it depends. you can find a LOT of cheap laptops out there (best buy, walmart) but in my opinion, the thing that makes/breaks a laptop is dedicated video card RAM (not found in laptops from best buy, walmart).
I got a build-to-order from HP almost a year ago with 128MB dedicated video RAM, 2 GB RAM, 1.8 ghz, around $999. It's got a 14 inch screen, which is a little small for my liking, but it's light, which I love. It's an HP DV2000t (There's a DV2000v I'd get if I did it again - it's an AMD instead of Intel)
I just found out recently that the laptop I got does NOT support more than 2 GB of RAM - it's a motherboard related issue. which SUCKS. that means I'll most likely get rid of it in a couple of years (maybe less). make sure any laptop you buy can support more than 2GB (check this VERY carefully, a lot are stuck at 2 GB)
If you get a laptop with 1 GB of RAM, just check out Kingston.com - they make RAM for all the larger companies, and it's super cheap.
What's wrong with 2GB of RAM? That's plenty.
yeah man, 3 years ago 512MB was plenty. I buy machines with plans to buy more RAM in the future ... not a new machine.
Also - Vista is a RAM hog.
why use vista though?
Vista is pretty nice, I've been using it for about 8 months. It's not a very compelling upgrade over XP, but there are a few nice things thrown in here and there. Overall, it's definitely better than XP, in my experience.
Vista runs great with 2GB, though.
If you want to use any more than 3GB of RAM, you have to go with 64-bit Vista or XP, which is a bit of a crapshoot at this point.
i say Vista runs merely "OK" with 2GB. I'm not like, impressed by the speed. It works normally - the equivalent of XP with 1GB, I think. I also use Readyboost (2GB on an SD card) which probably helps a little.
i'm aware of the limitations of Vista with more than 3.2GB, but I still think that should be my choice, not the motherboard's choice. If 2 years from now I feel like buying Vista 64-bit for $200, and 4GB of RAM for $100, I've saved money rather than buying a new laptop.
i see where you're coming from. but i'd just rather have a new laptop at that point.
yeah me too. it's more a question of "can i cost justify this to the wife". heh. she sees the UPS person bringing me so much crap, that i have to have it sent to work sometimes.
HAHA, nice
you know what i found out? that if you have Vista 32bit, and you want 64bit, to upgrade is free, provided you upgrade to the same version (ie, home premium 32 bit to home premium 64 bit). I definitely plan on doing this - I was due for a system wipe anyway, and then I can set up Ubuntu to dual boot. This way, next year, if I decide I want to get 4GB of RAM rather than buy a new laptop, I totally can.
The best part of this upgrade? You use the "Upgrade Anytime" CD that came with your computer. hilarious.
very nice. free is always good.
I got a free copy of Vista Ultimate 32 and 64 from MS for participating in a survey thing! Just came in the mail. Awesome.
I gotta post on my results on installing Vista 64bit. Worked like a champ, install was extremely smooth.
Installed Ubuntu (as part of a dual boot), which works well. I haven't gotten too much of a chance to use Ubuntu, but I did struggle with the "dual display" issue - I have a 17inch LCD hooked up to my laptop, and use both simultaneously. In Ubuntu - that doesn't work.
To dual boot Ubuntu, I used a program called "Wubi", which makes it SO easy my grandmother could do it. You install Wubi, it asks you a couple of questions, and then it downloads and installs Ubuntu for you. No partitioning, no resizing of drives - it does it all automatically, and configures the bootloader. When you are tired of Ubuntu and want to remove the whole thing (including the dual boot configuration) you just remove the program from "Add/remove programs" in Vista.
The only problem I encountered was that the first time I tried to install Wubi, it somehow got hung up on the Ubuntu install and kept rebooting my computer. No problem. I booted back into windows, uninstalled Wubi, rebooted, then re-installed Wubi. This time Ubuntu worked perfectly, but now I had two "Ubuntu" choices in my dual boot setup (ok now it was 3 boot setup). So I used a program called EasyBCD to fix it - which was VERY easy.
So now things are good, just gotta find some time to spend with Ubuntu. I have heard that there are programs to use wifi syncing with an iPod Touch over Ubuntu - that would be sweet to get going.
Very helpful. My laptop when I bought it was a $2500 laptop and I got it for $2000. Very awesome at the time.. But, I can't do something that massive again at this time with other expenses and trying to save more money. I also don't want the cheapest laptop 'cause I know there's no point to it.. if it runs cheaply as well. So, you provided helpful information. The thing that confuses me the most is the brands, as has always been my case. What brands are most reliable? Then, next after brands... what models?
my vote is for HP first, Acer 2nd (although I've never seen an Acer with dedicated video RAM). I'd buy a Dell, but never found a deal that worked for me.
interestingly ... there's one kind of Dell (I think the D430 or something) that has a dock with two VGA ports ... multiple monitors are hot
we have HP's at work, and they are always breaking. IBMs are a nice balance between sturdiness, and perfrmance. i really like the lenovo think pad r61. i have no experience with dells, but i have always heard that they suck.
anyway, if you are looking for the most "reliable" laptop, you have to go with mac. they are the best. no viruses, sturdy, fast, and they are so sexy looking.