Laptop suggestions?

[Matt@WDWR]

I need to buy my wife a new laptop. She basically uses it to write her papers, browse the internet and watch random inane youtube videos that her sister sends her. I'd rather not spend more than $750. However, if it was worth it, I could go higher I guess.

Anyways without this dissolving into an Apple vs PC grudge match, do you have suggestions? Brands? minimum requirements? I'd appreciate it! I definitely don't want it to be slow because my wife has zero patience for technology. haha

 

[Revan]

My wife has been using her iPad as her only device / home computer for the last year and is mostly very happy with it.

It's relatively inexpensive (software is much less expensive than PC equivalent)

She uses Pages for all word processing and has a bluetooth keyboard for anything more than casual email/facebook.

It comes with a youtube app making it very easy to use.

It's fast and instant on and ultimately portable around the house.

It's definitely a paradigm shift - but I think that the iPad would handle 95% of what the average home user needs - the biggest issue for us is the difficulty in printing.

 

[nkereina]

I'm a law student and just bought a new laptop for all the schoolwork and papers I have to do. I bought an HP with Windows 7 which has good word processing software so I didn't have to buy the Microsoft Office suite. I got it at Best Buy and paid the additional $$ to have the Geek Squad set it up and I bought two years of virus protection and everything came to about $600. I really like the computer but my only complaint is the battery life when it's unplugged. It lasts about 3 hours when using it straight but I was hoping for longer. My mom has an older model HP laptop (bought about 2 yrs ago) and her battery life has significantly decreased over the years. I don't know if that's pretty typical for laptops or an HP fault.

Prior to this laptop, I had a $400 Toshiba laptop which I loved and lasted about 5 years but it became riddled with viruses (my own fault) so I just coughed up the money for a new one!

My boyfriend has a MacBook and I loathe it. Don't get me wrong - I have an iPhone and an iPod and if I ever have extra money, I'd get an iPad (for entertainment purposes - not good for schoolwork/papers, etc); but he has had nothing but problems with the MacBook. I feel like he's at the genius bar in the apple store once a month! It's great with the virus protection but the word processing sucks and he can't use it with our printer. It was also pretty expensive (more than the $750 you are looking to spend) and with their reputation and cost of their products, I just expected better quality.

 

[DEA]

My leaning is always toward a Mac. You may want to check Apple's refurbs at store.apple.com. This should be a pretty good machine for what she wants to do. It is pretty much identical to what I use now: http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC516LL/A?mco=MTg0NzA2MTU#overview

It has most of the things for which you should be looking: 2GB of RAM, decent speed processor, OK hard drive space (although this is the weakest part of the deal), and a 1 year warranty. It also includes iLife '11, which is nice.

I would be more comfortable with a 320GB drive, but 250GB should give a little breathing room.

 

[Matt@WDWR]

My wife has been using her iPad as her only device / home computer for the last year and is mostly very happy with it.

It's relatively inexpensive (software is much less expensive than PC equivalent)

She uses Pages for all word processing and has a bluetooth keyboard for anything more than casual email/facebook.

It comes with a youtube app making it very easy to use.

It's fast and instant on and ultimately portable around the house.

It's definitely a paradigm shift - but I think that the iPad would handle 95% of what the average home user needs - the biggest issue for us is the difficulty in printing.

I have an iPad and while I like it, I don't find it that easy for word processing even with a keyboard and I can't get over the refusal to support Flash.

It is an affordable suggestion though that I'll keep in mind!

 

[Matt@WDWR]

I'm a law student and just bought a new laptop for all the schoolwork and papers I have to do. I bought an HP with Windows 7 which has good word processing software so I didn't have to buy the Microsoft Office suite. I got it at Best Buy and paid the additional $$ to have the Geek Squad set it up and I bought two years of virus protection and everything came to about $600. I really like the computer but my only complaint is the battery life when it's unplugged. It lasts about 3 hours when using it straight but I was hoping for longer.

Do you know what the model # is for your laptop?

 

[gibson424]

If you can find either a previous generation MacBook Air or even a good deal on a current gen one, that thing rules. Light, portable, yet very capable. It doesn't have a disc drive but (at least for me personally) that's not a deal-breaker. I can't remember the last time I used a disc anyways. If that is a problem, the low-end MacBook is awesome too. Obviously I'm a big Apple guy.

 

[Matt@WDWR]

My leaning is always toward a Mac. You may want to check Apple's refurbs at store.apple.com. This should be a pretty good machine for what she wants to do. It is pretty much identical to what I use now: http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC516LL/A?mco=MTg0NzA2MTU#overview

It has most of the things for which you should be looking: 2GB of RAM, decent speed processor, OK hard drive space (although this is the weakest part of the deal), and a 1 year warranty. It also includes iLife '11, which is nice.

I would be more comfortable with a 320GB drive, but 250GB should give a little breathing room.

is iLife standard on all the laptops? I didn't see it mentioned in the description of the one you linked.

 

[DEA]

is iLife standard on all the laptops? I didn't see it mentioned in the description of the one you linked.

Check the "Included Software" block over low on the right-hand side.

 

[nkereina]

Do you know what the model # is for your laptop?

it's this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+La...630039.p?id=1218274970383&skuId=1630039&st=hp laptop&cp=1&lp=2

Mine is the 14 inch screen but they have a 17 inch screen that's only $100 more.

if you're used to a PC, I find it hard to get used to a mac. My old laptop has Windows XP and this one has Windows 7, which I really love. It's easier to use, SO much nicer than Vista, and the Microsoft programs that come standard are much better than Works was on Windows XP and older.

 

[Matt@WDWR]

Thanks! my problem is that I'm a guy. hahaha When I see numbers I naturally want the "biggest" number and I never know what amount of RAM, Harddrive space, processor speed that I need. I don't play games so I think I'm drawn to overspending sometimes.

However, I do like watching Hulu and Netflix movies streaming on my computer so that's the requirements I need to understand!

 

[topolino]

I got a MacBook Pro last year when I went back to college and I love it and haven't had any problems with it. I couldn't go back to a PC ever. And I'm not just an Apple fanboy spouting off; my phone is a Droid not an iPhone.

So it's not just for the name that I have a MacBook. I have one because it's a quality product.