Need a new laptop, help?

[ford1001]

Okay so my laptop is on it's final ends, screen is coming apart from the base of it and a ton of crap is happening, keeps overheating resulting in it shutting down and I am looking for a new laptop.

 

My budget is about $1500 A. Anybody got an ideas on what sort I should get? It will be used for movies and music, as well as the obvious web browsing and such.

[Nathan]

Mac or PC?

[CHiLL]

For the usage you've described, you could probably save yourself $500 and look for one around the $1000 AUD mark. (I'm basing these prices on GBP to AUD conversions on www.xe.com) As long as you don't want to do any gaming, £600 (~$1000 AUD) will suffice really.

 

Spec wise, you're looking at a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, with 4GB of RAM or more and 500GB+ hard drive.

 

Also, I'd say stick with the main brands. Acer, Samsung, HP, etc.

 

If you still wanted to spend some of that $500 AUD left over, you could buy a decent SSD, and replace the spinning drive in the laptop. Sure this would mean a Windows reinstall (or hard drive cloning), but I think the performance boost would be worth it.

 

(All this is based on a Windows based laptop)

[TheMightyEddy]

Try this and I'm sure you will love this:

 

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/series/category/notebooks/ENVY17_series/3/computer_store

[Gidget]

I upgraded my laptop back in August, before returning back to college for this year. I got a HP, and I love it! I use it for programming, gaming, streaming videos, etc. It works great, and is super fast. I haven't had any problems at all with it. I believe the laptop was about $620 or so when I purchased it.

[ford1001]

@Nathan - I'm not really that fussed over which it is, as long as it fits the criteria

 

@CHiLL - Thanks for the info, will defiantly use it when looking around

 

@TheMightyEddy - I was actually look at that the other day, seems like quite a good one, but would be fairly heavy considering it's 17" right?

 

@Gidget - Do you know what model it was?

[Hardison]

I'm rather partial to ThinkPads. I own two. The company (Lenovo) that made them for IBM bought the laptop business from IBM. They are workhorses and travel really well. The company website:

 

http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/

[ford1001]

I kinda have a lenovo thinkpad actually. I might look at their products though

[BlackHatClass]

Go for a Mac if you can lift the budget a bit. If not, go for a Dell. No better deal!

[ford1001]

Go for a Mac if you can lift the budget a bit. If not, go for a Dell. No better deal!

I was looking at macbook pro's and I get a discount because of my empoyment, around about 9% or so, but still a bit.

[DarkGizmo]

Go with a macbook pro. Stay far far away from Dell. Anyone who recommends them, with their crap tech support and products needs their head examined. I've owned 4 dells in the past and all but 1 have crapped out on me in under 2 years. The one I still have is on it's last legs though and it's only 3 years old.

 

I would definitely look into the macbook pros if your budget is $1500.

[ford1001]

Go with a macbook pro. Stay far far away from Dell. Anyone who recommends them, with their crap tech support and products needs their head examined. I've owned 4 dells in the past and all but 1 have crapped out on me in under 2 years. The one I still have is on it's last legs though and it's only 3 years old.

 

I would definitely look into the macbook pros if your budget is $1500.

Alright thanks

[CHiLL]

Quick question, are you willing to spend all that $1500? If you are, then by all means by a Mac Book Pro. I was just trying to advice the most cost effective laptop, as you could save at least $500 for something that will meet your needs.

[ford1001]

the 1500 was just an estimate as I am getting back 1400 at tax time so decided I would get a new laptop around then, but I will probably end up waiting for the 2012 macbook pro to be released if I am going down that avenue

[DarkGizmo]

the 1500 was just an estimate as I am getting back 1400 at tax time so decided I would get a new laptop around then, but I will probably end up waiting for the 2012 macbook pro to be released if I am going down that avenue

Definitely your best bet. My next PC was gonna be a macbook pro 17 inch but for $2500 I can get a 27 inch iMac, and i realized since I don't necessarily need the portability, I'm gonna go with the 27 inch iMac instead with triple the power. However, in your case, definitely wait and get the revised Macbook pro

[ford1001]

Good choice!

 

Thanks for the help everyone!

[Nathan]

I bought this a few months back. Great computer.

http://www.amazon.co...p/dp/B005R41LOI

[ford1001]

Do you have a link to the official sony page about it?

[Nathan]

Not that I see. I bought it from Best Buy. I just searched the model number in Google and found that Amazon link.

[ford1001]

Okay thanks anyway!

[Junglist0682]

1500 is a nice amount to purchase a laptop. Good luck with the search!

[Thrill]

I'm into Lenova at the mo, even though I do really.. hate Laptops. Get a Desktop if you can, your $1500 will be much better spent.

[ChuckTesta]

desktop for 1500... better spent? I don't think so.

 

Money is much better spent on a portable system. If you're in college, chances are you are a moving individual. You will probably do plenty of things is other peoples rooms, ie studying... going to library. etc.

 

If you're able to get a Mac, I would advise a 13'' for portability. However, if you're going to be doing processor intensive work... photoshop, video editing, etc... go with something a bit more powerful. I have the pleasure of owning a 13 and a 15'' macbook pro. The 13 in is a C2D and works great on the go! The 15'' mbp is ideal for taking to work with me and using for things that are a bit more of a project.

[ford1001]

So my decision is made. When the 2012 edition of the Macbook pro comes out I shall be getting the 13" model of that. Now just the waiting period

[Nathan]

How long is that?