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05-02-2006, 10:19 PM
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#1 of 13 
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Local Time: 12:19 PM
Local Date: 10-14-2008
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help me find a laptop
I'm going to law school next year, and I am in need of a laptop. I'd really like someone to recommend one for me. I don't need anything too fancy, but it needs a Dual Core or Pentium M processor, 1 GB Ram, 60 GB hard drive, wireless internet card, and a 3 yr warranty. I'd also like a 14'' screen. Got any recommendations? I really don't want to spend over $1200 and the cheaper the better.
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05-03-2006, 07:38 AM
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#2 of 13
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Member
Location: Charlotte, NC
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Re: help me find a laptop
I don't think you're going to be able to get a Core Duo and a 3-year warranty in your price range. So, I would suggest getting a PentiumM or waiting until late July or so to see if prices come down on the Core Duo.
I've always been very partial to the ThinkPads (formerly IBM, presently Lenovo). IMO, they are the most solidly built laptops available. My wife and I have each owned Dell Latitudes which have been very good to us for the most part -- but I still like my sister's ThinkPad much better.
UPDATE: Lenovo actually sells the Lenovo 3000 N100 with a Core Duo processor. When you move up to 1GB of RAM and add in a 3 year warranty it comes to $1267. That's probably about as low as you'll get for a good laptop with a Core Duo.
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05-03-2006, 09:54 AM
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#3 of 13
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Re: help me find a laptop
Second SethH's suggestion to go with a Thinkpad. Another point to consider would be to get the laptop after you get into law school, because that way you can take advantage of academic discounts.
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05-03-2006, 10:13 AM
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#4 of 13
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Re: help me find a laptop
Quote:
| Another point to consider would be to get the laptop after you get into law school, because that way you can take advantage of academic discounts. |
Generally, or at least at my school, the discounts are made available to students as soon as they are admitted to the school. However, make sure these discounts are actually discounts. For instance, my school had a deal with Dell when I came in as a freshman. It was 5%-10% off various models depending on price. However, the catch was that you had to pay sales tax on them (4.5% in my state at that time) and you couldn't use other offers (rebates, discounts, etc). It ended up being cheaper for me to just buy directly from Dell rather than using the "special" Dell site setup for my school.
Software, on the other hand, is a different story. My school sells MS Office to students for next to nothing on a contract with MS. If your school has a similar contract you will likely save a couple hundred dollars compared to buying it through Dell or Lenovo.
If they don't have a software contract, you should consider OpenOffice which has gotten considerably better with version 2.0 and could be a viable alternative for you depending on your needs.
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05-03-2006, 01:18 PM
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#5 of 13
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Re: help me find a laptop
I agree that Dell has aggressive discounts via coupons online, so it's gonna be hard to beat that using academic discounts. I still believe that academic discounts for Thinkpads are real, though the amount of savings may be different depending on the particular model (more expensive ones tend to have better discounts).
As far as sales tax goes, I believe now you also have to pay for sales tax if you order onine via Dell directly.
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05-03-2006, 01:33 PM
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#6 of 13
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Joe Kauffman
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Location: Clearwater, FL
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Re: help me find a laptop
You have to pay sales tax when buying Dell online only if they have a presence in your state. Which includes the Dell kiosks at the mall.
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05-03-2006, 02:20 PM
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#7 of 13
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Join Date: May 2006
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Re: help me find a laptop
I have a Dell that I love and I have had a thinkpad in the past too. Both are very good computers. Dell always seems to have the best deals whenever I pay attention to the ads.
Definitely plan on buying around Memorial day if you can, they will be offering even bigger better discounts and rebates.
Alyssa Anders
Modular Homes information, Resources and more at Modular Today.
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05-03-2006, 07:28 PM
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#8 of 13
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Re: help me find a laptop
If you are buying just on price the Dell's are hard to beat. Otherwise take a look at the Lenovo line and HP's business line like the nc6320. Never been a big fan of the HP home line, but their business models are great and do not come loaded with all the crap software.
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05-03-2006, 11:12 PM
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#9 of 13
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Re: help me find a laptop
What's the difference btwn a Pentium M and Dual Core? Do I really need a Dual Core for school stuff?
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05-04-2006, 06:45 AM
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#10 of 13
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Location: Charlotte, NC
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Re: help me find a laptop
The dual core is more "future proof." Intel has said that by the end of the year 90% of the processors they produce for laptops will be dual core. Essentially when you buy a dual core you're getting a single physical chip that has two Pentium M's built into it.
Do you really need it for school running Windows XP? Nope. But if you plan to upgrade to Vista then your machine might run a little better with dual core since Vista is expected to be a resource hog.
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