New laptop
 

Im in the market for a laptop computer.
I have never had one before, and my current desktop was built by me.
So I have no idea what brand is a good one to go w/
I need basically what everyone needs/wants:
good battery
easy to carry around (im in college so in a backpack)
I would need wireless and non-wireless networking capabilites.
I have my current desktop hooked up to my HDTV, so if i could do that w/ a laptop that would be great. what about a normal monitor?
I also have some klipsch 4 spks + sub, would I be able to hook that up and get use of them?
A decent size HD
I would want a cd burner.
I don't play any games, so if it could play some it is just a bonus.
I would possible be open to a Win or Mac, altough my only experience is w/ Win so I would probably go that route. I don't want this to turn into a wein vs mac thread, but if someone could point out or give me a link to the differences that would be great.
thank you!!!

oh and price isnt decided yet. just resonable. I dont need the best, but dont want the worst.
somehwhere just above a mid-level would be good.
I just need it for internet, winamp, and word pros.
but I do need it to last me throughout college

Hmm...you sound like a power user (built own comp), you seem to have a reasonable amount of cash (based on peripherals you say you have), and you don't need games. You sound like a perfect match for a PowerBook. I just got a 15" one a I love it. Such good design, and OS X is the best personal OS out there. What do you do at school...what major? Macs have become quite good now for scientific and engineering stuff, as well as music and creative stuff (as usual). And you get the whole UNIX foundation so you have a powerful command line at your fingertips. That can make things a lot easier. Seriously, check out the PowerBooks (maybe wait until October if they are about to release new ones). I don't think you can go wrong with one if you have a bit more cash and don't require certain games or other apps.

I'm just going to take this a piece at a time.


good battery
Well, yeah. To get a laptop that has good battery life, the biggest thing to make sure of is that every piece of hardware in it is labelled "mobile." My dad's lappy has a Pentium 4 (NOT mobile) in it, and that thing eats batteries like nothing else. Mobile hardware is designed to run with less power and to generate less heat. Get a P4-M, and the mobile version of whatever video card you get, and you should be in good shape. Also, taking good care of your battery will help it last longer.

easy to carry around (im in college so in a backpack)
So get a light one. Stay away from gaming or multimedia oriented laptops, and you should be all set. Most of them aren't very heavy now, unless you get a monster of a machine. Dell XPS = bad. Dell Inspiron 700m = good. Also, I would get a backpack specifically designed to carry a laptop. They have a separate, padded compartment for the machine itself. It just makes things easier.

I would need wireless and non-wireless networking capabilites.
I can't find a laptop that doesn't come with these features standard. They all should by now.

I have my current desktop hooked up to my HDTV, so if i could do that w/ a laptop that would be great. what about a normal monitor?
Most laptops still come with a VGA connector for your monitor. Hooking up to an HDTV, however, is another story. You might be able to find something with RCA or component outputs, but I wouldn't count on it. You might also be able to find a USB2 or PCMCIA adapter, though I can't say as I've looked.

I also have some klipsch 4 spks + sub, would I be able to hook that up and get use of them?
Once again, anything beyond plain ol' stereo sound is out of the ordinary on a laptop. However, I know for a fact you can get a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCMCIA card (slides in the side of the laptop) that has 7.1 sound. If you really need the surround that badly, that is one option.

A decent size HD
Every manufacturer offers lots of different sizes. Just pick the one you want. I personally wouldn't go any less than 60 if it was going to be my main computer... probably more.

I would want a cd burner.
This is another thing that is basically standard now. Most machines come with a combo drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM), though you can upgrade to a DVD-RW for pretty cheap. Might be work looking into. Single layer blank DVDs are awfully cheap these days, and they're great for backing stuff up. I just got 200 blank DVD+R 8x for $60. Not a bad deal.

I don't play any games, so if it could play some it is just a bonus.
Then don't worry about getting a graphics card. Just find something with integrated video, instead. It will be much cheaper, and it will work fine for your needs.

I just need it for internet, winamp, and word pros.
but I do need it to last me throughout college

Is that all you plan on doing in college with it? If so, then it really doesn't matter too much what you get. Those programs won't start requiring more resources two years from now.


Anyway, since you're looking for specific recommendations, my best laptop experience has been with Dell. Some people say IBM are good, but three of my friends with various models of IBM laptops have had major hardware breakdowns (hard drive, mouse, CD-ROM, CD-RW... the list goes on and on). I just can't recommend them. I'd personally get their midrange laptop (I think the numbers are in the 6000s now? I'm not sure), but if your budget is a little bigger, you might want to look into their higher end ones, or the more mobile ones. The price for a good laptop has dropped quite a bit in the past couple years. I'd say you could get everything you need for less than $1200.

Edit: I just thought I should add that the only person I know whose laptop hasn't had some sort of hardware breakdown has a PowerBook. I still don't like them as much, but that's mainly because I'm a gamer. Something to chew on.

I think an iBook would be perfect for you. Has all the features you need for less than a Powerbook. Powerbooks are awesome but it's almost too much power.

do not get a dell. i know alot of people who have problems with their desktops

two dell laptops without any problems except when i put a soccer ball through the screen of my latest one which required a new screen! not cheap to get replaced :(

I recommend the Dell 700m. I've had three Dell laptops over the course of five years or so (two of them were stolen).

The one I had before my 700m had a Pentium 4 chip in it and a high end monitor... it weighed a freakin' ton. The transformer weighed as much as the laptop itself. Definatley not something I enjoyed toting around. Make sure you get Centrino, it is powerful and light.

I have had my 700m for about 6 months now. I take it to and from work daily (either carried on public transit or on my scooter), I have also taken it on a few sales trips around the world. I have no complaints about it so far. The battery life is roughly 2.5 to 3 hours (I have a regular battery) but the plug is nice and light.

For someone looking for a small and practical computer that they plan on lugging around I highly recommend it.