Laptop For College

[drummer223]

This is actually for my sister, she's going off to college in the fall, and has a $1,500 budget for a laptop.

She really wants a convertible tablet, much like the Lenovo ThinkPads, so that she can take notes longhand with a stylus, but be using Windows 7, not some mobile OS.

She is going to be using it solely for notetaking, classwork, and internet browsing. If any game is installed, it would be something like Civilization V.

We're looking at ordering off of the internet; there is no decent computer store anywhere near here.

She'd like a monitor between 11" and 14", definitely no larger than 14".

The $1,500 needs to cover: The computer, case/bag, a portable printer, OS, peripherals (if a stylus doesn't come with it, ect.) and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010.

So far, all I could find would be one of the newer X-Series Tablets by Lenovo, like the X220t. http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=329576204C9E42289967E79E0E7C9A2D

Its factory specs are pretty light, so I was thinking it should be upgraded to a i7-2640M, 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB HDD (she doesn't watch videos much, most of it will be full of schoolwork). With MS Office H&S 2010 preinstalled, a bag, and stylus, the total comes out to be $1,585. This is not included the portable printer.

The additional 4GB of RAM (from 4 to 8) costs an extra $160, and the processor upgrade (from i5-2520M to i7-2640) is an extra $190. Why is so expensive, especially for the RAM upgrade? What could be removed to bring the expense down to $1,500? (RAM is my first guess). Are there any other manufacturers that offer tablets like these?

 

[robvas]

I would not spend $1500. Buy a $600 laptop, it will get stepped on, lost, broken, stolen, and beer spilled on it.

She doesn't need an i7 or 8GB of RAM.

 

[Deleted member 232162]

I would not spend $1500. Buy a $600 laptop, it will get stepped on, lost, broken, stolen, and beer spilled on it.

She doesn't need an i7 or 8GB of RAM.

Pretty much what Robvas said. All of the things mentioned that could happen to it, will happen. I know, I didn't think it would happen either, yet minus the stolen, everything happened.

The reason the cost goes up so much from the 2520 to the 2640 is that it's a marketing ploy. People are suckers, and will see bigger numbers as more performance, when it's simply just a SMALL incremental increase in the clock speed. Go over to Dell's site, and get her a nice Ultrabook within that budget, and she'll be set for all of college. Try not to go crazy with the options, 4GB RAM is fine, and an i5 processor is fine as well.

 

[drummer223]

The first thing on the list is that it -has- to be a convertible tablet. The my question about 4gigs of RAM and the stock CPU is, will it stay able to run most programs for the next 4-5 years? I don't want it to become obsolete.

If she doesn't need the extra processing/RAM, should I just suggest the stock requirements, or should it include a 500GB HDD (as opposed to stock 320GB).

Furthermore, I doubt shes going to be very destructive to the laptop. The only times she comes out of her room are for food and school.

 

[Deleted member 232162]

The first thing on the list is that it -has- to be a convertible tablet. The my question about 4gigs of RAM and the stock CPU is, will it stay able to run most programs for the next 4-5 years? I don't want it to become obsolete.

If she doesn't need the extra processing/RAM, should I just suggest the stock requirements, or should it include a 500GB HDD (as opposed to stock 320GB).

Furthermore, I doubt shes going to be very destructive to the laptop. The only times she comes out of her room are for food and school.

Yes, 4GB is plenty for the next few years, unless you want to upgrade her to 6 or 8 to future proof it even further. If you plan on doing this, get the least amount of RAM possible in your configuration, and then buy the RAM from say Newegg.com or a Microcenter, it'll be HEAPS cheaper. Stock CPU is MORE than fine. There are people using centrino's and core 2 duo's still that run like absolute champs.

As far as HDD space, that might be something to ask her. I myself never use more than 100-200Gb's, but I have a Terabyte worth of space just sitting there. Best not to spend the money if she absolutely knows she won't need it. If in turn she ends up using a heap of space for music or movies, it's always really easy to buy a cheap external.

Also I know it's not my business, but food and class aren't what college is about. I hope she at least socializes.

 

[W.Feather]

X220t, or HP 2760p, both can be had at that price range. I personally use a 2740p, and wouldn't have it another way.....she can probably get office for under $100 from the school store

edit: Now that i'm on my computer rather than touch pad, ill elaborate:

I find that having all my notes accessible all the time is great (especially when using dropbox/google drive so i can get them on my desktop), also make sure you call to order, I was able to get 26% off the price by doing that. The only thing I wish i did different was get the i5, and a larger SSD, there is little/no difference in this form factor (especially for school work) that an i5 will have over an i7. HP and Lenovo are pretty much the only game in town, and so long as your sister isn't prone to losing stuff, they are a solid tool to have. All the tablets/convertibles come with their stylus, so no need to purchase one. You will find them in 12.1" form factors for the most part (don't know of one much bigger/smaller than that), so no discrete, your going to have to have the Intel on board.

Link to 2760p : http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/321957-321957-64295-3740645-3955549-5071191.html?dnr=1

I have been very happy with my 2740p (the 2760p's predecessor), essentially all the difference is, is new CPU choices, and a change back to 2.5" HDD(I believe so at least....1.8" drive in the 2740p sucks for getting a new one)

 

[mope54]

the only thing that she or you won't be able to upgrade later is the processor.

make sure that there aren't differences like discrete gpu for the i7 vs. the i5 and compare the power draw of each chip. Those are the things that are going to be more important in the long run for a laptop.

I always configure mine with the lowest voltage to reduce heat and power draw.

also, unless you have coupons and/or discount codes it's going to be less expensive to buy the accessories from somewhere else. especially since you have to buy the printer somewhere else anyway, you can probably get all of those accessories at the same place (newegg or micro center, for example) and it's not going to cost much more for shipping.

in terms of a school tablet, I don't think you'll be able to find better for less money than the lenovo. when they were IBM they were regarded by most as the best laptop keyboards. I don't know how much that holds true anymore but I suspect it's the same.

 

[drummer223]

Then, between the X-220t and the HP 2760p, which one would be better?

EDIT: I found where the docking stations are, so its an extra $200 for a docking station (that will be wanted).

 

[W.Feather]

Neither will have a CD drive w/o the docking station. The form factor is simply too small.

If your sister is just using it for school stuff, any CPU avaible for the X220t and the 2760p will be fine (I personally got the i7 since i'm in engineering, figured I may do CAD work on it, instead ive been doing all that on my desktop).

As for which is better, go with the price, they both are going to do the same thing, just as well. As I said, call when you do go to order, I was able to get a 26% off listed price. Another thing to look at (if funds allow) is a "Slice" battery, the 2760p has one, and I think the x220t does as well, it will essentially double the bat. life. my 2760p was getting ~10-12 hours on a single charge (with mid/high bright + wifi) of usage when I first got it. It will add some weight, but IMO that is worth it for the extra bat life

 

[Trepidati0n]

Please adjust your budget once you account for the 3 year warranty + 3 year accidental coverage that is onsite. Sending a student off to college with a new laptop without that is borderline stupid. Shit goes wrong...and you will probably not be there to "save her"

 

[skeeder]

I just graduated...2 years ago, but if I was back in the dorm, an ipad/tablet for around $400 would be nice, gives you $1000 to pick up a decent laptop. I'd go the business route with Lenovo. Just most touch screens don't work as well as they should and notes long hand never get converted to text right. Its only a matter of time before shes dragging a normal pad of paper...even techies do.

 

[Zumino Zufeilon]

Please adjust your budget once you account for the 3 year warranty + 3 year accidental coverage that is onsite. Sending a student off to college with a new laptop without that is borderline stupid. Shit goes wrong...and you will probably not be there to "save her"

I would agree with this. Especially the first year or two in college, people tend to not be paying attention.

I would also suggest going with an SSD instead of a harddrive for 4 reasons (though I would suggest ordering it with a harddrive, and doing the remove/reinstall yourself, that way you can put the HDD in a el'cheapo clamshell and call it a backup!)

1) The price has come down on a lot
2) SSD will make a bigger difference then any other performance increase both short term, and long term
3) 95% of people do not use more then 100 gb unless they have huge music/picture library's, which can be offloaded onto the external. (Or get a 256gb SSD, 99% of people will not use more then that).
4) Solid state is good, no moving parts limits the chances that her data on her spiffy new laptop will get destroyed when she accidently drops it/whatever. The laptop might get trashed, but the data is likely to survive.



Also, really, this is exactly right from my experience:

I just graduated...2 years ago, but if I was back in the dorm, an ipad/tablet for around $400 would be nice, gives you $1000 to pick up a decent laptop. I'd go the business route with Lenovo. Just most touch screens don't work as well as they should and notes long hand never get converted to text right. Its only a matter of time before shes dragging a normal pad of paper...even techies do.

 

[W.Feather]

Or you can use One Note ? It works just as a pen/paper will ... no need to get it transcribed/converted to text ...

I just graduated...2 years ago, but if I was back in the dorm, an ipad/tablet for around $400 would be nice, gives you $1000 to pick up a decent laptop. I'd go the business route with Lenovo. Just most touch screens don't work as well as they should and notes long hand never get converted to text right. Its only a matter of time before shes dragging a normal pad of paper...even techies do.

 

[OrangeWolf]

Thinkpad X or T series.

If it is going to be her only computer (no desktop) then I'd suggest bumping up to the 14" T-series options. Great mix of power and portability, especially if you get the Nvidia Optimus option in there. Fantastic quality all around.