Please help me find a laptop for DS

[Minnie]

DS (17) uses my laptop quite a bit and as he rarely asks for anything I'd like to surprise him with a laptop for Xmas.

I have a MacBook Pro but want to go with a Windows based laptop for DS as that is what they use at school.

This will not be used as a "gaming" machine as he has an Xbox for games. This is more for school work, research, Itunes, movies, light games, ect.

Thanks for any help

 

[SandrA9810]

How early are you willing to hit the BF lines?? Or are you looking for quality.

There's a nice Sony laptop at Best Buy for BF for 400$.

 

[golfgal]

Is he a senior this year? If so, has he picked out a college yet? If so,check with that school and see if they have any requirements for their students for laptops-a LOT of schools do. If not, every store has some kind of a deal on laptops. I am partial to Dell's and they have some great deals online today.

 

[maelstrom]

If you're not going to buy an Apple, I'd recommend a Sony or reluctantly a Dell.

 

[asta]

I might re-think the Mac vs PC. I at first bought my college bound daughter a PC because I thought it would be more compatible but when it needed to be replaced we went with a MacBook Pro and she loves it. My only other advice is to go small so that it is easy to carry everywhere.

 

[MichelleVW]

I might re-think the Mac vs PC. I at first bought my college bound daughter a PC because I thought it would be more compatible but when it needed to be replaced we went with a MacBook Pro and she loves it. My only other advice is to go small so that it is easy to carry everywhere.

Same here. I bought oldest DD a PC the year before college, and then we had to turn around and buy her a Mac due to college requirements. I thought most high schools used Macs?

 

[Minnie]

DS is only a junior this year and college is not a consideration at this point.

His high school is still Windows which is the reason I want to stay with a PC.

Brand wise I just want to stay away from e-machines - most I've heard of end up being more problems than anything else. Thanks for the suggestions on Dell and Sony... I'll check them out now.

 

[BC]

QVC has a Dell right now that is being sold early as their "Special Value" of the day for tomorrow. It is Windows 7 and has the new Office 2010 included. I think it is the choice of a 15 or 17" and is around $800 bucks. Take a look online or keep watching live. Lots of color choices also and is also being broken down into 5 payments which is something you can't find in most stores!

 

[orbrian]

I have a HP laptop, it is great.
And I just saw that amazon has the HP G62-340US AMD Athlon II 2.2GHz 15.6" Widescreen Notebook, in Charcoal for $399.99.
Hope it helps.

 

[tarheel618]

QVC has a Dell right now that is being sold early as their "Special Value" of the day for tomorrow. It is Windows 7 and has the new Office 2010 included. I think it is the choice of a 15 or 17" and is around $800 bucks. Take a look online or keep watching live. Lots of color choices also and is also being broken down into 5 payments which is something you can't find in most stores!

Honestly, if I was going to spend 800, I would go ahead a pay a little extra for a mac. Of course this is my opinion.

 

[BC]

The price of the Dell would probably be less if it weren't for the software that is coming with it. Like I said, it includes Office 2010, Photoshop Elements 2009 and more. They say it is around $700 worth of software added.

 

[PatsGirl]

I would either go with a 10" netbook with a 9-hour battery or a 17" laptop, nothing in between. The larger one is good if they want to watch movies or play any games but I think most high school kids prefer the netbooks ~ they are versatile, light, and easy to travel with. Try Jr. com or another online electronic store, the Asus EEE is an excellent netbook for the $$ (around $350).

 

[DVCLiz]

Minnie, my daughter's school is a "laptop" school and the suggested computer is an IBM ThinkPad, but plenty of the kids have Macs. It hasn't been a problem to get the software needed and once that's in place the systems work side by side as far as classroom procedures, etc.

If you really would rather get a Mac I don't see any reason to stay with a Windows product - there really isn't that much of a difference anymore and he will have a Mac to take to college in less than 2 years which should last him a good long time.

 

[npmommie]

I don't know if you are trying to get a budget one or not, but best buy has an Acer online for $249

 

[karen l]

I'd go with a mac. My children all have mac books - my oldest started off with a dell & it was a waste. My youngest DS is in high school & has no problems with his mac & many of his friends are using windows based laptops. A couple of his friends have told their parents they want a mac because of the problems they're having with their machines.

 

[Minnie]

I love my MacBook Pro and I see a definitely following here

But for this laptop I will be purchasing a Windows machine.

Any real differences between HP and Dell?

Thanks!

 

[browneyes106]

I have a Macbook and a HP laptop that I have had since 2007. I don't use the HP that much but it has never given me problems. Others that I have known who have HP's haven't had any bad experiences. I hear a lot of bad things about Dell laptops. A woman that I work with has a Sony and she has said she hasn't had any problems.

When going with PC, I think got with an HP or Sony.