Laptop For college

HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
in Off-Topic
Alright so I need a laptop for college. I'm thinking of getting an <a href="http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Usage&v1=Entertainment&series_name=dv6000z_series" target="_blank">HP Pavilion dv6000z</a>. I'll customize the processor to 2 Ghz dual core, 80Gb hard drive, 1 Gb ram, and the TV tuner card. And the final price will end up being around $1500.

My main question is: is there anything cheaper, but still has similar specifications? (Weight isn't an issue, and it doesn't have to be the same brand either)
I'm also getting the four year accidental damage thing, and I want to know if it’s worth it, and if there are any weird ways to damage a laptop which would make them not repair it for you.
Also is the integrated webcam and microphone good quality?
And the TV tuner looks nice, but is it worth getting one of those, and is it good quality?
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Comments

  • douchebagatrondouchebagatron Custom member title Join Date: 2003-12-20 Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    oh the subject of the accidental damage thing, if it doesnt cost to much to i would go for it. i was carrying my laptop in a satchel bag and the strap broke, and a little plastic piece on the corner snapped off and the speaker cover is kinda starting to peel back
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Weight's not an issue? If you're just going to keep in on a desk, a desktop is a better choice. Cheaper prices for comparable parts, and it's much harder for someone to steal a desktop out of your dorm than a laptop.
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    I would say go for the insurance. laptop theft was a big thing on my campus and most colleges have that problem. I say this assuming you're actually goingto take it places outside of your room which you sound like you are.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Get the longest warranty you can. I have that model, I've had to send it back twice for repairs in the 6 months I've had it. I've only got 6 months left, and I'm kicking myself...
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  • HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1622510:date=Apr 22 2007, 10:07 PM:name=Caboose)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Caboose @ Apr 22 2007, 10:07 PM) [snapback]1622510[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Get the longest warranty you can. I have that model, I've had to send it back twice for repairs in the 6 months I've had it. I've only got 6 months left, and I'm kicking myself...
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Did you bring it with you where ever you went or did you keep it on a desk?
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited April 2007
    I think the question is, are you looking for a desktop replacement, a portable media player, or office/programming/work-related machine?
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  • HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1622514:date=Apr 22 2007, 10:41 PM:name=DrSuredeath)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrSuredeath @ Apr 22 2007, 10:41 PM) [snapback]1622514[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I think the question is, are you looking for a desktop replacement, a portable media player, or office/programming/work-related machine?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Technically it's just for typing up papers
    But knowing me, I'm going to end up playing games, watching movies, and listening to music on it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
    And, knowing me, for the first couple months of schools I'll probably carry it around with me, but after that out of sheer lazyness, I'll stop carrying it with me
    So for the purposes of this conversation i'll just say typing papers, and playing games
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  • douchebagatrondouchebagatron Custom member title Join Date: 2003-12-20 Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    a laptop is nice to have for being able to take it to class and whatnot, but if its not required for you to do your stuff then i would go for the desktop. you can get a better computer for a better price (especially if you build it yourself) and you wont have to worry about theft NEAR as much. i know of several people who had their laptops stolen right out of their room while they were asleep when their roommate left the door unlocked.

    unless you just want to throw money around for luxuries, in which case be my guest, sounds like a great plan.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1622513:date=Apr 22 2007, 08:37 PM:name=Hybridclaw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hybridclaw @ Apr 22 2007, 08:37 PM) [snapback]1622513[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Did you bring it with you where ever you went or did you keep it on a desk?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I carry it about all the time. I take notes on it, as my handwriting is illegible, and I can type faster anyhoo.
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  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    As far as theft goes, the laptop I had when I started college had a spot to put a lock into it, which was then wrapped around a leg of the desk. Then again, based on about 30 seconds of google searching, they are fairly easy to get around. My roommate left our door unlocked all the time, and neither of our laptops walked off (he also had one of those locks on his laptop).
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  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    Well, HP lost my business after they expected me to pay to send in my laptop for an obscenely loud whirring noise even though it was still under the full one year warranty.

    I don't know who's getting my business next, but luckily I probably wont have to buy a laptop for awhile (...although HP laptops seem nigh impossible to open, I was working on it for about half an hour and didn't come close to getting the bottom cover off to get to the fan...there's screws hidden everywhere, it's like they've got really tiny midgets that climb in and screw parts dow and climb out through the speaker holes...). Everything else is pretty easy to get to on it though, RAM, HDD, and even the DVD writer are really easy to get to.


    So, personally, I'd say the 4 year warranty isn't worth it because the people at HP are jackasses, but maybe they just don't like keeping consistent customers or something. Then again, Caboose hasn't had the problem apparently, but his just breaks all the time.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    The midgets don't actually crawl out. They die in there, the dry air from the blowers mummifying them. That's the dirty little secrets HP won't tell you. Try shaking your laptop. Hear that rattling sound? That's the sound of mummified midget right there! No rattling sound you say? Well, obviously the midget stuck to something as it mummified, and now it's all grossly corpsified and fixed in postion. It's incontrovertible proof of HP's wrongdoings!
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited April 2007
    If it wasn't for the gaming bit, I would have recommended a mac.
    What have the world come to, when a fella can recommend a mac for a laptop with a straight face.
    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
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