Laptop Recommendations - $500 Range

[assassin24]

Looking for a laptop to use at home and work. Replacing my wife's Toshiba that is 10 years old (yikes).

- Would like to try 12"-14" screen size for portability (unless there is a reason not to do this)
- Mainly used for: Internet, Presentations, Watching occasional video
- No gaming
- Would prefer to stay away from Dell as I have had 2 of these break in the last 10 years.

What are some good recommendations today?

 

[assassin24]

any ideas?

 

[Decembermouse]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+...&skuId=9732722

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...nium/9700714.p?id=1218152462975&skuId=9700714

The first will have a slightly faster processor, more memory and HDD space, and not that it matters but a better graphics chip. The second might have slightly better battery life. Around $500, this is basically the best that's available in an Intel flavor, as far as I can tell... the Pentium Dual Cores being a grade below the Core 2 Duos of course.

 

[assassin24]

If I bump my budget up another $100-$200 what do you recommend?

Basically I am trying to find out what options there are that are a the best bang for the buck.

 

[mshan]

If she doesn't turn over laptops frequently, I'd say up your budget to say $600 - $700 and get something like a Dell Vostro 1520 (upgrade to 1440 x 900 screen and webcam) or Lenovo T400 or T500 (there are often 15% of coupons you can find via google or tech bargains dot com).

Dual booting Macbook is another, probably slightly more expensive option. Older generations ones had poor screen, but new ones are supposed to be much improved in terms of off angle viewing.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=365492

http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2009/05/dell-vostro-1520-review/

 

[Emulex]

get any laptop and have an SSD in the budget - it will rip and you can instant off the drive.

harddrives that come in notebooks cheap generally are teh sux 5400rpm.

 

[assassin24]

This laptop is acutually for me. I re-read my first post --- sorry that wasn't more clear.

I have been using her POS laptop because my Dell literally broke at the hinges.

I really like the Lenovo T400s. Very well built.