<p>My oldest was hoping to keep her laptop working till May graduation but it looks like it is not going to happen. She needs something not terribly expensive,thinking under $600. Her present laptop is a 17 inch but she wants something smaller. Her needs are just internet and Microsoft Office. She does a lot of word processing and does not want a netbook. The present laptop could die any day so it needs to be something in stock. She is carrying 20 units plus clubs and such. She has no time to think about or research a new computer.
From our business I have some cash rebates to use at Staples. I would like to be able to order something they have in stock and have her pick up in her store.
In her price range they have HP, Toshiba and Samsung. Is there any difference between those brands? Or at her price point does it make much difference between the different processors?
Could she easily travel with a 15.6 inch?</p>
<p>I would recommend a laptop under 4lbs. for travelling. So screen size would be 14" or less. Since she’s only using the internet and MS office, an Intel i5 core will do but i7 would be best. </p>
<p>Personally, I’d look at Acer or Asus for the price range you’re at.</p>
<p>Why not one of these…</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://t.staples.com/skava/static/category.html?type=StaplesCLCategory&name=<a%20href%3D"%2FLaptop-Computers-PCs-Laptops-Tablets%2Fcat_CL161747">Laptop%20Computers<%2Fa>&input={“url”%3A[“http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staples.com%2FLaptop-Computers-PCs-Laptops-Tablets%2Fcat_CL161747”]}&rootName=PCs%20|%20Drives%20|%20Accessories]staples[/url”>http://t.staples.com/skava/static/category.html?type=StaplesCLCategory&name=<a%20href%3D"%2FLaptop-Computers-PCs-Laptops-Tablets%2Fcat_CL161747">Laptop%20Computers<%2Fa>&input={“url”%3A[“http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staples.com%2FLaptop-Computers-PCs-Laptops-Tablets%2Fcat_CL161747”]}&rootName=PCs%20|%20Drives%20|%20Accessories]staples[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I just bought a Dell Inspirion from Best Buy.</p>
<p>[Dell</a> Inspiron Laptops: Dell Inspiron Laptop - Best Buy](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell-Laptops/Dell-Inspiron-Laptops/pcmcat140500050014.c?id=pcmcat140500050014]Dell”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell-Laptops/Dell-Inspiron-Laptops/pcmcat140500050014.c?id=pcmcat140500050014)</p>
<p>mom2collegekids- I will probably buy one from staples but don’t know which to buy.
Missypie- her Staples doesn’t seem to have Dell in stock. I would rather not use Best Buy since I have the Staples rebates.
I want something she can pick up in the store. She is not home during the day and her UPS driver won’t leave packages. Plus she will need help getting her data off her portable hard drive.
HKLincoln- thanks for the processor info.</p>
<p>She does not need an I7. The difference between that an an I5 is the support for hyperthreading, not an issue with office type programs.</p>
<p>My son uses an Asus 13.3" laptop. It has an 8hr battery, an Nvidia graphics chip, and gets used constantly.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind AMD processor, this staples HP is an excellent deal. There are 2 rebates on top of the discount, $50 easy rebate and $100 visa gift card. This makes the net price of $400 + tax. It’s a quad core AMD, with 6MB of memory and 640G hard drive, not bad for overall spec. The only thing is, you need to find it in a store near you. Use the inventory checker to find whether any store near you has it and quick because this will not last.</p>
<p>[HP</a> Pavilion dv6-6C10US 15.6" Laptop | Staples®](<a href=“http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-dv6-6C10US-156-Laptop/product_424329?PID=404255&storeId=10001&AID=10422268&SID=246022&cm_mmc=CJ-_-404255-_-404255-_-10422268&CID=AFF%253A404255%253A404255%253A10422268]HP”>http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-dv6-6C10US-156-Laptop/product_424329?PID=404255&storeId=10001&AID=10422268&SID=246022&cm_mmc=CJ-_-404255-_-404255-_-10422268&CID=AFF%253A404255%253A404255%253A10422268)</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, what’s the problem with her current laptop? What brand/model/age?</p>
<p>Personally, I tend to be leery of consumer-grade notebooks/PCs that one could buy at bigbox stores…especially after having repaired countless numbers of them over the years. </p>
<p>I tend to be partial to Toshibas…but that’s based on using models from the late '90s/early 00’s. Moreover, one of them was a corporate model one can’t buy in stores. Don’t feel as good about HPs and know nothing about Samsungs. </p>
<p>I’d also second a look at ASUS machines…they make great motherboards and all my friends rave about the quality/reliability of their ASUS notebooks.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I’d avoid Dells like the plague…especially the consumer-grade inspiron. </p>
<p>Lost count of how many of them I’ve had to troubleshoot/repair working over the years.<br>
If you can get a corporate model(Latitude)…that may be a decent option…</p>
<p>I have bought 3 lower end Toshibas and have never had a problem. I only use them for Word, Excel, email and internet - no gaming. Never paid over $450.</p>
<p>It might be possible to upgrade memory for under $100 and keep the current laptop functioning. Has she brought it to the computer support place on campus to have them look at it?</p>
<p>Present laptop is a 4 yr old Compaq she bought new for $400. It has been overheating for the past 6 months and the battery does not hold a charge. That was all fine and she was hoping it would hang on till graduation. Sunday her college town had a major power outage. She couldn’t work since her computer had no battery life. But the major issue was when the power went back on she couldn’t get the computer to stay turned on. She has it working right now but I am tired of getting the frantic phone calls. I don’t think a $400 4 yr old computer is worth spending money to fix it. Plus the computer is 17 inches which has worked great for school since she mainly works at home. But she is taking a outside the country job and needs something smaller</p>
<p>mom60,</p>
<p>Does your daughter have a mini-vacuum cleaner(handheld) that has decent suction capabilities? </p>
<p>If so, have her check the fan and vent areas of her notebook for accumulated dust. After 4 years, the accumulated dust can reduce the efficiency of the cooling fan/heat vents and trap excess heat. </p>
<p>Vacuuming the dust up with a mini-vacuum cleaner may not solve all her problems…but may ameliorate the overheating issue just enough to last to graduation or until she gets a new computer.</p>
<p>If she is going to do this, start by pointing the vacuum around a 1/2" - 1" away from the areas, move closer as you’re doing it, and try to get as much dust out of the affected areas as possible. Shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes tops.</p>
<p>Also, FYI…Compaq merged with HP over a decade ago. I tend to avoid Compaq and when that merger happened…HP like the plague as well.</p>