Cheap Laptop

[shovenose]

So, my MacBook Air isn't working properly, so I'm going to take it to the Apple Store on Sunday and have them look at it.
When it's taken care of, I'm going to buy a PC and sell this MacBook Air.
See, I'm opening a datacenter with a friend, and a lot of software that we're going to use isn't Mac - compatible, and I don't generally like OS X...
And I miss my DVDRW and Ethernet ports!

So, I'm looking at buying a budget Windows laptop (less than $375), and still have some money left over to save. (I'm starting to save up, and I have to fund this datacenter thing)...

I would be:
-Playing Minecraft
-Playing GTA San Andreas
-Using Office 2010
-Remote Desktop Connection
-Running Cisco network diagnoistics software
-Doing other random stuff, web browsing, etc.

What are some recommendations? I don't want to buy a used laptop, I want it to be brand new. And I don't want a numpad on it!

I want it to be available at the San Rafael Best Buy (well, Staples and Office Depot are nearby that would probably work too, but I like Best Buy better, and I want them to stay in business lol)

Here is one I'm looking at:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+15....&skuId=5026109
Comments?


PS: yes, before y'all start wondering, I've got a perfectly good Lenovo laptop, but it's too big and too good to bring to school and bring everywhere.
Thanks!

[Topcat]

Re: Cheap Laptop

Datacenter? You're about 15 years too late for that.....but I wish you the best!! Datacenters are all but obsolete these days....especially with the intentions of selling web hosting. The only reason mine isn't debunked is that I have a lot of very old clients from way back.... 13+yr clients....but I don't have anywhere near the clientele that I had in its hayday....and the haydays of datacenters are long gone.

As or the laptop, I'd take the HP or Samsung over the Asus any day!

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

Datacenter? You're about 15 years too late for that.....but I wish you the best!! As or the laptop, I'd take the HP or Samsung over the Asus any day!

I actually deleted the Samsung and Asus links because I realized they had numpads

Datacenter? You're about 15 years too late for that.....but I wish you the best!! Datacenters are all but obsolete these days....especially with the intentions of selling web hosting. The only reason mine isn't debunked is that I have a lot of very old clients from way back.... 13+yr clients....

Not just $1.99/mo crappy shared web hosting. Hosting for my sites and his sites, Minecraft servers, quality shared hosting, dedicated and VPS, "cloud" services, etc...

[Scenic]

Re: Cheap Laptop

HP 635 or Lenovo G575 (the latter has a glossy screen though)

Specifically talking about the AMD Fusion E-450 versions of both.

Basic specs list:
HP 635 (w. Win7 and 2GB RAM)
HP 635 (w. Linux and 4GB RAM)
Lenovo G575 (w. Win7)

The Lenovo is definitely available on the other side of the big pond (Newegg w. 320GB HDD), but the HP 635 (E-450 version) is noticeably more expensive for some strange reason.

The HP is a real bargain over here in euroland (279eur/355usd), but not so much in the US (465usd/366eur).
On the other hand, the Lenovo is a bargain in the US (350usd/275eur), but the total opposite over here (399eur/508usd)
I don't quite get why, but oh well..

edit: didn't notice the store limitation.. so I basically wasted my time writing this post.. >.>

[ratdude747]

Re: Cheap Laptop

If you were Okay with used, I'd suggest a Dell Latitude D630 w/ intel graphics + a new battery... They are built like tanks and still have adequate power... I love mine.

I am unsure on the graphics though... But for everything else the D630 would serve you well.

[lti]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I actually deleted the Samsung and Asus links because I realized they had numpads

Why is that bad?

I don't understand what you are looking for. Your Lenovo laptop is too big, but it is the same size as the HP you are looking at. At that price, I wouldn't buy an HP or Samsung.

[Scenic]

Re: Cheap Laptop

If you were Okay with used, I'd suggest a Dell Latitude D630 w/ intel graphics + a new battery... They are built like tanks and still have adequate power... I love mine.

I am unsure on the graphics though... But for everything else the D630 would serve you well.

Intel graphics + Minecraft is a giant no-no. Won't work properly at all, no matter how fast the CPU is (no OpenGL performance to speak of)

edit: kinda have to agree with lti here. Seems pretty pointless, unless you go for a subnotebook (13.3" and below) which would be a lot more expensive if you avoid the underperforming Intel Atom crap.

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I just hate the numberpad. I'd rather have empty space on each side.

I don't want a shitty netbook. Too expensive for the crap grpaphics and tiny keyboards. I can't game on a nethook, and I can't do remote desktop very well on a netbook. That HP I linked to is about the same price as a netbook while being significantly better.

GTA SA runs a lot better on my Air and Lenovo than Minecraft does... but I wont rule out a laptop just because it wont work with Minecraft at 100FPS like my desktop...

Latitude D630 is not new! I have a bad case of ithastobenew!!
I'd rather break/lose/get stolen a $330 laptop than a $600(Lenovo)+$160(ssd) laptop!

[lti]

Re: Cheap Laptop

There is something in between a laptop with a 15.6" screen and a netbook. You can get a laptop with a 13" or 14" screen and a full-size keyboard.

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

OK. How about:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=3668327

[mcdaydavies]

Re: Cheap Laptop

Its got intel hd graphics on it, so dont expect to play minecraft well

[mcdaydavies]

Re: Cheap Laptop

you would be better off getting the amd system.

[c_hegge]

Re: Cheap Laptop

Intel HD graphics should do minecraft just fine. They are very powerful for an integrated graphics controller. I always say that laptops shouldn't have graphics cards at all. They add to the heat and shorten the lifespan. I'd go with http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+...&skuId=4792346. Mainly because it's not a Hopeless Product with Huge Problems.

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

C_Hegge, that laptop is so ugly!

[c_hegge]

Re: Cheap Laptop

So are Panny toughbooks and Lenovo thinkpads - the two best brands.

[Topcat]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I agree with the toughbooks, they're ugly as home made soap....but they do live up to their names....

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I have a Toughbook - it's a PIII though
I like how it looks a lot better than that toshita
And ThinkPads still look good in their ugliness!

[shovenose]

Re: Cheap Laptop

Actually, when I look at it on the copmuter not my phone, that Toshiba doesn't look horrible... But I wanted to spend a little less and it does look a tad silly

[lti]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I think that Toshiba is made for kids. I remember seeing a Toshiba that looked like that being sold as a kids' computer. Also, after my experience with newer Toshiba laptops, they are worse than anything made by HP/Compaq, which used to be the worst brand of computer you could get.

[mariushm]

Re: Cheap Laptop

I wanted to recommend the Z575 but it has numeric pad ... otherwise the specs are great for the price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834246328

The G575 Scenic recommended is a good cheaper alternative with a slower cpu but unlike the Intel equipped ones, it still has a video card that actually plays games. But still has numeric pad. Kinda silly to not want but whatever....

Look at the Toshiba offerings otherwise.