Computer advice

[Avalon616]

My computer is dead, as some of you know. It needs a new motherboard (that's all I'm hoping), but my dad decided that I need something more reliable for school. So I'm going to be investing in a laptop sometime soon, which was my original plan before Tick kindly upgraded my POS.

I'm looking to spend less than $1000. I have a discount through UMASS with Dell, some select Acer, Gateways, and Macs. While I would love the new Macbook Intel Duelcore with all the fixin's, it ain't happening. Right now we're leaning towards a Dell, though my dad is looking at some Systemax models as an alternative.

What I want is a laptop with the best warrenty and service plan, and yet not completely suck in specs. I know I mostly likely won't be able to game on whatever I get, but I want it to last for a while. Any suggestions?

[Fitty]

I priced out a Dell E1505 Dual Core laptop with the base config upgraded to a X1400 256 ATI video card and a 4 year service plan and it is around $1,138. That should be a decent system for school and it should play WoW just fine.

Dell makes great laptops and the service is good as well from my experience.

With your discount you should be well within budget.

[Kermit]

Give me some more material to work with. I need to know your typical usage and preferences. For example. I love my Inspiron, but most people I show it to balk at the 17" screen, weight, and lack of battery life. For my uses as a desktop replacement... it's perfect.

Are you going to be using this thing in a dorm room? Hauling it back and forth to the library and classes? Is it going to be away from your desk often? If so batter life is a must. Any gaming besides WoW? Is this mainly a word processor or do you need gaming capabilities? Do you feel comfortable changing out the RAM on your own? Dell rakes people over the coals on RAM upgrades in packages. Is there a bigger is better attitude toward the screen? CD or DVD burning for backups and file transfers? Do you have bluetooth devices you want to incorporate? Most Home use Dell machines come with XP Media Center edition... would you want to be watching TV on your lappy in a Dorm room?

Those are just starter questions... the more you fill me in, the better recommendations I can make.

Worse come to worse, the best piece of advice I can give you is to price out the machine you want on Dell's Small Business site and then call their agents and ask for a price quote. Walk right down the list you just made and see the difference. Sometimes they can save you quite a bit. Small business users seem to get better deals and treatment. Barring another one of those 30% off all laptop coupons, even if you don't own a business, that is the way to go.

[Avalon616]

Since I'm spending my parents money, I can't afford to make it nice enough to play WoW. That aside, I do have some things I want.

Necessary:
At least 512 memory, preferably 1 gig.
CD RW/DVD player
> 60 gig hard drive
The smaller, the better. (I have a back problem, and I'm gonna be carrying this everyday)
At least 2 year warrenty, plus the "if you drop it" warrenty, and "they-come-to-me" service.
Windows XP Pro
Office Professional Academic ($199)

Wanted:
Docking port
A graphics card that doesn't blow. (I'm not too familiar with brands and specs).

_______________________________________________

I did find one I think is acceptable, but I'm not entirely sure.

Inspirion E1405 Single Core (Solo T1300)
(2 MB Cache/1.66GHz/667Mhz FSB)
XP Pro
14.1 in Widescreen
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM (2 Dimm)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
60 GB SATA Hard Drive
24x CD-RW/DVD Combo
2 yr onsite Warranty w/ on-site service
Lo-Jack

For a total of $908. BUT- I have to get Office, which is another $200 I don't have. >,<

[Shadowrat]

i would think you can get a wow capable laptop for under a grand. my inspiron is almost 3 years old and it plays wow great. It even plays Half-life 2 well. It even played the prey demo well.


Do you really need xp pro? Usually the upgrade at dell is over 100 bucks. The ntfs file system isn't going to boost your performance much on the already dog slow laptop hard drives, and i doubt you are using MSMQ.

[Q]

The Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition is only $118 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C0XT1/qid=1151888749/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4822105-9983923?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=229534).

[Patton]

Actually, even Intel's shitty onboard video can run WoW. It won't look GREAT, but it'll run and it's playable. So even a base level discreet graphics card will give you decent performance in WoW.

[Kermit]

According to www.passwird.com (http://www.passwird.com)
Dell has a deal going on right now.

Enter code FS7F8LM5PV7RFK at checkout for 30% off $999 select Inspiron Notebooks. Exp. 7/20; first 4000 uses.

[Shadowrat]

actually do you even need office? my wife and i have used only open office for the past 2 years to no ill effects.

[Orion]

do not, under any circumstances buy MS office products retail if you are attending college. I know MANY colleges can purchase MS office products for you. usually through the bookstore. I got mine for 25 dollars through the UW system schools. My sister-in-law had to pay about 80 for it. still cheaper by far than most retail prices.

[Avalon616]

I got my computer!!! Specs Here (http://support.dell.com/support/order/details.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=23&order_number=171262549). It's huge! I'm enjoying it though.

My settings and password for the ICQ channel is on the old computer, so if someone could send me them, that would be great.