New Laptop

So I've been saving for a new computer for quite some time (I haven't had one of my own since December 2008). Since I'm on a budget, and don't really do anything too exciting with my computers, I was thinking of just getting the regular new Dell Inspiron 15. It'll come out to a grand total of around $550 which is pretty decent, with 3GB of memory, a dual core processor, a built in webcam and mic, a 4 cell battery, etc. The only things I really plan on doing with this machine are going online, downloading music, utilizing iTunes and maybe writing a few papers. I'm not too into PC gaming and I'm not so obsessed/addicted to the computer to the point where I need a whole lot of space and speed either. I just want something practical and decent. Do you think this is a good choice computer for me? And for this price? I know absolutely nothing about technology so I was just curious...

It sounds like the labtop may have a few extra appliances that you would not even consider utilizing. However, it does seem to be a good all-around labtop. It will be a good match for you.

At 9/24/2009 7:20:09 AM, theLwerd wrote:
So I've been saving for a new computer for quite some time (I haven't had one of my own since December 2008). Since I'm on a budget, and don't really do anything too exciting with my computers, I was thinking of just getting the regular new Dell Inspiron 15. It'll come out to a grand total of around $550 which is pretty decent, with 3GB of memory, a dual core processor, a built in webcam and mic, a 4 cell battery, etc. The only things I really plan on doing with this machine are going online, downloading music, utilizing iTunes and maybe writing a few papers. I'm not too into PC gaming and I'm not so obsessed/addicted to the computer to the point where I need a whole lot of space and speed either. I just want something practical and decent. Do you think this is a good choice computer for me? And for this price? I know absolutely nothing about technology so I was just curious...

Not liking computer gaming is fail.

Hmm...you'll probably want to get a PC because you're on a budget :D. So yes to the Inspiron, it doesn't seem to be a bad choice of Laptop for College use and just surfing. Probably will get bogged down if you try to do any games\ big apps. Also, is 3GB of memory all it has? Because if so you'll want an external HDD

And forget about Microsoft office for paper writing, just use Openoffice.

At 9/27/2009 7:27:13 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
And forget about Microsoft office for paper writing, just use Openoffice.

No! Don't do it! Open Office = bad!

Okay, it isn't that bad. But it is worthless. You might as well pay for Microsoft Office, which gets you a lot more options and programs, than get simple Open Office which, while it has enough features to be OK, isn't as good.

Besides, I know of no college and university student that uses Open Office. That should teach you something; if poor students are willing to pay for Microsoft Office, instead of getting free programs that could be adequate enough, there is clearly some advantage.

Panda, I think it has a 3GB RAM, not a hard drive. Lwerd, if it's actually the hard drive, don't get it. You said you want to use iTunes, you'll probably put 3GB of music on the computer in about a week.

At 9/27/2009 7:30:30 AM, Volkov wrote:

At 9/27/2009 7:27:13 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
And forget about Microsoft office for paper writing, just use Openoffice.

No! Don't do it! Open Office = bad!

Okay, it isn't that bad. But it is worthless. You might as well pay for Microsoft Office, which gets you a lot more options and programs, than get simple Open Office which, while it has enough features to be OK, isn't as good.

Besides, I know of no college and university student that uses Open Office. That should teach you something; if poor students are willing to pay for Microsoft Office, instead of getting free programs that could be adequate enough, there is clearly some advantage.

Poor students who pay for Open Office just to do college papers = Fail students.

Last time I checked Open Office had nifty features like being able to highlight words, do different colours, charts, etc. What else could you need for a college paper. Granted I'm not in college and haven't done papers on a computer, but nonetheless you don't need to have the ability to make every second word light Fuchsia

At 9/27/2009 7:50:02 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
Poor students who pay for Open Office just to do college papers = Fail students.

Last time I checked Open Office had nifty features like being able to highlight words, do different colours, charts, etc. What else could you need for a college paper. Granted I'm not in college and haven't done papers on a computer, but nonetheless you don't need to have the ability to make every second word light Fuchsia

Does Open Office have the ability to create flexible graphs, have pre-set and easily accessible word fonts and stylings, have many downloadable additions that have proven to be useful to university and college students, and in general, come anywhere close to Microsoft Office?

Well, it doesn't, and I know it doesn't. I have a small notebook laptop and I use that over my school's computers which use Open Office because it is a very poor school. Microsoft Office is ten times better.

At 9/27/2009 7:58:34 AM, Volkov wrote:

At 9/27/2009 7:50:02 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
Poor students who pay for Open Office just to do college papers = Fail students.

Last time I checked Open Office had nifty features like being able to highlight words, do different colours, charts, etc. What else could you need for a college paper. Granted I'm not in college and haven't done papers on a computer, but nonetheless you don't need to have the ability to make every second word light Fuchsia

Does Open Office have the ability to create flexible graphs, have pre-set and easily accessible word fonts and stylings, have many downloadable additions that have proven to be useful to university and college students, and in general, come anywhere close to Microsoft Office?

Well, it doesn't, and I know it doesn't. I have a small notebook laptop and I use that over my school's computers which use Open Office because it is a very poor school. Microsoft Office is ten times better.

Right but Microsoft office costs an incalculable amount more. Openoffice costs nothing, so in terms of percentages it costs infinitely more.

Openoffice has different font styles and writing. And flexible graphics? I don't know about that, I haven't' encountered any need for them, but surely you don't rely on them alot.

At 9/27/2009 8:01:08 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
Right but Microsoft office costs an incalculable amount more. Openoffice costs nothing, so in terms of percentages it costs infinitely more.

The cost is worth it. It also comes with Excel and other useful goodies, too.

Openoffice has different font styles and writing. And flexible graphics? I don't know about that, I haven't' encountered any need for them, but surely you don't rely on them alot.

I do. They're very useful for creating quick graphs where you can easily shift information around with a couple of clicks. You cannot do that with Open Office.

At 9/27/2009 8:05:30 AM, Volkov wrote:

At 9/27/2009 8:01:08 AM, I-am-a-panda wrote:
Right but Microsoft office costs an incalculable amount more. Openoffice costs nothing, so in terms of percentages it costs infinitely more.

The cost is worth it. It also comes with Excel and other useful goodies, too.

How much does Word cost, what, €50? How much booze could you buy with that?

Openoffice has different font styles and writing. And flexible graphics? I don't know about that, I haven't' encountered any need for them, but surely you don't rely on them alot.

I do. They're very useful for creating quick graphs where you can easily shift information around with a couple of clicks. You cannot do that with Open Office.

I'll test this out later personally.