<p>[HP</a> Official Store — Buy and Customize your dv6 and dv6t series PC direct from HP](<a href=“http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=4701969]HP”>http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=4701969)</p>
<p>Will this get me through all four years of college?</p>
<p>I’ve heard HPs have some faulty heatsink issues so I’ll be getting a cooling pad for it.</p>
<p>It seems fine, but the price is remarkably high. Are you sure you really need that four year warranty? For $500 you can pay out of your pocket to repair the laptop multiple times.</p>
<p>Moreso, remember you’re going to college. There’ll be tons of people there well-versed with computers if you ever need a problem, and unlike HP they generally know what they’re talking about and will help you for free.</p>
<p>I put the 4 year warranty in there because it covers the hardware (parts and labor) for four years. Which is just short of how long I’ll be in college - doing a 5 year dual degree most likely. If HP does in fact have faulty heat sink issues, should they cause my motherboard to die within four years, I’ll be covered, saving me the expense of buying another laptop (even though it is possible that in 4 years a $500 laptop will be as powerful as this one) - grandparents are footing the bill for this one luckily.</p>
<p>If I ever need a problem I’ll just throw the laptop out a window 
but I got what you were trying to say.</p>
<p>If you want to throw it out the window, don’t forget to spring for the $1000 mattress; it helps give your laptop a comfortable landing!</p>
<p>But in all seriousness, warranty aside, it looks good to go. As you probably know, the battery life will be a bit miserable given the high hardware power requirements, and it’ll be on the heavy side, but beyond that you’re fine!</p>
<p>Spring… Mattress… har har har :)</p>
<p>Originally I was considering a 17.something" laptop with an i7 but… I thought I’d probably do just as well with a smaller laptop and an i5; less weight, more battery life.</p>
<p>Do I really need a dedicated graphics card? If not, I could bump it down to a 14" laptop with the same specs minus the GPU (Have a saved configuration of the dv4i; same internals specs, no dedicated GPU, $400 cheaper). I will be doing engineering - possibly Mechanical - so I may be using a CAD software and the likes. I’ve also heard that Win7 is fairly GPU intensive?</p>
<p>And what Security software would you recommend? I chose not to grab Norton as I’ve had some awful experiences with it (makes computer deathly slow, doesn’t catch keyloggers…) but it seems like Norton 360 has gotten some rave reviews so I’m debating on it.</p>
<p>That thing is a beast. My question is, what are you exactly planning to do with it? The i5 processors (especially a high end one like the one in there) are plenty fast for anyone. i7’s are sweet too, but they are expensive.</p>
<p>If you’re using CAD software, you will want a deticated GPU, and preferably an Nvidia one. Nvidia cards have a little something called CUDA, which allows apps like Photoshop and AutoCAD to use it. It makes a HUGE difference if you use an application that can use those cards. ATi cards can’t do that (although they are good for games), so definitely get a laptop with an Nvidia card. Windows 7 isn’t GPU intensive at all, that is pure nonsense. I have it running on a first generation netbook without a deticated GPU and all the effects work great.</p>
<p>Have you considered a desktop?</p>
<p>General use, mostly. Possible light gaming. CAD use; even if I’m not a Mech Eng, I build guitars and so use Autodesk at the moment. Possible music recording/editing. Possible Photoshopping.</p>
<p>I have thought about a desktop but it honestly doesn’t make too much sense to me, considering I’ll need a laptop regardless. More stuff to bring down on move in day and more stuff to take home…</p>
<p>EDIT: Thanks for the replay man. Saw the thread you just made. It’s cool to have someone like you around here 
would you be able to recommend a security suite for me?</p>
<p>That laptop is good for all of that. You might wanna check out external sound cards if you’re serious about the music editing and recording. </p>
<p>Gaming, eh… well. You’ll be able to run most games on low or medium settings on that. Why I suggest a desktop? You gotta keep in mind that a laptop has a lot of concessions to it. It can’t use too much energy, it can’t get too hot, it can’t be too big etc. If you need real serious power, you want a desktop. Of course, there are bigs and smalls to everything. For basic to moderately complex CAD stuff, that laptop will be good enoug. If you need to do super complex and huge stuff, it won’t be. For 2000 bucks you can buy a monster of a desktop PC.</p>
<p>As for a good security suite, get this one (assuming you have a legal version of Windows):
<a href=“http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/[/url]”>http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/</a></p>
<p>It’s free and it’s good.</p>
<p>At the moment I don’t think I’ll need to do super complex CAD stuff. And I won’t be playing hardcore Crysis. ;)</p>
<p>I’m serious about the editing and recording in that I think I will be doing it. But that’ll be through an interface - recording with a sound card’s line in works horribly.</p>
<p>If you’re going to need a sound card for audio editing/recording, you should go for a desktop instead. If you send me your email, I can send you a very good mini-ITX shuttle form factor build that is both powerful yet small, so it can be taken anywhere easily. Just PM me your email+budget :)</p>
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<p>There are plenty good USB sound cards, but you should ask that at a specialized audio store. I can’t really help you with that.</p>
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<p>You really get off on mini-ITX boards, don’t you? Haha.</p>
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<p>I just think they’re the best for colleges, given how often you have to move in/out and how small dorm desks usually are. When done right, they can cost the same as a typical ATX computer but without the big heavy bulk :)</p>
<p>So unfortunately, HP pulled the Dedicated Graphics option from the dv6t unless I step up to the dv6t quad.</p>
<p>I figured if I’m going to have to get the i7 processor, I could search around for something cheaper.</p>
<p>Stumbled on a Lenovo IdeaPad Y560; the BU version, with the i7 720, 8GB Ram, 500x7200 HDD. Currently on sale. My cart (with Office and LoJack and 3 year super-warranty) comes to just under $1700. - I’m fine with having to step down to a 3 year warranty from HP’s 4 as Lehigh offers full support for the Lenovo as well.</p>
<p>Should I buy it now? Alternatively, the AU version (only 4GB Ram) with LoJack and Office and the warranty comes to just under 1800 not on sale. So if I wait it’ll run me an extra hundred for a less powerful computer.</p>
<p>Or should I wait? Anything new and big as far as technology goes coming out soon? Soon being… I need to have enough time left so that the companies can implent it into their products, and the computer gets to me before August 25.</p>