Laptop Suggestions, Any Help Guys??

[DoNKeY]

Hey guys, I'm still looking for a laptop, so I figured I'd ask you guys.

I need one for college-civil engineering to be specific.  So I'd like it be pretty fast processing wise, and be able to handle more then just one program at a time.

Main things I'm looking for...

-Would like it to be a HP, but open to other brands.
-XP PREFERABLY lol, but I think that would be hard, and I don't want to have to play games with a sales rep for days...
-17 inch screen
-Pretty big HD (preferably 320, hoping for more then 250ish)
-Fair amount of RAM (2 gig min, 3/4 would be nice)
-Intel Core 2 Duo processor
-Good enough graphics card to run AH nicely (above average, yes I know, it's a laptop...)
-Wireless and hard wired internet options
-Preferably light weight, but I'm able to carry something around if it means it's less likely to break (around 7 pounds maybe?)

I don't care for stuff like a finger print reader, or web cam, or any other fancy stuff like that, I'd rather not pay for it.

Price range would ideally be 1000-1300.


Obviously it has to be able to play AH, but schools more important, so I'm willing to sacrifice, but I don't think it will be a problem????

Looking for some help here guys/gals, and I'd REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it a lot!  I'll give you my sheep!

donkey

[Guppy35]

Remember that Donkey's sheep has been Silat approved too!

[RATTFINK]

Dell XPS

Your sheep r belong to mee!!!!1!!!tewnty-four!!!1!


<- Something I made

[2bighorn]

You won't really get anything with those specs and XP, but you can install XP yourself if you have an extra copy laying around.
You may hit into some drivers issues. I know that Dell has XP drivers for Inspiron 17xx series. You can use those from 15xx too which used to be sold with XP (most of the hardware is the same). I did that for my wife and it works fine.
1720 with Nvidia card will cost you about $1200.

If you want HP, then get HP Pavilion dv9930. Fits your requirements in terms of hardware and price. Not sure if they have XP drivers for all of their stuff. Check out firstly.

[2bighorn]

Dell XPS

Cheapest 17" XPS is $2000, that's out of the price range he gave.

[RATTFINK]

It's worth the extra dough.  You can prob. find a cheaper one.

[DoNKeY]

Thanks bh (and everyone else).  Yeah 2000 is too much.  I'd rather save a little and put the rest towards college/flying lessons.

The one you linked looks pretty good.  I think I found the same thing on circuit city for 1099.99 after some mail in rebates, so unless something else comes up, this might be the one I get.

Could anyone really tell me the difference though between 9930 and the dv7 1020 (the other one I was looking at).  http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&searchType=user&keyword=dv71020us&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0#prodspecs
Is it worth the extra money, or is it basically just bells and whistles that I would be upgrading to?

Thanks so, so very much guys.

(Looks like sheep might be going to bh  / Dan's telling the truth).


donkey

[mipoikel]

Hey guys, I'm still looking for a laptop, so I figured I'd ask you guys.

I need one for college-civil engineering to be specific.  So I'd like it be pretty fast processing wise, and be able to handle more then just one program at a time.

Main things I'm looking for...

-Would like it to be a HP, but open to other brands.
-XP PREFERABLY lol, but I think that would be hard, and I don't want to have to play games with a sales rep for days...
-17 inch screen
-Pretty big HD (preferably 320, hoping for more then 250ish)
-Fair amount of RAM (2 gig min, 3/4 would be nice)
-Intel Core 2 Duo processor
-Good enough graphics card to run AH nicely (above average, yes I know, it's a laptop...)
-Wireless and hard wired internet options
-Preferably light weight, but I'm able to carry something around if it means it's less likely to break (around 7 pounds maybe?)

I don't care for stuff like a finger print reader, or web cam, or any other fancy stuff like that, I'd rather not pay for it.

Price range would ideally be 1000-1300.


Obviously it has to be able to play AH, but schools more important, so I'm willing to sacrifice, but I don't think it will be a problem????

Looking for some help here guys/gals, and I'd REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it a lot!  I'll give you my sheep!

donkey

HP 8710W

for example model KE191EA
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/za/en/sm/WF06b/321957-321957-64295-3329741-3329741-3355679-3731885.html

ooops, this ma be too much... it is not cheap.

[2bighorn]

Could anyone really tell me the difference though between 9930 and the dv7 1020 (the other one I was looking at).  http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&searchType=user&keyword=dv71020us&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0#prodspecs
Is it worth the extra money, or is it basically just bells and whistles that I would be upgrading to?

The main difference is in bus speed (667 vs 1066), graphiccard (8600M GS vs 9600M GT), sound, etc, plus dv7 1020 is more upgradeable (mem up to 8GBs). If you're gonna have laptop for longer time, then yes it's worth it.

[DoNKeY]

The main difference is in bus speed (667 vs 1066), graphiccard (8600M GS vs 9600M GT), sound, etc, plus dv7 1020 is more upgradeable (mem up to 8GBs). If you're gonna have laptop for longer time, then yes it's worth it.

Thank you, just what I was looking for.

[Marshal]

You might want to check out this web site. www.avadirect.com
They custom build the laptop for you and keep all unwanted junk out like adware and spyware etc.
I paid around 1300 for the one I got and it runs AHII very well. I did have to get a cool pad. When the laptop started to get warmed up I would start warping. After cool pad was installed no problems at all.