to be a label?

What do you mean? A brand name? I would just prefer to have a better brand. I try to stay away from acer, lenovo, and that sorta stuff. I am a pc technician and acer's are always the biggest pain in the @ss to work on.

[Eagle101]

Re: need laptop suggestions

Yeah i mean a label. Some people that buy laptops or anything in the tech world for that matter are just stupid, when they dont look under the hood, just to see its tag.

I would personally recommend against sony, these people make crap laptops and PCs. I would say get a dell, toshiba, asus. good brands that are solid builders, and easy on the price tag.

for a procs, try to look for a T5250, T7300, those are Core 2 Duos.