Two options for College, which to choose?

Ok, so I am going to college this fall and will be needing a laptop. I had two choices or ideas in mind:

First Choice:

Macbook Pro 13" (4GB DDR3, i5 Ivy Bridge, 500GB HDD, Intel HD 4000)

Ipad 3 (16GB)

HP ENVY 110 Printer

Second Choice:

Dell Inspirion 15.6" (i7 Ivy Bridge, 750GB HDD, GT 525m 1GB, 6GB DDR3)

Free Xbox 360 included (4GB)

Insignia 32" LED TV

HP ENVY 110 Printer

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The First Choice is slightly more expensive which would allow me to buy a TV with the second choice. I am not doing any gaming or intensive work so any simple laptop will do just fine.

Macbooks are the best laptops. I wouldn't get a Dell laptop. The screen on a Macbook is the best there is. It's kinda late to get an Xbox with the next one right around the corner.

Macbooks are the best laptops. I wouldn't get a Dell laptop. The screen on a Macbook is the best there is. It's kinda late to get an Xbox with the next one right around the corner.

bloodling

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

Macbooks generally have better build quality, but are out-dated after one year. Also, its really good news a new Xbox is coming out, since those $60 games will drop.

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

Davyvfr

What do you mean, out-dated after one year? Nobody buys a new laptop every year... Even if you plan on playing games on it, next year's macbook won't necessarily be much better for playing games...

Edit: Well, the ultrabooks are going to drop in price, you might want to get one in 2-3 years, which is why you don't want to put a lot of money on a laptop right now unless you play games.

I don't understand why those are your only 2 options. There are plenty other options that are much better imo.

I'll just throw this out there:

you said you didn't plan on playing games on it, right? Then why not buy a netbook with an external dvd writer? Or a laptop from a better brand but with lower specs like an i3 or i5, which will be much, much cheaper. With the rest of your money you can buy a great HDTV. Maybe you can find a cheaper model that also gives out an Xbox 360.

The First Choice is slightly more expensive which would allow me to buy a TV with the second choice. I am not doing any gaming or intensive work so any simple laptop will do just fine.

Davyvfr

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Macbooks are the best laptops. I wouldn't get a Dell laptop. The screen on a Macbook is the best there is. It's kinda late to get an Xbox with the next one right around the corner.

Davyvfr

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

Thats a bit bs on build quality, i have heard just as many issues with macs laterly as pc. If you aren't gaming just walk into to best buy or any store that sells laptop and spend 500-600 on any laptop you like

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Macbooks are the best laptops. I wouldn't get a Dell laptop. The screen on a Macbook is the best there is. It's kinda late to get an Xbox with the next one right around the corner.

Davyvfr

Macbooks generally have better build quality, but are out-dated after one year. Also, its really good news a new Xbox is coming out, since those $60 games will drop.

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

[QUOTE="Davyvfr"]

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

Macbooks are the best laptops. I wouldn't get a Dell laptop. The screen on a Macbook is the best there is. It's kinda late to get an Xbox with the next one right around the corner.

ronvalencia

Macbooks generally have better build quality, but are out-dated after one year. Also, its really good news a new Xbox is coming out, since those $60 games will drop.

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

And I love using that graph to own Apple fanboys who always rave on about teh build quality.

[QUOTE="ronvalencia"]

[QUOTE="Davyvfr"]

Macbooks generally have better build quality, but are out-dated after one year. Also, its really good news a new Xbox is coming out, since those $60 games will drop.

By the way, does anybody think a 32" TV is too big for a dorm room to put on a small desk?

JC_Spot

And I love using that graph to own Apple fanboys who always rave on about teh build quality.

I'd like to know where that info came from. I don't doubt it whatsoever, as I know from experience (myself and friends) that Apple's claims of build quality are bs. I would just like to know the official merits of the graph.

I'll just throw this out there:

you said you didn't plan on playing games on it, right? Then why not buy a netbook with an external dvd writer? Or a laptop from a better brand but with lower specs like an i3 or i5, which will be much, much cheaper. With the rest of your money you can buy a great HDTV. Maybe you can find a cheaper model that also gives out an Xbox 360.

bloodling

At that price, might as well go for an ultrabook. Some of them are less than 800 dollars.

When shopping for an HDTV, size isn't the only thing that matters, quality is important as well.

At that price, might as well go for an ultrabook. Some of them are less than 800 dollars.

bloodling

[QUOTE="bloodling"]

At that price, might as well go for an ultrabook. Some of them are less than 800 dollars.

Davyvfr

If you ask me, get the first choice but I'm just in love with apple

$300 netbook.

That's all you need.

If you wanna game, buy a pc or console and a 24" monitor.

ronvalencia

I found this very timely as my HP purchased in May of '09 just blew up. Don't get HP.

If you ask me, get the first choice but I'm just in love with apple

FleXxzoR

I find it funny how college students think an iPad or a cutting edge laptop will boost their productivity when all they'll be doing is surfing facebook or playing Diablo 3. I would know, I watch them from behind. ;) The best gear is found outside of mainstream, it seems.

If you want something useful, get a Lenovo convertible tablet. It's not a gaming PC- though a recent model may not be too shabby in that area- but you'll have far more functionality than an iPad or a standard laptop. It rotates fully into a keyboardless tablet BTW.. It's strange that most pics don't illistrate that.

Edit: Here's a pic for the lazy ones:

$300 netbook.

That's all you need.

If you wanna game, buy a pc or console and a 24" monitor.

kraken2109

I had a 32" in my dorm freshman year nad I had plenty of space...even a home theater system!

I find it funny how college students think an iPad or a cutting edge laptop will boost their productivity when all they'll be doing is surfing facebook or playing Diablo 3. I would know, I watch them from behind. ;) The best gear is found outside of mainstream, it seems.

If you want something useful, get a Lenovo convertible tablet. It's not a gaming PC- though a recent model may not be too shabby in that area- but you'll have far more functionality than an iPad or a standard laptop. It rotates fully into a keyboardless tablet BTW.. It's strange that most pics don't illistrate that.

Edit: Here's a pic for the lazy ones:

thphaca

I own a convertible PC, they are very useful for school. I'm typing this on one right now, a Dell Latitude XT3. And before this one, I had a Toshiba Portege M780. If you actually want to boost productivity, get a convertible tablet.

At $300, I would rather look for a sale on a good laptop. I got a good Toshiba laptop for $349 on sale and it stomps all over any netbook out there. Netbooks are pure crap.Elann2008

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]At $300, I would rather look for a sale on a good laptop. I got a good Toshiba laptop for $349 on sale and it stomps all over any netbook out there. Netbooks are pure crap.NamelessPlayer

I find it funny how college students think an iPad or a cutting edge laptop will boost their productivity when all they'll be doing is surfing facebook or playing Diablo 3. I would know, I watch them from behind. ;) The best gear is found outside of mainstream, it seems. If you want something useful, get a Lenovo convertible tablet. It's not a gaming PC- though a recent model may not be too shabby in that area- but you'll have far more functionality than an iPad or a standard laptop. It rotates fully into a keyboardless tablet BTW.. It's strange that most pics don't illistrate that.thphaca

There are Dell, Toshiba, AvaDirect, Asus, Samsung, and soon to be MSI convertible tablets.

I gotta agree with these guys. Never buy anything from Apple, overpriced, overhyped, worthless crap.

I mean seriously? 32" 1080p TV >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ipad (never just don't)

There are Dell, Toshiba, AvaDirect, Asus, Samsung, and soon to be MSI convertible tablets.Daanyal