Natwerk Designs

What's a good laptop to get? (my preferences listed inside)?

So I currently own a 2 year old Toshiba Satellite A215 running 32-bit Vista with 2GB RAM and 1.80 GHz AMD Turion 64 processor and it's already failing on me. My computer lags too much and actual parts on my laptop are even breaking off. It's hard finding a laptop that can fit my needs, and I'm not sure if the types of laptops I'm looking for will be OK. If you can recommend me a good laptop, laptop site, or laptop discussion/community which I can get an even better opinion, on please point it out for me! Thanks! What I need the laptop for: - As a college student... I have to write essays, school stuff, etc. - Graphics + Colors = Super important for me! I do a lot of Photoshop, possibly film editing. - Entertainment - Youtube, watching movies, etc - Light gaming What I'm looking for in a laptop: - Price: $700 is my max. $800 is do-able but pushing it for me. - OS: Windows 7, 32-bit - preferrably. NO Apple - Specs: 3 to 4GB RAM, since it's the standard nowadays. Perhaps at least 320 GB of disk space. Would really like Core 2 Duo processor - Brand: No Toshiba anymore definitely, and not really into HP. I was recommended Lenovo and Acer BUT I'm looking more into Asus and Sony; if there's one better out there then I can be convinced to get it - Design/Colors: A little important, but I won't go out of my way for it. As long as it looks nice! Also should be pretty solid and durable, I want it to last longer unlke my current. - Battery life: At least 2-4 hours is good enough - Screen size: At least 13", 15.4" max. Not TOO glossy that I can see reflections either. LED is good - Keyboard: Chiclet keyboard OR back-lit keyboard is a big plus for me but isn't always necessary - Portability: Maybe a light and thin or ultraportable, since I carry my laptop around a lot. - Optical Drive: Not sure if I care about having one anymore, I barely use one and I can always buy an extension if I feel like I need it

Public Comments

1. dell media center
2. I will always vote for Mac products.
3. What ever you do buy a dell. I just got mine yesterday and it is awesome!
4. Simple fact, Apple makes the best laptops. Second fact ... Apple's products are really expensive. I have had good luck with Dell and Acer, and find them to be very affordable. Dell, Compaq, HP, Lenovo, etc. all basically assemble the same parts into different shells. On the inside, there is little difference between one and another ... it's all about the components. Anymore, look for the best deal you can get and take care of the computer once you have it. No one of the companies you are looking at has any better a record than the others. If you really want a good place to start, look to cnet.com or PC Magazine for well-researched reviews and product recommendations.
5. Try getting one that turns on.
6. With what you are looking for a Mac would be the obvious choice. Why is there NO Apple listed when that would be the clear choice here? Mac is going to be one step above every PC that anyone lists here. LED backlighting, backlit keyboard, DDR3 RAM, high end everything, why not spend a little more now and be satisfied? If ease of use, security, usability, and stability is important to you get a Mac. You also listed graphics + colors, and you and I both know that is just another reason to get a Mac. Do yourself a favor.
7. Im not going shopping for you but i will give you some suggestions. I usually suggest buying a Toshiba or a Sony. Make sure it has Intel Dual core or higher, at least 4 gigs of ram will do you fine, and a dedicated graphics card. Things you do not want are AMD processor, less then 3 gigs of ram, and an integreted Graphics card. With your price range you should probably buy a toshiba. You can buy an upper-middle range model from Toshiba for 750 while you would be getting the low end sony. Both will do what you need. Both of these companies last a long time. Especially Toshiba. Amd is terrible no matter what computers they are in. They are out performed by Intel across the board. . Hd size, screen size, and Os are up to you. Btw. Acer is garbage. Lenovo only make decent work computers (terrible personal computers), dell makes crap computers built to last 2-3 years, Asus is good if you put down the money (their low end is garbage.) Hp is no better then Dell. And compaq is Hp's bargain brand (so you know its even worse) So since your against Toshiba (because you bought one with a terrible Cpu), Go with Sony or Gateway. Gateway was bought By acer, but Acer stays very hands off on the company. Gateway is made in America. You can get a great computer from Gateway within your price range. The only problem with sony is they cost alot. If you can buy a gaming laptop, they are built to be abused. Good Luck.