Shopping for a notebook

[Seamouse]

I want to get my daughter a notebook for college graduation. She'll mainly be using it for word processing, surfing the web, and creating a website for her elementary school class. What's the best bang I can get for my bucks, spending about $1500? Any recommendations regarding speed, RAM, video card, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks.

[abvc]

u might want to try the stylish x series because ur daugther wont need top speed processor but might need the style and lightweight

[pphilipko]

I want to get my daughter a notebook for college graduation. She'll mainly be using it for word processing, surfing the web, and creating a website for her elementary school class. What's the best bang I can get for my bucks, spending about $1500? Any recommendations regarding speed, RAM, video card, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks.

I believe brainpicker has some laptops for sale under $1500 that will probably suit your daughter well.

[jeffcrilly]

Just a suggestion...

Are you/she tied to windows?

I'd consider an ibook/powerbook, quite frankly.

Especially if she's going to be doing something at an elementary school.
Then again if the school is windows based, windows is probably the route to go. (All the schools in this town are running macs; some in neighboring tows are on windows.)

jeff

[Seamouse]

Thank you to everyone for their input. I think I'm interested in the T series. (I have a t42p that's great, but can't afford anything that expensive for my daughter). I am considering a t42 and a t43. The specs are listed below and I'd appreciate any recommendations or thoughts about these two machines. Thanks.

T42 (2373-JXU) $1200.00
Manufacturer: Lenovo
Part number: 2373JXU

Processor
Processor type - Pentium M

Chipset type
Intel 855PM

Clock speed
1.7 GHz

Data bus speed
400 MHz

Processor features
Enhanced SpeedStep technology

Processor manufacturer
Intel

Processor number
735

OS Provided
OS provided
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

RAM
Max supported RAM
2 GB

Memory specification compliance
PC2700

RAM Technology
DDR SDRAM-333 MHz

RAM installed size
512 MB
(additional 512 MB upgrade included for total of 1 GB)


Optical Storage
CD / DVD type
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo

CD / DVD drive
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo Plug-in module

CD / DVD read speed
24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)

CD / DVD rewrite speed
24x

CD / DVD write speed
24x

Optical storage enclosure type
Plug-in module

Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type
None

Audio Output
Audio codec
AD1981B

Audio output compliant standards
AC '97, SoundMAX, DirectSound

Audio output type
Sound card

Audio Input
Audio input type
Microphone

Battery
Battery technology
Lithium ion

Installed battery qty
1

Max supported batteries
2

Mfr estimated battery life
5 hour(s)

General
Built-in devices
ThinkLight, Stereo speakers, Wireless LAN antenna

Localization
English:United States

System type
Notebook

Cache Memory
Cache Memory Type
L2 cache

Cache size
2 MB

Modem
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps

Modem features
V.92 upgradable

Modem interface type
CDC

Modem protocols & specifications
ITU V.90

Modem type
Fax / modem

Video Output
Color max resolution (external)
24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Graphics processor
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600

Max resolution (external)
2048 x 1536

Video output interface type
AGP 4x

Display (Projector)
Color support
24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Display (projector) diagonal size
15 in

Display (projector) technology
TFT active matrix

Features
FlexView

Max resolution
1400 x 1050

Monitor features
FlexView

Networking
Data link protocol
Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

Networking standards
IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g

Networking type
Network adapter

Remote management protocol
CIM, DMI 2.0

Dimensions & Weight
Depth
10.6 in

Height
1.4 in

Weight
6 lbs

Width
13 in

Miscellaneous
Features
Asset ID, Power-on password, Hard drive password, Administrator password, Locking device keyhole (cable lock)

Miscellaneous compliant standards
CE, UL, CUL, NOM, BSMI, MPR II, VCCI-II, ACPI 2.0, ACPI 1.0b, FCC Class B certified

Storage Floppy Drive
Floppy drive type
None

Storage Hard Drive
Hard drive
40 GB IDE

Input Device
Input device type
Keyboard, UltraNav, TrackPoint

Interface Provided
Interface provided
1 Docking / port replicator, 2 Hi-Speed USB, 1 Parallel IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 1 Display / video VGA, 1 Infrared, 1 Modem Phone line, 1 Network Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX, 1 Display / video S-video output, 1 Microphone Input, 1 Headphones Output

Environmental Parameters
Max operating temperature
87.8 °

Min operating temperature
50 °

Operating humidity range
8 - 80%

Sound emission
36 dB

Video Memory
Max video RAM supported
64 MB

Video RAM installed
64 MB

Video memory technology
DDR SDRAM

Video memory type
Video adapter memory

Power Device
Power device form factor
External

Power device frequency required
50/60 Hz

Power device type
Power adapter

Power provided
72 Watt

Storage Removable
Removable storage type
None

Service & Support Details
Service & support component (laptop)
Battery

Slot Provided
Slot provided
2 (1 free) Memory SO DIMM 200-pin, 1 (1 free) CardBus Type III (2 x type I / II)

Storage Controller
Storage controller type
IDE

Service & Support
Service & support type
2 years warranty

****************************

T43 (1871-4BU) $1600.00
Product Details
Key Features
Processor Intel Pentium M 1.86 GHz

Installed Memory 512 MB (DDR2 SDRAM)

Hard Drive 40 GB EIDE, 5400 RPM

Display 14.1 in. XGA TFT LCD

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Mobile Technology Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Processor
Processor Type Pentium M

Processor Manufacturer Intel

Processor Speed 1.86 GHz

Processor Number 750
Motherboard
Bus Speed 533 MHz
Memory
Installed RAM 512 MB

RAM Technology DDR2 SDRAM

Max Supported RAM 2048 MB

RAM Speed 533 MHz

Installed Cache Memory 2048 KB
Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity 40 GB

Hard Drive Rotation Speed 5400 RPM

Storage Controller Type EIDE
CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type CD-RW/DVD-ROM

Optical Drive Read Speed 24x (CD) • 8x (DVD)

Optical Drive Write Speed 24x (CD)

Optical Drive ReWrite Speed 24x (CD-RW)
Display
Display Tech XGA TFT LCD

Display Size 14.1 in.

Display Color Support 24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Display Max. Resolution 1024 x 768
Video
Graphic Processor Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 900

Graphic Bus Interface PCI Express

External Video Resolution 2048 x 1536
Audio
Audio Output Type Headphones • Sound card • Speaker(s)

Audio Input Type Microphone
Operating System
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Recommended Use Corporate Business, Small Business

Platform PC
Technical Features
Expandability 2 x Type I/II PC Card Slot

Expansion Ports 2 x USB 2.0, VGA out, Parallel Port, RJ-11 (modem), RJ-45 (NIC), S-Video out

Security Features Finger Print Sensor, HDD Password, Power-On Password, IBM Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0, Administrator Password, IBM Security Slot

Input Method Keyboard • Touchpad • Trackpoint • Ultranav • Embedded numeric keypad
Networking
Networking Type Bluetooth • Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card • Infrared Port • Integrated Wireless LAN

Data Link Protocol Bluetooth • Ethernet • Fast Ethernet • Gigabit Ethernet • IEEE 802.11a • IEEE 802.11b • IEEE 802.11g
Modem
Modem Type Fax / Modem

Analog Modulation Protocol ITU V.90
Battery
Battery Run Time 3.8 Hour(s).

Battery Technology Lithium ion
Dimensions
Width 12.2 in.

Depth 10 in.

Height 1 in.

Weight 4.9 lb.

Warranty
Warranty 3 Years
Miscellaneous
MPN 18714BU

Release Date 25 February, 2005

Product ID 23656198

[DIGITALgimpus]

[braces for T42 vs. T43 debate]

[Seamouse]

Oh come on. There must be a computer genius out there with an opinion... please???

[GoEatFood]

any laptop you can get really covers what it sounds like she needs it for. just make sure you have enough ram. In my opinion either would be a fine choice.

[tfflivemb2]

any laptop you can get really covers what it sounds like she needs it for. just make sure you have enough ram. In my opinion either would be a fine choice.

Agreed, either would be good.

Also, some might not be responding as a result of the numerous T42 v. T43 debates that have been going on. You should back up and browse through some of the older posts and you should see a great deal.

[BruisedQuasar]

Oh come on. There must be a computer genius out there with an opinion... please???

I certainly would not bill myself "computer genius" but I am a very practical man who began computing before there was an Internet. Examining your decribed use as I would a business decision or personal finance question, I would suggest that you could spend less than $600 & fix up your daughter just fine.

It seems to me that a factory refurbished Thinkpad T23 2647, which you can buy directly from IBM for under $450 should work fine. I just gave my adult daughter a PIII 700 MHz Compaq laptop with 15GHz HDrive and the maximum 320MB main memory, loaded with Win ME & Norton System Doctor (to keep it running stable). She is thrilled with it. I included an older Epson work horse printer (Epson Stylus 600). I set up my grand children with like-new used Playstation II & Gameboy SP and used games, so no one need hassle with trying to run games on the Compaq.

I backed up all of the programs to save time reinstalling and have the Compaq CDs. Every three months she will bring the 5 pound notebook to me and I will reformat the Drive and reinstall Win ME & reinstall the programs as they were. Total actual time I invest? 15 minutes. Cost? I could sell the Compaq for about $350 tops.

Unleasing an elementary student with a new $1500 anything is an investment waiting to be stolen, if it ever leaves the house. In my opinion, it is similar to giving a 10 year old boy a $2,000 bike and allowing him to take it out of your yard, or giving your new college student a $3,500 notebook to lug to school where he will share a dorm room with strangers & dare not step away from it in the library after he invests 15+ minutes unpacking, setting up & launching XP. I could take the ole Compaq to campus libraries and walk away from it. Try that with a shiney new Sony or Thinkpad.

[Seamouse]

BruisedQuasar wrote:
..Unleasing an elementary student with a new $1500 anything is an investment waiting to be stolen, if it ever leaves the house...

I think you misread my post. My daughter is graduating college and will be teaching elemetary school. She'll use the computer for work. But thanks for your thoughts.

[Seamouse]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

[Kyocera]

BruisedQuasar wrote:
Win ME & Norton System Doctor (to keep it running stable)

Good luck with that!

But seriously though, BruisedQuaser makes a very important point, theft, it happens way to much. I bought a Certified Used T30 for half the price of my T42 (that I love and shall not bash a T43 because I don't have one yet)because I was so worried about carrying it around in the car from customer to customer all day. The T30 does everything I need to do and way more. I do understand your daughter is going to be using it at the school she will be teaching at.

Put theft into the equation before L2 cache or DVD burning speed or make sure you get one of those bogus looking lock anchor ball and chain deals so she can secure it to the desk, then make sure the desk is anchored as well. Elementary school kids are fearless and like to play their video games.

[Seamouse]

Thanks Kyocera. I don't know that she'll take it TO work. I do know she'll use it to create and maintain her class website which, of course, she can do at home.
I still haven't made up my mind between the notebooks. But I'll have to make a choice soon... she graduates next month.

[andrey]

I have Thinkpad T41p (2373-GEU) for sale in case you're intestered. Send me PM and we can discuss additional details.

-- Andrey

[daeojkim]

If it is going to be a graduation present for your daughter, get her a "new" notebook.

May be few hundred dollars more but it is special gift from a father to daughter for her college graduation. She has done well and got a job after graduating and deserves the best from her loving father.

I would suggest a T42 / T43 with whatever processor, at least 512 MB RAM, 60GB HD, and 14.1" SXGA+ screen, Radeon 9600, with 3 year warranty.

If you are planning to spend $1500, I am sure you will be able to find something at that price.

Actually after looking at your post get her the 2373-JXU for $1200. Throw in 3 year warranty and perhaps the best bang for the buck.

Don't get the T43 that you meantioned. XGA on a T series, she won't like it, especially for web content creation and such. She will appreciate real estate on SXGA+.

EDIT: I just saw that the JXU is a 15" SXGA+. I thought it was 14.1". 15" is noticeably heavier. I would presume that your daughter may prefer the 14.1" since it is lighter, thinner and more appealing to females.

If you can find something with above specs with 14.1" SXGA+ that would be best in my opinion.

[Seamouse]

daeojkim,
I really appreciate you input... thanks.
Are you saying the t42 has the better graphics card? I couldn't find any info to compare the two and that's one reason I'm having trouble making up my mind. I don't think the 15" is that heavy. That's what I have and I schlepped to the office all the time. I wouldn't consider anything but a NEW laptop for this gift, and BTW, I'm her MOM. Thanks again!

[mattfromomaha]

Reading through these posts, I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents' worth, as a recent college graduate. Over the summer I decided to upgrade from my awesome T30 to an equally awesome T42, mainly because of the smaller form factor and lighter weight.

I bought the least-expensive computer that will do everything I need it to. Why? Well, because I had purchased the most expensive T30 I could afford figuring that over the 2 years I had it I'd need to upgrade things a lot. It ended up not being the case. Yeah, I added more RAM, but that was it.

Anyways, I'd recommend sticking with a 14.1" screen - if your daughter plans to be mobile with the machine, the smaller size makes a noticable difference. Looking at IBM's website right now, there's a $1,299 T42 (http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... logId=-840) that looks like a pretty decent deal. I'd consider upgrading the warranty to three years ($150) and put in either an additional 512mb ($60) or 1gb ($120). That's very similar to the machine I have right now (2379R1U), and I think it would serve your daugher very well. I have no worries that mine will last me through at least the first two years of medical school.

On a separate note, if your daughter is single and lives in the Midwest, I'd be happy to help her personally pick out a ThinkPad...

[teetee]

You might want to consider something lighter comparing to 6lb-T42. Even with 1lb difference is huge for people who need to carry their laptops around all the time.

I own a 5-year-old 2.9lb TP240x which supports me doing all the stuff (ex. web surfing, word processing, listening to music, watching DVD movies, even some molecular dynamic calculations under linux) without any problem. Although I need the external optical drive to use DVDs but it's not like I watch movies all the time. However, since it's better to get her a new laptop I would say the X-series is the way to go. If the buget range is from $1800 to $2000 I would also consider panasonic toughbook(or let's note) series because of the light weighted yet strong design.

2.8lb with DVD/CD-RW built-in.
http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/pana ... ok_w4.html
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc ... upId=31954

I am a IBM thinkpad user but I always dream of some day I would get a panasonic toughbook. Ha~

[BruisedQuasar]

Even with 1lb difference is huge for people who need to carry their laptops around all the time.
...a 5-year-old 2.9lb TP240x which supports me doing all the stuff (ex. web surfing, word processing, listening to music, watching DVD movies, even some molecular dynamic calculations under linux)

...Could not resist jumping in on this one. If you want true mobility, I advise against any existing lug-a-bout notebook PC. In my opinion, they are portable desktops. Used mobile, they have a high failure rate due to the large LCD display and the moving parts (the HDD).

The recently orphaned NEC Mobilepro 900 is a true mobile device. It weighs 1.7 pounds (including the 8 hour battery), has a near full-sized keyboard, comes with built in phone modem, wifi support, Infrared, a full suite of ROM embeded software, can be carried in a hipsack, works 8 hours per battery charge, has a PC Card & CF card slot for backup memory. No moving parts. Instant on and off, is well made, has a stereo sound socket, built- in mic and many other features out of the box. Price? Well under $900. You can get like new refurbished older models (NEC 780, 790) from $87 to $350 (Jornada 728).

I have an NEC 790 & an even smaller Jornada 680. I often get mobbed by students wanting to look at them and to know where they can get one. Anyone who wishes to look these devices over see: usedhandhelds.com... [I do not recommended buying from them. Their prices are very high.]

I use notebooks for home use. They take much less power and space than desktop systems, and with the addition of USB and PC slots they make desktops dinasaurs. I use Handhelds (not PDAs) for mobility.

You do not need to unpack and repack an NEC or Jornada and they are instantly ready when you open them, nor do they chain you to a table. When you need to get up and move, you close it and put it in a coat pocket or hip sack.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

[daeojkim]

daeojkim,
I really appreciate you input... thanks.
Are you saying the t42 has the better graphics card? I couldn't find any info to compare the two and that's one reason I'm having trouble making up my mind. I don't think the 15" is that heavy. That's what I have and I schlepped to the office all the time. I wouldn't consider anything but a NEW laptop for this gift, and BTW, I'm her MOM. Thanks again!

If you feel that the 15" is not heavy then the JXU would be ideal.
In my opinion, if she is going to be a teacher, the school will provide her with a computer for her desk. So it is likely that she will not have to carry it around daily.

The 15" has a flexview screen on T42 (2373-JXU), which has superior viewing angle and it is brighter. The downside is that it uses up more juice. But if it is mostly going to be a desktop replacement computer, it will be great!

The T43 (1871-4BU) is only a XGA screen, I definitely would not recommed and the price / feature ratio is not that great for $1600.

I would highly recommend the 2373-JXU for $1200. It already has 2 year warranty, but I am sure that with few more dollars you can upgrade it to 3 year.

P.S. I thought you were her dad. But a present from mom is just as important .

[JaneL]

In my opinion, if she is going to be a teacher, the school will provide her with a computer for her desk. So it is likely that she will not have to carry it around daily.

Several of my cousins are teachers, and they were all issued notebooks.

[makaveli559m]

I say you get a Thinkpad 700mhz and maybe up to 1.5 ghz or 1.6. My laptop is pretty fast with 700mhz. I dont know what is the rush of reaching 5ghz.

[schen]

My wife and I are both teachers and we are in our current district for the 2nd year, so it hasn't been that long ago since we were interviewing and looking at schools. The issuing of computers (and/or) laptops to teachers varies greatly from School district to School district, much less from state to state. Most places have electronic gradebooks and attendence these days so pretty much all classrooms have a computer for that, but that's not all that there is to take in consideration.

In my situation, I actually have my regular "work" computer that does the routine tasks, but I also use a projector hooked up to a Smartboard that I use on most days as well. I just wasn't feasible to move my regular computer around to connect to the projector so I rigged up a workstation using my own T23 that I can snap into a Port Replicator that has all the projector and A/V connections attached to it. So when I arrive at school, I just exchange my usual HDD with another one that has a load on it than include the school's Novell login client as well as other district software on it, snap it into place and away I go.

Of course that's just one example, so who know's what she'll be facing at her new job.

[Red_October_7000]

Just a suggestion...

Are you/she tied to windows?

I'd consider an ibook/powerbook, quite frankly.

Especially if she's going to be doing something at an elementary school.
Then again if the school is windows based, windows is probably the route to go. (All the schools in this town are running macs; some in neighboring tows are on windows.)

jeff

WTF are you doing on the thinkpad forums?
(Just kidding, but I'm sure you understand how odd that post looked).

For $1500 you can come up with a computer that more than exceeds her needs. Go for something with power and she'll still have it years from now. Stick with IBM, Dell, and 'Shiba, in that order. Avoid HP and Gateway, and no-name brands. Don't buy from computer stores. Make sure ALL the spyware is cleaned off it before you give it to her if you get the 'Shiba. I don't think IBM or Dell put anything like that on.