Getting a Laptop

[Linksquest]

I'm getting a Laptop for college this summer and I have been looking around for the best laptop possible for the least amount of money ($1,000 is my limit)

This is the one that I came up with:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Search.do?c=1&context=&keyword=dv5220US&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0

[RedMage]

That looks like a pretty impressive machine for the price. I question whether it'll really be Vista-capable with only integrated graphics, but that's no worry if you don't mind staying with XP for a while.

Comes with a lot of software. Some of you need, some of it you don't, probably want to uninstall some of it right off the bat.

I just ordered my new college laptop this morning. It's an Asus A6Jc.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Redmage is smart XD He's getting an Asus

I gave you that link earlier to the Aspire. What about that?

[RedMage]

Redmage is smart XD He's getting an Asus

I would thank you for the compliment if I didn't detect sarcasm. Then again, I tend to suspect any compliment paid to me is actually a sarcastic insult.

Maybe I'm getting an Asus, maybe I'm not. They're out of stock of the model I ordered and may not be getting any more because it's being replaced. Can't find out if they cancelled my order like I asked until they're open for business again tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm looking at Fujitsu.

If by Aspire you mean Acer...watch out.

Most of Acer's laptops come from the factory with the hard drive partitioned into three sections and formatted in the obselete FAT32 file systen, whether you like it or not.

The only way to fully fix this is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall everything, including Windows, from scratch...and Acer doesn't include Windows backup discs, so guess what? You have to go buy a new copy of Windows yourself at your own expense.

I was looking at an Aspire, but I dropped that puppy like a hot potato when I found out about that.

[LorentzForce]

There's a FAT32 -> NTFS convert tool in Windows, called convert. No need to format and so on.

In my case, I'd recommend Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad, but those cost a fortune, and for good reason too. Every single other laptop I encountered felt flimsy, like an insecure plasticky that creaks when you twist it.

[Mithrandir]

I would thank you for the compliment if I didn't detect sarcasm. Then again, I tend to suspect any compliment paid to me is actually a sarcastic insult.

I'd just assume he was making a bad pun along the lines of "A plus" and let it go.

[RedMage]

There's a FAT32 -> NTFS convert tool in Windows, called convert. No need to format and so on.

What of the unwanted partitions?

Edit: OK, so getting rid of those doesn't look that hard. *Sigh* The mistake I made was assuming the technical knowledge of the random people writing reviews on Newegg was greater than my own.

So to be clear, I can convert from FAT32 to NTFS without having to reinstall Windows?

[RedMage]

I'd just assume he was making a bad pun along the lines of "A plus" and let it go.

Don't worry, I wasn't taking offense, just baring one of my numerous psychological/emotional flaws.

[Icarus]

Yes, you can convert from FAT32 to NTFS without having to reinstall Windows. I'm not on windows right now, but if you go to the command prompt (it's in the Accessories menu of the start button) and type convert /? it should tell you how it works.

[Seppuku]

Redmage is smart XD He's getting an Asus

I gave you that link earlier to the Aspire. What about that?

ASUS POWA!

[Seppuku]

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/Default.asp this is my favorite pc site, its owned by the i buy power people, i got my gaming comp from here, i got exactly everything i ordered the way i wanted it, they have good costumizing options, i got to mix and match all the parts i wanted including my asus mommyboard ^ - ^ im sure the laptops have less costumizing, but it may be worth a looksy anyhow.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Don't worry, I wasn't taking offense, just baring one of my numerous psychological/emotional flaws.

Naw man. I'm serious

I tend to avoid those companies like Gateway, emachine, dells, etc. I have a higher respect for companies like Asus and ibuypower.com

[RedMage]

Naw man. I'm serious

I tend to avoid those companies like Gateway, emachine, dells, etc. I have a higher respect for companies like Asus and ibuypower.com

iBuyPower I don't know about. I'd never heard of them until I saw one of their products on Newegg yesterday. A guy I know said there was a lot of spam pushing them a few months ago, and the name certainly makes 'em sound like a two-bit operation, but I guess they could be perfectly respectable.

Well, after lunch I have to (*shudder*) get on the phone with AGear and make sure they cancelled my order for the out-of-stock Asus, then I...guess I'll get the Acer from Newegg, though I must admit some degree of lingering trepidation.

(I hate talking on the phone.)

[RedMage]

Well, cancelling the Asus order proved relatively painless, and the Acer (there shouldn't be two Taiwanese laptop companies with such similar names) has been ordered from Newegg. Second time's the charm, I hope.

[TurkishMonky]

ibuypower is a _small_ company, but from what i've seen, they're stuff is good. they were second on my list to the toshiba i bought.

[Linksquest]

Well I got the Laptop today! it's the one that I linked to at the beginning of this thread. I loves it! I'm actually typing from it right now hehe.

Well, Alls well that ends well!