Laptops

[Omega Point]

What do you think would be a ballpark estimate of the cost of a laptop computer these days.

I don't need anything fancy. The computer's only uses will be internet website access and writing papers and that's about it, so I don't need an amazing 3d card or anything like that.

 

[DreadCthulhu]

For a new laptop computer, for basic websurfing/word processing, expect to pay $1000 or so. You might also want to check Ebay and other places for a used laptop - 500mhz or more is all you need for the type of task you are looking at.

 

[Omega Point]

Jeez! A grand for nothing but word processing and web surfing..... I cringe at the thought of what a "high end" laptop costs!

 

[Goober]

Umm, hold on, what currency is that in? I am looking at a fairly middle to high end laptop that is around 1,699.99 Canadian.

 

[stormbind]

For a new laptop computer, for basic websurfing/word processing, expect to pay $1000 or so. You might also want to check Ebay and other places for a used laptop - 500mhz or more is all you need for the type of task you are looking at.

even a 166mmx does fine for msie & ms office

free RAM is by far the biggest factor in performance, except for rendering, and even an old pentium will take 128Mb+ which is not great but useable.

 

[Lord Draegon]

i got a great laptop with 40 gigabytes of hardrive space, 2.4 GHz, and 256 ram for $1000 it can play all the games i have really well. just look around

 

[jeannie]

There's a website http://www.techbargains.com/ that's a good start for 'looking around'. Today, it lists two Dell notebooks in it's Top System Deals - one for $658, and a Centrino one for $1199.

 

[stormbind]

i got a great laptop with 40 gigabytes of hardrive space, 2.4 GHz, and 256 ram for $1000 it can play all the games i have really well. just look around

That's your emphasis. Good CPU + Graphics are needed for games and rendering (like mplayer, dvd, or whatever), but they do almost nothing for browsing the web

Get a good screen & battery life. These are the priority issues for any laptop.

Check out the prices of RAM upgrades on http://www.crucial.com before spending. Memory is the biggest factor in office-type performance.