Looking for a laptop.

Okay, first of all, I'll be moving to the States for about 2 years for my study. I'm planning to get a laptop over there.

This are what I basically would use my laptop for (so far that I can think of now):

- Windows 7 (I know this is not one of the usage, but I might as well include it.)
- Casual gaming
- Listening to music
- For completing assignments and stuffs (of course)
- Watching videos

So I hope that people here could help by recommending some brands which might be suitable for my needs. My budget would be no more then $800. But if it's slightly above $800, just include it too, as I might think about it.

Check out the Dell Studio line of laptops. http://tinyurl.com/ntvbqa
The Studio 17 has a full size keyboard and built in number pad.
If you're going to do some gaming, you might want to upgrade the processor to a Core 2 Duo, instead of the common default Pentium Dual Core.

btw,  noticed from Dell websites that the laptops comes with Microsoft Works instead of Microsoft Office. What are the difference between those two?

Check this out.  It will do that and more.

Works is a crappy, dumbed down version of Microsoft Word. If you can afford it, get Microsoft Office. You won't regret it. If you can't afford it, check out OpenOffice.org. It's a free alternative to Microsoft Office.

[few]

Works is a crappy, dumbed down version of Microsoft Word. If you can afford it, get Microsoft Office. You won't regret it. If you can't afford it, check out OpenOffice.org. It's a free alternative to Microsoft Office.

How is it crappy?
It is more powerful than most offices need.  Very few people need or even come close to using Office to it's potential.

Don't pass your own misinformed opinions off as fact.

[few]

How is it crappy?
It is more powerful than most offices need.  Very few people need or even come close to using Office to it's potential.

Don't pass your own misinformed opinions off as fact.

And what about your misinformed opinion about very few people coming close to using Office to its potential? A lot of people need and use Office to a level where Works just isn't at.
I've never heard of anyone defending MS Works. Everybody else I've talked to and every review I've read about Works say that it should simply be dumped for Office.

Mine isn't an opinion, very few people that have Office installed on their computers use it to it's potential.

Mine isn't opinion either, a lot of people that have Office installed on their computers use it beyond the potential of Works.

Mine isn't an opinion, very few people that have Office installed on their computers use it to it's potential.

That's true but the difference between Works and Office is huge and, even though very few people that have Office installed on their computers use it to it's potential, they may still need/want features that Works does not have.

I fully agree with the previous two statements.  The trouble is that MS leaves those features out of Works so that they can sell more Office packages.  They dont' need to eliminate Works and only sell Office, they need to make Works far more usable.

[Moderator]

Open Office...spend more bread on hardware.

Open Office...spend more bread on hardware.

Good  idea. It is FREE!

But you really want to buy something cheaper and better than the MS Office, consider the Office 2008 package form Asampoo.
Here is one review that claims it is better that the Microsoft product.

The price itself would be a great deal, but in many ways Ashampoo Office is actually better than Microsoft Office. We'll run through some of those advantages later, but here's the big one:
Ashampoo's Office 2008 is slim and efficient!

http://www.infopackets.com/news/software/reviews/2009/20090319_ashampoo_office_2008_review.htm

Get ASUS one of the best motherboard, video cards and optical drive maker.

Check this out.  It will do that and more.

It sure does look nice but the it seems that the prices would just burnt a hole all the way from my wallet through my shoes. 

Works is a crappy, dumbed down version of Microsoft Word. If you can afford it, get Microsoft Office. You won't regret it. If you can't afford it, check out OpenOffice.org. It's a free alternative to Microsoft Office.

btw, is Open Office compatible with Microsoft Office? Cos I believe most people would be using Microsoft Office and I wouldn't want to have a problem when opening these files with different softwares.

[Moderator]

Yes.
Completely compatible...

okay, then that's one part where I can save my money and maybe spend it on hardwares. So are there anyone else with any other recommendation for a laptop?

 Refer to the first post for some descriptions on what I'm looking for.

Flazzard, what kind of budget are you working with? 

Flazzard, what kind of budget are you working with? 

Uhmm..About $800. I'm not looking for a super gaming computer or stuff like that. I just want it for my mainly for my assignments, listening to music, and maybe watching videos. For the gaming part, I'm not aiming to get a laptop which can support high end games, cos those are definitely out of my budget. I just want the laptop to at least be able to produce decent graphics for gaming.

I would recommend a Dell, they have good service and support.  They also put together a fairly reliable laptop.

I've seen Dell and I think if I'm going for Dell, I'll be taking the Studio 15. Just that I know there are many other brands in USA, compared to my country Malaysia. So I was wondering if there are other brands which many also find quite good.

I have absolutely no idea what brands may be available in your locale.  Or for that matter what the duties on imported items may be.  I would suggest checking locally to determine that.

nono..I'm planning to buy the laptop in USA, not Malaysia.

For $800 ?
If  you can wait until after the first of next year.
Buy almost anything and have money left over.
Prices are falling like hailstones.

well, I think I would be able to as I am only flying to USA after the first week of January. Why? Is there some sort of computer fair going on there then?

No, it's just that after all the christmas spending the manufacturers usually reduce the prices to encourage people to spend more money.

ah..i see. Then this is one good news for me. If just say a laptop which costs around $724 now, roughly, around how much would it be after christmas?

I really couldn't say.  My crystal ball seems to be defective today.   

haha..should I help polish your crystal ball to make it clearer for you? lol

Anyway, Quantos, thanks for the info about the after Christmas pricing.

I really couldn't say.  My crystal ball seems to be defective today.   

btw, do you know how much the price drop in the last few years(if you only know about last year's drop would also be enough)? I mean did the price drop more then $100/$200, etc. If anyone can give a rough insight of previous years' drop of price, I would really appreciate them.

btw, does anyone knows what are the difference between Dell's Studio laptops and Inspirion laptops?

btw, does anyone knows what are the difference between Dell's Studio laptops and Inspirion laptops?

I haven't been able to figure that one out yet. Looks like the studio has a better graphics card and cpu by default.... other than that, I don't know.

Looks like you can't add memory to the Insiron....

[Moderator]

Have a Looksee...

For laptops, is it possible to upgrade the graphic cards?

Cos I was thinking, since for now, I'll use the laptop mostly for my schoolwork, I don't mind using the intel graphic card instead of getting a dedicated one. But I was wondering if some years later, if I decided to upgrade the graphic card from the intel's to some dedicated ones, will I be able to do that or do I have to buy a new laptop.

No, you can't upgrade the video cards in laptops, they are usually integrated into the motherboard. 

Other then Dell, are there any other recommended brands? What about HP laptops, are they good?

I would avoid HP.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/17/reliability.study.has.apple.4th.place/

Btw, if I were to buy a laptop from Dell, should I make an online purchase or it's better to go to some store and buy it there?

If I do an online purchase, is credit card the only option of payment?

Btw, if I were to buy a laptop from Dell, should I make an online purchase or it's better to go to some store and buy it there?

If I do an online purchase, is credit card the only option of payment?

If you do an online purchase then credit card is about the only way to make a purchase.  You'd think the banks and vendors would find an easier way to do this as there are many people who don't have credit cards - or don't want to put the information on the internet.  I guess one other option would be a prepaid credit card for the correct amount.

[Moderator]

The dis-advantage of buyong online is having to wait for shipping if you have to return it etc....
The advantage of using a credit card is on some major purchases you get an extended warranty from the CC company...check the Banks terms on this.

Will there be a difference in terms of pricing if I buy it directly from Dell and from some other computer stores?

[Moderator]

That's what comparitive shopping before you purchase is for...

Well, I can't really do comparative shopping before I decide which is the best way to purchase my laptop cos I'm currently not in USA. Therefore, I was hoping that those who had experience or know something could help me out here.

[Moderator]

So would you like us to go shopping for you then ? ?

I'm kidding...but not really understanding what you want us to do at this point.

I am not that I'm asking you people to go shopping for me. However, if you are willing to do so, I wouldn't mind.

I'm also not asking you people to do some research regarding my queries but if you did so, I really appreciated all the help that I am getting on this forum.

With so many computer enthusiasts in this forum, I'm sure that in the past, at least one of you might have done comparison between online prices of laptops and those sold in regular computer shops, in USA. All I'm asking for is that if there are such people here, I would like to know if there are any difference in prices and if there are, which would be cheaper.

The reason I'm asking for this is that I am unable to check the prices of laptops which are sold in regular computer shops in USA. All I have are the online prices and was wondering whether I should make a purchase online now, or only get one from the regular computer shops when I've arrived there.