I need a laptop

BSB - you should be able to buy discounted microsoft software (O/S, Office, Visual Studio, etc) at the bookstore. Don't quote me, but I think it's around $5-10/disk...so WinXPPro would be $10-20. When I was at Salisbury, they just stared the MSEA (Microsoft Enterprise Agreement), and I was paying around $5/disk. Then at some point while my sister was there, they were giving the students free copies.

As far as laptops go, the Apples are really nice, but if you are doing mostly PC based stuff, I'd go with a Dell. If you were going to do any graphics work, then I'd consider an Apple.

Thanks, on the internet it says you can buy software from the bookstore but doesn't tell me for how much. It is kind of annoying because I think it should tell the prices right there. Maryland Day is on Saturday and I guess I'll go and look in the bookstore. Only problem is that is DRAFT DAY too. Hmmmm. hmmmm.

BSB, the 820 is a freakin' HORSE is the problem. I think you pay a little more and all you really get is a bigger monitor. That thing weighs a lot and is honestly not very practical.

if you want cheap but good, amd64 with 1gb ram is the way to go (under $800 and it'll do what you need, including games, though mobile gfx cards are a bit dinky). dell only sells intel though :/

if you do video/photoshop/3d rendering etc, than a super laptop with a dual core chip and whatnot would be better (though $1600+).

one of the most important decisions is the quality and size of the screen. higher resolution = more expensive. bigger = heavier and less battery life. Dell let you choose screen quality on most models, which is nice.

oh yeah, get a shitty looking bookbag. keeping a laptop in what appears to be a modern day cloth trash can is the best way to keep it from being pilfered. Be careful with room mates too, laptops are just too easy to steal :(

Right. You might want to invest in one of those locks that you can chain your laptop to the desk with. I got robbed in two straight years of college and ALL my electronic equipment was taken. Also, if you plan on running it on an LCD monitor (some people do) make sure you decide about SXGA, UXGA or WUXGA. With that you can actually get a cheaper projection and have a wide-screen TV in your room. ;)

when you say amd64 i think of a nintendo 64. Is that like the chip? But money wise, only because some of my relatives are buying this for me I don't think i need to worry about price. As much as I don't want to waste their money I still can get what I want from them if I ask. But with that said when I got this computer I am using now I trusted you guys and it has been great for me. I watch my TV and record what I want. It stays in my room and I don't need a tv or dvd player. REally all my media is inside this media center. It is 4 months before I have to really buy my laptop but i am trying to get a good idea. I trusted you guys before and i wasn't disappointed.

SXGA, UXGA or WUXGA-- TERNFSXGA to you too malcolm. I'll figure out what all that means and get back to you. I will have to get something to protect my laptop. How bad would it suck if something that cost 1,500 got stolen.

Well, if you with WUXGA you'll be able to run widescreen projections directly from your laptop to a projection.

Which means that for CHRISTMAS you can ask for a projector and basically project stuff from your laptop over skyscrapers with awesome resolution.

when you say amd64 i think of a nintendo 64. Is that like the chip? But money wise, only because some of my relatives are buying this for me I don't think i need to worry about price. As much as I don't want to waste their money I still can get what I want from them if I ask. But with that said when I got this computer I am using now I trusted you guys and it has been great for me. I watch my TV and record what I want. It stays in my room and I don't need a tv or dvd player. REally all my media is inside this media center. It is 4 months before I have to really buy my laptop but i am trying to get a good idea. I trusted you guys before and i wasn't disappointed.

SXGA, UXGA or WUXGA-- TERNFSXGA to you too malcolm. I'll figure out what all that means and get back to you. I will have to get something to protect my laptop. How bad would it suck if something that cost 1,500 got stolen.

XGA, SXGA, UXGA, WUXGA have to do with screen quality. its just acronyms for how many pixels fit on the screen.

amd64 is a chip, like an intel chip. amd64 is generally faster per dollar than intel, but dell doen't sell them (cause intel gives them a discount to only use intel).

wait till its time to buy, bring it up again (give 2-3 weeks notice) and we can lok at specific models and prices then.

those kensington locks are better than nothing, but i can show you how to pick them in 5 minutes with a bic pen cap or you can use a wire cutter on them. keeping it out of site when not in use (crappy backpack/duffel bag etc) tend to work the best.

Well, if you with WUXGA you'll be able to run widescreen projections directly from your laptop to a projection.

Which means that for CHRISTMAS you can ask for a projector and basically project stuff from your laptop over skyscrapers with awesome resolution.yes, now the only question is what to project?

XGA, SXGA, UXGA, WUXGA have to do with screen quality. its just acronyms for how many pixels fit on the screen.

amd64 is a chip, like an intel chip. amd64 is generally faster per dollar than intel, but dell doen't sell them (cause intel gives them a discount to only use intel).

wait till its time to buy, bring it up again (give 2-3 weeks notice) and we can lok at specific models and prices then.

those kensington locks are better than nothing, but i can show you how to pick them in 5 minutes with a bic pen cap or you can use a wire cutter on them. keeping it out of site when not in use (crappy backpack/duffel bag etc) tend to work the best. comeone would have to be pretty badass just to walk into a room of their neighbor and steal his laptop. it would have to be someone that lives on the 4 floors of the dorm so I'll just go jack bauer on everyone till i get what I want.

I'm done talking with you, you understand me? You read my file. first thing i'm gonna do, i'm gonna take out your right eye then i'm gonna move over and take out your left. Then i'm gonna cut you, I'm gonna keep cutting you till i get the information that i need

24 on tonight even the show sucks compared to season 1 and 2. Now it actually is a little popular but it sucks now. i don't get it. That show used to be the best.

BSB, you project porn onto the President of the College's house. Duh. You have a lot to learn my son.

OR you project this site onto the side of your dorm and take a picture. It would look bad ass as hell. Rather than the Kensington lock, you could just sit next to it with a gun and when you're not there, put up a picture of you sitting there with a gun.

Or even better, just attach a gun with the Kensington lock with a note that says, "Steal this and kill yourself."