Laptop suggestions

[mad1]

Looking for a Christmas laptop under $1500.00, here are the ones I have been looking at. I prefer a 17" monitor screen, XPS is 15.4".

Dell XPS M1530 $1399.00
SYSTEM COLOR Tuxedo Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE Microsoft Works
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
LCD AND CAMERA High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
HARD DRIVE Speed: 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
WIRELESS CARDS Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
FINGERPRINT SCANNER Finger Print Reader XPS M1530

HP dv7t(Intel) $1348.66
Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.4 GHz)
Display 17.0" diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Infinity Display (1440 x 900)
Memory 50% OFF 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) edit
Graphics card Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Hard drive 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Personalization [For BrightView Infinity Display] Webcam Only
Keyboard HP Color Matching Keyboard
Networking Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
Primary DVD/CD drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Primary battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Productivity software Microsoft(R) Works 9.0

HP dv7t(AMD) $1390.66
Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor AMD Turion(TM) X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor ZM-86 (2.4 GHz)
Display 17.0" diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Infinity Display (1440 x 900)
Memory 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics card 512MB ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3450 Graphics
Hard drive 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Personalization [For BrightView Infinity Display] Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
Keyboard HP Color Matching Keyboard
Networking Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
Modem Port No Modem
Primary DVD/CD drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Primary battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Productivity software Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
HP extended service plans 2-year HP Pick Up and Return

[osprey4]

If you want XP, the Dell Vostro 1710 would be a good choice. No crapware.

[mad1]

Purchasing a laptop has become a higher priority. I am considering paying up to $2500 to include a mac. What I need is durability, internet, office(word,excel,power point), wireless internet connection and a screen no bigger than 17". I prefer to stay with WIN XP Pro over Vista.I am considering a separate monitor for home use(docking station), 22". Purchased a Dell 22" LCD at work for $206.00 recently.

[cksboy15]

why not get a barebones laptop and put what you want in?
here's a link
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Barebone / Mini Computers,Notebook Barebone Systems,

The I believe they come with written intructions for part installation.

[qrs321]

Sorry for sounding stupid, are you saying you are willing to pay $2500 for a mac?

If so I would recommend something like this...
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - Apple Store (U.S.)

...Or a 17 in...
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - Apple Store (U.S.)

...or better yet wait until they start refurbishing unibody macbook pro's.

Trust me, there is absolutely nothing wrong or different with apples refurbished items from there new counterparts. I have bought refurb ipods and macs off apple's website and the only difference is the packaging.

[mad1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qrs321

Sorry for sounding stupid, are you saying you are willing to pay $2500 for a mac?

Never willing, I will spend more to get a better quality machine if my current price range does not include it. I have never owned a mac, always been a AMD person. Is MAC like buying the Cadillac of the car industry?

[qrs321]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad1

Is MAC like buying the Cadillac of the car industry?

I can't really think of a car analogy to respond to that.

I can say that if a mac does whatever you need, then it is worth the extra moola. Some people on this forum may disagree, but that is my opinion. They are not the most versatile machines but they are simple, very reliable, powerful, and good looking. If you have the money I'd get a nice macbook pro.

[mad1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qrs321

I can't really think of a car analogy to respond to that.

I can say that if a mac does whatever you need, then it is worth the extra moola. Some people on this forum may disagree, but that is my opinion. They are not the most versatile machines but they are simple, very reliable, powerful, and good looking. If you have the money I'd get a nice macbook pro.

My major concern is running Office 2007, I need this for my schoolwork. The macbook pro that I looked at was starts @ $1999.00

[mad1]

Here are my MAC Book Pro specs.,
15" monitior
# 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
# 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
# 250GB Serial ATA @ 7200
# SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Parallel
The Apple Store (U.S.)
WIN XP Pro, have this.
Office 2007,have this

$2158.95+ tax and shipping

[qrs321]

That looks pretty good. I still recommend looking at a Refurbished version of a macbook pro. I saved ~35% by buying my black macbook refurbished. I'm sure you can lower that $2158.95 down by a couple a hundred bucks. If you are on any budget at all, those are substantial savings. If you wanna buy new though, thats fine.

Here are the refurbs
Refurbished Mac - Apple Store (U.S.)