jimmytavino 16 #1 August 30, 2007 .... OK so My daughter is a seventh grade Social Studies Teacher and needs to update her computer..... She is leaning towards a laptop, but frankly we don't know what's best... Can anyone advise????... It's to be used mostly for her lesson plans, text storage, internet access, e mails, photo downloads from a digital still.... No need for video storage capacity... and cost limitations aren't a huge factor.... I would hope something is available nowadays for under a grand.... any advice??? Particular Brands???.. required memory?? deals anywhere??? abiity to connect peripherals?? Places to shop??? After the sale service??? thanks. jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kell.nl 0 #2 August 30, 2007 Since I work for company that also makes/sells laptops (though not in the laptop division), I won't recommend you a brand. But in general: For what I read your daughter needs it for, there shouldn't be a problem with specifications for any new current laptop from a respectable brand. All current laptops should be able to do what you are planning to use it for. The only thing I would check for is if the laptop comes with Windows Vista, is to have 1 Gbyte of memory. Upgrading the memory would be the thing that would help you most anyway with what your daughter wants, instead of CPU, vid card etc. So with that said, she still has other things to look for that don't relate to "computing power" . And those things are dependent on what she prefers. Does she want a laptop that is light? Does she want a big screen? Is she okay with a "cramped" keyboard? Is battery life important? Is look important? Some of these "conflict" with each other. Wanting to have a long battery life and big screen doesn't go well with a light laptop for example. So I would recommend going to some shops that sells laptops, and just check them out for look and feel. See if she likes how it types, if the screen size is right etc. And don't worry about the computing specs of the laptops, since new laptops will be able to do what you wrote, even without upgrades. And after deciding on a brand, and maybe even a model, go compare some prices ^^ Online may be cheaper, but a local store could be better for service (not necessarily). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #3 August 30, 2007 MacBook with AppleCare (good to have the extended warranty). She can boot in Windows or MacOS, the thing runs forever and will probably never crash. If you have an apple store nearby, she can get free training on the iLife programs (calendar, photos, video, music, etc) and if she has a question, she can go and talk to an actual person rather than getting tech support in India. AppleCare warranty covers damn near anything. My cat knocked my iBook (older model; macBook is the new one) off my table, and it swung by the power cable and fell, breaking the power pin. They fixed it for free. After almost three years, that's the only time the iBook has ever been in for repairs. My toshiba laptop (windows) was in the shop EIGHT times in six months. That thing is now a paperweight on a shelf in a closet somewhere. Cost of the Toshiba: $3400. Cost of the iBook: $899. Plus, as an educator, she can get a 10% discount on Apple computers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #4 August 30, 2007 I can tell you what not to get. That is a Toshiba. Pieces of crap!!!!!!!Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #5 August 30, 2007 QuoteMacBook with AppleCare (good to have the extended warranty). She can boot in Windows or MacOS, the thing runs forever and will probably never crash. If you have an apple store nearby, she can get free training on the iLife programs (calendar, photos, video, music, etc) and if she has a question, she can go and talk to an actual person rather than getting tech support in India. AppleCare warranty covers damn near anything. My cat knocked my iBook (older model; macBook is the new one) off my table, and it swung by the power cable and fell, breaking the power pin. They fixed it for free. After almost three years, that's the only time the iBook has ever been in for repairs. My toshiba laptop (windows) was in the shop EIGHT times in six months. That thing is now a paperweight on a shelf in a closet somewhere. Cost of the Toshiba: $3400. Cost of the iBook: $899. Plus, as an educator, she can get a 10% discount on Apple computers. A macBook or a Thinkpad. Those are the only laptops I will suggest to anyone. Both are well built and should last quite some time. Both are more expensive than some of the bargin laptops you can buy.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #6 August 30, 2007 You might find some good choices for a good price on www.ubid.com Caveat: I haven't used that site in a few years so I don't know how good they are now, but I've bought stuff off of them with no problems."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #7 August 30, 2007 Under a grand shouldn't be a problem for what you listed. But I'd try for a laptop with 2 gigs of ram. If you daughter lives anywhere near an Apple store, you might consider a Mac laptop with a good support contract so she can just take it in to them if she ever has a problem. Go to http://forum.notebookreview.com/ and post your requirements in the "What notebook should I buy" forums. You should get some pretty decent advice there and maybe even some links to deals. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stitch 0 #8 August 30, 2007 I vote for "Etch-a-Sketch". "No cookies for you"- GFD "I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65 Don't be a "Racer Hater" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jman 0 #9 August 30, 2007 I would agree with Nightingale. I have had both pc & mac's. Mac is the way to go. The customer service at an Apple store is awesome. If she's close to an Apple store, consider the Pro Care for 1 year at $99. It lets you schedule one on one meetings at the store for technical issues or learning about the programs above & beyond the free lessons. Like Nightingale said, my pc laptop is collecting dust. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #10 August 30, 2007 thanks EVERYone for the replies... we sure WILL check out the location of the nearest Apple store... i am pretty much unbiased, so is Allison, sounds like lots of positives here, about the Apple.... as compared to a pc..If she can cover the purchase,,,, for sure the old man will spring for the service plan... we appreciate the feedback...and the Tip about a teacher discount...attached is the afore mentioned History teacher.......having fun OUT of the classroom.... .. jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #11 August 30, 2007 Make sure you get the apple-care warranty. It really pays off, because sooner or later, everyone does something dumb with a laptop, like spill grape jelly in the keyboard, break the power pin, or sit on it. Applecare takes care of that stuff for you, worry free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tetra316 0 #12 August 31, 2007 I've had a sony vaio for three years and never had a problem. And I would get another. Sony's are expensive but worth it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #13 August 31, 2007 If she's not particularly technical, an Apple Macbook would probably be a good choice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #14 August 31, 2007 Quote If she's not particularly technical, an Apple Macbook would probably be a good choice. ofc the downside is Apple's tend to keep their new users 'not particularly technical'... I cant imagine I'd have ever gone into Engineering if the TRS-80 I first had was as simplistic (vs simple there is a HUGE difference) to use as Apple's are... ofc with PCs moving that direction as well eventually we will have an entire generation of people who never took things apart to see how they worked when they stopped how many people who learned on a manual cant drive an automatic?____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #15 August 31, 2007 Quote<--snip-->, break the power pin, <--/snip--> no power pins on mac laptops. they have that nifty mag-safe thing."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #16 August 31, 2007 Quote Quote , break the power pin, no power pins on mac laptops. they have that nifty mag-safe thing. iBooks have power pins. MacBooks have mag-safe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #17 August 31, 2007 Quote Quote If she's not particularly technical, an Apple Macbook would probably be a good choice. ofc the downside is Apple's tend to keep their new users 'not particularly technical'... I cant imagine I'd have ever gone into Engineering if the TRS-80 I first had was as simplistic (vs simple there is a HUGE difference) to use as Apple's are... ofc with PCs moving that direction as well eventually we will have an entire generation of people who never took things apart to see how they worked when they stopped how many people who learned on a manual cant drive an automatic? nice thing about macs... they don't usually "stop". People are going to be as technical or non-technical as they want to be, whether they use windows or mac. If they want to be technical, they'll solve their own problems and configure things themselves. If they want to be non-technical, they'll hand it to someone else and say "fix it, please?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
