Short version: I need a new desktop replacement laptop.

Long version:

I used to be a computer nerd, but haven't taken any classes in a couple of years (the good teacher they had left for a higher paying job, and the computer teacher now is a complete tard.. he also drives a SRT-4, which he insists on redlining every time I've ever seen him..). I still am pretty tech inclined, but I've fallen behind on companies.

The computer I have right now is a Sony desktop paperweight. 7 Years old, 60GB hard drive, 2GB ram, and 256 MB graphics card. The ram and graphics card I've put in separate over the years.

I'm looking for a desktop replacement laptop (going to give this one to my cousin, minus the hard drive.. going to have fun with that.. and some fireworks.. and a hammer..), for school, internet browsing, gaming (mind you, not extreme surround sound, feel-like-i'm-in-the-game, but something fun.. used to play EverQuest lol), and car diagnostics (something like blazt).

Right now I have 1k set aside. I can go a bit higher (read: 500 or so higher), but I don't need an alienware or something lol. I'm looking for something that isn't going to be shadowed by tomorrow, but I don't need something top-of-the-line either.

I've thought maybe vaio or a dell.. but now I'm asking for suggestions!

Thanks for your time!

Couple years later, my cousin had a Gateway aswell.. Same story..

FWIW: I'm not trying to be a dick and shoot down the ideas of people trying to help me, just trying to share my thoughts on said companies, and receive the thoughts of others.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com
http://www.ibuypower.com

they are mostly gaming notebooks but they are amazing. they work great for anything.

You aren't going to get a laptop that will do serious lifting for that kind of money. You will very easily be able to find one that will run typical software and be a computer for many years, but if your looking to run new games and the like laptops are kinda a terrible idea unless you want to spend a **** ton of money.

I got this and really like it a lot.

Its works as a normal lap top, the screen can rotate around its hinge (a decently beefy one too, though there is still a little wobble if you try)
Its a gateway C140 XL, right in your price range 2 gig ram, C2D, some kinda ATI chip set for video.

The battery life is great, I get about 5 hours of regular use. I really like the tablet feature though. It works well for me, because I can download my teachers lecture note, then add what ever diagrams or notes I need right on top with out having to print 50+ pages.
The pen makes a great mouse, and I use it often even for stuff like just browsing around on the internet.

Not too small or lightweight by laptop standards, but it is about the size and weight of a decent text book.

Nothing too powerful, but it will run solid works decently enough and I can work with large PDF files and take notes with the pen even while its doing virus scans...

I would avoid dells though, I really don't like the idea that you cannot upgrade parts of them with out having to go specifically through dell.

All I need to say is that it comes pre-loaded with linux.

Yes, thats a Sony PSP

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I dunno much about linux, but from what I understand if having to install it will scare you off of using it...your probably not the kinda person who should be using it.

[Screen shot of Mandriva]

http://linux.softpedia.com/scr...1.png

It does all the gaming I need and functions very well with heavy multitasking. I chose an AMD platform because I was going the cheap route...

I think Intel has higher performing chipsets in comparison to AMD, but that doesn't mean AMD doesn't perform.

If you go with a vista platform, try to get a 64bit system...

Newegg.com Tigerdirect.com are a couple sites off the top of my head.

What I am saying though, is that at least I am getting an OS for free, even If i am not gonna use it. If I bought a windows machine and want to run something in linux, that is free. If I buy a linux machine, and wanted/needed Windows...well thats $200...and I don't see that big of a price difference between windows machines.

Linux may not be dos but you still have to know what your doing more then just using a windows machine, and help/support is there, but not on the level of windows. From what I hear if you can work in linux just fine you likely would have NO trouble formatting a hard drive and installing it...and the people who need it to be installed for them are probably going to have problems with it anyways.

My opinion is that windows is fine. My computer works great and does what I ask of it. (everything from playing new games, to converting and processing audio/video, to solid works type stuff.). On top of all that Windows is the standard. More stuff is made for windows then anything else, and while yes you can run that stuff in linux it takes more work, and wont run as well as it will in the atmosphere it was designed for.

(somehow reposted a message I posted way earlier, sorry for the bump)

Modified by 4WOFURY at 11:45 PM 5/14/2008

You'll be impressed with the build quality. Slightly less specs, but they are freaking tanks. I had two HPs prior to my Thinkpad; will never buy a HP over a Thinkpad in the future, even if I have to sacrifice some of the specs.

Dell is one of the few manufactures where you can still order XP sp2. You can customize your laptop with Dell customer service. Free shipping

I just got mine and am very happy with it. Keep in mind vista requires much more ram. Go with Intel duel core 2gb of ram on a single DIMM. Dell's tech support was excellent

Telcoman

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What is the point of a tiny laptop with 20GB of solid-state memory? I'd rather have a Palm or Pocket PC than one of those.

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Well, screen-size maybe? That Asus would be great to do business travel with - lightweight and yet allows the ability to work on documents and spreadsheets, etc.

I have a Samsung i730 mobile (large, excellent screen - as good as the iPhone in many ways), with Windows Mobile 5 and WOrd/Excel viewers/editors on it, but I'd hate to use it for editing anything significant or large!

Z

compaq isnt that great but you cant beat that price.

amd 64 duel core 2,0ghz
3 gigs memory
200 gig harddrive

only problem is it comes with vizta 32bit. need to upgrade to the 64bit windows.

It was on slickdeals. May still be alive.

does a $250 laptop really fit what he is looking for?

Leaves plenty for a gaming desktop