Laptop for College

[Matarael]

Don't really know what my budget is since my dad and his wife are getting it for me before I go to university, but I can assume that it should be more than enough.

I'm torn between getting a mac notebook and a PC laptop from Dell. If I get a mac notebook I'll probably be getting a macbook with a 120gb HDD or the black version (at around £750 and £850 respectively incl. 17.5% VAT). So the 2nd and 3rd cheapest models on the UK Mac webstore (but I won't be getting it from there)

And if I get a windows laptop, I'm not entirely sure which one I want to get yet, but I'm deciding between these two that I just quickly did on the dell website:

Inspiron 6400:
CPU - Pentium Dual-Core T2130 (1.86GHz)
OS - Windows XP
RAM - 2GB DDR2 (2x1024)
HDD - 120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
GPU - On board graphics

£424 + 17.5%VAT

Vostro 1500:
CPU - Core2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz)
OS - Windows XP
RAM 2GB DDR2 (2x1024)
HDD - 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
GPU - 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600M GT

£544 + 17.5%VAT (Vista would not cost extra)

Both with 1 year warranty only (I don't really need it)

I'm not sure whether or not to take the plunge and get Vista over XP. The PC will mainly be for work, internet and maybe a bit of messing with photoshop, but I do expect some form of light gaming, say something like WC3, WoW, games of that graphical level. (I'll have a 360 for games mainly)

So in short. Mac or PC. If PC, which PC (light gaming possibly involved), and is Vista worth bothering with?

Any suggestions around this price range would be brilliant.

Thanks.

[aja]

I would say take vista - I do not like it but it is the latest and greatest. I would only take XP if you are a hardcore gamer, benchmarker, or need to run some specific program that is not supported on vista.

As for the pc vs mac - I would get a mac lappy any day if I could afford it. Desktop wise though I will always stick to PC tech, no macs...

[aaa]

Erm... you get more hardware with that XP system. Alot more.

[Matarael]

Erm... you get more hardware with that XP system. Alot more.
What do you mean by that?

I could have gotten a better hard drive and more RAM I think. But the graphics wasn't upgradeable and there wasn't much else to add on other than that.

[JamesXP]

Vostro/Mac I'd choose.

[aaa]

What do you mean by that?

I could have gotten a better hard drive and more RAM I think. But the graphics wasn't upgradeable and there wasn't much else to add on other than that.

Well the cpu is alot faster, 2130=original Core from almost two years ago, versus Core 2.

[Matarael]

Thanks to everyone so far.

I think the only thing that's putting me off of the mac and vista is software that I'm accustomed to using on my PC at home and it not being compatible with the mac or vista and not knowing an equivalent.

This is really tough and I'm running out of time.

[BenF]

I'd second the vostro and the mac....both are good machines.

[juane414]

I would go for the laptop with the longest battery life. 2-4 hours just doesn't cut it for me. I don't know if battery upgrades are available for the macs. The macs are very nice though I have to admit.

[aja]

I would go for the laptop with the longest battery life. 2-4 hours just doesn't cut it for me. I don't know if battery upgrades are available for the macs. The macs are very nice though I have to admit.

I love two things about them - their keyboards and their screens. The screen always looks so much better to me than normal laptops

[Matarael]

Okay, just cut it down to the Vostro and a Blacbook, I think. But the upgrade in a month or two for the macbook is kind of offputting since I don't want what I buy to be immediately outdated, whether or not the upgrade is major or minor.

[ps2cho]

That vostro is way way way more powerful than the first one you posted. Not even a comparison.

[Matarael]

Well, it's looking more and more like the Vostro. Still not entirely certain, but if i do go Vostro, I've still got to decide whether or not I want to get Vista. Then again, I could always get it with Vista and then an OEM copy of XP can be gotten for like £60, so that isn't anywhere near as much as Vista would cost I think? And 32 or 64 bit?

[JamesXP]

64bit if you plan going 4GB ram.

[Matarael]

Doubt I'll go for the 4gb so I'll probably be going 32bit.

I was just thinking, if my budget allows, I may be able to get an XPS M1330, maybe.

[Xenocide]

This really depends what you want out of a laptop.

Vostros are good budget machines. If you want something quality on the PC side, you need to look into the new thinkpad line.

[Vengance_01]

Personally I would not get either. They are both big and bulky. Look for older small 12.1 inch business class notebook. If you just need it for typying notes, movies, ect.. anything from the Pentium M class, 1GB ram, and a 7200RPM HD would due nicely. Even a cheap XPS 1210. Core 2 performance in desktop apps, 5 hours with a GF 7400 and can even handle WoW.

[Murdochs_mad]

Look for older small 12.1 inch business class notebook.

business class tend to be more sturdy and if your getting it for uni then it will probably take a hammering

. . . anything from the Pentium M class,

PM's tend to have v.good battery life (just personnal experience). My Compal one is a 1.4 PM and gets about 4 hours on a charge, less if gaming. Plus being a business lappy its quite light and has a magneasium alloy casing which helps when its dropped (happens quite a lot:bang head)

[4od]

sounds silly, buti think you should buy the best condition x40-43 you can find. Crazy light (2.5 lb with battery), BG wireless, nutso battery life. And the performance should be good enough for anything but gaming and photoshop.

And i bet it'll cost 500-600 usd for a well-equipped but used one.

I say this because my father has had an x41 for almost 3 years (everyone in my family has a thinkpad for one reasonor another) and its gotta be the lightest machine i have ever held. Pretty damn tough too.

[Vengance_01]

an X41 will be a bit more than 500$, but I agree. I have had an X30 for quite a while till I got my new HP notebook:)

[Matarael]

I'm starting to think about an M1330 now as well as the Vostro. Maybe even a Macbook pro, but I'm not sure about that.

[fldrice]

You want a thin and light notebook or tablet with ~4.5+ hrs of battery life if you are using it for notes.