Which should I get?

[stefun999]

I am a freshman in high school and I am planning to get a netbook or laptop. I do not know which I should get. I plan on using it for classes. I need it to be under $500.

[smeezekitty]

you get can a dual core 2ghz with 2gb ram like this one for 400$
p.s. avoid netbooks

[computeruler]

why avoid netbooks?  They are cheap, and have excellent battery life.  And because it has a ssd, if you drop it, it will still be fine., unless the exterior is somehow damaged.  But dont drop it on purpose of course.  If your using it for your classes, which I assume would mean just word processing and that kind of stuff, and not anything requiring more processing power, then go ahead, get a netbook

[smeezekitty]

they have no cdrom drive
that can be very important

[geek hoodlum]

If it is for minimal computing only such as word processing, internet browsing, etc, netbook is fine. But please make sure of its features and usability.

As a freshy in HS, laptop is totally a good investment.

Depends on you! Hehe. 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

they have no cdrom drive
that can be very important

If you would kindly stop posting please. Many schools around the world are becoming Laptop schools where a Laptop is a required part of the student's stationary.



Stefun999, as laptop recommendations, any modern laptop will most likely fit your requirments.

What classes are you taking? Any film, media, video manipulation, or any other class that requires intensive software such as Photoshop?
Do you plan to be playing games on your laptop?
Do you need a DVD/CD drive? (Note that you can purchase an external USB DVD/CD drive for about ~$50.)
How big do you want the screen and/or keyboard to be?

[stefun999]

I don't have any computer classes but i might later in which case I would just use a school computer anyway. I do not plan on playing games with it and I plan on mainly using it for internet and word processing which would be simpler than writing papers. Thank you for your suggestions and have found two possible candidates.
http://www.frys.com/product/5720742?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
and http://www.frys.com/product/5947014?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
I'm trying to decide whether I want the small SSD or large HDD.
They're the cheapest netbooks I could find besides one that ran on linux *shudder*
Many of my classes will be easier with one. (No, newegg didn't have a cheaper netbook.)

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Those are two very good options for small, portable laptops.

To be honest, I would go for a HDD instead of an SDD. It's true SSDs are less prone to damage, but heck I've seen my friend drop his laptop dozens of times. Nothing wrong but dented corners.
Think of it this way; More money for less storage space, or less money for more storage space.

[stefun999]

Well, heh, the cheaper one is the one with 8 GB SSD and 512 MHz processor with 512 MB RAM. The more expensive one by about $40 is the one with a 120 GB HDD 1 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM. This is where my question comes in... Is the $40 worth it?

[patio]

8G will dissapear pretty rapidly...go for the 160G.
Actually it's barely enough to run a modern OS and a few important apps these days...

HINT: While shopping inquire about FREE upgrades to Win7 as it is right around the corner...many manuf. are offering this.

[stefun999]

windows 7 free on a netbook?

[smeezekitty]

do you like snails?

[stefun999]

do you like snails?

Does this have any relevance to the topic being currently discussed?

[smeezekitty]

with windows 7 on a netbook
pages load as fast as a snail crawling across the room

[computeruler]

smeezekitty, please go away
Anyways, you wont get any free upgrades because it has win xp.  Usually the upgrades are with vista