Any suggestions on which laptop?

[Vomitore]

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.

Have fun with all the spyware and pop up and anti-virus software. I've have had 3 PC's and I got a mac and it kills PC hands down.

[Sunny1]

Thanks again everyone for the continued input!! I really appreciate it and I am sure that others out there probably appreciate it as well!!

Okay so I have been looking online again at all the different ones. Looked at the Gateways, Dells, and the Toshibas, also took a glance at the Sonys.

I looked at the link for the Gateway that Inknsteel provided a link to which brings up another question. Reading the reviews that people posted for that particular laptop, people were complaining that it got to be a bit hot after awhile. Do all Gateways do this? What about the Dell Inspirons and the Toshiba Satellites? I also heard about pieces falling off of the inside of certain Gateways causing the computers to short out, anyone have this experience? Are there any things I should look for as a "do not buy me" type of sign? And what sold you on the laptops that you use? (Hopefully these are not silly questions!! this would be my first laptop and I want something that I would be happy with, does all of the basics that I need, and something that is going to be somewhat durable. I take good care of all of my stuff but with having young kids around anything is possible!!).

Who knew choosing a laptop could be this hard ***sighs***?? LOL
I am definitely going to have to make a list of computer model numbers and go to the stores again to get a feel for all of them.

And redpython, this would be primarily a study aid for school. Something I could use in class/at home for notes and studying. Something that would run any of the accompanying disks that come with certain school textbooks.Running my MS Office 2007 would be a bigger priority, I may not initially use it for being on the internet ( I would still have my current desktop), but could be a possibility later if I find I am having to do a bunch of research for nursing school...

[Sunny1]

Can't you do payments for the Mac book?

I could, but I would rather not have another bill to worry about while I am in school (no matter how small the bill may be). To be completely honest, I feel they are a bit too expensive to be used primarily as a study aid of sorts. And my husband and I are putting ourselves on a budget while I am in school since I am going to have to cut waaaaay back on working while going to school full time.

[Vomitore]

I could, but I would rather not have another bill to worry about while I am in school (no matter how small the bill may be). To be completely honest, I feel they are a bit too expensive to be used primarily as a study aid of sorts. And my husband and I are putting ourselves on a budget while I am in school since I am going to have to cut waaaaay back on working while going to school full time.

Ahh. Makes sense.

[Inknsteel]

Sunny1 -

All laptops I have owned seem to get hot if you're using them for a while with them resting directly on your lap. What seems to be the reason for this is because the ones I have used have the intake fan on the bottom of the machine, so while sitting on your lap, it doesn't get enough airflow. Once you move it to allow air to flow freely, it seems to get better and cooler. This is the laptop I have.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1196470766892

Overall, I love it. when it's sitting on a table or desk, it doesn't seem to heat up as much as my last one (Toshiba Satellite). I got something from Target that was designed more as a closet organizer, but it's a wire mesh thing that I can set over my lap that will elevate the computer a few inches above my lap, leaving plenty of airflow to the intake fan. Another option is to pick up something like this to help keep it cool.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1193234476472

[Sunny1]

Ahh. Makes sense.

Thank you though, I'll be sure to take a better look at them in the future. My husband keeps saying that when we go to replace our main computer that he would like to look into the Macs.

And thanks again, Inknsteel. I'll have to take a better look at that one a little later (getting close to time to be heading off to work).

Again, I really appreciate all the advice and suggestions!! I just want to make the best possible purchase for my current needs within my current budget, without regretting it later.

[redpython]

i have a pc that i have used for five years. never had an issue w/ it. don't do illegal downloads, dont go to porn sites on it.

pretty simple formula for keeping it clean.

[soy.lor.n]

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.

How old is your Satellite?
I *HATED* mine. It would overheat even just sitting on my desk (don't even think about putting it on your lap!) and so that killed a couple hard drives

I actually still have it hanging out in my closet, but after like 3 years the battery already doesn't hold a charge, and every couple months it has a major system failure and I have to reformat the hard drive. But it would work great as a non-portable internet machine!
A fried of mine had overheating problems too and took it back to Best Buy. They said to her "Overheating? Of course, it's a Toshiba!"]plus they're far more expensive than many other brands (hp, gateway and dell mostly)

I have an HP (tablet) now and I really like it. All my problems have been operating system/driver related and they've all been my fault for trying to upgrade to vista.

Really though, (to the OP) if you want just something to do word processing for super cheap, Dell might not be a bad choice (as much as it sickens me to say it haha) Any computer made within the last like 20 years will be able to support a thumb drive (haha maybe a little over exaggeration)
I don't know how good you are at typing, or if you're planning on taking notes in real time, but I find having a tablet, or a convertible tablet, to be *awesome* for classes. They are without a doubt a little pricier, but I at least write a whole lot faster than I type, so if you can find one in your price range it might be worth it.
(I know I just trash talked toshibas so much, but it looks like they might have one that's not too pricy hehe....another good place to look for recommendations is http://www.cnet.com )

Sorry for the long post, I just get excited about computer shopping!

[soy.lor.n]

Have fun with all the spyware and pop up and anti-virus software. I've have had 3 PC's and I got a mac and it kills PC hands down.

or you could get a PC and install Ubuntu and save like 50%

edit: like I said in the last post...OS issues. This is NOT a good option if you have a tablet haha. I had to spend months getting it to subpar operation.
I'd definitely do it on my desktop though if I wasn't too lazy to change everything now, and I'll probably dual boot my HTPC when I build it
computers are fun!!

[soy.lor.n]

i have a pc that i have used for five years. never had an issue w/ it. don't do illegal downloads, dont go to porn sites on it.

pretty simple formula for keeping it clean.

don't download email attachments from people you don't know....

really though I've never had a viral problem and since switching to Firefox I haven't had a spyware/adware/popup/etc... problem either
and if the OP isn't using it for internet...
well getting a virus would be awfully difficult

they do say abstinence (from the internets) is the only foolproof way to keep (your computer) clean...