Laptop suggestions please

[KarenB]

I am in need of a new laptop and have no idea what kind to purchase. I had an HP and it crashed last week. Here is what I will be using it for and it would probably be used daily:

I teach fourth grade so I need something to store grades in an Excel spreadsheet
Microsoft works for creating lesson plans, unit plans, tests, activity sheets, etc
Creating Power Point presentations for science classes
Storing my personal digital pics from my camera (Kodak)
Playing with my pictures of a program such as Adobe Photoshop
Wireless internet and e-mail
The DIS of course
Playing a few games such as Hoyal Board games

I think those would be the main uses. I have no idea which kind to get I would love to hear any suggestions.

Thanks,
Karen

 

[Talking Hands]

I love my Sony VAIO. I have grades on it. lessons plans, worksheets, etc., my photos from school and personal. Internet, email. It is wireless if needed.

 

[rlovew]

My DH who works in computers has been looking at laptops for awhile to get one and we just got a Toshiba. He likes the Satellite best fo them. Toshiba and Sony were the only brand he would look at having other brands at work and finding them more of a problem.

 

[KarenB]

Thanks Talking Hands and rlovew.

.....giving this a bump for more suggestions!

Karen

 

[helenabear]

I have an old Sony Vaio and I think it is okay. I am not sure I would buy another one though. I'll definitely disagree on Toshiba. While 4 years ago I would've looked at one, you couldn't get me to touch one now. IBMs (Lenovo) are awesome, but they are usually more expensive. I would pretty much kill for one of those. Dells are above Toshiba by far on our list and worth looking at, particularly the Latitude line.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, certainly Dell is pretty much a standard today. I have had a number of their laptops, many desktops over the years, always good bang for the buck, reliable, well featured or more basic, as you 'build it' the way you want. My current laptop is a Latitude, being more dependent on networking at times and long term integration. The 620 is a nice middle of the road model. Inspirons also offer great features at very reasonable pricing. Take time to review the differences.

As a teacher, take a look at the education site of Dell........ http://www1.us.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=k12home&l=en&s=edu but also take a look at any of the 'current deal' sites http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-09,GGLJ:en&q=dell+deals as there are always a plethora of 'deals', including the Dell Home & Home Office pricings. It can be confusing at times, best is to take your time (if you have it), maybe a couple weeks, checking those sites, to see how the pricing and packaging changes. I do think Thursdays are the beginning of Dell's pricing cycles.

In any case, make sure to price the 3, maybe even 4 year service plus their Complete Care (the other services....faster phone service, online teaching aid, etc, are a bunch of baloney, IMO), but the service and CC really give you peace of mind in the event of a problem (and a good chance that over the years there will be). CC is valuable for a laptop, not too costly.

Good wishes on your hunt.

 

[Dana49]

ABS, go to newegg.com they usually have great deals. I do not recommend getting a Dell or IBM, they are overpriced for what you are buying. ABS is a well known brand among computer gurus, and for the price, they are the best.