a good laptop for a college freshman?

MadJack

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my step-daughter is going to start college this year. need help in getting her what she will be needing.

hopefully you guys don't come up with something for $2K. i'm thinking in the $700 or less range.

i prefer to buy online as well so links would be nice :)

TIA
 

DR STRANGELOVE

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Mr Jack,

for your price range I would get either the HP dv3z, dell inspiron 13, dell xps m1330.
Here are the specs for the latter>>

Dell XPS M1330 Laptop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 /3GB)

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz), 2.0 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
$749
 

bjfinste

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Here are the specs for the latter>>

Dell XPS M1330 Laptop Computer (Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 /3GB)

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz), 2.0 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
$749

This is what I bought for law school (and doubled as my home computer since my desktop got fried two months before I moved to Arizona). I have no complaints. Get the full warranty, it's worth it... MLB Opening Day 2007, I was completely pissed up at a bar and watching games and following bets online. Accidently dropped it and busted up the screen. Through the warranty, they had a tech come to my apartment the very next day and replace it. No extra cost except the warranty.
 

DR STRANGELOVE

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This is what I bought for law school (and doubled as my home computer since my desktop got fried two months before I moved to Arizona). I have no complaints. Get the full warranty, it's worth it... MLB Opening Day 2007, I was completely pissed up at a bar and watching games and following bets online. Accidently dropped it and busted up the screen. Through the warranty, they had a tech come to my apartment the very next day and replace it. No extra cost except the warranty.

this is what I have as well, it looks really good in black :)
I just added more RAM to improve performance, quick as a bat
kurby
 

Lookn4help

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College Computer

College Computer

Check with the college as to what they have as minimal requierments and add gaming, picture scrap booking and all these other things that the young people do today. Todays laptops are much better than years past and easily replace desk tops.
 

dawgball

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Young people don't scrapbook...

I think, for the money, Dells are the best thing on the market.

Macs have become better and better as they become more compatible (almost a moot point now), but they are still very expensive for the computing power that you get. They are also starting to show signs of becoming less reliable as their popularity has skyrocketed.

Contacting the university is not a bad idea. Sometimes they have buying programs to make it cheaper (10% or so) for you.
 

MadJack

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got the DI 15

get the mini, vinnie. i have the HP mini and it's great for travel. just make sure you get at least 2 GB memory.
 
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