Laptops Headed to college. Which notebook to get?

K

Keane 16

Contributor
$1500 budget; Looking at the following ones right now:

XPS M1530 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
System Color Tuxedo Black Casing XPS M1530
Memory 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
LCD, Color and camera High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1440x900) & 2MP Camera
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
Hard Drives Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Software - Adobe Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
Combo or DVD+RW Drive Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
Sound Card Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
Wireless Networking Cards Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card
Productivity No Microsoft Office
Software - Antivirus Trend Micro Internet Security 36-months
Primary Battery 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Warranty & Service 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
Accident and Theft Protection Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 3Yr Warr.
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested
SECURITY Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
Bluetooth and Wireless USB Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
Doms Camera and Color High Resolution,Black glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1440x900)&2MP Cam
Processor Branding Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Dell Printer Driver Windows Vistaâ„¢ Premium
DataSafe Online Backup Included 10GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Year
Click to expand...

XPS M1330 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2MB Cache/2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM(S) Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
System Color Tuxedo Black
Memory 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
LCD and Camera Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam
Video Card 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
Hard Drives Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
Combo or DVD+RW Drive CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Sound Options Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
Wireless Networking Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) Microsoft Works
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) Trend Micro Internet Security 36-months
Primary Battery 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
Warranty & Service 3Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
Accident and Theft Protection Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 3Yr Warr.
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested
Fingerprint Reader Biometric Fingerprint Reader
Camera Panel Slim and Light LCD with Tuxedo Black Casing and Camera XPS M1330
Processor Branding Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Labels Windows Vistaâ„¢ Premium
DataSafe Online Backup DataSafe Online Backup 20GB for 1 year
Click to expand...

Both for exactly $1500. But I can get an Inspiron with a similar configuration for $1300.

Also, I have time until July to buy the notebook ... so should I wait?
 
^^ no the inspirons come with the same ram..

secondly you might like the screen of a 15.4" initially, buts its a pita to lug it around specially if u need 2 carry ur notebook 2 class an all. so i would suggest xps1330 (wit the led screen)

Finally coming to the question if you need it in july buy it in july,.. if u want it now buy it now.. but remm wit technology its 1 min new, next min old.. so if u are not going to use it right now buy it later.. if ur going to use it now buy it now..

also remm tat the prices would certainly fall by july and new stuff is launched every other week.. so decide on these factors an then post whether u want 2 buy now or wait.??

Edit: Hehe Anish bet me to the reply!!
 
I guarantee you you'll hate yourself for a 15.4" laptop. All the Indian students here bought one, and we all regret it now (and look wistfully at those who have 13.3"). You'll need to take your notebook to school for assignments (you probably won't use it in class unless the prof is very boring, and even then he might ask you to switch it off).
 
Anish said:
Yup wait a little longer, the Penryn's will be out by then.

Besides, if I were in your place, Macbook Pro 4tw! :ohyeah:
Click to expand...

Won't the penryns be really expensive?

Urr, $2000, right? Also, what's the Windows on Mac scene like ?

@KingKrool - That's what I've heard. So I guess it'll be either 14.1" or 13.3"...
 
I guarantee you you'll hate yourself for a 15.4" laptop. All the Indian students here bought one, and we all regret it now (and look wistfully at those who have 13.3").
Click to expand...

Why do i feel like saying...I told you so :bleh:
 
Get M1310 , btw which college ?

Edit : Hp also has a gr8 range of notebooks.. so do look at those tooo.. The DV series looks fantastic. except the price is tad higher in India :@
 
Keane 16 said:
$1500 budget; Looking at the following ones right now:

Both for exactly $1500. But I can get an Inspiron with a similar configuration for $1300.

Also, I have time until July to buy the notebook ... so should I wait?
Click to expand...

Hey i think ur eligible for a discount since you're a student ? And for that price macbook pro/macbook 13.3 would be perfect, and apple has discount on their lineup of notebooks as well for students :D
 
^ Show-off :bleh:

@ Ankit - Yea, missed the first config.

@ Akshit - Pretty cool re, Apple now officially supports Bootcamp, a spiced up Macbook is 13.3", has everything you need.
 
Bah. The Macbook Pro is still $1800 after the student discount.

13" Macbook with this config is $1400(Black) & $1290(White) -

# 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

# 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB

# 250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

# SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

# Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English

# AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth

Hmm.
 
Why not Toshiba Satellite U400

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor* T8100 (2.10GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)

3072MB PC2-5300 DDR2 667MHz SDRAM

13.3" Diagonal Widescreen WXGA TruBriteâ„¢ Display* (1280x800)

ntel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100* with 128MB-358MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory

250GB HDD* (5400rpm, Serial-ATA)

DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) with Labelflashâ„¢ drive* supporting 11 formats

Intel® Wireless* WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n) + Bluetooth® V2.1 + EDR

Weight:4.85 lbs*

Battery:4800mAh Lithium Ion battery pack

Webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel

Price = $1150
 
Keane 16 said:
Bah. The Macbook Pro is still $1800 after the student discount. Hmm.
Click to expand...

Get a refurbished MacBook Pro. You get the same warranty and it's a steal for its price. Also look at some of these clearance sales. Insane deals!

Here's the link for refurbished macs. Scroll down for the MacBook Pro.

Here's the link for the clearance sales.

In my opinion, it's a no-brainer. Good luck on your purchase anyway.
 
Back
Top