I'm thinking about going for the 13" Macbook. It's only $1350 CAD before taxes, and I know a local computer technician who will upgrade the internal memory and HDD for a really good price. I'll probably end up with a Macbook that runs really well after droping an extra $200 into it.

If you have any computer shops in your hometown, I'd suggest dropping in and inquiring about upgrade deals. Most places in my hometown are desperate for business, and thus, will do upgrades for much less than the manufacturer's website or that brick-and-mortar store charges. They'll also give you advice on your system and answer any questions you might have -- for free.

Originally Posted by Panecasio

I'm thinking about going for the 13" Macbook. It's only $1350 CAD before taxes, and I know a local computer technician who will upgrade the internal memory and HDD for a really good price. I'll probably end up with a Macbook that runs really well after droping an extra $200 into it.

That means you'll be paying approx. $1700 for a 13" Macbook... ouch!

Originally Posted by Chad

That means you'll be paying approx. $1700 for a 13" Macbook... ouch!

If I do go the upgrade route, I'd most likely be packing a 160 or 200GB HDD and 2GB of RAM. The tech I was speaking to said he might throw in a Mighty Mouse or a AirExtreme (sp?) wireless card, which, in my opinion, makes it all worth it.

I still haven't made a decision.

Well, no matter what you're going to end up paying more for an Apple. The question is.. do really want an Apple that bad? Are you willing to pay almost double for it?

Comparing it to a PC laptop, you can get almost the same specs hardware-wise for about half the price. For example, the Toshiba I linked to in the above post costs only $899 for Intel Core Duo, 2.0 Ghz, 2GB ram, 15.4 inch screen, and 160GB harddrive.

The extra money comes down to the software that comes pre-installed on the Apple. You're paying extra money, but you get iLife, which has some good apps in it, and of course you're paying for the Apple OS. But if you take away the software and look only at the specs, its quite a price jump.

what do u guys think is the longest lasting laptop. i mean i dont really feel like buying a new laptop in two years. altho i realize the technology may change what do you think is the bets laptop to last all 4 years of university.

Most laptops allow you to purchase a super battery pack that you clip into the back of it and gives you hours of extra battery life. They add a little bit of bulk to your notebook and are expensive, but can help if you're looking for long battery.

You can also read this for battery saving tips

As for the longest lasting laptop... probably this Sony VAIO model with 9 hours and 42 minutes

shiiit
over nine hours!
but I always found sony to be expensive..

Im still gonna go with an HP, they look good, perform well
and have good after sales support!

Looks like PC laptops have taken the lead in the homepage poll

but...barely...

I just bought a laptop from Dell and have a few tips from my experience for anyone that is looking for a new laptop. Firstly, in my search for laptops, if you are looking for more than just an email and paper writer, aka you want to play games and havea decent graphics card, dell is almost impossible to beat. All the computers at futureshop are made for average users and if you want somethign with a little more power youll be paying acouple hundred dollars more than you would if you bought from Dell.

Also, when buying from dell ALWAYS do it over the phone. The sales rep. has access to options you cant get online when customizing your system, if you're really picky about things (like choosing a glossy vs matte finish screen). Also you can usually get them to change the operating system to something else if you dont have the option to do it online. for example, the model i got only vffered windows XP and i wanted vista for the same price.

the last thing is that you can haggle with them on the phone. Usually you can net some free accessories. B yfar the easiest thing to get is that any sales rep can wave the shipping charge if you just ask (it's about $120). The sales reps also work on commission so you're at an advantage if you spend some time talking about different options with them since they have time invested in you. You can usually get them to knock off between $60-$150 off of the price if you agree to getting a longer service plan.

hope this helps some of you.

Great tips about Dell! Thank you so much for sharing! I will definitely keep that in mind when buying from Dell to buy over the phone, I never thought there would be a difference but now that you mention it, I'm sure you could definitely save more by haggling them if they are on commission.

I'm surprized you selected Vista over Windows XP. I would have taken Windows XP hands down, as I don't find Vista anywhere close to as stable or compatible as I'd like it to be just yet.

hmm I'd still take Vista, even though its a little buggy, it reminds me of when windows xp first came out...its microsoft guys, but if you don't upgrade you're gonna be suseptical to viruses and trojans and all.

Vista comes with a tottally new file system and a proper security system....
it might take some time, but microsoft will iron out the flaws.

and just for clarification, I don't work for them

cheers
Zuberi

Thanks for the tips Zuberi!

Originally Posted by zuberi

and just for clarification, I don't work for them

Haha. Alright, well I suppose Vista will get upgrades and patches, very true. I'll wait another year till those get ironed out before upgrading, but I must say that Vista sure looks nice

If you want the stability of Win XP but the GUI of Vista, be sure to check out the Vista Transformation Pack. It is a free download, you install it and it transforms Windows XP so that it looks identical to Vista... widgets and all. See it here. And if you don't like it, you can uninstall it like nothing ever happened

For those looking for a cheap laptop under $600, but one that still has amazing specs like Dual Core and 1GB ram... I have a solution for you!

Go to Factory Direct, they have a few locations in and around Hamilton. Most of their stuff is refurbished or clearance items, but hey... it works great! I've purchased a few things from them before.

Right now they have two great spec Gatway laptops for under $600. There's only a few left at the Hamilton store location, so hurry and scoop one up if you're still looking for one but are on a low budget.

Laptop choice 1

Laptop choice 2