Any suggestions on which laptop?

[justin81]

Go with the gateway.

A lot of the HP/Compaq notebooks have really crappy wireless cards. I think the last I read was something like 1 out of 6 made are having to be sent back to HP for new motherboards and wireless cards. I've sent mine in twice and still have the same problem. I gave up and bought a USB network adapter. Their customer service is very weak. I'm not sure about the one in your link, but I've been very unhappy with my HP. I don't trust them at all.

[littleindiangirl]

I have a Toshiba Satellite, and I LOOOOVE it! Runs great, plays graphic intensive video games, the only thing I really really don't like its the volume control. THe speakers are nice, but it's too quite by default, and when you bend and turn with it in your lap, it turns up or down because the dial is in the front.

With all the keyboard room it has, you'd think they'd put the control up there.

[Sunny1]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, keep them up!! LOL

I will definitely keep in mind what everyone has said when finally making my decision about which one to buy, and will look again at the Dell and the Toshiba. Thanks again!!

Anymore thoughts???

[Inknsteel]

First, you can use a "thumb drive" or flash drive on essentially any computer with a USB port. I would really suggest looking at Best Buy, Circuit City, MicroCenter, or other computer stores online rather than looking to buy direct from the manufacturer. They will sell everything at full list price as opposed to the retailers who sell for less. I was just glancing at laptops on Best Buy's website and upon a quick scan, this one looks to be a pretty good deal...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1203815723334

[littleindiangirl]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, keep them up!! LOL

I will definitely keep in mind what everyone has said when finally making my decision about which one to buy, and will look again at the Dell and the Toshiba. Thanks again!!

Anymore thoughts???

Oh, I forgot to mention the perks of my laptop that I particularly enjoy. It's what I consider a replacement for a desktop computer. It's got something like 8 USB inputs, video out put, stereo output, large 17" extra bright and clear screen, huge and easy to use keyboard (I hate laptop keyboards) with a separate number pad.

HUGE hardrive, DVD burner, a bunch of card drives that I'm not sure what for lol, and of course, a nice bunch of hardware to keep it running smoothly.

It is on the bulky side, not something like a macbook, but it is on par with the BF's desktop in terms of usability.

I use my computer for a lot of tasks, and it just keeps right on humming.

Can you tell I love my laptop?!

[DSGB]

i have a gateway, i love it. its super fast and i havent had a problem with it for the 4 years ive had it.

[donley]

I got the gateway M-1617 one bout a year ago. What a waste of money. We got it because the numbers on it were great, then we started using it and it doesn't perform anywhere near as well as we expected. It does look cool tho! but the cd drive breaks everytime u pick it up, it takes about 10 min to start up, the border around the keyboard is caving in, and the usb ports only work half the time. It also has random errors and closes out of everything suddenly (not good if you're writing a paper!).

On a more positive note, gateway does have excellent customer service. They have sent us a new cd drive everytime ours breaks!

[NightLad]

In my opinion, Macbooks are overpriced toys. They look pretty and they are what the "cool kids" have right now, so they get a lot more press than they are due. They've stopped being computers so much as status symbols, and like any status symbol - be it designer jeans or sneakers - they are priced accordingly.

Additionally, I know 3 people who utterly shattered their Macbook Air - one of them the first week of having it. And for the privilege of owning a malnourished computer you are forced to sacrifice a lot of features, such as; only one USB port, no optical (CD/DVD) drive, a single mono-stereo jack, no Ethernet port (to get online you have to use wireless), a built-in non-replaceable battery, no upgradable components, etc.

All for just $3000!

Now, if you are a real college student on a real-world budget, and your parents can't drop you 3gs for the asking, go with a functional and fully equipped Dell/Gateway. Pay a little extra for their extended care service, and you should be all set! A friend of mine got a fantastic computer for less than $600 on sale at BestBuy. 4 years in and zero problems. Don't fall into the iTrap.

[redpython]

what are you wanting to do?

i bought a mac, and i gotta be honest, it is not the hottest thing since sliced bread. if i had to do it all over again i would get a PC w/ windows xp.

[Vomitore]

Can't you do payments for the Mac book?