choosing a laptop/notebook...?

Dell Inspiron 1420

it has all for $899. Core 2 Duo processor, 3gb ram, 250gb hard drive, CD & DVD burner, dedicated graphics card, 14.1" screen, 5.4lbs.

perfect for lugging around.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetail...

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Toshiba Satellite U305-S2804

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?coid=-...

same price as the Inspiron 1420

differences

2gb ram, integrated graphics (slower than the one of Dell), smaller hard drive 160gb, smaller screen 13.3", lighter 4.5lbs.

Check to see if your school has a computer affiliate program. My campus has an Apple purchase plan, and Dell plan. I was able to buy a 2.0Ghz dual core laptop with 1gb of ram, 100gb harddrive, and 512mb video card, with 4 year LoJack for Laptops for $2200, and that was over a year ago (Aug 2006). By purchasing through the school, I saved like $500, and it came with free 4 year warranty + accidental + next day care. I actually had to use the next day when the soundcard on the motherboard started messing up, so they came and replaced my motherboard next day, free of charge.

Definitely try to find that Dell 1420 if your school offers the purchase plan. I'm sure you could knock another $100 off the price if you did. [Actually, you might want to compare. Sometimes sales on the consumer products are better than purchases made through Premier, just depending on the sale. I also don't know if you can use coupon codes while using Dell Premier]

I'd stay away from Apple if I were you. If you're using it for school, and your classes require a program, typically they work for Windows only. Some also have a Mac version, but those can be buggy sometimes (Like Matlab for Mac did not work on Intel Macs until they released a patch. That was halfway through the semester). Macs are also more expensive than their PC counterparts.

I have a Toshiba laptop, and I love it.

Yeah, it's a bit heavy and big, but it sure can take a beating. I had it in a backpack while riding my motorcycle almost every day this past summer. The top has some nicks in it, but it still runs like a champ.

Also, if you're looking long-term the bigger screen is a plus. I also use mine to watch movies on flights and play games during long down-times.

Hope this helps.

you will no longer elect a working laptop or computing device at extreme college. A computing device would be greater useful through fact that a working laptop or computing device with the comparable specs as a working laptop or computing device will value a pair of million/2 the fee. in case you nevertheless think of you would be wanting a working laptop or computing device, decide for a Dell one. I artwork in IT and would optimistically say that as quickly because it is composed of laptops decrease than $1500, Dell is the suited. They make the main stable, low priced laptops. Their low priced laptops are additionally the suited value, overall performance smart. I actually have a pair of previous Dell laptops and that i'm able to declare that they are somewhat stable. I had a CD stress fall out of one from approximately 2 metres, and it nevertheless worked. Please are not getting a Acer or Compaq computing device. they're unreliable and exchange drives (CD/DVD, annoying stress) value a lot to interchange ($six hundred for a DVD stress). i does not propose Apple's Macbook's through fact that they're high priced and your Sims CD could no longer artwork in it, if it relatively isn't any longer designed to artwork in Mac working structures.

I have seen a Gateway tablet, it is bigger, but you can write on it making it so you don't need to carry much paper. You may even be able to get some books on it making up for more then the weight difference. I am not sure what the going price is, but that is what I am getting next. You probably won't get as much power out of it. And if you get Windows XP instead of Vista the you need alot less RAM and Processor.

Hope this helps.

Dell offers some really nice laptops in the price range that you suggested and I have found their products and customer service to be excellent.

I purchased a top-of-the-line HP laptop two years ago and had nothing but problems. Sent back two times for service in the first year.

I'm a Dell user (1 laptop & 2 desktops) for ten years and have never had a problem.

Hope that you find this helpful.

I concur. The Satellite series is very impressive lately for your budget-- unfortunately you won't get much smaller than 15" and the systems in general tend to weighty. Likely you won't get an Intel, you'll get an AMD X2 from 1.9 - 3.0 GHz which you really won't see a difference regardless unless you upgrade your hard drive to 7,200 RPM to balance the throughput (a 7,200 RPM notebook drive will send your budget through the roof though). You will likely have to upgrade manually for 3GB on some models, but they tend to have more staying power and durability from what I've seen.

I am not partical to either brand, I have had both and I am very rough on laptops, I usually get one and it will last me a year at most. Rough I mean DAILY (10-14Hrs) constant use. In and outta my rig and so on. its a matter of which one has the most features you will use. Tech support is good for both brands. My latest lptp is a Acer and I am VERY happy with it! Had this one for 13 months...wow maybe we are on to something here....... Good luck in you search

I think you should get a macbook pro 15" in has 120GB + hard drive 2 GB of ram and a good battery life and thats for about £700, i have a macbook and love it!

really if you ask me i would preferto tell you to glance or have a look atother laptops as you have reason for both or you may even tryother shops where you can get any one of these in a shape or price which is suitable for you