Suggestions for the best ~$500 laptop

[DaedalCipher]

Hello all.

Here's the deal. I realize the price range here limits options very considerably. My girlfriend needs a new laptop for grad school. All, and I do mean all, she does with it is type word docs for class, check her email, surf the web, and listen to music. Her current Dell is 4 years old and only has a 55 gig hd (of which she barely uses half), and aside from it being balls heavy and the battery crapping out, suits her needs perfectly. She doesn't play games, watch movies (except for the occasional music video), or run an kind of hardcore software whatsoever.

So, what's out there for her? Obviously, a reliable brand with a decent track record is more important than squeezing the last bit of performance into the price range. What she needs is basically something that'll last another four years so she can type and check her email daily. The only real must is wi-fi for the school's network. Who's got the goods?

Thanks in advance,

Ry

 

[IlllI]

at that price they are all pretty much the same.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: clandren
at that price they are all pretty much the same.

Exactly!

Get a Lenovo...

 

[DaedalCipher]

I'm looking on Newegg, and I have to admit knowing next to nothing about particulars of laptops. You guys talking about just any old lenovo? there are two or three

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16834146376
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16834146365

with that second one seemingly the far better option. I think a gig is about as low as I want to go for RAM. So two questions at this point:
1) I have to admit to never having heard of anything but dell, gateway, sony, and toshiba laptops. probably because of wicked marketing. Is lenovo reliable in terms of customer support?
2) are there other places I can find these models for cheaper other than fry's, newegg, and amazon?

 

[DaedalCipher]

One more thing- is thinkpad solely a lenovo brand?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: DaedalCipher
One more thing- is thinkpad solely a lenovo brand?

Thinkpads used to be made by IBM, but they sold off that label to Lenovo and they have been making them. The quality is still up there compared to the Thinkpads of yore, so you have little to worry about in that regard.

I think however that VinDSL was being ironic, he (from what I have seen) is not a big fan of Lenovo as compared to other OEMs, and is of the opinion that all laptops are pieces of crap, made side by side in the same Chinese sweatshops where in actuality there is quite a bit of difference, even if they are almost all made in China these days.

 

[Adn4n]

www.lenovo.com/cpp
556655
Notebooks>View Thinkpad Notebooks>R-Series

You can get Core Duo notebooks for under $500. You can even get a T8100 Penryn on one of the models, however it only have a trackpoint no trackpad.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Thinkpads used to be made by IBM, but they sold off that label to Lenovo and they have been making them...

I just bought a used 6.16 lbs, patented, SafePORT/IBM ThinkPad Corporate Standard monster case. Retailed for $110.58 in their heyday.

Fits my (sleeved) Toshiba A215 like a glove, once you take the air cushions out. Highly recommended!

Maybe I'll buy a ThinkPad and pretend IBM made it... like everybody else.

LoL!

Yes, nowadays, Lenovo owns the IBM label, and Targus owns the SafePORT name - and both are weak imitations of the real thing, but...

Who's to know?

Originally posted by: TheStu
I think however that VinDSL was being ironic, he (from what I have seen) is not a big fan of Lenovo as compared to other OEMs, and is of the opinion that all laptops are pieces of crap, made side by side in the same Chinese sweatshops...

Here's an interesting bit of trivia for you...


SOURCE

Concerns over the fact that Lenovo is a Chinese company have caused the US State Department to restrict the use of ThinkPads for classified work. [38]

Just don't buy anything online with a ThinkPad, and you should be okay...

 

[DaedalCipher]

You guys see any major red flags with this config from dell?

Inspiron 1525

Intel® Celeron® 540 (1MB cache/1.86GHz/533Mhz FSB)

Genuine Windows Vista ® Home Basic Edition

Flamingo Pink

1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz

Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800)

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

80GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

Integrated 10/100 Network Card

Integrated Modem

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1

CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Sound Card

High Definition Audio 2.0

Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini-Card

Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam

Microsoft Works

Battery Options

28 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (4 cell)

1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service

6 Months Risk-Free Trial AOL Advantage Internet Access
Labels

Intel#174; CELERON#174; Processor

Windows Vista? Basic

Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr


Only thing I'm worried about is the battery, but she hardly ever takes it anywhere, so i dont think it's worth another 125 for the 6 cell

 

[DaedalCipher]

oh- price on that is $579 shipped

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: DaedalCipher
You guys see any major red flags with this config from dell?

LoL! 'Red flags'... I get it...

Yeah... basically everything is wrong with Dell these days!

Lenovo/IBM is pwned by real communists in China, e.g. the Chinese government, trying to destroy America - without firing a shot!

Dell is, like, American corporate pukes pretending to be relevant in the new world economy!

Go with the commies, not the capitalists... buy a ThinkPad...

 

[IlllI]

wow that was pretty lame ^

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: clandren
wow that was pretty lame...

I'm trying to help fund the Chinese Academy of Sciences / Lenovo...

What's wrong with that?

Oh, I know... it's the Tibet thing, right?

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: DaedalCipher
You guys see any major red flags with this config from dell?

Flamingo Pink

yes.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: DaedalCipher
You guys see any major red flags with this config from dell?

Flamingo Pink

yes.

And it's an Inspiron, I have an E1505 (last generation's 15 incher) and the quality is.. sucky. And from what I hear the newer ones aren't any better. I'd take a look at Acer and HP way before I'd sink to Dell. I'm not sure if Acer makes stuff in your price range, but I think they do, and I know HP does, and both are better than Dell by far.

 

[DaedalCipher]

What exactly do you mean by "it stinks?"

I'll check out some HPs and Acers too though, thanks for the suggestions

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: clandren
wow that was pretty lame...

I'm trying to help fund the Chinese Academy of Sciences / Lenovo...

What's wrong with that?

Oh, I know... it's the Tibet thing, right?

not that at all. quite frankly your comments are pretty dorky/ corny aka lame.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Well for $600 you still managed to get a single core CPU, that's impressive.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i would check the local brick and mortar stores for deals. if you're willing to put up with rebates you can get something good for under $500.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

oh and that dell deal is terrible

 

[hnzw rui]

Why is your girlfriend replacing her laptop again?

That laptop from Dell that you posted is likely to run slower than the one she has now. Vista is fine, if you have the hardware to back it up. The Celeron w/1GB RAM & integrated video? Not really a definition of good hardware.

Don't check the Dell Home site. Look at the Dell Small Business and look at the deals they have for Vostro and Latitude notebooks. Even equivalent Inspiron models to Dell Home are usually cheaper from SMB. I learned my lesson the hard way on that one. Bought an E1405 from Dell Home for $1300. Same system would have been $1000 if I got it from Dell SMB. Ouch.

Also, upgrade to a high capacity battery if they have it. 28Whr should last you all of 30mins ~ 1hr. My E1405 has a 9-cell battery, iirc. CPU is T7200. Doing light tasks similar to what your girlfriend does gives me 7 hours battery life.

B&M stores usually have pretty good sales on laptops. Got a 13.3" dual-core Toshiba laptop for $699 + tax. For a "light" model (13.3"~14"), that's a pretty good price. Plus, you don't have to wait for shipping. I suggest you do your research on online stores and go to a B&M (or several) to compare.

major red flag[/i]:
Flamingo Pink

I'm a girl, but pink?!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: clandren
not that at all. quite frankly your comments are pretty dorky/ corny aka lame.

Heh! It's working...

Thanks!

EDIT

Um...

You consider yourself pretty average, right, Bingo the Clowno?

You don't know how to use a shift-key, or spell, et cetera - kinda fuzzy between the ears from all the drugs.

Oh, never mind... it's like talking to my dog!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: hnzw rui
I'm a girl, but pink?!

What's wrong with pink?!?!?

 

[Slowlearner]

Dell laptops are okay but the depot service can be a pain. Toshiba on the other hand has service points all over. From my recent purchase experience, CC/BB etc having frequent promos that could net you a decent laptop in your price range. The catch - they all come with Vista Home basic or premium << this is a serious drawback;

If you buy directly from Dell SMB you get a reasonably decent laptop with XP home:
http://www.dell.com/content/pr...?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: DaedalCipher
What exactly do you mean by "it stinks?"

I'll check out some HPs and Acers too though, thanks for the suggestions

My exact words were "sucky," and aren't you glad you asked I have a key that randomly broke a clip on the bottom, so it's falling off all the time; sometimes I find the thing has hard locked when I open the lid back up after locking the machine (control + L, not crashing ) and walking away for a bit; the dang thing buzzes whenever the CPU is sitting idle (ie taking notes in class), but then again Dell isn't the only manufacturer to have the odd laptop that does that; after only two years I've worn holes in the paint on both mouse buttons and where my hands rest; the screen has been getting dimmer and dimmer since the day I got it; and there's a crack in one of the hinges as well as a bulging out and almost broken off piece of plastic in one of the corners near the feet (yes bulging out, like it was pushed out by gremlins or something). All in all, Dell is alright, but it's cheap for a reason, you just need to go that going into it.