|
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by FlySig:
Be sure to consider the warranty cost. Many cheap PC's come with a very short warranty, like 90 days. You want at least a year, preferably 2. Mine came with a year, plus the Norton free trial stuff, even though I got it offa da Bay.
I really just wanted to comment on how a $500 computer is considered a "Cheap PC" :p |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Don't get something with a big screen because big screen = big weight. As a student she'll be carrying it around all the time (along with a load of books) and every pound counts.
I have 13" macbook and ideally would like something lighter, getting lighter than that means missing out on other stuff.
You can buy an external monitor to leave on her desk - it's really easy to use two screens and have different windows on the different screens (e.g. a pdf of an article along with Word). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My Mom was asking about those 10" $299 computers she had seen advertised. (I recommended No)
You can get real small with no DVD driver and a teeny HD. Basically a big cell phone.
The real question is will this be her only computer?
If she has a full computer at her residence, she can use a small computer and swap files around.
(That way both computers can share the same viruses)
But if she is only gonna have One Computer, you will want something with similar features as a desktop.
She should also spend $100 or less on an external hard drive to put back-ups onto...
I have an HP Pocket Media Drive (320GB $79). It is designed to slide into my desktop, but it will also connect to my laptop with a USB cable.
That is how I just transferred about 8GB of music, and a coupla movies. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | Paul: I don't know jack about computers but if she is going to need one in class, the school should have some recommendations and maybe some plans. UO law school did when my #3 was considering that. And then they have ports at the desks. My kids have all gone though and toward the end I was amazed at how much teaching and learning is done in the emails with profs. It's the Socratic method at its best. And the kids can't hide in the class like I did. They're the better for it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 398
Location: So. Cal. | ...math majors don't use numeric keypads (10-key), accounting/booking people do! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
She should also spend $100 or less on an external hard drive to put back-ups onto... I've been seeing ads for 1 TERAbyte hard drives for $79... simply astounding. I still have card decks and printouts from college. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by playadamas:
...math majors don't use numeric keypads (10-key), accounting/booking people do! Just telling you what she said.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
One other thing she's looking for is a laptop with a numeric 10 key. She's going to be a math major and thinks it might be important.... You can get that as a USB peripheral. Those are fairly inexpensive. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Originally posted by Auriemma:
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
One other thing she's looking for is a laptop with a numeric 10 key. She's going to be a math major and thinks it might be important.... You can get that as a USB peripheral. Those are fairly inexpensive. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 194
Location: Las Vegas, NV | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Originally posted by playadamas:
...math majors don't use numeric keypads (10-key), accounting/booking people do! Just telling you what she said....
Oh, and not only is a larger screen heavier, they are huge power-sucks, requiring larger power supplies, which generate more heat,... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Moody,
You won't find a small, affordable laptop with a 10 key. I agree with your daughter about wanting one and the suggestions for a usb pad is a great solution. I use one for everyday work and find it much easier than using the laptop's number keys or the keyboard's number's lock function. No, I'm not an accountant but doing any calculations at all on the laptop keyboard I find to be slow and cumbersome.
I understand your not wanting to go with a Mac, but if your daughter decides SHE wants one, I suggest going with the basic MacBook Pro instead of the MacBook. The case is more durable, the screen is better, it has a SB card slot, the battery life is better due to the different screen, and the resale value after a few years is great. She would probably be able to upgrade to a new Mac in 4 years by selling this years model for 1/2 the cost of a new one. Just check out what old 12" G4 Mac laptops (2 generations old) sell for today. Yes, the Pro's are $200 or so more than the MacBooks.
My favorite source of Mac equipment is www.PowerMax.com in Oregon - free shipping and no sales tax. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | Don't forget that there are excellent student discounts available. The school's bookstore will have a computer section with all kinds of discount stuff, but you can probably get the same discount online or at the manufacturer's store. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | I'd get her a "graphing calculator" as well. When you get to calculus, they're a gotta have.
Especially if the teacher designs tests based on the assumption that you have one. |
|
| |
OT: Laptops
