Looking for a laptop for university

This is an archive of the mabination.com forums which were active from 2010 to 2018. You can not register, post or otherwise interact with the site other than browsing the content for historical purposes. The content is provided as-is, from the moment of the last backup taken of the database in 2019. Image and video embeds are disabled on purpose and represented textually since most of those links are dead.

To view other archive projects go to https://archives.mabination.com

Sam wrote on 2010-08-13 23:59

I am looking for a laptop that I can use in university. I am going into a computer science/videogame design course, so I am looking for something that can run any programs that are needed for the courses.

I am also looking for a laptop that can run most videogames.

I have around $400 cash that I can use to buy one, and maybe my parents can chip in some money for it.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!
Creampuff wrote on 2010-08-14 01:49

Do you have a size range/brand that you are particularly interested in? I'd say for a pretty decent laptop you're looking at a price tag of close to or over $1000, at least if you're looking for good processor speed, RAM and dedicated graphics.

Size might also be a consideration if you plan on bringing the computer to classes, since a 14"+ computer can get pretty heavy. The downside is that the subnotebooks and thin-and-lights might not come with the specs that you want for running video games.
Justified wrote on 2010-08-14 01:59

This one was suggested to me by Syprhid in my thread. It seems pretty decent for $500, but since I was shopping around for Netbooks (10" - 11"), I didn't really compare it to similar laptops.

But yea, generally it'll cost upwards of $800 - $1,000 to get anything to really feel comfortable with. I don't know how taxing your course programs would be, but I hated lugging around a full-size Laptop along with all my textbooks, which adds up to be like 15-20lbs of weight. I think the suggested weight for backpacks is < 10% your body weight, so ideally you would want less than 10lbs of material. I use a messenger bag so that was extra strain on my shoulder (and carrying around laptops freehand/in sleeves is pretty lame and troublesome).
sakraycore wrote on 2010-08-14 20:06

macbook 13"
Halfslashed wrote on 2010-08-14 21:44

Quote from sakraycore;125002:
macbook 13"

Please, PLEASE tell me you're joking..