Laptop for College

Cen92

Going to College in Sept. and looking for laptop recommendations.
I will be doing Computer Science/Applied Computing course.
It will be used for internet Browsing, Programming, listening to music, watching HD videos etc.
I was looking at a Dell Inspiron 15 or Studio 15 both with i5 processors and 4GB DDR3 RAM. Anything you would change about these setups?

ED E

Inspiron

Studio


Inspiron looks bulky and pretty useless.

I've worked on a small Studio before, nice units. Would definitely be my choice.

smithy4mcavan

It really depends on your budget. We have an old studio 15 with 3gb, 2ghz processer and its quite good considering what we paid (around 500 a year and a half ago). We have an inspiron laptop as well but I wouldn't recommend them, their just too big and awkward.

Computer science course wouldn't be too hardware intensive I wouldn't imagine (alot a maths & notepad im guessing!:p), so you probably don't need a very high spec laptop.

I'm looking for a good laptop myself for college in September, but I'm planning on doing multimedia so really need the graphics end to be high spec. This is what I have in mind http://cgi.ebay.ie/Dell-Studio-15-1558-Laptop-2-93ghz-i5-500-6GB-1GB-ATI-/300425290030?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item45f2be212e

There's some good deals on studio laptops on ebay (nice and compact laptops for carrying around compared to inspirons), and most have Dells year warranty so not a bad deal all in all.

By right having a desktop would be a better/cheaper option and you'd get more bang for your buck, but in reality no ones going to have a tower in college.

Anyway back to the point, I'd recommend the studio 15, maybe get the 9 cell battery also, according to my brother who's got a few laptops through college you'll regret not getting the longer battery life.

Doylers

Hi im currently in a course similar to what you'll be doing. I'm running a hp pavillion dv5-1110em . It runs fine for hd and everything. If you have a nice amount of cash id go alienware (They are epic and will be up-to-date for years ). When I look at a laptop I look at processor and graphics card mostly, these cant be changed usually so you go for the best you can, because you can always add more ram,bigger hard drive or a new OS etc.. Dells build you own option is great if you have the cash.

Alanstrainor

Doylers wrote: »

Hi im currently in a course similar to what you'll be doing. I'm running a hp pavillion dv5-1110em . It runs fine for hd and everything. If you have a nice amount of cash id go alienware (They are epic and will be up-to-date for years ). When I look at a laptop I look at processor and graphics card mostly, these cant be changed usually so you go for the best you can, because you can always add more ram,bigger hard drive or a new OS etc.. Dells build you own option is great if you have the cash.

Alienware are generally overproced for what they are. There are better, for less out there in terms of performance.

Doylers

I agree with you they are very expensive,but when you consider that some models are highly upgradeable and come with great specs, it will outlast a normal 700euro pc from dell.