Well, my computer took a crap on me. I tried for a couple hours today trying to figure out whats wrong with it (I used to work at a computer store so I do know what I'm doing). Its either the memory or the video card as far as I know but I don't have the equipment to test it to find out the problem. So instead of putting the money into the computer, I'm going to look at a laptop as another option. I've been looking for an excuse to get one anyway.....
So anyone got any recommendations?

I've spent the past hour at my dad's girlfriend's house on her computer looking at laptops. Here's the two I like.
Dell 5150
I like the Toshiba alot and it looks like a fairly good deal but I haven't seen any reviews, plus it looks like the bat life sucks.
Toshiba Laptop

Basically what I'm looking for is something under 1200$ with good bat. life, a decent amount of HDD space, decent speed, and at least 256mb of ram. Wireless would be nice. So would being as quiet as possible since I will be using this at school (I can type faster than I can write). Asking alot I know.

Any Ideas? What do you guys have and do ya like it?

(Hopefully I'll be able to check this here and there)

 

I am typing on a Toshiba right now. I love this computer. After rebates, it ran us about $650. It's a Satellite with a Celeron. Great all around laptop.

 

you'll like the 5150 go for it.
I'd cosomize it. go for 128 video card and get 128 mb of ram with it. then go to price watch .com and get 512 mb or ram for it and sell the 128 on ebay.
oh and from personal experiance get the damn warrenty even if you are a computer tech as am I.

 

I almost bought the Dell 5150 but since I didn't pay for it, I stepped up to the 9100 instead (I love it by the way). The 5150 is a nice machine and I agree with the RAM strategy (Dell rips you off bigtime so don't upgrade RAM through them, just get the 256MB and upgrade via www.Newegg.com ) and get the largest processor (I suggest the 3.06 Ghz with HT and the SXGA+), hard drive (I would step up for the 100GB drive if you can swing it) and video card (I suggest the 64MB 5200FX card......I don't see a 128MB card as an option like mine has) you can afford. After that the rest is gravy and can be added easily at a later time.

 

check out your local Costco. My dad paid $1,100 for a Sony Vaio. 2.8Ghz, 512MB DDR, 128MB ATI Radeon IGP9700, 60GB HD, and a DVD +/- RW burner.

 

See I really like the toshiba's specs, but man does that battery life suck. 1.5 hours compared to the 5150's 4+. Thats the only thing thats killing me. With the 5150 I'd get bottom line with exception to video card and hard drive, and I would upgrade the memory like you guys said. Today all their deals stop on the website so I'm going to have to see what dell offers around the beginning of next week when my Dad gets in town and we can go shopping. Another thing I like about getting a dell (DUDE! j/k) is that they got that 2 year warantee and 2 year accidental coverage plan. I like that because my vaio I had back in high school, the latch on it broke from being in my backpack, not to mention the battery died. So it would be nice to have something to cover those things. I dunno if compusa or someone offers extended warantees like that.

 

1.5 hours? Well, I get about 3 - 4 hours out of mine running 2 applications. I can watch a 2.5 hour DVD too.

I would have never bought mine if it had a 1.5 hour battery life! Yuck!

I use mine for school, home internet (wireless), watching DVD's on the plane, and some banking and stuff.

 

I'm just going off of the website, whats the model number on yours? If they are the same and get that kinda battery life out of it, I'm there. That'll be my decidion maker right there.

 

I'm using a Toshiba and I get at least 2 hours in the "always on" setting(full power). No clue what I'd get in long life setting.

 

I'll have to get you the model # when I get home.

 

If you get one with a high end video card (Radeon or Gforce) and a powerful chip (P4 or AMD athlon) you will certainly get less battery life (given the same amp hour battery) but it is a trade off......totally depends what you want. If you want more batt life then look for a Celeron with a lower end video card and the largest batt (amp hour wise) you can get. Really depends what you are going to use this machine for. My Dell 9100 is a desktop replacement so I am rarely not near an outlet and I am a resource hog (I always have like 20 apps open at once working on stuff) so I need the speed. Just think about how you are going to use this new machine and then buy accordingly.

 

Well I finally got one I like. Here's the link http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...&oid=95729&m=0 so far I like it. Still removing the software that was installed but it sure is nice to reply to a post sitting at a friends house with no wires hooked up. Wireless is gonna be addictive.