Laptops

[trains are bad]

I need a laptop for school. I commute so I need something I can use at home and then take to school and work on stuff during class breaks. I want to surf AO at home (dial up), and run like microsoft office and maybe photoshop. I don't do any gaming outside of SNES and PS emulation. I think I need a cd drive and some usb ports. It has to have decent battery life and not weigh 10 lbs.

I don't want to spend over $1000. It doesn't even have to be new.

[Muzikman]

Dell has some good deals on laptops.

Avoid no name brands from places such as Sams Club and the like. I would also avoid the low ens HP's.

[Big'n slo]

If you go with Dell stay away from the 1150 and 9100 series as they have no compatible 12V adapters. Carrying an inverter and the wall adapter blows.

[afultz075]

I've had my Dell Inspiron 5100 for a year now and it's great. Very reliable, i've never had any problems at all with it, and I use it A LOT. I mainly use it for Internet, Word, AIM, E-Mail, music, videos and whatnot.

Just make sure you really think over what features you want to get with it and what you're really gonna need to use. I spent way too much money on extra crap I never use for this one. I mean i'm glad I got a fast processor for it, a decent video card and the DVD/CDRW drive, but I wish I never would have gotten the wireless card because i've only used it like twice in the past year . As long as you don't expect to use it for gaming, something pretty basic will do for the average person.

[vf-xx]

I've been quite happy with my Toshiba Satellite A35, however that's probably just out of your price range.

Haven't had it for a full year yet, but it seems to be holding up very well I'm pleased. Just something more to look into.

[FragTek]

I dont know if you have any local computer shops that might build custom laptops.. But if you do they could probably put one together for you to meet your pricing criteria. I have a custom built lappy and love it to death.

[Python14]

Yea dude, the Dell 5100 series is what you want.

Even though I don't recommend Dell desktops, they're laptops are good stuff.

[anonymousbill123]

I would go with an HP, Dell, Toshiba, or a Compaq (since HP bought them and fixed the problems with their computers). HP and Compaq I have found to be the cheapest because of rebates from stores.

[Bluestrike_2]

You could always get an Apple iBook.

Around $999 with an educational discount.

Then, Microsoft Office for the Mac - Student and teacher edition is $150.

Head over to Journeyed.com and you can get an academic liscense for Adobe Creative Suite for like $300-400. Photoshop alone is like $200.

Http://www.apple.com/switch/

http://www.apple.com/ibook/

http://forums.macrumors.com

http://www.xvsxp.com <---- Great place for info on the short comings of both XP and OS X.

http://www.macosxhints.com

http://www.macrumors.com

Lots of other good stuff, too!

[Vash02]

I agree, dells are very nice. Im on a dell inspiron 9100 right now. Its VERY nice for games and media and whatnot, but its Bulky and pretty darn heavy. I love it cause its exactly what i need for my current lifestyle, but for you, not at all what you need.

[i_baked_cookies]

i have a thinkpad r31, which is about 4 years old, and ive carried to and from school every day for the past 3 years. ive dropped it, hit it, tried to light it on fire, and taken it apart. it still works like the first time i got it. i dont know about the new ones, but they start at like 900.