What is the best laptop to get?

Question

I am 15 years old and plan on using it when I go to college.
I need microsoft words things on it such as exel and powerpoint.
I want to be able to play and install some games onto it.
And i want one that will be able to play music
And have somewhat of a lot of space on it.

What do you recommend.
Mac or PC?
and the brands.

Answer 1

mac!!! they may be more expensive, but they are worth it. the only reason to get a pc instead is pcs are easier to use if your bad with computers.

Answer 2

Right now is a bad time to buy a collage notebook, but if you Absolutely must!



Lets face the facts collage will kill it off in less then 2 years.

so a 400$ Dell Inspiron 14 or 15 model will do it Perfectly, not to mention, you can replace your battery, install OpenOffice in windows and the hardware is rated high (dont be fooled by MAC!!!!!)



You dont need a gaming computer, you need something that wont die if you drop it running from point A to point B

something cheap and easy to fix.



Also I do remind you, CPU is for processing, while a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is responsible for Generating Frames, or make modern games playable.



CPU is good for AutoCAD and Word processing, while Graphics chips are solid good for Graphics design and playing things like Crysis



http://www.notebookcheck.net/Comparison-of-Graphic-Cards.130.0.html

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebook-Processors.129.0.html

Answer 3

Get HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition series $1000.



Nothing can beat the raw processing power of Intel Core i7 Quad Core. This laptop can easily play the most demanding game that exist today.



Windows 7 is faster and more stable than Windows Vista; it is very reliable - give it a chance to prove itself.



http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=See+all&v1=series&series_name=dv6tqe_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/All_laptop_&_tablet_PC_series/dv6tqe_series



Also, you will have to either buy Microsoft Office or get OpenOffice.org (FREE)



Don't think you can escape your problem by buying a Mac. Mac crash more often than PC and slower down after years of use.

Answer 4

Well, since you want to game and have a price limit of $1000, I would heavily recommend against the Mac. Macs are overpriced, overrated, and terrible for gaming. No computer comes with Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel), so you'll have to purchase that separately. Anyway, there are numerous Windows-based laptops that will suit your needs. For most people, I recommend HP or Dell.

Answer 5

Wait till your older mate u will grow out of the games by the time ur in college by then apple may be dead or a new windows will be out but if u arte like me 17 going to uni in the summer i am getting a mac no neeed for games i just hate windows 7 and vista

Answer 6

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+Duo+Processor+-+NightSky+Black/9548661.p?id=1218122908891&skuId=9548661



You might like this one, its a gaming laptop for $600. Never experienced it myself but sounds good. Check it out.

Answer 7

A Mac is still a PC, though they have their own OS. Anyway, it's a good thing that you asked this question so that I may be able to provide an insight to the other readers out there who are also planning to buy a brand new computer (what to look for and decide on the right one for their budget).

Well, If you're a little into gaming like myself, if you're at the store and looking at the laptop available, the first thing you should look for from the computer surface itself is a sticker for NVidia or ATI Mobility Radeon just below the keyboard. This assures you that the laptop has a dedicated graphics memory card. For instance, the game I would love most to play, Diablo III, is said to run on 3D graphics so it is rumored to need at least 1GB of graphics memory (a lower graphics memory = cheaper laptop price) which I chose for my laptop that has a 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 230M (although I would have preferred an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 with 1GB DDR3 discrete graphics memory instead or much better a 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTS or GTX 260M). Always check the system requirement specifications at the back of the game's packaging (for ex. SIMS 3 and check if your laptop meets all these requirements).

Next important aspect is the RAM (memory of the computer). If you're in designing and you need to ran applications like the AutoCAD 2007 or newly released softwares used for editing photos and videos, well you have to make sure that the laptop has at least 2GB of pre-installed DDR2 memory chips in it. My computer has 4GB DDR3 (the fastest and newest type of memory sticks that came out in the market last October) installed in it making it run a lot faster, and the max I could install on it is 8GB (2pcs 4GB each).

But what makes a computer really run fast? It is it's processor! So if you really want your processor to have computing prowess and for you to be able to run different applications simultaneously, make sure it's at least as efficient as an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (Intel Centrino 2 is also a Core 2 Duo but features power saving capabilities; Quad core is for gaming fanatics). Now for my computer I chose an Intel® Core™ i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) which is just the right stuff for the applications that I would like to run on it. Piece of advice is, look at the Properties option of the laptop inside the Computer and make sure that you have at least 2GHz of speed on your processor and also to briefly describe a Core 2 Duo, is like having 2 motors running your machine each independent of the other which means for a Quad Core, it is like having 4 motors running your machine independent of each other (which simply means that it will run faster even if its frequency is lower than that of the Core 2 Duo processor). FYI, Intel: Core 2 Duo, Centrino 2, Quad and Core i-7 (slower Core i-5 is only available for desktops as of now) are all very much faster and better than an Intel: Atom, Celeron and Pentium (has more affordable AMD equivalents also).

For the HDD (Hard Disc Drive) at least have 320GB on your laptop and make sure to partition it into 4 partitions. You can use one to store in all your photos and files, the other, all your MP3 songs, the other all your videos and the last and smallest partition, for creating restore points and file back-ups. {Although I would have loved my computer more if it came with two HDD bays... 1st one w/ 64 or 128GB SSD (Solid State Drive) and a back-up 360, 400 or 500GB (72000rpm) 2nd HDD.}

One more thing, the average laptop LCD screen size is 15.4". If you want something smaller than that with these 3 features I just shed some light on, expect the price to go higher (ex. for LCD screens 14" and 13.3" diagonally).

If you have wanted a small, portable and affordable laptop, well about two weeks back, a new model of Sony CW13FX/B Jet Black glossy notebook went on sale at Fry's (for only $699.99), and I'll give you an idea of what it's made up of. It has a 14" (1366x768) LED backlit display screen using energy-efficient technology; comes with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.20GHz; only second to Quads and the newest Core i-5 & i-7 out just this November); 4GB PC3-8500 (the fastest and newest type of memory sticks that came out in the market last October; w/c is also expandable up to a Maximum: 8GB); NVIDIA® GeForce® G210M graphics card and 256MB of dedicated video RAM (for applications like Adobe Photoshop, U-Lead, AutoCAD, games, et al.); integrated MOTION EYE® camera and microphone with face-tracking technology; WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® Technology (to connect to your phone and other bluetooth enabled devices): Integrated Stereo A2DP (2.1 + EDR); an HDMI™ output (delivers video and audio to external sources via a single cable so you can enjoy HD entertainment on your compatible big screen TV without a myriad of extra cables); and best of all, it already comes with Windows® 7 Home Premium. Now I think it is the best deal you can get for a

Answer 8

Get a PC & get a HP Laptop.

Answer 9

Get a PC and if you need to get office you need to buy it. Get get a asus.

Answer 10

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwza1&cs=19&dgvcode=ss&c=US&l=EN&dgc=SS&cid=39716&lid=1003788

Answer 11

For top Quality: Asus or http://www.powernotebooks.com , for decent quality: dell



PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Today, Macs use a subset of PC hardware. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think..



Don't believe the lies that Macs are better than PCs at graphics/animation.. Dreamworks Animation http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/ under studio click on Technology of Animation, an independent film maker I know uses PCs, a graphic artist I used to know uses PCs also.



A number of PCs can also run OS X (Mac OS) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=os+x+on+pc&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=os+x+on+ as well just that Apple makes it illegal in order to get Market share.. The reason why Mac can run native Windows is because it is using a subset of PC hardware,



If you decide to buy a Mac for running Windows, you will still have to get the same virus/spyware protection, and run into the same issues as a regular PC.



Now is a Mac worth buying for OS X?



I say: NO... for the following reasons...



ADVANTAGES WINDOWS :

Aprox 90% of the market is Windows and most PCs have windows already pre-installed.

1) Some websites require Internet Explorer, to run IE on Mac you really get ies4osx which is the Windows version of IE running really buggy and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows.

2) Supports more devices (printers and other things you hook into the computer).

3) More business software/games

4) Want the dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.

5) Used by businesses.



ADVANTAGES LINUX :

1) FREE (most versions are)

2) Install software by either 1) Synaptic Package Manager, 2) Add/Remove 3) Opening a .deb or .rpm file (depending on distribution)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION which can do any cool effect a Mac can do and many ore....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)

3) Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Avant Window Navigator.Cairo Dock, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE

4) It is FASTER/MORE SECURE to surf on the internet

5) Some Windows programs work with Wnehq/Crossover (also avail on Mac, but why pay $$$)



Instructions how to download, burn and boot http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

Dual Boot Instructions http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



VIRUSES

Mac OS X has viruses (and significantly on the rise), a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".

http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/



SECURITY

Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 less than 30 minutes, and within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008, and within 10 seconds in 2009. In 2008, Linux and Vista were not hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered. Vista was next, and then Linux. In 2009 Windows 7 fell shortly after the Mac but Linux was unscathed.

Macs are standardized with Cameras, if your Mac gets hacked, the hacker can turn on your camera with more ease.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Mac-OS-X-hacked-under-30-minutes/0,130061744,139241748,00.htm

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html

http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/03/19/Researcher_cracks_Mac_in_10_seconds_1.html

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml



QUALITY/PROBLEMS

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Sample of problems: Deleting your Data (Snow Leopard), Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=5006

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://www.appledefects.com/

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/107748-mac-os-leopard-running-slow.html

http://cybernetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/reliable-laptops.jpg



Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.



PRICE

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



**(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I compare Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you really want an all-in one the Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you matching specs. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.



PS: Apple knows that they need to make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.



Dell XPS8000: ($1018)

CPU: I-7 2.8GHZ (SUPERIOR ) RANK 12= http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7+860+%40+2.80GHz

SCREEN: (Upgrade to) 21.5inch Screen

MEMORY: 6GB Ram DDR3 Dual Channel 1033GHZ (MORE)

HARD DRIVE: 640 GB (LARGER, FASTER)

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer (FASTER)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon 4350HD 512MB (SUPERIOR)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dxdzkv1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&m_2=SXI7860&mo=2~SXI7860&kc=studio-xps-8000



The Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup and is not the best deal... The IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1200)

CPU: 3.06 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (MUCH SLOWER) http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E8435+%40+3.06GHz

SCREEN: 21.5inch Screen

MEMORY: 4GB Ram (LESS)

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive (SMALLER, SLOWER)

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer

GRAPHICS: Nvidia Geforce 9400M (WORSE)

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB950LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NDc



**(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop Price Starting: $550 Ending Opt A: $854 Ending Opt B: $954

15" Screen (SAME)

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: OPT A: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD (WORSE) Benchmark: 1243 http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html

OPT B: 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 (BETTER) Benchmark: 4969 http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4330.13973.0.html

Memory: 4GB 1033GHZ DDR3 SDRAM (SAME)

CD DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD-RW

Hard Drive: (upgrade to) 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SAME)

Battery Life: (upgrade to) up to 8 hours (BETTER)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DNDWZA3&s=dhs&fb=1



Macbook Pro Price Starting: $1700 Ending Opt A: $1850

15" Screen (SAME)

CPU: 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics Benchmark: 3263 http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-9400M-G.11949.0.html

Memory: 4GB 1033GHZ DDR3 SDRAM (SAME)

CD DRIVE: 8X CD/DVD-RW

Hard Drive: (upgrade to) 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SAME)

Battery Life: up to 7 hours (WORSE)

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC118LL/A?mco=MTM3NDcyODk



FREE Windows Stuff

http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

http://www.iobit.com/

http://www.ccleaner.com/



ILife Equivalents

http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20070830_ilife_for_windows.html

http://www.xsellize.com/showthread.php?t=20518



ANTI-VIRUS

Avira Antivir (FREE) rated best detection/2009 (Free version=no realtime protection) and here http://www.freewaregenius.com/2009/04/07/the-best-free-antivirus-a-comparison/

http://www.free-av.com/



Avast (Free- Click under Free Software and download Avast Home Edition) http://www.avast.com/



ANTI-MALWARE

Malware Bytes-(Free version=no realtime protection).

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol

Super Anti-Spyware (FREE)

http://download.cnet.com/SuperAntiSpyware-Free-Edition/3000-8022_4-10523889.html?tag=mncol



LINUX INFO:

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.ubuntu.com/