I Need Life-Changing Advice!

[theycallmechad]

Howdy. I need some life-changing advice from the community. I, theycallmechad, am about to purchase a laptop. That's right, a laptop. I have been digging around online and found 2 machines that I really like. I am leaning towards the Fujitsu (first link), but I really like the Acer (2nd link).

Fujitsu (price: $1,274.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834110220

Acer (price: $1,249.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 15291#spec


How you can help:

1) What laptop should I get?
2) If I shouldn't get either, do you know of a better laptop in that price range? (I'm open to good deals on Apple machines too, Kirk )
3) What do you like/dislike about these laptops?

I would like to thank you in advance for your help. You guys have alwasy been great.

Ciao!

[Alexander]

Acer = 2 GB of RAM
Fujitsu = 1 GB of RAM

Acer = 15.4 in. screen
Fujitsu = 17 in. screen


That's a real tossup.

[Geo]

Acer, I wouldn't want a huge screen on a notebook.

[Ar5eNiC]

I'd go with the Acer.

[shadowkhas]

There's no doubt here that a MacBook will cost you plenty more if you want the same specs as the others exactly. However, there's some benefits and consequences on it.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... 9ox/5.?p=0
Advantages
-Core 2 Duo desktop processor, not the mobile version
-1 GB of RAM
-OS X & XP legally

Disadvantages
-13 inch screen, however, I think it looks perfectly big when it's on your lap or right in front of you.
-80 GB SATA II drive (although it's faster RPMs than the Fujitsu)

If you had an extra $150 you could up the HD, and for an extra $175, double the RAM. I myself would go for the MacBook, but I've been a Mac user for three years and OS X is really a good OS (better than XP, personally). Make your own choice, and whatever it is, I hope it works out so that YOU are happy.

[D4rkFire]

I'd go with the Acer.

[theycallmechad]

Thanks, you guys are great . Here's what I've been looking at when it comes to advantages/disadvantages of each:

Fujitsu:

Advantages- 17'' monitor with 10-key, better resolution than the ACER, Vista upgrade is free, fingerprint scanner, larger Hard Drive

Disadvantages- 17'' monitor, 10 lb, no bluetooth, 1 hour battery life, only 1 gig ram.


ACER

Advantages- 15'' monitor, bluetooth, built-in webcam, light (6 lb), longer battery life, 2 gigs ram

Disadvantages- no 10-key, no fingerprint scanner, smaller hard drive, low screen resolution.

Man, this is really a toss-up for 2 machines priced almost the same. People tell me ACER, but why spcifically? And shadowkhas, I've not entirely ruled out the MAC either .

[GametagAeonFlux]

I'd actually consider trying out a MacBook/Pro.

[D4rkFire]

I like the ACER cause it seems like a machine that will last, also better ram .

But I think that finger print scanners are so cool, I happen to have one myself.

Why don't you just build your own computer through like Dell or something?

[-DeToX-]

I would go for the Acer.

Double the RAM and all. My sister also has an Acer and a Gateway.

Acers rock.

[Ar5eNiC]

What do you plan on using the laptop for?

When I bought my laptop for college, I went with a larger laptop with higher specs (high for the time). It was great at first when I used it around the house, but it's terrible lugging it around campus and has an awful battery life. If you're getting it for school, I'd definitely recommend getting the Acer just because it seems more portable-friendly.

IMO most of the laptops on the market right now are shit. I hate to admit it, but the MacBooks are pretty damn good laptops (hardware wise...you can always get rid of OS X and install Windows or Linux)

[Kirk]

There is a MacBook Pro in the refurb section of the Apple store that's ~$1300 or so, compared to it's normal $2,000 pricetag... only 512MB RAM, but that's what you get for saving $700

But yeah, what you get greatly depends on what you're going to do with it, but of the two, I'd go with the Acer. If you want a fucking huge screen, then you want a fucking desktop, not a laptop. Reviews are better for the Acer also. More of a well-known brand..

[worsh19]

out of the 2 i say ACER but the MAC notebook sounds the best tho as gtavcmaster(did i spell it right) said get osx off of it and windows or linux
i wouldnt get linux most programs are for windows

[Alchemist666]

I would go with the mac book pro (also kas ive had a mac longer than you)

[latinomodder]

Acer laptops are shit, sorry I put it this way look it comes formated in fat32 and drivers mostly suck, I say get a dell. It runs osx too!

[Pyroman]

Heh I think I am gunna use all this info for when I get my laptop at graduation. (End of May)

[Alchemist666]

I say get a dell. It runs osx too!

I wasn't aware of this and highly doubt it.

[StalkingGrunt911]

I would recommed the Acer.
-Longer battery life (2.5)
- 2 GB of RAM
- A better graphics card (I know you like to do skinning, and some graphics etc.
- Doesn't wiegh much.
- A little cheaper

[latinomodder]

I say get a dell. It runs osx too!

I wasn't aware of this and highly doubt it.

Yes it does I have sucssesfully instaled on my pc and laptop, look here http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

GET A DELL. TRUST ME ACERS SUCK

[ScottyGEE]

Laptops are far from shit!
My family owns 5 and myself basically two of them (well, one is completly mine and I just use the better one).
Built with centrino technology, when one turns the brightness down and does not play games or things that take similar power, the batter lasts off the top of my head 3 hours, it has wifi for any hot spots and I'm sure you're college has it in there for users like you.
I wouldn't say its heavy but being a widescreen laptop its rather large...And wait for it (here's where people will hate me for whatever reason it is),its a Dell.

Inspiron 8800 (In Australia I'd say it goes for roughly $1,500 or less, so it'd translate to about $1,100 or less) or something along those lines. I like it and thats what counts...But the thing is is that this is or you

So in that case, I would say go for a long lasting battery laptop because the worst thing evar is to have the battery die out on you before you save again and lose info Also, I'm pretty sure the dual core's take away more battery.

This is for your college right? So if I were you I wouldn't go for the Fujitsu. And do you really need a larger resolution? Unless you're going to do your skinning work with it then not really, extra pixels doesn't make thins so much better (This lappy runs on 1024,768) Or do you need a fingerprint scanner? sure it stops people from getting into your lappy info, but if someone were to steal it, they wouldnt give it back saying "Oh sorry, I figured I couldn't use it so I'm giving it back"...Another downside for Fujitsu, the vista upgrade, while vista is z0mg koolnessness, with 1 gig of ram you may start lagging at bad times which leads to frustration(and even less battery life).

So I would go with the Acer, or a different alternative, with wifi, or just the macbook thing that people are reccommending, itll just be a slight learning curve if you've been using windows all your life (ONE MOUSE BUTTON!!!! )