Computers & Networking

[savywavy]

I'm a new college student and my clases are all online. I am trying to find something that will easily access the internet and provide me with microsoft office or at min. need microsoft word or if I need to I can install office myself.  Not big on using it for gaming and not worried about the battery life. Nothing more than $500.

[Drew-Intel]

welcome to the forums, savywavy.

scoping out a machine for college, huh?

check out a laptop like the asus K50IJ-RX05: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366679&type=product&id=1218092151896. it features an intel processor that will give you good performance with microsoft office (taking notes or doing homework), it has a spacious hard drive to keep notes and presentations stored on, and it has a battery life specification near 4 hours.

** note: this laptop doesn't come with the full version of microsoft office, but many higher learning institutions allow you to purchase said software at student prices. i would recommend looking into that.

[savywavy]

I would mostly prefer something cheaper, I really didnt mean to max out right at $500 and I was told dont get the ASUS or ACER they're cheap products.

[Drew-Intel]

understood on the budget, but who were you told to avoid asus and acer by? they're actually great brands to go with, at least from my experience with them.

I've built multiple desktop PCs with asus motherboards, and they've all worked great. i've also purchased 2 different asus notebooks for friends, and they've both held up well. i currently sport an acer lcd monitor with zero issues, and a former roommates acer desktop and laptop are both doing steady a year after purchase.

for other systems to consider, check out:

* dell I1545-012B (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9352513&type=product&id=1218089774715)

* compaq CQ60-417DX (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9375936&type=product&id=1218094582077)

[Starflyer59]

I would recommend avoiding Acer but Asus makes a very good notebook.

Anything under $500 is going to be a cheap product.

[savywavy]

I know I'm looking for a cheap product but then again I'm not looking for a laptop/netbook w/ all the bells and whistles though either. For I've found a couple of items that were around the $350 range and I dont see what is the problem with those. Wouldn't one of those offer the things I am looking for? I noticed as a matter of fact Best Buy's had a toshiba for $300 in their recent sales ad. Are toshibas any good?

[Entropy]

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Starflyer59 wrote:

I would recommend avoiding Acer but Asus makes a very good notebook.

Anything under $500 is going to be a cheap product.

---

I don't know about their regular notebooks, but Acer's netbooks (Aspire One) are excellent.  (Although the Eee 1000HE is currently top dog).

Netbooks are an exception to the under $500 rule, but I would not reccommend one for college.

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

Agreed on the non recommendation for college.

They are meant for VERY light computer work such as just checking email/weather/light music/video. NOT for typing papers. I think I'd gouge my eyes out if I tried to type a paper on a 10" screen.

[savywavy]

Mainly what I am looking for with a laptop is to connect me to the college website to check the daily message/assignment board and emails. As far as typing papers I'm not talking typing term papers but if I need to do an assignment that requires me to type a paragraph for a couple of questions and then turn it is kind of thing.

[krbscb8991]

i am also doing online college and i need help picking out a laptop.

i need one with a long battery life, good hard drive, microsoft office, and easy access to the internet of course.

my budget is about 800-900 dollars.

have any suggestions..