College ready laptop

[dbzlotrfan]

Probably strange to ask but any of you have ideas for a good laptop for college? Able to store variety of what ever is needed for school, take notes, read books (electronic versions of my txt books so I don't have to care them around). Mother is thinking about a 11 or 12 inch screen as it'd be lighter than a 17 or larger screen.


I may decide to put some emulators on it, speaking of which can a PS3 controller (dual shock 3 or the sixaxis) be used for emulators on a computer?

[dbzlotrfan]

/We think it should be upwards of about 13 inches, it WOULD mostly be used for taking notes and reading my textbooks (online) instead of carrying them around as extra unneeded weight.



I may decide to put some emulators on it, speaking of which can a PS3 controller (dual shock 3 or the sixaxis) be used for emulators on a computer?

[Blu3]

Check out some 13" pc's and the 13" macbook.

You also might be interested in using something like an iPad or upcoming similar pad computers running on droid OS's. Very easy to carry around and purchase/download ebooks (text books), take notes, browse the web, etc. and even though the iPad is only a 9.7" screen, it has a very good resolution that more than makes up for it against 13" laptops, and is, of course, much easier to carry around with a longer lasting battery. Not sure about running emulators though.

With the $ you'll save on ebooks vs paperbacks, an iPad or 13" laptop should pay for itself in 2-3 semesters. A wise decision

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by Blu3

Check out some 13" pc's and the 13" macbook.

You also might be interested in using something like an iPad or upcoming similar pad computers running on droid OS's. Very easy to carry around and purchase/download ebooks (text books), take notes, browse the web, etc. and even though the iPad is only a 9.7" screen, it has a very good resolution that more than makes up for it against 13" laptops, and is, of course, much easier to carry around with a longer lasting battery. Not sure about running emulators though.

With the $ you'll save on ebooks vs paperbacks, an iPad or 13" laptop should pay for itself in 2-3 semesters. A wise decision

2-3 semesters lol. my books for this semester were $516

iPad would be a nice choice though for notes and ebooks.

In about the $800 range you could get a HP dm4t series laptop. Can configure it how you want but figure Intel Core i5, 4GB, 500GB, 4.5lbs, 14" screen and an ok video card as well. Battery life should be 6.5hrs or more if you get a bigger battery

[dbzlotrfan]

Mostly "we' want a small screen so it's less weight for me to carry than like a 18+ inch screened laptop.

[supersix4]

Macbook air is where its at for lightness/ power.

[dbzlotrfan]

I've mostly used Windows 99% of my life, it's what I'm used to. Also if I have to ever give a presentation, I don't want to have to convert the document (or excel, or power point) to something a Windows computer could run.


Away from school related functions, I'd probably would install couple of games on it --- not only emulated games but SimCity 3,000 & 4000 (Rush Hour), Warcraft. I'd probably use it for other things as well . . . .

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

I've mostly used Windows 99% of my life, it's what I'm used to. Also if I have to ever give a presentation, I don't want to have to convert the document (or excel, or power point) to something a Windows computer could run.


Away from school related functions, I'd probably would install couple of games on it --- not only emulated games but SimCity 3,000 & 4000 (Rush Hour), Warcraft. I'd probably use it for other things as well . . . .

hopefully this link works for you

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...le/dm4t_series

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

I've mostly used Windows 99% of my life, it's what I'm used to. Also if I have to ever give a presentation, I don't want to have to convert the document (or excel, or power point) to something a Windows computer could run.

They make ms-office for mac that is compatible with windows pc's exc.


Review of Macbook Airs card
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...G.11949.0.html

[dbzlotrfan]

. . . . . This is too hard, the DM4T it "too heavy" as my parents say. Jezz, if it was 15 poinds I MIGHT agree but 4.4?

With crap like that, I would rather take notes by HAND than pay several hundred for a 14" screen "that's too heavy".

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

. . . . . This is too hard, the DM4T it "too heavy" as my parents say. Jezz, if it was 15 poinds I MIGHT agree but 4.4?

With crap like that, I would rather take notes by HAND than pay several hundred for a 14" screen "that's too heavy".

4.4lbs is pretty damn light. to get a PC lighter then that you are gonna have to spend alot more or give up the optical drive.

[dbzlotrfan]

Exactly, except the screen size & weight is "too much", "it won't fit in a backpack", "your back can't take that" . . . .

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

Exactly, except the screen size & weight is "too much", "it won't fit in a backpack", "your back can't take that" . . . .

i carry a 17" in my backpack with my books. and for the record, my books weigh more then that laptop i linked and mine is 7.99lbs

if 4.4 lbs is too much then you might as well get an ipad

[dbzlotrfan]

I havescoliosis. And yet they'd complain about a 1 OZ laptop, with even a 10 inch screen. How about I BE the judge of weather 4.4 POUNDS is too heavy to me? Mostly it'd replace having the take the books that can be browsed online, but futher it'd be for notes (school). And gaming.

An iPad, I think requires a subscription to AT&T, doesn't it?

[Blu3]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

I havescoliosis. And yet they'd complain about a 1 OZ laptop, with even a 10 inch screen. How about I BE the judge of weather 4.4 POUNDS is too heavy to me? Mostly it'd replace having the take the books that can be browsed online, but futher it'd be for notes (school). And gaming.

Easy killa, we're just tryin to help

I think what BLindsay is trying to say is that 4 1/2 lbs isn't too bad and pretty avg for a laptop, kind of good actually, and he's right. Now, if that's too heavy for you, ok, BUT, you may be looking at a smaller and cheaper netbook or iPad, and not a full fledged laptop. Someone else suggested the macbook air, which is a thin, lightweight, laptop from apple with no optical drive, i.e. a DVD player. Check out the size and weight on apple's website and see if it fits what you're looking for, as well as the price tag. Then check out an iPad and a few netbooks. Sit on it for a day or two and see how you feel.

You might also want to list your priorities. If weight is very important to you, and it seems to be, then I wouldn't worry too much about gaming, since just replacing your text books will save you plenty of pounds off your back. Focus on that. Then, if you really want gaming and the games you want just aren't possible on whatever device you got to replace your books, you can always look at portable game devices, e.g. PSP, DS, etc., which aren't going to add much weight and space to carry around. But I'm sure even a netbook and an iPad can handle a few games for entertainment. Be realistic. If you want serious gaming and a very small, lightweight portable computer for school, you may not find those two needs in one single product. Stay open to options

Originally Posted by BLindsay

2-3 semesters lol. my books for this semester were $516

Right. A ~$500 text book expense should be around $250-$300 or so with ebooks, so 2-3 semesters will save you a good 500-600 bucks minimum, enough for an iPad, cheap laptop or netbook.

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

I've mostly used Windows 99% of my life, it's what I'm used to. Also if I have to ever give a presentation, I don't want to have to convert the document (or excel, or power point) to something a Windows computer could run.

Me too, which is what's always kept me away from apple all these years. But as supersix4 said, there's MS Office for mac now (and only costs $130), so you should be all set if you choose an apple.

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

An iPad, I think requires a subscription to AT&T, doesn't it?

Only if you want the 3G service (similar to 3G cell phones) for the internet, otherwise no. And you still get internet with all iPads through wi-fi anywhere wi-fi is available, or at home with a wireless router/modem. Most schools have wi-fi service, so you may not need the 3G models. Hell, even the new Droid phones can now serve as wi-fi hotspots, so you could use a droid to go online with a wi-fi iPad. I'd recommend the 16GB wi-fi model. It's $599 and 16GB is plenty for a student focused work load, so all the ebooks you'll need, plenty of music, photos and a few games. The screen is only 9.7", but has a very good resolution, you should have no problems reading from it, and the battery lasts a long time, something like 6-10 hours, depending on its use. The on-screen touch keyboard is fine for short notes and e-mails, but if you're going to take bigger notes and large e-mails, I'd recommend adding a keyboard, which are available, and are very slim and lightweight as well.

Of course, you may want to compare to a netbook, which is also small, lightweight, much cheaper and runs on Windows 7, which you are used to. They are also of the foldable type, with a full keyboard, just like a laptop. I like to think of them as mini-laptops

[BLindsay]

yeah if 4.4lbs is to heavy then you are left with a few options


1. ipad. I have an itouch myself and its great, the ipad is pretty much just a bigger version

2. Super portable laptop such as macbook air or hp envy 13. Keep in mind you will lose the optical drive with either of those and cost is going to go up ALOT or if you didnt mind an 11.6" screen you could get an hp dm1z series laptop. wont cost a arm and a leg and performance is somewhere inbetween a netbook and a regular laptop. weight is about 3.25lbs

3. netbook. With very few exceptions dont really expect to do any gaming on these. any with the intel based graphics are going to be bad.

[dbzlotrfan]

How about I be the judge of weather 4.4 pounds is heavy to me? What I quoted, is what they have and would save about the DM4T or anything over 2 pounds , how about (once again) I be the judge of 4.4 pounds?. If it was like 20 THAN I might want a lighter laptop/(net|note)book or none at all.

I have both a DS lite & a PSP 3000, yet they can't play (some) PC games.

[Blu3]

Originally Posted by dbzlotrfan

How about I be the judge of weather 4.4 pounds is heavy to me? What I quoted, is what they have and would save about the DM4T or anything over 2 pounds , how about (once again) I be the judge of 4.4 pounds?. If it was like 20 THAN I might want a lighter laptop/(net|note)book or none at all.

I have both a DS lite & a PSP 3000, yet they can't play (some) PC games.

Well, sounds to me like you have your criteria right there. Start looking at laptops/netbooks/tablets (iPad) and make a list of anything you like that weighs under 2 lbs. Then pick one.

[BLindsay]

Under 2 lbs you might as well just get an ipad cause thats about it

[SoCalTiger]

As much as I think apple is the evil empire, an ipad or a similar Android based pad is a great option for you. Honestly, you don't need much for what you are asking and if weight/size is your primary requirement that is the way to go.