Help with laptop purchase

[riekon]

I have recently entered the market of purchasing a laptop computer but I am utterly clueless as to where to find what would suit me properly.

I have heard the phrase --- "Laptop's are like underwear, whats fits another, may not fit you. I understand this and I am not looking for absolutes, but more so arrows leading me to one manufacturer or another.

I am a student at University of Minnesota I.T. and constantly on the go. I would like to have something somewhat travel friendly. I need up2date graphics, wireless ethernet, and decent sized hd (>40gb).

I am looking to spend between 800 and 1200 dollars.

If anyone has any distributor preferences, Please share, so I can better my search for a laptop. Thank you.

[blobaugh]

Dell has some decent laptops that start at around $650US

[gehidore]

newegg has toshiba 17 inchers for 1799 with 200 rebate...

do a search for hard candy as user and cheap laptop as subject he posted a linux specific one recently

[riekon]

thanks for the input guys

[bs_texas]

A deciding factor for me was a resolution above 1024x768. I can't hardly work at that big, clunky resolution. But that's just me.


I have an old Dell Inspiron 8200. I paid about $1000 for it. Works great in Windows. I am curently working on getting slackware configured on it at the higher resolution.

[shakin]

IBM Thinkpads have fantastic Linux support. For a higher than 1024 resolution you usually have to get a 14" display or larger.

When I bought my laptop I opted for a 15" display (largest at the time... it's an old laptop now), but the main problem is it's bigger and heavier than most others. If you really need something portable, consider a 12" display. The biggest difference is the weight. Grab a regular monitor for when you're at home working if you can't use a 12" all the time.

[StarTiger]

One thing that I'd look at is the pointing device.

Pick the one that you like 'cuz if you get one you can't use, you'll be frustrated out of your mind.

MOst companies use a track pad. Dell, Compaq, HP.
IBM uses a Track Point, which is a small red joystick between the b,g, and h keys. Toshebia some times uses thier own thing.

I personally can't stand the Trackpoints. Nothing against IBM, but i can't stand thier laptops for that reason.

try a bunch and see which you like the feel of the best. That little thing alone will make a big difference in you you like the laptop.

[canon006]

I was in the same boat about a year ago, college student looking for an inexpensive, capable laptop to take with me everywhere.

My search came down between an IBM Thinkpad and an Apple iBook. I ended up going with a 12" iBook because with Apple's student discount it came out cheaper, it's got enough power for school work and the occasional game, and it runs linux! IMHO Apple and IBM make some of the best laptops available, though if you've never had an Apple (or have no interest getting into it), IBM is probably the direction you want.

BTW my iBook would have normally been somewhere around $1440.00, with the educational discount it was $1236.00 shipped, so definitely look into educational discounts where ever you go.

[jwreels]

I just bought a Toshiba Tecra. I paid like 1400 for it. They even give small discounts to college students. They don't tell you so you have to ask (insist) Its got everything you just mentioned plus it is fairly lightweight. Check it out.

[jwreels]

Dell and Apple I think also give discounts to college students. Something to think about since money is an issue.