[HELP] Low Budget Laptop

[th3g00n]

I've been looking to get a new laptop for a while now and after spending a huge amount of time on Google I narrowed it down to this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus---15.6%26%2334%3B-Laptop---8GB-Memory---750GB-Hard-Drive---Mocha/8453169.p?id=1218875456094&skuId=8453169#tab=specifications

It looks good but I'd like to compare with other laptops with similar specs before I make my decision.
PRICE RANGE: $600 - $800

EDIT:
Battery Life : At least 5 hours
Processor : i5 or i7

[Axon]

Please refer to these links, most of the laptops offered fall in your budget range.

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-budget-laptops/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371334,00.asp

[Xires]

Does not sound like a decent deal to me.  Perhaps you should consider saving a little money, getting something with a decent CPU but lower RAM & HDD space.  You can purchase additional RAM & a better HDD separately and installing them is trivial.

[karsa]

What are you going to use the laptop for? Is it supposed to be a desktop replacement or is portability more important? What about games?
The specs seem ok, I don't know how the GPU performs, I've been out of the loop when it comes to hardware. The only drawback I see here is the resolution, not sure if the screen has a glossy or a matte finish if that matters to you. Look for build quality, battery life and overheating issues for that model. Try to get information about the hinge quality, see if the back of the screen bends inward too much when pressed and things like that. Also if you plan on having it for more than a few years look at the price of spare parts if anything breaks. Hope this helps.

[th3g00n]

Does not sound like a decent deal to me.  Perhaps you should consider saving a little money, getting something with a decent CPU but lower RAM & HDD space.  You can purchase additional RAM & a better HDD separately and installing them is trivial.

I think 2.4Ghz is not bad, considering I don't do intensive stuff like gaming. It(the processor) also supports Turbo Boost technology up about 3.2Ghz.

What are you going to use the laptop for? Is it supposed to be a desktop replacement or is portability more important? What about games?
The specs seem ok, I don't know how the GPU performs, I've been out of the loop when it comes to hardware. The only drawback I see here is the resolution, not sure if the screen has a glossy or a matte finish if that matters to you. Look for build quality, battery life and overheating issues for that model. Try to get information about the hinge quality, see if the back of the screen bends inward too much when pressed and things like that.

I'm looking for a desktop replacement and I don't care for portability since I have a HP-Mini. How do I get details about build/hinge quality? I've read some reviews on Amazon and haven't seen anyone complain about build quality or screen resolution.

[karsa]

I think 2.4Ghz is not bad, considering I don't do intensive stuff like gaming. It(the processor) also supports Turbo Boost technology up about 3.2Ghz. How do I get details about build/hinge quality? I've read some reviews on Amazon and haven't seen anyone complain about build quality or screen resolution.

Look for reviews by people who bought it, go through forums and blogs since every bit of information is valuable. Check the model at notebookcheck.net and similar sites since it's the details you're after. If you can't find the complaints after that, then I'd say your choice is good. I only mentioned the resolution since I don't know how much time you spend in front of the computer and how many windows you have open at once. For me a good screen is one of the more important things in a laptop but that's because most days I'm on my laptop for about 8+ hours.

[PiZZ4]

Just a quick mention; if you are planning to load Linux on the laptop make sure that the hardware is supported. Here is a great website with Linux compatible laptops. It's a little expensive though. Also Dell makes good Linux friendly laptops.

https://www.system76.com/laptops/

[Xires]

I'm looking for a desktop replacement and I don't care for portability since I have a HP-Mini. How do I get details about build/hinge quality? I've read some reviews on Amazon and haven't seen anyone complain about build quality or screen resolution.

If you don't care about portability then get a desktop.  Desktops are cheaper & easier to build, you can customize the system much more and get precisely what you need far more easily.  There's absolutely no reason to get a laptop unless you're wanting portability/mobility.  Get a desktop and you can probably drop your monetary requirements by a third, at least.  For the full $800, you can easily get a very respectable system.

Here's an example:

MoBo:   Asus M5A78L-M LX Plus
CPU:   AMD FX-4100 AM3+ 3.6 GHz Quad Core
RAM:   8 GB 1600 MHz PC3-12800 DDR3 (w/ copper heatspreader)
HDD:   1 TB Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM SATA 3GB/s
OPT:   Blue-Ray Reader/DVD+-RW Writer Combo
MON:   Acer X183HBB 18.5" widescreen monitor

basic Windows PS/2 keyboard & mouse (PS/2 connection is better in this case)
standard stereo speakers

subtotal: ~$540 USD ($538.85)

Note how everything in it is better than the laptop you'd mentioned.  If you want a wireless card, throw one in for $15-30.  Under budget and still a decent system.  Laptops are ALWAYS more expensive than comparable desktops.  The ONLY reason to get a laptop is portability/mobility.


A good place to start: http://www.pricewatch.com/

[th3g00n]

If you don't care about portability then get a desktop.  Desktops are cheaper & easier to build, you can customize the system much more and get precisely what you need far more easily.  There's absolutely no reason to get a laptop unless you're wanting portability/mobility.  Get a desktop and you can probably drop your monetary requirements by a third, at least.  For the full $800, you can easily get a very respectable system.

Here's an example:

MoBo:   Asus M5A78L-M LX Plus
CPU:   AMD FX-4100 AM3+ 3.6 GHz Quad Core
RAM:   8 GB 1600 MHz PC3-12800 DDR3 (w/ copper heatspreader)
HDD:   1 TB Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM SATA 3GB/s
OPT:   Blue-Ray Reader/DVD+-RW Writer Combo
MON:   Acer X183HBB 18.5" widescreen monitor

basic Windows PS/2 keyboard & mouse (PS/2 connection is better in this case)
standard stereo speakers

subtotal: ~$540 USD ($538.85)

Wow with this I get to save a little over $200. I think I'm gonna ditch the laptop and go for this. Since I've never assembled a PC before so this might take a while.

[Xires]

It's dreadfully simple and there are a ton of guides available both online and off.  My suggestion is to take your time, double-check everything, do it in a clean place and be mindful of sharp things and your fingers.  The corners & edges of some things can be surprisingly sharp.  A friend of mine was once forced into therapy because his parents thought he'd become a cutter.  In reality, he was just clumsy.