Question:
I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
Alrite, first things first....I'll tell you what i've been looking after I answer all the questions!
1) What is your budget?
$2000 including warranty and taxes
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
14" and under but will consider the 15" if it's not too bulky or heavy
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
For school and fun - word processing, presentations, internet/msn, music listening, movie watching, limited picture editing ...no gaming!
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Coming with me!
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
nope
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Not looking at Dell anymore - found it too bulky....mainly looking at HP, Toshiba & Apple
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
3hr+
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Fine if I have enough info
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in? Canada!
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Widescreen
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Don't know enought about what the differences would be when actually viewing..sorry!
Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Glossy has been loooking goood!
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Prefer slimmer notebooks but more for ease of handling
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?In the next couple of weeks....at least 3 yrs!
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
about 80GB
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive? Yep - been looking at the Superdrives only so I can write dvds.
Thanks in advance to anyone who helps me out with this...I've been STUCK and am looking for input - not just buy this or don't buy this but they why and why not...
I haven't been able to find many Toshibas with 14 inch screens but I've narrowed it down to the following...they are all just a little over 5 lbs and relatively slim:
1. Apple macbook 2.0 ghz intel core duo, 80 gig hard drive, 1gig ram, superdrive - the rest i think is standard.....with warranty and tax = $1975 (student pricing)
The next two HPs are similar and are available on the Bestbuy website
2. HP Pavillion DV1660 - 1.66 ghz intel core duo, 80 gig hd, 1 gig ram, lightscribe cdrw/dvdrw drive, 12 cell battery (7 hr life!) - with warranty/taxes about $1860
3. HP Pavillion DV 1650 ..basically the same specs as the other HP except it has a 100gb harddrive and a normal 6 cell battery (3ish hr life)..they weigh about the same as well.... - this one is about $100 less than the one above..
Please help with your constructive comments..I know that we're comparing two different operating systems but assume that I dont mind learning a new one if needbe...what's the best for my money..i know the HP's processor makes the computers a little more difficult to compare..but does it make a difference??
I'm also open to new ideas within the same price, weight, size range...if there are any 15 inch notebooks out there that are under 6lbs, they could be considered as welll....as well any other brands/models for the 14s (i dont want to go as small as 12)...if there aren't any other options then please just help me decide about these..i'm completely and totally stuck b/w the HP and the Apple
THANKS!!!!
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
i wouls suggest the HP with the 12 cell battrey many because you really don't even need a dual core for what you are doing so 1.66 in by far enough.(I encode videos with my celeron M! you will never get even close to 7 hours on the apple. or the other HP.
also if; lets say you do want to go with the apple, try os x first, it is quite diffrent form windows, some people who like it, some don't.
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
also if; lets say you do want to go with the apple, try os x first, it is quite diffrent form windows, some people who like it, some don't.
He has a very good point there, I tried it out and I was not very fond of it. Also remember that it is possible to run xp on mac's now.
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
yes but then you will have to fork over and addition 2-300 to buy it...
i personal don't like os x either
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
You can get a copy of XP for just over a 100$ if it's an OEM version. =)
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
yes, but i like a clean copy of xp, but that's me :)
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
let's assume that I'm going to stick with windows for the HP and osx for the mac, unless the need arises to do otherwise....anything else that points me in one direction (HP) or the other (Apple) when buying??
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
I would say that unless there's a reason for you to use MacOS, don't. I don't see the point in buying an Apple if you intend to use Windows.
Also, for the HP systems you are looking at--they seem quite expensive unless they are in CA $'s. Even so, take a look at the HP dv2000t--that should be a nice system that will fill your needs well.
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
i have seen the hp 1660 (special edition) on sale at best buy canada in the spring for $1199...
don't pay a penny more, it should come on sale again (because prices should have dropped since the)
Oh... it was US$800 at best buy USA on clearout (old merchandise)
I would agree with those that say to look at the newer HP 2000 series instead, they look nice tho they get fingerprints & scratches if you come within one meter of them!
I'd have a real problem spending $2k on a consumer HP notebook... HP/Compaq is legendary for its gawd-awful quality.... just look at the consumer surveys. Yikes.
For that money, i think you can get a fujitsu even in canada.
Answer:
Re: I'll be forever grateful - I give up deciding on my own!!!
I am talking Canadian dollars....the HP is on for 1299 right now and my total price was including a 300$ 3 yr warranty and 14% taxes (gotta love canada)...
I took a look at some reviews and specs for the HP dv2000t and it is definitely something i'd wanna check out (thanks!) - but...i can't seem to find it anywhere? Even their website only has the 2020...but that has an AMD processor and I wanted to get the intel dual...is this worth tracking down? - what price (can $) would i be looking at? any ideas on where to find it? (i dont do ebay)...any reason why the 2000t would be better than the 1660 i was looking at?
**just found the 2040 on the staples website for 1399$...how is this different than the 1660 (besides battery life, hd space?) - what would be a reason to choose one over the other?
I've heard mixed things about the HPs...as with all the brands - what kind of problems w/ quality have been encountered?? Any suggestions on what to buy instead that meets my specs and price? I guess before taxes, etc I max at about 1400$ i think...
Thanks all!